Tag: cruise tips

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: They Tried to SEIZE Scarlet Lady?! Australian Cruising SAVED… For Now?!😳🚢 BIG Cruise News LIVE

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: They Tried to SEIZE Scarlet Lady?! Australian Cruising SAVED… For Now?!😳🚢 BIG Cruise News LIVE

by | Oct 6, 2026 | | 0 |

Join us for this weeks Cruise News live stream.

🇦🇺🚢 AUSTRALIAN CRUISING HAS ITS COASTAL SHIPPING EXEMPTION — BUT ONLY FOR TWO MORE YEARS!
The Federal Government has extended the cruise industry’s exemption from Australia’s coastal trading laws until 31 December 2028
That’s a major relief for an industry that says cruising contributes billions of dollars to Australia’s economy
But there’s a catch
This is intended to be the FINAL temporary exemption, new worker-protection conditions are attached — and cruise lines are already making deployment decisions years beyond 2028
So tonight we’re asking:
Has Australian cruising been saved… or has the problem simply been pushed two years down the road?

And that’s only the beginning!

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIAN CRUISING GETS ITS EXEMPTION
Foreign-flagged cruise ships will continue receiving an exemption from Australia’s Coastal Trading Act until the end of 2028
But from 2027, operators benefiting from the exemption face additional conditions around crew collective bargaining rights and reporting of Maritime Labour Convention complaints
So
⚓ Did the cruise industry get what it needed?
👷 Did the unions also get part of what they wanted?
📅 And is TWO YEARS enough certainty when cruise deployments are planned years ahead?

🇯🇵 ROYAL CARIBBEAN + MSC TEAM UP!
Two of cruising’s biggest rivals are becoming partners — at least when it comes to cruise infrastructure
Royal Caribbean Group and MSC Cruises are jointly investing in a new cruise terminal at Naha, Okinawa, with operations targeted to begin in 2028
It raises a fascinating question for us Down Under:
What is Japan doing to attract cruise investment that Australia could learn from?

⚓ THEY TRIED TO SEIZE SCARLET LADY?!
After Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady broke mooring lines in rough conditions at Rhodes and collided with a tourist catamaran and smaller vessels, the catamaran’s owner filed a claim for at least €400,000
Then came the extraordinary part
An application was made to have Scarlet Lady seized and prevented from leaving Rhodes while the claim was dealt with
The ship was ultimately permitted to leave after a marine insurer provided a guarantee securing the claim
The legal process continues — but we’ll unpack exactly what happened and why someone can attempt to have a CRUISE SHIP seized

🧽 SPONGEBOB IS COMING TO HERO OF THE SEAS!
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Apparently someone who is also going to sea. 😂
Royal Caribbean has revealed The SpongeBob Musical as the headline theatre production aboard Hero of the Seas
The Broadway-inspired production makes its at-sea debut when Hero launches from Miami in 2027
Brilliant family entertainment
Or has Royal gone TOO far into theme-park territory?

🤖 PRINCESS AI EXPANDS AGAIN
Last week we talked about Princess Cruises launching its AI cruise-planning experience with ChatGPT
Now it’s also launching on Claude
And THAT makes the strategy much more interesting
Princess isn’t simply building one AI chatbot — it’s putting its cruise-planning capability inside the AI assistants travellers already use
Could conversational AI eventually replace endlessly clicking through cruise-search filters?

🏰 WHAT IS DISNEY HIDING ABOARD DISNEY BELIEVE?
Disney is teasing the upcoming Disney Believe through an elaborate scavenger hunt aboard Disney Wish
🔍 Hidden clues
🔢 Puzzles revealing hull number 723
🍸 Mysterious new drinks
🍨 New treats
🧚 Tinker Bell on the ship’s lucky keel coin
And the clues are leading towards Disney’s big reveal!
We’ll look at what we’ve learned so far — and what might be coming aboard Disney Believe

PLUS
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise news, tips, opinions and conversation

💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTIONS
🇦🇺 Is a two-year exemption enough to give cruise lines confidence in Australia?

👷 Did the Government find the right compromise between the cruise industry and worker protections?

🇯🇵 Why are Royal Caribbean and MSC investing together in Japan?

⚓ Should Scarlet Lady have been prevented from leaving Rhodes until the collision claim was resolved?

