Tag: cruise blogger

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Day 3 Carnival Encounter Cruise Australia Day 3 night cruise

by Deb & Matt | May 6, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

It’s Australia Day aboard the Carnival Encounter 🇦🇺🚢

In this final full day of our long weekend cruise from Brisbane, the ship really came alive with classic Aussie-themed activities, deck games, trivia, entertainment and plenty of fun.

From morning trivia and lunch at Waterfront Restaurant, to ice carving, thong throwing competitions, afternoon drinks, dinner, parties and evening shows — this was a fun-filled sea day onboard Carnival Encounter.

🎥 In this vlog:
✅Australia Day celebrations at sea
✅Morning trivia sessions
✅Sam I Am / Dr Seuss fun
✅Lunch at Waterfront Restaurant
✅Ice cream eating competition
🍦✅Ice carving demonstration
✅Thong throwing competition 🇦🇺✅Afternoon drinks onboard
✅Dinner review
✅Evening entertainment and shows

This is part of our full Carnival Encounter Australia Day Cruise Series from Brisbane, including embarkation, cabin tours, dining, entertainment and honest cruise experiences.

👇 Let us know in the comments:What’s the MOST Australian thing you’ve ever seen on a cruise ship?

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro
00:19 Australia Day on Carnival Encounter
00:45 Morning Trivia
03:50 Sam I Am Dr Seuss Fun
04:13 Waterfront Restaurant Lunch
09:04 Ice Cream Eating Competition 🍦
09:31 Ice Carving Demonstration
10:05 Thong Throwing Competition 🇦🇺
13:15 Afternoon Drinks
14:28 Dinner on Carnival Encounter
20:40 Evening Shows & Entertainment
21:48 Final Thoughts
22:46 Jessie & James
#carnivalencounter #AustraliaDay #CruiseVlog #CarnivalCruise #CruisingAustralia

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cruise Cabin Tour by a Teenager 5236

by Deb & Matt | Apr 26, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Something a little different for this cruise… 👀

While sailing on the Carnival Encounter, Noah decided he was taking over — and giving his own cabin tour and first impressions of our Interior Cabin 5236 (Deck 5).
Join us for an exclusive cruise room tour of cabin 5236 on Carnival Encounter, with a special guest host! This cruise vlog provides an in-depth look at the cabin’s features, offering a comprehensive cruise cabin tour. See every detail, from the closet to the entertainment system, in this detailed cruise cabin review of our Carnival cruise experience.

This is a teenager’s perspective on cruising — honest, unfiltered, and a bit of fun.

In this video:

🛳️Full tour of Interior Cabin 5236
🛏️Triple/Quad cabin layout (3 people staying)
👀What a teen actually notices in a cruise cabin
😍Space, comfort and practicality from a younger perspective
🤔First impressions vs expectations

If you’re cruising with kids or teens, this might give you a completely different perspective on what matters in a cabin.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Should Noah do more videos like this?

🚢 Part of our Carnival Encounter Australia Day Cruise Series:
✔ Embarkation day
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Dining reviews
✔ Cabin tours & tips

Subscribe to follow along with the full series!

00:00 Intro
00:22 Carnival Encounter Interior Cabin Tour
01:00 Storage
01:32 Life Vests
01:44 Cruise Shower
02:50 Sahving
03:28 Room Safe
03:59 Mirror and Lights
04:18 Air Conditioning
04:33 Important Paper Work
06:05 Cabin Power Sockets
06:29 Drinking Water
07:00 Bunk Beds
08:03 Recharge your devices
08:21 Reading lights
08:28 Master Switch
08:51 Fridge for Drinks
09:11 4 Berth Cabin
09:42 Bloopers

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cruise SNAFU | Breakfast, Confusion, Show & Deck Party

by Deb & Matt | Apr 17, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Welcome back to our Carnival Encounter Australia Day long weekend cruise series.

In this Day 2 cruise vlog, we share our first full day at sea aboard Carnival Encounter — and it turned into a real mixed bag. From a medical evacuation / passenger retrieval situation, to more onboard confusion around activities and theme nights, this was a day with a very unusual feel.

