Tag: royal caribbean

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 on YT: CRUISE NEWS LIVE Royal Buys Into SANDALS! 🤯 Carnival Responds + MSC on the River?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: CRUISE NEWS LIVE Royal Buys Into SANDALS! 🤯 Carnival Responds + MSC on the River?

by | Sep 30, 2026 | | 0 |

🚨🚢 ROYAL CARIBBEAN GROUP IS BUYING 50% OF SANDALS & BEACHES RESORTS — FOR AROUND US$3 BILLION!
Yep… that’s a BIG one
Royal Caribbean Group is expanding beyond cruise ships with a huge investment in Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts
And the really interesting part?
While Royal talks about building a broader vacation platform, Carnival’s response is basically:
“We’re very proudly a cruise company.”
Two of the world’s biggest cruise groups. Two VERY different strategies
We’re unpacking all of that LIVE tonight on Deb & Matt Chat — plus Princess is bringing ChatGPT into cruise planning, MSC is building another private island, Explora Journeys is heading onto Europe’s rivers and Celebrity’s new Australian cruises are on sale!
🏝️ ROYAL CARIBBEAN + SANDALS — A US$3 BILLION DEAL
Royal Caribbean Group has agreed to acquire a 50% interest in Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts for approximately US$3 billion
That adds all-inclusive Caribbean resorts to a group that already includes:
🚢 Royal Caribbean
✨ Celebrity Cruises
🥂 Silversea
🌊 Celebrity River Cruises
🏝️ Private destinations and Royal Beach Clubs
Is Royal Caribbean transforming from a cruise company into a complete holiday company?
🚢 CARNIVAL SAYS: WE’RE A CRUISE COMPANY
Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein has been asked whether Carnival might follow Royal into major land-based resort acquisitions
His response?
Carnival is “very proudly a cruise company.”
Carnival continues investing in destinations such as Celebration Key and RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay — but sees those as extensions of the cruise holiday
So which strategy makes more sense?
💰 CARNIVAL IS ALREADY HALF BOOKED FOR 2027!
Carnival says around 50% of its 2027 capacity is already booked — with both occupancy AND pricing at record levels
Even 2028 bookings are running ahead
Are the days of waiting until the last minute for a bargain cruise disappearing?
🤖 PRINCESS CRUISES + CHATGPT
Princess Cruises is launching an AI-powered cruise planning experience with ChatGPT
Instead of endlessly searching dates, destinations and itineraries, travellers will be able to have a conversation about the cruise they want
Would YOU trust AI to help choose your next holiday?
And perhaps more importantly
Could ChatGPT find Deb & Matt a better cruise than Deb can? 😂
🇦🇺 PRINCESS PACKAGE CHANGES FOR AUSTRALIANS
Princess has also changed how Plus and Premier packages work for Australians cruising overseas
For package buyers, crew appreciation/gratuities will now be included, potentially removing one of those annoying extra costs Aussies encounter when cruising internationally
We’ll explain what’s changing and whether it’s actually a better deal
🌊 EXPLORA JOURNEYS IS GOING RIVER CRUISING
First Celebrity
Now Explora Journeys
MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand is planning its own move onto Europe’s rivers
Is river cruising about to become the next major battleground between the big ocean-cruise companies?
🏝️ MSC IS BUILDING ANOTHER PRIVATE ISLAND
MSC has officially broken ground on Sandy Cay, a new private destination in The Bahamas opening in 2028
And it’s right beside Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
MSC and Explora guests will effectively have access to TWO complementary private destinations
🇦🇺 CELEBRITY’S 2028–29 AUSTRALIAN CRUISES
Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice are returning Down Under with 23 Australia and New Zealand sailings
Cruises range from four to 14 nights from Sydney and Auckland
So
EDGE or SOLSTICE?
Which one are YOU booking?
PLUS
⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise news, tips, opinions and conversation
💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTIONS
🏝️ Is Royal right to expand beyond cruising?
🚢 Or do you prefer Carnival’s “we’re a cruise company” strategy?
🤖 Would you use AI to choose and plan a cruise?
💰 And are you prepared to book cruises TWO YEARS ahead to get the price you want?
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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 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?