🧽 And the REALLY important question
Are you ready for SpongeBob on a Royal Caribbean mega-ship?! 😂

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Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Is it fun or chaos? Balloon drops on a cruise ship!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Is it fun or chaos? Balloon drops on a cruise ship!

by | Sep 27, 2026 | | 0 |

Day 7 aboard Anthem of the Seas is our final sea day of this first cruise… but luckily for us, it is not really goodbye because we are staying onboard for a back-to-back cruise!

We start the day with Royal Caribbean room service breakfast in our interior cabin with virtual balcony, including a look at the continental breakfast options, how we set up the cabin for breakfast, and the eternal cruise question — what do you do with the room service dishes afterwards?

Then we check out Wonderland before being invited by some wonderful viewers, Carly and Phil, to tour their incredible Owner’s Loft Suite at the back of Anthem of the Seas. This two-level suite has multiple balconies, a huge living area, beautiful bathrooms, a walk-in robe, access to suite benefits and an amazing wake view

Later in the day we enjoy some family-friendly Royal Caribbean fun with the Wiggly Friends dance party, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Henry the Octopus and a massive balloon drop in the Royal Esplanade

Deb also faces one of her fears, we explore the Music Hall, enjoy Bon Voyage night in the Main Dining Room, experience more dinner-side magic from Iqbal, and then face the dreaded packing process

But this time packing is not so bad, because we are not leaving Anthem of the Seas just yet. Tomorrow is Sydney turnaround day and we will be showing the back-to-back cruise process at the Overseas Passenger Terminal

🛳️ Ship: Anthem of the Seas
🚢 Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
🌏 Cruise: Sydney to Airlie Beach
📅 Day 7: Final Sea Day

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
01:00 Breakfast in the Cruise Cabin
05:04 What To Do With Room Service Dishes?
05:52 Royal Caribbean Room Service Breakfast Tips
07:28 Wonderland Specialty Restaurant
07:57 Owner’s Loft Suite Tour
13:52 Wiggly Friends Dance Party
14:15 Dorothy The Dinosaur
14:41 Family-Friendly Balloon Drop
16:56 Wiggly Friends on Royal Caribbean
17:35 Deb Faces Her Balloon Fear
18:41 Music Hall on Anthem of the Seas
19:33 Bon Voyage Dinner
21:14 Last Night Entertainment Options
24:21 Dinner Magic With Iqbal
25:06 Time To Pack For Our Back-To-Back Cruise
26:20 Coming Up: Sydney Turnaround Day

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean tips, cabin tours, cruise food, ship life and real travel adventures, make sure you subscribe and come along for the rest of our Anthem of the Seas back-to-back cruise series

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseAustralia #CruiseLife

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: CRUISE NEWS LIVE Royal Caribbean BANNED Him?! MSC to BUY a Shipyard?! Carnival Encounter Trouble?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: CRUISE NEWS LIVE Royal Caribbean BANNED Him?! MSC to BUY a Shipyard?! Carnival Encounter Trouble?

by | Sep 23, 2026 | | 0 |

🚢 Royal Caribbean banned an Australian high roller from cruising — but what happens to the $22,000 worth of cruises he says he earned in the casino?

That’s just ONE of the stories we’re unpacking tonight on Deb & Matt Chat LIVE, because this has been a massive week in cruise news!

Could MSC end up owning one of the world’s most famous cruise shipyards?

Carnival Encounter has run into ANOTHER problem getting into Cairns

Disney’s newest ship is literally taking shape

Royal Caribbean’s next batch of 2028–29 cruises is about to start going on sale

And Australia is FINALLY getting shore power for cruise ships!

🎰 ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S $22,000 CASINO DISPUTE

Australian gambler Mark Timothy Grant says he earned five Royal Caribbean cruises through onboard casino play — reportedly worth around $22,000

But when he arrived in Brisbane to take the first cruise, he says he was refused boarding

Royal Caribbean says Grant had been placed on a “no sail” list following alleged breaches of its casino rules

The dispute is now heading through QCAT

We’re NOT deciding the ongoing case — but it raises a fascinating question:

If a cruise line bans you after you’ve earned complimentary cruises, does it still owe you those cruises or their value?

🏗️ COULD MSC BUY MEYER WERFT?

MSC is reportedly among the potential buyers for the German government’s controlling stake in legendary shipbuilder Meyer Werft

And this could be HUGE

MSC is already Meyer Werft’s biggest customer, with plans for potentially six next-generation ships

But Meyer Werft also builds ships for MSC’s competitors

So

What happens if a cruise line ends up owning the shipyard?

