Tag: cruise tips

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Didn’t Expect This on Day 2 of Our Cruise!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Didn’t Expect This on Day 2 of Our Cruise!

by | Jun 21, 2026 | | 0 |

Day 2 aboard Anthem of the Seas was meant to be a relaxing sea day… but it turned into something much more!

After a leisurely brunch, we met some wonderful viewers and unexpectedly found ourselves enjoying an open house tour of one of Royal Caribbean’s spectacular Grand Loft Suites.

See what a relaxing morning routine looks like on board in this cruise vlog, we start our second morning feeling rested and refreshed while sailing to our next destination. We explore the ship deck to check the weather conditions before heading inside for a delicious cruise ship brunch. If you are planning a trip or just curious about life at sea, this travel day vlog offers a realistic look at our daily onboard experience.

We also share a quick food highlight, including a warm apple cobbler with ice cream that we enjoyed during our meal. Whether you are curious about the food quality or the general atmosphere on the Anthem of the Seas, this video gives you an honest glimpse of our day at sea.

Subscribe for regular cruise travel guides and updates, and let us know in the comments what ship you are planning to sail on next.
Along the way we discover one of our favourite cruise hacks at Two70 Café, try our luck at Bingo, discuss Crown & Anchor loyalty benefits, encounter some surprising prices, and enjoy some fantastic live music including an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute show.

Of course, no day would be complete without another delicious dinner in the Main Dining Room and a few laughs along the way.

🛳️ Anthem of the Seas
🌏 Sydney to Airlie Beach Cruise
🚢 Royal Caribbean

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:31 Brunch
04:03 Grand Loft Suite Open House
06:30 A Royal Mystery
07:39 Top Tip – Two70 Cafe
09:49 Bingo
10:24 Crown and Anchor Bingo Benefits
15:10 Interactive Art
16:00 Shore Excursions
16:14 Cabin Hints
17:09 Price Shock
19:17 Champagne Fail
20:45 Cruise Live Music
21:23 Deb’s Secret Past
23:10 French Menu Royal Caribbean
26:08 Main Dining Room Starters
29:51 Mains
31:19 Dessert
33:47 Earth Wind and Fire Tribute
34:36 Wrap Up
36:39 Coming Up

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean tips and travel adventures, subscribe and come along for the rest of our Anthem of the Seas series!

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseLife #GrandLoftSuite

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Arrived For Our Cruise… But There Was NO SHIP! | Anthem of the Seas

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Arrived For Our Cruise… But There Was NO SHIP! | Anthem of the Seas

by | Jun 16, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome aboard Anthem of the Seas!

Our Sydney to Airlie Beach cruise adventure officially begins, but things don’t quite go to plan when we arrive at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal and discover one very important thing is missing…

The ship!

Join us as we travel from Brisbane to Sydney, explore Circular Quay, check out recent airport upgrades, drop our bags, complete embarkation, board Anthem of the Seas and enjoy our first day onboard.

We also visit Windjammer Marketplace, explore the ship, enjoy sailaway from Sydney Harbour, test GIGSKY connectivity, watch aircraft movements around Sydney Airport and experience our first dinner in the Main Dining Room.

Unfortunately, we also encounter a couple of unexpected problems, including damaged clothing and an issue with our cabin shower.

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

Anthem of the Seas – Arrival in Sydney https://youtube.com/live/qn9tn2cwieY?feature=share

Sydney Harbour Cruise Ship Sailaway
https://youtube.com/live/KPVIB4nKD48?feature=share

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:22 Late Cruise Arrival
00:42 Brisbane Airport Upgrades
01:32 Sydney Airport Train
01:55 Circular Quay Sydney
03:11 Cruise Bag Drop
04:45 Anthem of the Seas Arrives
05:39 Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal
08:27 Sydney Light Rail
08:37 Cruise Supplies
10:03 Cruise Embarkation
10:47 Cruise Boarding
12:06 Finding Our Cabin
12:41 Lunch in Windjammer
15:45 GIGSKY Preview
16:21 Plane Spotting in Sydney
17:39 Sailaway
18:18 Warning – Ruined Clothes
20:03 Shower Problems
21:14 Main Dining Room – American Icon
24:31 Starters
28:11 Dinner
31:08 Dessert
33:31 Outro

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, cruise news, ship reviews and travel adventures, be sure to subscribe and join us for the rest of this Anthem of the Seas series.