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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?

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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 on YT: DOUBLE POINTS RETURN! Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Offer + Cruise News LIVE

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: DOUBLE POINTS RETURN! Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Offer + Cruise News LIVE

by | Jul 22, 2026 | | 0 |

Royal Caribbean’s Double Crown & Anchor Points promotion is back! Tonight Deb is flying solo for another Cruise & Travel Chat LIVE, while Matt works behind the scenes.

We’ll unpack how the double-points offer works, who can qualify, how solo cruisers may earn even more points and whether it is worth booking now to move closer to Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle status.

Tonight’s cruise and travel news

🌊 European river cruise disruptions
Changing river conditions are affecting itineraries, with some guests facing route changes, ship swaps and coach transfers.

🚢 Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem upgrades
NCL is refreshing two popular ships with updated venues, public areas and accommodation.

🇪🇸 Barcelona increases pressure on cruise visitors
New and rising passenger charges reignite the debate about overtourism, port costs and whether cruisers are being asked to pay too much.

🌳 Royal Caribbean, The Wiggles and National Tree Day
The partners are supporting native tree planting alongside Australia’s upcoming Wiggly Cruises.

⭐ Double Crown & Anchor Points return
We explain the eligibility rules, booking conditions, earning potential and whether this is one of Royal Caribbean’s best loyalty promotions.

🎄 Royal Caribbean Christmas cruise offers
After the news, we’ll highlight festive sailings from Brisbane and Sydney aboard Quantum and Anthem of the Seas.

Plus the usual cruise banter, viewer Q&A and 30 Second Quick Questions.

Tell us in the live chat:

What Crown & Anchor tier are you currently?
Would double points convince you to make another booking?
Would you spend Christmas aboard a cruise ship?

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Carnival’s BIGGEST Ship Ever, Royal’s New Family Feature & Surprise Cruise!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Carnival’s BIGGEST Ship Ever, Royal’s New Family Feature & Surprise Cruise!

by | Jul 15, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE! 🚢

It’s been another huge week in cruising—and at the last minute we ended up back onboard a cruise ship ourselves!

Tonight we’re covering one of Carnival’s biggest announcements in years, Royal Caribbean’s latest onboard technology, Australia’s move towards digital arrivals… and we’ll explain how a call from a Carnival Personal Vacation Planner changed our weekend plans!

🗞️ Tonight’s Cruise News

🚢 Carnival Destiny revealed
Carnival’s biggest cruise ship ever is coming! We’ll compare it with Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and ask whether Carnival can finally compete at the very top of the mega-ship market.

👨‍👩‍👧 Royal Caribbean launches “Find My Kid”
A new app feature aims to make family cruising easier than ever.

🇦🇺 Australia moves towards digital arrival cards
Could paper arrival cards soon become history for international travellers?

☎️ Our surprise weekend cruise!
How a Carnival Personal Vacation Planner convinced us to jump onboard at the last minute—and what exactly does a Personal Vacation Planner do?

💬 Tonight’s Questions

👉 Can Carnival Destiny compete with Icon of the Seas?

👉 Would you use Royal Caribbean’s Find My Kid feature?

👉 Are you ready to ditch paper arrival cards?

👉 Have you ever booked a cruise at the last minute?

⚡ Plus…

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions

💬 Live Q&A

🚢 Cruise banter & opinions

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE! Is Royal Caribbean Going Year-Round in Australia?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE! Is Royal Caribbean Going Year-Round in Australia?

by | Jul 8, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE! 🚢

It’s another huge week in cruising, with Royal Caribbean dominating the headlines as construction begins at Lelepa, new clues emerge about the future Discovery Class, and executives continue talking about year-round cruising from Australia.

🗞️ Tonight’s Cruise News

🏝️ Construction officially begins at Royal Beach Club Lelepa
Royal Caribbean’s first exclusive beach club in the South Pacific takes a major step forward.

🇦🇺 Could Royal Caribbean cruise Australia all year?
Executives continue discussing the possibility—but what’s standing in the way?