Join us on our first full day at sea in 2026 as we share our morning routine, including essential cruise travel tips for breakfast at the waterfront. We’ll show you how to navigate the check-in process, offering useful cruise tips and tricks for a smooth start to your day. Stay tuned for more cruise news and updates from our Carnival cruise adventure!

We also take you through breakfast, Meet the Officers, dinner in the main dining room, a bit of a dessert fail, and wrap up the evening with cruise entertainment and a deck party.

In this video:

Breakfast on Carnival Encounter
News of a medical evacuation at sea
More communication confusion onboard
Meet the Officers event
Main Dining Room dinner review
Main meal and dessert thoughts
Carnival entertainment and deck party
Honest thoughts on Day 2 of this cruise

This series follows our Australia Day long weekend cruise from Brisbane on Carnival Encounter, including cabin tours, embarkation day, dining, entertainment and honest first impressions along the way.

If you enjoy real-world cruise vlogs, ship reviews and Australian cruise content, make sure to subscribe to Deb & Matt Chat.

#CarnivalEncounter #CruiseVlog #CruisingFromBrisbane #CarnivalCruise #CruiseReviewWelcome back to our Carnival Encounter Australia Day long weekend cruise series.

The topics we cover in this video – Carnival Encounter, carnival encounter review, carnival cruise australia, carnival encounter cruise from brisbane, medical evacuation cruise ship, cruise ship medical emergency, carnival encounter dining, carnival main dining room, carnival encounter entertainment, cruise deck party,

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Some things Felt Wrong on Day 1 | Carnival Encounter Embarkation

by Deb & Matt | Apr 11, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Welcome aboard the Carnival Encounter for our Australia Day Long Weekend Cruise!
We are so excited to be in Brisbane for an “Aussie Classics” cruise on Carnival Encounter! Join us as we kick off this Australia Day celebration with a sail away party. This cruise vlog will cover all the fun, from activities to food, offering cruise travel tips along the way.

This is Day 1 – Embarkation Day in Brisbane, and honestly… something felt a little off.

In this vlog, we take you through the full boarding process at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, explore the ship, and share our first impressions – including a surprisingly quiet atmosphere for a long weekend sailing.
In this video:

✅Cruise boarding process in Brisbane
🤔Impressions of Carnival Encounter
⁉️Why the ship didn’t feel full
🤯Confusion around cruise theme nights
🍴Specialty dining bookings (what we chose!)
🛌A possible cabin mistake
🤩NEW onboard changes (including Bonsai Sushi Express)
🚢Sailaway party vibes
😋Dinner at Trattoria Restaurant
👀First look at onboard activities

This cruise already had some surprises… and it’s only Day 1.
Let us know in the comments:
Have you ever been on a cruise that just felt… different?
This is part of our full Carnival Encounter series:
✔ Cabin tours
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Food & dining reviews
✔ Tips, tricks & honest experiences

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss what happens next!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: New Royal Caribbean Deployments for Australia South Pacific Lelepa

by Deb & Matt | Mar 24, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Royal Caribbean has officially revealed its 2027/2028 Australia & South Pacific cruise deployment — and we’re breaking it ALL down.

We’re here to discuss the 2027-2028 Royal Caribbean itinerary for Australia! This video breaks down the specific ship details, departure days, and what’s missing from the schedule. Join us for some essential travel tips and cruise news as we share our predictions and thoughts on this exciting australia travel update. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments!
In this full studio analysis, we dive deep into:

🚢 Which ships are coming to Australia (Anthem & Voyager)
🌴 South Pacific itineraries, ports & destination trends
🇳🇿 New Zealand cruise offerings (and the BIG catch)
📊 Cruise lengths, sailing patterns & departure days
🔁 Island double-ups and itinerary strategy
😮 What surprised us… and what disappointed us

We also take a closer look at:

⁉️Lelepa updates (and what’s missing…)
⁉️Inclusions vs expectations
⁉️Royal Caribbean’s strategy for the Australian market

If you’re planning a future cruise — or just love cruise news — this is your ultimate breakdown of the 2027/28 season.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Would you book one of these itineraries?