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseLife #SydneyCruise #CruiseAustralia

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Anthem of the Seas Interior Cabin 11703: Full Room Tour

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Anthem of the Seas Interior Cabin 11703: Full Room Tour

by | Jun 11, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome aboard Anthem of the Seas!

In this first video of our brand-new cruise series, we’re taking you inside Cabin 11703, an Interior Stateroom with Royal Caribbean’s famous Virtual Balcony.

We’ll show you everything you need to know before you book, including the layout, storage, bathroom, power outlets, air conditioning, tea and coffee facilities, room service options, and a couple of little surprises we discovered during our cruise.
This is our first impressions tour Anthem of the Seas cabin 11703 to see what this specific stateroom looks like before you book your next cruise vacation.

If you are planning a trip on Anthem of the Seas, knowing exactly what to expect from your accommodations is essential. This cabin tour of room 11703 walks you through the layout and features, helping you decide if this specific Royal Caribbean room is the right choice for your travel needs.

We show you how to access the space using your Sea Pass card, verifying that you have the correct stateroom upon arrival. Whether you are a first-time cruiser or a frequent traveler, seeing a real cruise cabin setup helps remove the guesswork from your booking process.

Subscribe for weekly cruise room breakdowns, and comment below if you want to see more stateroom tours from this ship.
We also share some practical cruise hacks, including our favourite towel trick, why you should pack magnetic hooks, and what travel adaptor you’ll need.

If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise from Sydney, or you’re considering an interior cabin with a virtual balcony, this review should help you decide if it’s the right cabin for you.

📍 Cruise: Anthem of the Seas
🛳️ Cabin: 11703
🚢 Cabin Type: Interior Stateroom with Virtual Balcony
🌏 Itinerary: Sydney to Airlie Beach

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:12 Seapass Card
00:53 Entry Area
01:09 Evacuation Card
01:30 Do Not Disturb
01:42 Air Conditioning
02:04 Bring Your Hooks
02:37 Bathroom
03:09 Towel Hack
05:06 Storage
05:21 Hanging Space
06:06 Virtual Balcony
06:56 Power
07:16 Travel Adaptor
07:55 Tea and Coffee
08:31 Room Service
09:17 Cruise Fridge
09:51 Problem #1
11:32 Final Thoughts

If you enjoy cruise tips, travel advice, cabin reviews and live cruise news, make sure you subscribe and join us each week.

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemoftheSeas #CabinTour #VirtualBalcony #CruiseTips #CruiseReview #SydneyCruise #AirlieBeach #DebAndMattChat

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Floating Cities, Carnival Changes & MSC’s New Mega Ship

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Floating Cities, Carnival Changes & MSC’s New Mega Ship

by | Jun 10, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE! 🚢

We’ve got another fun week of cruise news, opinions and plenty of community chat.

🗞️ Tonight’s Cruise News

🚢 Freedom Ship returns
The concept of a permanent floating city is back. This certainly brings a new meaning to the idea of living seaside. Could people really live on a ship full time? Is this even a ship?

🎫 Carnival introduces new Sail & Sign cards
A fresh look for one of cruising’s most recognisable items and another step in Carnival’s loyalty evolution.

📱 John Heald changes his social media role
Carnival’s legendary Brand Ambassador is stepping back from his full-time online presence.

🌏 MSC World Asia countdown begins
MSC continues its mega ship expansion with new attractions and experiences.
⚡ PLUS…

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions are back!