🏰 DISNEY BELIEVE IS TAKING SHAPE

Speaking of Meyer Werft

The first enormous section of Disney Believe has floated out!

The new Disney ship is being assembled from three giant “gigablocks”, some weighing more than 31,000 tonnes

We’ll look at what we know about Disney Believe ahead of her planned late-2027 debut

⚓ CARNIVAL ENCOUNTER HAS ANOTHER CAIRNS PROBLEM

Carnival Encounter has been forced to change another Great Barrier Reef itinerary because of channel depths and tidal conditions in Cairns

The ship’s planned overnight/two-day Cairns visit has been reduced to one day, with Townsville added instead

And this isn’t the first Cairns disruption for Encounter this month

For a ship based year-round in Brisbane, does Cairns have an access problem that needs addressing?

📅 ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S 2028–29 CRUISES ARE COMING

Royal Caribbean has released the opening schedule for its next wave of deployments

🏔️ Alaska 2028 — opening first
🇪🇺 Europe 2028 — coming next
🌴 Caribbean — following later

But

🇦🇺 Australia & New Zealand are still listed as COMING SOON

So what are we hoping Royal sends Down Under for 2028–29?

🏎️ MSC GOES EVEN BIGGER WITH FORMULA 1

MSC Cruises will become title sponsor of THREE Formula 1 Grands Prix in 2027 — Portugal, Belgium and Türkiye

It’s another enormous piece of global exposure for MSC as its Formula 1 partnership continues to grow

🌏 MSC’S 2027–28 DEPLOYMENT

MSC is moving ships around the world for its 2027–28 winter season

🌴 MSC World Asia → Southern Caribbean
🇺🇸 MSC World Atlantic → Port Canaveral
🌎 MSC Meraviglia → South America
🇯🇵 MSC Bellissima → continuing year-round Asia operations

We’ll look at what MSC’s increasingly global fleet means for cruisers

🔌 AUSTRALIA’S FIRST CRUISE SHORE POWER

Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Terminal is nearing completion of Australia’s first cruise ship shore-power system

That means compatible ships will be able to switch off their onboard engines while docked and plug into electricity from shore

It’s expected to cut thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions annually — and represents a significant Australian cruise-infrastructure investment

🇮🇩 STAR VOYAGER ADDS JAKARTA

StarCruises is adding special Jakarta–Singapore sailings aboard Star Voyager in March 2027

Could Jakarta become another interesting fly-cruise option for Australian travellers?

PLUS

⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise news, tips, opinions and conversation

💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTIONS

🎰 If Royal bans a passenger, what happens to cruises they’ve already earned?

🏗️ Would MSC owning Meyer Werft be good or bad for the cruise industry?

⚓ Should more be done to ensure larger cruise ships can reliably access Cairns?

🇦🇺 And what ship do YOU want Royal Caribbean to send to Australia in 2028–29?

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Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: LATEST Cruise News 🚢 Celebrity River Cruises LAUNCH , Royal Princess Trouble + MSC World Asia

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: LATEST Cruise News 🚢 Celebrity River Cruises LAUNCH , Royal Princess Trouble + MSC World Asia

by | Sep 16, 2026 | | 0 |

🚢 Celebrity Cruises is heading to the RIVERS, Royal Princess has cancelled TWO Alaska ports, another giant Icon Class ship is officially under construction — and apparently Carnival can take away your BALCONY DOOR HANDLE?! 😳

Yep… there’s plenty to chat about tonight!

Join Deb & Matt LIVE as we unpack this week’s biggest cruise stories, talk about what they actually mean for cruisers and — as always — hear what YOU think

🌊 CELEBRITY CRUISES GOES RIVER!

Celebrity Compass, Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever river ship, has officially floated out ahead of its 2027 debut

And this isn’t just an experiment

Celebrity plans to grow its European river fleet to 20 ships by 2031

Is Celebrity about to shake up the European river-cruise market?

⚙️ ROYAL PRINCESS ENGINE TROUBLE

An engine-related technical issue has forced Royal Princess to cancel Juneau AND Ketchikan from an Alaska cruise

Princess is giving every affected passenger a 50% refund of their cruise fare

Fair compensation?