🎥 Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:19 Royal Caribbean Australia Overview
07:20 Ports and Destinations
08:36 Island Cruise Doubles
10:42 New Zealand Destinations
11:23 Lengths of the Cruises
11:42 Anthem Sailing Length
12:07 Voyager Sailing Lengths
13:23 Departure Days
16:21 The New Zealand Catch
17:29 Surprises
18:37 Lelepa Downsides
19:02 Lelepa Inclusions
20:28 Final Thoughts

👍 Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for weekly cruise news, reviews and deep dives.

#DebAndMattChat #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseNews #AustraliaCruise

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: No Plans in Luganville… Then We Found This 💙 Santo Blue Hole

by Deb & Matt | Feb 26, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 7 of our New Year cruise brings us to Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo — home to some of Vanuatu’s most beautiful natural attractions.

Join us as we document our arrival in Luganville in this latest travel vlog. The ship’s docking process is always fascinating to watch, and we’re sharing our morning routine, including some quick breakfast ideas. This cruise adventure in Vanuatu is full of unexpected moments, even when we have no pre-booked activities.

We arrived with:
❌ No shore tour booked
❌ No fixed plan
❌ No idea what to expect

And then we discovered the breathtaking Nanda (Jackies) Blue Hole. Now on of our Top Travel Recommendations.

Crystal clear freshwater. Lush jungle surrounds. Almost surreal.

Did we accidentally walk into paradise?

After exploring Luganville town and doing a short walking tour, we head back onboard Voyager of the Seas for:

🍝 Giovanni’s Italian dinner
🎉 80s Night
⚓ Anchors Aweigh
🎶 Cruise theme party

If you’re cruising to Santo or Luganville with Royal Caribbean, this is a must-watch port day guide.

👇 Question:
Would you explore without a booked excursion?

00:00 Intro
00:51 Breakfast in Cabin
02:37 No Table
06:18 Tour Options in Luganville
12:32 Did We Find Paradise?
19:10 Included Refreshments
21:49 Santo Blue Hole
28:13 Luganville Vanuatu
34:19 Luganville Shopping
36:04 Leaving Luganville
37:59 Anchors Aweigh
40:36 Giovanni’s Royal Caribbean
46:54 Cruise Theme Party
47:24 80s Night Royal Caribbean
48:07 Coming Up Next

#Luganville #SantoBlueHole
#VanuatuCruise
#VoyagerOfTheSeas
#RoyalCaribbean
#80sNight
#CruiseVlog
#DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Horse Riding in Port Vila 🐎 | White Night on Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Feb 21, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 6 of our New Year’s cruise brings us back to Port Vila — and this time it’s adventure day.

Matt ticks off a long-held dream with a beach horse riding tour at Club Hippique, riding through plantations, along the sand, and even into the water.

Meanwhile, Deb and Noah explore:

🗺️How to find duty free in Port Vila
👀Port Vila markets
💵What Port Vila duty free is really like
😥Tips for navigating long tender lines

We then reunite onboard Voyager of the Seas for a stunning sunset sailaway past Lelepa, before heading toward Luganville.

The night continues with:
🍴Main Dining Room dinner
🪜Guest entertainers in the theatre
🤍White Night theme
💃Latin Dance Party
⁉️What “Anchors Away” means onboard
🤔Honest show review

This episode blends:
🐎 Adventure
🌅 Beauty
🎉 Party vibes
🛍 Cruise port tips

👇 Question:
Would you book a horse riding shore excursion on a cruise?

Join Deb & Matt Chat as we share our day two adventures in Port Vila in this vanuatu vlog! We’ll take you along for some duty free shopping with Noah and a memorable horse riding vlog experience. Don’t miss our latest travel tips in this cruise vlog!