🚢 Discovery Class deployment clues
New comments provide fresh hints about where Royal Caribbean’s next generation of ships could be heading.

🍜 MSC World Asia reveals a new Pan-Asian dining experience
A destination-inspired restaurant brings authentic Asian flavours to MSC’s newest flagship.

💬 Tonight’s Questions

👉 Will Lelepa change South Pacific cruising?

👉 Would you book a Royal Caribbean cruise from Australia in winter?

👉 Where should the first Discovery Class ship be based?

👉 What’s your favourite cruise speciality restaurant?

⚡ Plus…

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions

💬 Viewer Q&A

🚢 Cruise chat, banter and opinions

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 6 New Cruise Ships, Cruise Brawl & IS winter Cruising coming to Australia?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 6 New Cruise Ships, Cruise Brawl & IS winter Cruising coming to Australia?

by | Jul 1, 2026 | | 0 |

elcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE! 🚢

Another huge week in cruising with major announcements, industry investment and plenty to discuss!

🗞️ Tonight’s Cruise News

🚢 MSC to order SIX new cruise ships
One of the biggest shipbuilding announcements in recent years, with deliveries stretching well into the 2030s with official announcement teased

🇦🇺 Is winter cruising finally about to take off in Australia?
Could Australia become a genuine year-round cruise destination?

🏆 Carnival Rewards introduces milestone benefits
More recognition and rewards for loyal Carnival cruisers.

🥊 Another cruise ship brawl goes viral
What does it say about passenger behaviour… and are these incidents really becoming more common?

🔥 River cruise fire prompts emergency evacuation
Thankfully everyone is safe, but it raises questions about onboard safety and emergency procedures.

💬 Tonight’s Questions

👉 Is MSC becoming Royal Caribbean’s biggest long-term competitor?

👉 Would you cruise from Australia during winter?

👉 Do cruise loyalty programs influence who you sail with?

👉 Are cruise fights becoming more common-or just more visible?

⚡ Plus…

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions

💬 Viewer Q&A

🚢 Cruise chat and banter

👍 Like & Subscribe

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📺 Deb & Matt Chat – Life, Cruise & Travel

Covering key topics tonight including.
SC Cruises, MSC new ships, cruise industry news, Australia winter cruising, Carnival Rewards, Carnival loyalty program, cruise brawl, river cruise fire, cruise news Australia, cruise live stream, cruise discussion

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Port Cancelled, Prices Drop & Carnival Goes Halloween 🎃

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Port Cancelled, Prices Drop & Carnival Goes Halloween 🎃

by | Jun 24, 2026 | | 0 |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE 🚢

Tonight we’re diving into another huge week in cruising, with everything from missed ports and falling fuel surcharges to Carnival’s long-term ship plans and Halloween fun across the fleet!

Tonight’s Cruise News

🏝️ Carnival Splendor misses Moreton Island
Passengers on a cruise-to-nowhere miss their only scheduled port.

⛽ Good news on cruise prices
Fuel surcharges are beginning to disappear as oil prices stabilise.

🌏 Royal Caribbean expands Asia-Pacific leadership
Another sign that Asia remains a key growth market.

🚢 Carnival reveals long-term plans
New ships and major refurbishment programs are set to continue well into the 2030s.

🎃 Halloween takes over Carnival’s fleet
Themed events and spooky fun return for 2026.

💬 Tonight’s Questions:

👉 Is $100 compensation enough when your only port is cancelled?

👉 Would you rather see fuel surcharges or higher fares?

👉 New ships or refurbished classics?

👉 Would you book a Halloween cruise?

⚡ Plus:

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions

💬 Viewer Q&A

🚢 Cruise chat and banter

👍 Like & Subscribe

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📺 Deb & Matt Chat – Life, Cruise & Travel

🔑 KEY TOPICS TONIGHT

Cruise news, Carnival splendor, Moreton island, Cruise fuel surcharge, Carnival Halloween cruises, Royal Caribbean Asia, Cruise price drops, Carnival new ships,

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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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