🚢 ICON CLASS #5 IS OFFICIALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Royal Caribbean has laid the keel for its still-unnamed fifth Icon Class ship, due in 2028

And with Icon #6 and #7 already coming behind it

Are Icon Class ships becoming Royal Caribbean’s new normal?

🌏 MSC WORLD ASIA PASSES HER SEA TRIALS

MSC World Asia has successfully completed sea trials ahead of her December 2026 debut

We’ll look at what’s coming aboard MSC’s newest World Class mega-ship — including that enormous dragon we’ve talked about before!

🍹 AND THEN THERE’S CARNIVAL

A viral video shows what happened after one Carnival passenger apparently had WAY too much to drink

Her drinks package?

Gone

Her room key?

Confiscated

And her balcony?

Well

THEY TOOK THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE OFF! 😳😂

Was Carnival’s response reasonable safety management — and when should a cruise line stop serving an intoxicated passenger?

PLUS:

⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise tips, opinions and conversation

💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTIONS

🌊 Would you try a Celebrity river cruise?

⚙️ Would a 50% refund satisfy you after losing two major Alaska ports?

🍹 And… was Carnival right to disable an intoxicated passenger’s balcony door?

👍 LIKE the stream
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💬 Tell us where you’re watching from!

Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Australia Warning, Carnival Rewards + Royal Changes

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Australia Warning, Carnival Rewards + Royal Changes

by | Sep 9, 2026 | | 0 |

🚢 Is Australia becoming too difficult and expensive for cruise ships?

That’s the BIG question tonight on Deb & Matt Chat LIVE, after a senior global cruise industry figure warned that Australia is losing ground while cruising continues to boom around the world

Australians still LOVE cruising — but increasingly we’re flying overseas to do it

So what’s going wrong?

Tonight we’re looking at operating costs, cruise infrastructure, regulation, geography and the controversial role industrial action could play in where cruise lines decide to send their ships

And that’s just the beginning

🇦🇺 IS AUSTRALIA DRIVING CRUISE SHIPS AWAY?

Australian cruise tourism reportedly fell 13.2% to $7.3 billion in 2024–25, even as global cruising continues to grow

We’ll discuss:

🚢 Why cruise lines are reducing Australian capacity
💰 Australia’s high operating costs
⚓ Our cruise port and infrastructure limitations
⚠️ The debate around regulation and recent union action
✈️ Why Australians are increasingly flying overseas to cruise
🌏 And what Australia needs to do to compete for future ships

With dozens of new cruise ships already on order globally, the decisions being made NOW could determine what Australian cruising looks like well into the 2030s

🎰 CARNIVAL REWARDS IS NOW LIVE

Carnival’s controversial new loyalty program officially launched on September 1

💳 Points based on eligible spending
⭐ Status Qualifying Stars
💎 New paths to Gold, Platinum and Diamond
📆 Two-year qualifying periods
🛳️ Plus separate recognition for lifetime days sailed

Which raises one BIG question:

Should cruise loyalty reward how often you cruise — or how much money you spend?

🏖️ CARNIVAL’S NEW TANGALOOMA CABANAS

Carnival guests now have access to a new dedicated beachfront cabana experience on beautiful Moreton Island

We’ll look at what’s included, the price — and whether we’d pay for one!

🍹 ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRINGS BACK ITS DRINKS PACKAGE EXEMPTION

Don’t drink alcohol but sharing a cabin with somebody who does?

Royal Caribbean has brought back an exemption from its requirement for both adults to purchase the alcoholic drinks package

BUT there’s a catch

We’ll explain what’s changed

🚢 HERO OF THE SEAS HITS THE WATER!

Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon Class mega-ship has floated for the first time ahead of its 2027 debut

Plus

🐶 Meet Dolly!

Hero of the Seas also has a new Chief Dog Officer — and yes, she’s adorable

⚙️ SERENADE OF THE SEAS RETURNS

After technical problems forced Royal Caribbean to cancel an entire Alaska cruise, Serenade of the Seas is back in service

We’ll also look at the compensation affected passengers received and ask:

Did Royal handle this one well?

And, as always

⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Viewer Q&A
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise tips, news and conversation

💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTION

🇦🇺 If Australians clearly still want to cruise, why are we losing ships to overseas markets?

And what would YOU change to make Australia more competitive?

👍 LIKE the stream
🔔 SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications
💬 Join the conversation LIVE!

Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Booked TWO More Cruises! | Anthem of the Seas Sea Day

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Booked TWO More Cruises! | Anthem of the Seas Sea Day

by | Sep 3, 2026 | | 0 |

Day 6 aboard Anthem of the Seas is another sea day, but it turns into a big one!

We start with brunch in the Main Dining Room before heading to Captain’s Corner in Two70, where Matt asks about the possibility of year-round Royal Caribbean cruising in Australia — and the answer gives us a little bit of hope for the future.

What the Captain said https://youtu.be/W1jq8DREnBc

Then Dorothy the Dinosaur arrives for a dance party, Matt gets very distracted while trying to work, and there may be a little Wiggles boogie involved.

After that, we make the dangerous decision to visit the NextCruise desk… and you know what that means. Not one, but TWO more cruises booked!

We also enjoy dinner in the Main Dining Room, more dinner-side magic and science from our waiter Iqbal, and share a handy Royal Caribbean room service breakfast tip, including how to order, what is included, and when extra charges apply.

Check out our live stream from onboard here https://youtube.com/live/kv_7DKxJlDo?feature=share

Finally, the dreaded departure letter arrives — but this time it is not so bad, because we are doing the back-to-back cruise process and staying onboard for the next sailing.

🛳️ Ship: Anthem of the Seas
🚢 Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
🌏 Cruise: Sydney to Airlie Beach
📅 Day 6: Sea Day

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:19 Sea Day Brunch & Coming Up
01:44 Captain’s Corner: Year-Round Australia Cruising?
03:12 Dorothy The Dinosaur Dance Party
03:52 NextCruise Tips & Reduced Deposits
05:18 We Booked TWO More Cruises!
05:58 Dinner & Captain’s Corner Recap
07:19 Iqbal’s Dinner Table Magic & Science
08:38 How To Order Royal Caribbean Room Service Breakfast
12:32 Back-To-Back Cruise Departure Letter

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean tips, cruise news, ship life and real travel adventures, make sure you subscribe and come along for the rest of our Anthem of the Seas series.

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseAustralia #NextCruise

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: How to Do Laundry on a Cruise Ship and Save money | Scrubba Wash Bag Review & Tips

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: How to Do Laundry on a Cruise Ship and Save money | Scrubba Wash Bag Review & Tips

by | Aug 29, 2026 | | 0 |

How do you do laundry on a cruise ship — especially when there’s no self-service laundry? 🧺🚢

In this video, Deb shows you exactly how we wash AND dry our clothes in a cruise cabin using our Scrubba Wash Bag, travel clothesline, towels and those cruise essentials we seem to carry everywhere… magnetic hooks!

Cruise laundry services can get expensive, particularly on long cruises, back-to-back cruises, Transpacific and Transatlantic crossings or relocation cruises. Being able to wash a few shirts, shorts, underwear and other everyday clothes in your cabin can save money, help you pack lighter and keep you going between proper laundry days.

We’ve been travelling with our Scrubba Wash Bag for around two years, and Deb has now used it across multiple trips. So does she still recommend it? Has it lasted? And, perhaps more importantly, how do you actually DRY everything afterwards?

In this video we cover:

🧺 How to wash clothes on a cruise ship
💰 How DIY cruise laundry can save money
🫧 How the Scrubba Wash Bag works
🚿 Washing and rinsing clothes in your cruise cabin
💦 How we remove as much water as possible before drying
🛏️ Deb’s extra-towel drying trick
👕 How long clothes take to dry inside a cruise cabin
🧲 Using magnetic hooks for hanging clothes
🪢 Our portable cruise clothesline setup
⚠️ A few mistakes we’ve learned to avoid!

The Scrubba featured in this video was purchased by us. This video is NOT sponsored — we simply use it when we travel and thought we’d show you our complete process.

This setup is particularly useful for longer cruises, repositioning cruises, Transpacific or Transatlantic crossings, back-to-back cruises and extended holidays where paying to have every item professionally laundered can quickly add up.

Learn how to do laundry on a cruise ship to avoid expensive onboard service fees. This simple method keeps your clothes clean using minimal cabin space.

Packing for a vacation often means bringing limited outfits, but you do not need to rely on the ship’s costly cleaning services. This guide shows you exactly how to wash garments effectively while traveling at sea. By using a scrubber bag, you can handle smaller items right in your bathroom sink without making a mess or taking up valuable room in your stateroom.