#PortVila #VanuatuCruise
#HorseRiding #BeachHorseRide
#VoyagerOfTheSeas
#RoyalCaribbean
#WhiteNight
#DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Dear Michael Bayley… We Have 3 Wishes for Royal Caribbean in 🇦🇺👀

by Deb & Matt | Feb 19, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

We filmed this at dinner onboard ⁨@RoyalCaribbeanAUNZ Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship— and it might be our cheekiest video yet 😅

Dear Michael Bayley…

We have THREE humble wishes:

🇦🇺 Year-round Royal Caribbean cruising in Australia
🌴 An announcement date for Lelepa
🥧 And… we need to talk about the goat cheese tart

During the Captain’s Corner onboard Anthem, Matt asked about year-round cruising in Australia — and the whole theatre CHEERED. 👏

So we thought… why not make it official?

If you agree with us:

👉 LIKE the video
👉 SHARE it with your cruise friends
👉 TAG Royal Caribbean & Michael Bayley in the comments

Let’s see if this makes it to Miami 👀

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemOfTheSeas #CruisingAustralia #DebAndMattChat
@RoyalCaribbean
We address Michael Bailey with three requests, focusing on the possibility of year-round cruising in Australia. As dedicated Royal Caribbean cruise ambassadors, we believe the Australian cruise community deserves this exciting development. We offer cruise tips and travel tips for those eager to explore the world on a cruise ship.

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: “Confidential Discussions” 👀 Royal Caribbean’s BIG Plans for Australia?

by Deb & Matt | Feb 14, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

We’re currently sailing on Anthem of the Seas and had the opportunity to ask a question during the Captain’s Corner… and the answer has us thinking 🤔

After mentioning he had recently visited Lelepa, the Captain spoke about “confidential discussions” regarding year-round cruising in Australia — and even hinted at the possibility of bigger ships.

Could Royal Caribbean be planning something major for Australia?

In this short update, we share exactly what was said, what it could mean for Aussie cruisers, and why this might be big news for Brisbane and Sydney.

If you love cruising from Australia and want the latest onboard insights, make sure you’re subscribed to Deb & Matt Chat.

🚢 Would you cruise year-round with Royal Caribbean in Australia?
Let us know in the comments!

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemOfTheSeas #CruisingAustralia #Lelepa #CruiseNews

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Deb & Matt Chat is live from Sydney Harbout on Anthem of the Seaa

by Deb & Matt | Feb 13, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

👍 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE!
Your support helps us continue to bring you more fantastic cruise content. 🚢💕
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You can also follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/debandmattchat/
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#cruise #cruisevlog #cruisetips #cruiseadvice #cruisehacks #travel #travelcouple #cruiselife #traveladvice #travelhints

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: PERFECT Cruise RECOVERY Port Vila Vanuatu

by Deb & Matt | Jan 30, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

After a huge New Year’s Eve at sea, Day 5 of our Voyager of the Seas New Year’s cruise slows things down as we arrive in Port Vila 🇻🇺.

Join us on a New Year’s Day walking tour of Port Vila, Vanuatu, as we explore the Mummas Markets and areas impacted by a recent natural disaster. This Vanuatu travel experience highlights the resilience of the Vanuatu island community. Discover things to do in Vanuatu and see the local life on Efate Island.

While Deb and Grandma head ashore on the Discover Vila shore tour booked through Royal Caribbean, Matt takes a slower start to the day — recovering onboard with the New Year’s Day Main Dining Room brunch before heading ashore for a short visit.

This episode covers both sides of a port day:

👀The Discover Vila shore excursion
🔍Vanuatu National Museum & sand art
🙏Port Vila War Memorial
🗣️A local perspective on Vanuatu’s tourism recovery following the December 2024 earthquake
🛥️Cruise tenders and temporary dock arrangements
🏪Duty-free shopping (including perfumes… and LEGO 👀)
❔What Port Vila is really like during a cruise visit
🚢Back onboard Voyager of the Seas, we cover:
🍹A must-know Royal Caribbean drinks package tip
🍜Tastes of Asia night in the Main Dining Room
😋Guest food reviews
✨A delayed and underwhelming Dancing Under the Stars deck party
Ending the day on a high note with jazz in the Star Lounge

This is a balanced, honest New Year’s Day cruise vlog — recovery, fun, frustrations, and real conversations.