One question. Thirty seconds. No time to overthink the answer!

And of course we’ll have all the usual cruise banter, live chat and viewer questions.

💬 Tonight’s discussion:

👉 Would you live permanently on a floating city?

👉 Do cruise loyalty programs matter?

👉 Is John Heald the most influential personality in cruising?

👉 Are cruise ships becoming the destination?

👍 Like & Subscribe

🔔 Turn on notifications

📺 Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Data Breach, New Cruise Perks & Passenger Warning

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Data Breach, New Cruise Perks & Passenger Warning

by | Jun 3, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE 🚢

This week we’re covering some fascinating cruise news stories that touch on security, loyalty rewards, cruise bargains and cultural expectations ashore.

Tonight’s Cruise News Stories

🔐 Carnival Corporation Cyber Security Incident
A major data breach has potentially exposed customer information, raising questions about privacy and security in the cruise industry.

⭐ Celebrity Cruises Loyalty Program Changes
Celebrity is introducing new milestone rewards and benefits, filling the gap between Elite Plus and Zenith status levels.

👙 Carnival’s Lifou Dress Code Warning
Passengers have been reminded to respect local customs when visiting Lifou, sparking debate about cultural expectations and cruise tourism.

💬 Plus our usual cruise chat, questions, opinions and community discussion.

Tonight’s Questions

👉 How concerned are you about cruise line data security?

👉 Do cruise loyalty programs influence which cruise line you choose?

👉 Should passengers be expected to adapt to local customs when visiting ports?

Join us LIVE and have your say!

👍 Like
🔔 Subscribe
💬 Join the conversation

📺 Deb & Matt Chat – Life, Cruise & Travel

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: LIVE Cruise News, Cruise Confessions & Audience Q&A LIVE!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: LIVE Cruise News, Cruise Confessions & Audience Q&A LIVE!

by | May 27, 2026 | | 0 |

Join us LIVE tonight for another fun episode of Deb & Matt Chat as we cover this week’s cruise news, share some updates from around the cruise world, and try something a little different…

🚢 DEB vs MATT: CRUISE QUICKFIRE! 🔥

We’ll each have just 60 seconds to answer rapid-fire cruise questions ranging from embarrassing cruise moments and favourite ports to cruise hot takes, travel fails and funny stories from our adventures together.

And we want YOU involved too!
Answer the questions live in the chat and join the conversation throughout the stream.

Tonight’s stream includes:
⚓ This week’s cruise news roundup
⚓ Deb vs Matt Cruise Quickfire
⚓ Cruise confessions & hot takes
⚓ Audience participation questions
⚓ Live audience Q&A

Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser, planning your first cruise, or just love cruise banter and travel stories, come hang out with us live!

#CruiseNews #CruiseLive #DebAndMattChat #Cruising #RoyalCaribbean #PrincessCruises #CarnivalCruise #CruiseTips #CruiseVlog #LiveStream

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: The Truth About This Interior Cabin 🚢 Carnival Encounter Room 5236 Review

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: The Truth About This Interior Cabin 🚢 Carnival Encounter Room 5236 Review

by | May 8, 2026 | | 0 |

After spending our cruise in Interior Cabin 5236 aboard the Carnival Encounter, it’s time for our full end-of-trip cabin review.

In this honest cabin review, we break down:
✅ what worked well
❌ what challenged us
😴 the bedding and pillows
🔊 the noise issues
🚿 bathroom practicality
📍 cabin location on Deck 5
⚠ maintenance concerns
🥤 fridge performance and storage

This is the REAL review after actually living in the cabin for the cruise — not just first impressions.

If you’re considering booking an interior cabin on Carnival Encounter, especially Cabin 5236 or nearby rooms, this video should help you decide whether it’s the right fit for your cruise.

👇 Let us know:
What’s the BIGGEST thing you look for in a cruise cabin?

🚢 Part of our full Carnival Encounter Australia Day cruise series:
✔ Embarkation day
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Cabin tours
✔ Dining reviews
✔ Honest cruise experiences

Subscribe to follow along!