We also demonstrate how to set up a portable clothesline to dry your items overnight. This approach is perfect for cruisers looking to pack lighter and save money during their trip. You will see how to navigate the tight quarters of a ship cabin while managing your laundry needs efficiently. Whether you are on a short getaway or a long voyage, these techniques ensure you always have fresh clothes available without the extra expense.

Subscribe for weekly cruise travel tips and hacks to improve your next vacation. Let us know in the comments if you prefer packing light or bringing a suitcase for every possible outfit.

CHAPTERS

00:00 DIY Laundry on a Cruise Ship
00:10 How to Save Money on Cruise Laundry
00:40 Scrubba Wash Bag Features & How It Works
01:55 The Extra Towel Drying Trick
02:40 How to Seal the Scrubba Bag Properly
03:35 How to Wash Clothes in a Scrubba Bag
04:39 Empty, Rinse & Repeat
05:43 How We Rinse Clothes by Hand
05:53 Scrubba Bag Review – Does It Last?
06:45 Removing Water Before Drying Clothes
08:51 How Long Clothes Take to Dry in a Cruise Cabin
09:26 Hanging Clothes in a Cruise Cabin
10:48 Deb’s Cruise Laundry Song!
11:34 Avoid Making a Mess
12:08 Cruise Cabin Sink Tip
12:39 Our Travel Clothesline Setup
13:51 Magnetic Hooks for Cruise Laundry

💬 Do you do laundry while you’re cruising? Do you use the ship’s laundry service, self-service laundromat, wash things in your cabin… or simply pack enough clothes to avoid laundry altogether?

Let us know in the comments!

👍 If you found this useful, give the video a thumbs up and subscribe for more cruise tips, ship tours, cruise reviews, travel adventures and plenty of Deb & Matt chaos.

We’re Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel.

#CruiseTips #CruiseLaundry #CruiseHacks

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Did We See Turtles in Airlie Beach? | Anthem of the Seas

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Did We See Turtles in Airlie Beach? | Anthem of the Seas

by | Aug 27, 2026 | | 0 |

Day 5 aboard Anthem of the Seas brings us back to Airlie Beach for our second day in the Whitsundays!

Today we head off on foot along the Airlie Beach boardwalk toward Coral Sea Marina for a turtle spotting tour with Whisper Tours. It was hot, humid and very sweaty, but the walk gave us some beautiful views around Airlie Beach before we arrived at the marina

Our turtle spotting tour was aboard a small electric boat, limited to only a small group, and we set off to see if we could spot turtles in the Whitsundays. So… did we actually see any?

After the tour, we tender back to Anthem of the Seas, cool down onboard, enjoy lunch, and then take in a stunning sunset as we sail away from the Whitsundays

The evening includes rum punch cocktails, Taste of the UK in the Main Dining Room, some wonderful viewer meet-ups, Crazy Quest, and a very fun — although slightly confusing — Royal Caribbean Resolution Dance Party

🛳️ Ship: Anthem of the Seas
🚢 Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
📍 Port: Airlie Beach / Whitsundays
🌏 Cruise: Sydney to Airlie Beach

Useful Links:

Airlie Beach Tourism
https://airliebeachtourism.com.au/

Whisper Cruises
https://whispercruises.com.au/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:20 Coming Up Today
00:51 Airlie Beach, Queensland
01:41 Walking The Airlie Beach Boardwalk
02:29 Stay Hydrated In The Whitsundays
03:01 Crocs, Stingers & Airlie Beach Warnings
04:37 Coral Sea Marina Airlie Beach
06:12 Whisper Tours Whitsundays
07:12 The Electric Boat
09:58 Whisper Tours Airlie Beach
10:32 Turtle Spotting Tour – Did We See Any?
12:48 Tendering Back To Anthem Of The Seas
14:09 Rum Punch Cocktails
14:26 Main Dining Room White Night
14:37 Subscribe
15:33 Taste Of The UK Dinner
17:33 A Request For Royal Caribbean
17:54 Yummy Food & Viewer Shout Outs
19:06 Crazy Quest 18+
19:20 Royal Caribbean Resolution Dance Party
19:34 Daily Wrap Up

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean tips, port days, cruise food, ship life and real travel adventures, make sure you subscribe and come along for the rest of our Anthem of the Seas series

#AirlieBeach #AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #Whitsundays #CruiseVlog #CruiseAustralia

Experience the intense humid weather of Airlie Beach firsthand. We show you how to navigate the heat while exploring Queensland today.