👇 Question for you:
Do you prefer a full shore tour day, or a slower port day with time onboard?

📌 Chapters below
👍 Like & subscribe for real cruise experiences
🔔 More South Pacific cruise vlogs coming on Deb & Matt Chat

00:00 Intro
00:27 Brunch Special Menu
02:01 Port Vila Shore Excursions
02:33 Discover Vila Shore Tour
03:26 Vanuatu National Museum
04:44 Vanuatu Sand Art
07:48 Port Vila War Memorial
10:26 Vanuatu Earthquake Recovery
10:52 Port Vila Cruise Tenders
11:48 Local Shore Tours
14:00 Port Vila Cruise Visit
16:18 Duty Free in Port Vila
17:19 Duty Free Perfumes
17:45 Duty Free LEGO
21:47 Port Vila Temporary Cruise Tender Dock
22:40 Voyager of the Seas Port Day
25:28 MUST KNOW Royal Caribbean Drinks Package
27:01 Royal Caribbean Tastes of Asia Night
30:29 Voyager of the Seas Main Dining Room
31:51 Guest Food Review
34:38 Deck Party – Caribbean Night Dancing Under the Stars
35:16 FRUSTRATION!
36:52 Star Lounge – Jazz

#portvila #VanuatuCruise #VoyagerOfTheSeas
#NewYearsDayCruise #CruiseVlog
#RoyalCaribbean #DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: New Year’s Eve at Sea 🎉 | Voyager of the Seas NYE Party & Countdown

by Deb & Matt | Jan 24, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

What is New Year’s Eve actually like on a cruise ship? 🎉🚢

Join us for a new cruise vlog as we celebrate New Year’s Eve on Voyager of the Seas after a day exploring a tropical island! This south pacific cruise brought unexpected adventures and a truly unfiltered travel experience. From the beautiful scenery to the lively celebrations, it was a memorable family cruise vacation, full of things to do, and we’re excited to share this real travel review with you.

In this video, we take you through New Year’s Eve onboard Voyager of the Seas, sailing the South Pacific on a 9-night New Year’s Eve cruise.

We open with clips from the NYE party before hitting pause — rewinding to recap our day at Mystery Island, the reboarding process, and some unexpected delays… then it’s full steam ahead into party mode.

You’ll see:

🍾What cruising on New Year’s Eve is really like
💃Royal Caribbean’s Red Night theme
🤵Outfit reveals & party prep
😋The special New Year’s Eve Main Dining Room menu
🥩Food review from dinner
🎤Stage show in the Royal Theatre
🎵Live music with The Aussie Beatles
😁Family-friendly NYE activities
🥳Promenade parties (and just how crowded it gets)
🚨Tips to avoid bar lines
🥂Champagne, countdown & balloon drop
🕺Late-night after party in Studio B

This is an honest, full-night walkthrough — from sunset to well after midnight — so if you’re thinking about cruising over New Year’s, this video will help you decide if it’s for you.

👇 Question for you:
Would you celebrate New Year’s Eve at sea — or is it too crowded?

📌 Chapters below
👍 Like & subscribe for real cruise experiences
🔔 This wraps up our Mystery Island / NYE mini-series on Deb & Matt Chat

00:00 Intro
00:11 Wait a Minute
00:22 Mystery Island
00:44 Problems and Delays
02:38 Cruising on New Years Eve
03:11 New Years Eve Theme Night
03:45 Red Night Royal Caribbean
04:32 Voyager of the Seas Stage Show
06:27 The Aussie Beatles
07:24 New Years Eve Main Dining Room Dinner
07:41 The Menu
09:13 Food Review
11:59 New Years Eve Activities on Voyager of the Seas
12:49 Family Friendly New Years Cruising
13:40 Party on the Promenade
14:30 WARNING It Is Crowded
14:41 5 Minutes to Go
15:06 Nutbush Crowds
16:10 Avoid the Lines at Bars
16:33 Champagne
17:39 New Years Eve Countdown
18:13 Balloon Drop
19:00 After Party Studio B