00:00 Intro
00:10 Carnival Encounter Cabin 5236 Review
00:31 Bedding Comfort Review
01:34 Pillows & Sleep Quality
03:34 Fridge Performance
05:38 Maintenance Issues
06:21 Bathroom Review
08:27 Cabin Location on Deck 5
09:37 Noise Problems 🚨
10:43 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

#CarnivalEncounter #CruiseCabinReview #CruiseTips #CarnivalCruise #CruisingAustralia

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Family Friendly Australia Day Cruise

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Family Friendly Australia Day Cruise

by | May 6, 2026 | | 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

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise Updates 🚢 Royal Beach Club Opens Santorini, Disney Extends & Icon Class Grows

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise Updates 🚢 Royal Beach Club Opens Santorini, Disney Extends & Icon Class Grows

by | Apr 29, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE 🚢

This week we’re diving into some major cruise industry updates — from brand new destinations and ship orders to changing port strategies and infrastructure investments.

🗞️ This week’s cruise news:

🇬🇷 Royal Beach Club Santorini opens
Royal Caribbean launches its first Royal Beach Club in Europe, offering a premium beach experience as part of new shore excursions

🚀 Royal Caribbean orders more Icon-class ships
Two additional ships confirmed for delivery in 2029 and 2030 as the Icon class continues to expand

🇺🇸 Juneau introduces cruise passenger caps
New limits aim to balance tourism with local community needs and reduce overcrowding

🇺🇸 Princess & Holland America invest in Alaska community rebuild
Cruise lines commit funding to restore a historic American Legion post in Ketchikan

🇺🇸 Disney Cruise Line extends San Diego partnership
Agreement through 2031 expands sailings and strengthens West Coast operations

✨ PLUS:
We’ll share updates from Ovation of the Seas following her recent dry dock

💬 Join us LIVE as we break it all down!

👉 Are cruise destinations becoming too controlled?
👉 Are ships getting too big?
👉 Is overtourism reshaping cruise itineraries?

👍 Like & Subscribe for weekly cruise news
📺 Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

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

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

by | Apr 26, 2026 | | 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

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

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

by | Apr 17, 2026 | | 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,

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 New Itineraries, Rising Fees & Is Aussie Cruising in Trouble?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 New Itineraries, Rising Fees & Is Aussie Cruising in Trouble?

by | Apr 15, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE 🚢

This week we’re breaking down some of the biggest cruise industry updates — from new itineraries and ship changes to rising costs and what’s really happening in the Australian cruise market.

🗞️ This week’s cruise news:

🇯🇵 Princess Cruises expands Japan & Asia season
A huge new deployment with ships homeporting in Tokyo and dozens of itineraries across Asia

🇫🇯 Fiji Princess to be retired after grounding
Following a recent incident, the ship will be removed from service and replaced with a new vessel

💸 MSC raises gratuities
Passengers will see higher daily service charges, with more increases expected across the industry

⛽ Fuel surcharge concerns return
Cruise executives warn rising fuel costs could impact pricing and future cruise fares

🇦🇺 CLIA report: Record demand BUT warning signs
Australians are cruising in record numbers — but the industry warns Australia is losing ships and competitiveness

🌏 StarCruises boosts Asian itineraries
New flexible itineraries and extended port stays across Asia for 2026

💬 Join us LIVE as we break it all down!

👉 Are cruise prices about to rise again?
👉 Is Australia losing its place as a cruise destination?
👉 Would you cruise Asia over the South Pacific?

👍 Like & Subscribe for weekly cruise news
📺 Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

Key topics this week include:
Cruise news 2026, Cruise price increases, Cruise gratuities increase, Princess Japan cruise season 2027 and 2028 , Fiji Princess Retirement, Cruise Industry in Australia, clia report australia cruise, cruise fuel surcharge and More Asian cruises 2026, cruise updates live

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