This vlog documents our journey returning to Airlie Beach by boat tender. If you are planning a trip to this part of Australia, you know that managing the climate is essential. We share our practical experience dealing with the humidity during our scenic walks and bus rides throughout the area.

Beyond the boat trip, we sit down to discuss the realities of traveling in humidity. It is not always easy to stay comfortable when the air is thick, but we found ways to enjoy our time regardless. Whether you are prepping for your own Queensland boat trip or just curious about the local conditions, this video offers a realistic look at what to expect.

Subscribe for regular travel vlogs, and tell us in the comments if you prefer exploring tropical climates or cooler destinations.

#cruise #cruisevlog #cruisetips #cruiseadvice #cruisehacks #travel #travelcouple #cruiselife #traveladvice #travelhints

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Does Australia Need MORE Cruise Ships? 🚢 Princess Selling Out + Cruise News LIVE

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Does Australia Need MORE Cruise Ships? 🚢 Princess Selling Out + Cruise News LIVE

by | Aug 26, 2026 | | 0 |

🚢 Does Australia need MORE cruise ships?

There’s plenty to talk about on Deb & Matt Chat LIVE tonight, with Princess cruises selling out Down Under, MSC specifically targeting Australian travellers and even calls for CRUISE SHIPS to help solve Brisbane’s accommodation shortage during the 2032 Olympic Games!

Plus we’ve got a Disney Cruise Line mystery to solve, Celebrity Equinox heading somewhere new and a serious warning for travellers following the collapse of a luxury Kimberley cruise operator

🇦🇺 TONIGHT’S CRUISE & TRAVEL NEWS

🏅 CRUISE SHIPS FOR THE BRISBANE 2032 OLYMPICS?!

Brisbane could face a major hotel-room shortage during the Olympic and Paralympic Games — and one proposal is to bring in two or three cruise ships to provide thousands of additional rooms

Could this also strengthen the argument for expanding Brisbane’s cruise terminal?

👑 PRINCESS CRUISES ARE SELLING OUT IN AUSTRALIA

A third of Princess’s remaining Australian cruises this year are reportedly already sold out

With fewer Princess ships currently based Down Under, we’ll look at demand, prices and ask:

Does Australia actually need MORE cruise capacity?

🌏 MSC WANTS MORE AUSTRALIAN CRUISERS

MSC has created European back-to-back cruise combinations specifically targeting Australian and New Zealand travellers

Instead of flying halfway around the world for seven nights — how about 14 nights or longer aboard the same ship?

🏔️ CELEBRITY EQUINOX IS HEADING TO ALASKA

Celebrity Equinox will make its Alaska debut in 2028, joining Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Millennium

Which Celebrity ship would YOU choose for Alaska?

💸 LUXURY KIMBERLEY CRUISES THAT NEVER SAILED

Passengers have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after Kimberley Pearl Tours entered receivership

We’ll look at what happened and the bigger question it raises:

How protected is your money when you pay a large cruise or travel deposit?

🐭 WHAT IS DISNEY CRUISE LINE TEASING?!

Disney has dropped a mysterious series of coordinates ahead of a BIG announcement

Where are they going?

We’re going to put the clues on screen and see whether YOU can solve the mystery!

And, of course

⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise tips, opinions and conversation

💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTION

Does Australia need MORE cruise ships — and if so, which cruise line would you like to see increase its Australian fleet?

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Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Royal Caribbean Goes BIG in Australia?! 🚢 Celebrity Cruise Deployments! Cruise Port Strike

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Royal Caribbean Goes BIG in Australia?! 🚢 Celebrity Cruise Deployments! Cruise Port Strike

by | Aug 12, 2026 | | 0 |

🚢 Could Royal Caribbean really be bringing THREE ships to Australia for the 2027–28 cruise season?

Tonight on Deb & Matt Chat LIVE, we’re digging into a very interesting Royal Caribbean story.

An Australian travel publication reported that Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas AND Voyager of the Seas would form part of Royal Caribbean’s expanded Australian program — and then the story disappeared.

But there’s more…

🔎 We’ve been doing some digging of our own and have independently found Voyager of the Seas listed at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal across future seasons, including multiple calls during 2027 and 2028.

So what is Royal Caribbean planning for Australia?

🚢 TONIGHT’S BIG STORY

🇦🇺 THREE Royal Caribbean ships for Australia?

We’ll look at:

⚓ Anthem of the Seas from Sydney
⚓ Ovation of the Seas reportedly returning to Brisbane
⚓ Voyager of the Seas moving between Brisbane, Sydney and Asia
🏝️ Royal Beach Club Lelepa opening in 2027
🔎 The Sydney port bookings we’ve independently found
❓ And why the original three-ship story suddenly disappeared!

Important: Royal Caribbean has not yet formally released the complete deployment we’re discussing. We’ll separate what has been officially announced, what appeared in the subsequently removed report, and what we’ve independently found in port schedules.

🗞️ ALSO TONIGHT

🌏 Celebrity Cruises expands Australia & Asia

Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice are both heading Down Under as part of Celebrity’s huge 2028–29 global deployment.

🌎 Celebrity reveals cruises across ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS

Four Edge Series ships in Europe, Solstice’s first full Japan season, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, Antarctica and much more.

⚠️ Plus more cruise and travel news

And, as always…

⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 And plenty of cruise chat!

💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTION

If Brisbane gets BOTH Voyager and the newly amplified Ovation of the Seas — which one are you booking first?

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Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise Industry Shakeup: Princess, Jetstar & the World’s Biggest Sailing Yacht

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise Industry Shakeup: Princess, Jetstar & the World’s Biggest Sailing Yacht

by | Aug 5, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE! 🚢

We’ve got another great mix of cruise and travel news this week, including major booking changes from Princess Cruises, airline updates, the world’s largest sailing yacht and the changing face of cruise theme nights.

🗞️ Tonight’s Cruise News

💳 Princess Cruises changes deposits and final payment dates
Princess is asking guests to commit earlier than ever before. We’ll explain what has changed and what it means if you’re planning your next cruise.

✈️ Jetstar updates carry-on baggage options
New baggage choices aim to give travellers more flexibility—but are they really better value?

⛵ Orient Express Corinthian
The world’s largest sailing yacht is almost ready to launch, combining luxury with cutting-edge sailing technology.

🎉 Are cruise theme nights changing?
From formal nights to White Parties and 80s nights—is cruising becoming more relaxed?

💬 Tonight’s Questions

👉 Would paying your cruise balance 120 days before departure change your booking habits?

👉 Are you a carry-on-only traveller?

👉 Would you choose a luxury sailing yacht over a mega cruise ship?

👉 Do you miss traditional formal nights?

⚡ Plus…

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions

💬 Live Q&A

🚢 Cruise chat, opinions and plenty of laughs!

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Deb & Matt Chat – Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Paid Theatre Seats, Nude Cruise Refund & Life at Sea

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Paid Theatre Seats, Nude Cruise Refund & Life at Sea

by | Jul 29, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE for another week of cruise news, travel updates, questions and plenty of cruise conversation.

Tonight’s stories cover everything from cruise growth in Asia to new onboard charges, residential cruising and one very unusual refund request.

Tonight’s cruise news

🌏 Cordelia Cruises expands into Southeast Asia
India’s growing cruise brand is preparing to move beyond its domestic market with new regional itineraries.

💺 A cruise line introduces paid premium theatre seating
Would you pay extra to guarantee one of the best seats, or should cruise entertainment remain fully included?

😳 Passengers seek compensation after a nude area closes
The couple says the venue was a key reason they booked, raising questions about when onboard changes deserve a refund.

🚢 Villa Vie plans another residential cruise ship
The company is expanding its live-at-sea model for travellers who want to make a cruise ship their permanent home.

❤️ Cruise colleagues marry after meeting at sea
A feel-good story celebrating the relationships and community formed among crew members.

Plus our usual cruise banter, viewer Q&A and community discussion.

Tonight’s questions

Would you pay extra for premium theatre seats?

Should guests receive compensation when a major onboard feature is unavailable?

Could you live permanently aboard a cruise ship?

Is India becoming one of cruising’s next major growth markets?

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💬 Join the conversation live

Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

Lots of topics to cover tonight including.
Paid cruise theatre seating and cruise ship premium seats.
Nudists demanding cruise refund.
Residential cruise ship fleet expansion at Villa Vie Residences
Cordelia Cruises Prepares for Southeast Asia and Indian cruise market,
Crew life aboard a cruise ship

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