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Cruise News LIVE: Carnival Encounter Issues, Royal Caribbean Changes & More

Deb & Matt Chat
Deb & Matt Chat
Casual
👁️ 1K views📅 2 months ago⏱️ 1:07:15
What This Creator Said
Creator Had Mixed FeelingsCruise VlogCasual Creator
❤️ Best for CoupleVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

Basically, it's the exact same encounter that was that you would have been on on Australia Day.

The Byron Bay pool area is still a construction zone or building site.

Lots of rooms uh with leaking ceilings, toilets not fun fully functioning and rooms covered in mold.

This is a case of we can't have nice things because people do stupid things.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Check the next cruise vouchers on Royal Caribbean ships ($200 AUD deposit)
Watch multiple cruise content creators to get balanced opinions
Go with the flow regarding weather and port changes
Book a tour on embarkation day to see the spa/thermal suite

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Fear of missing ports due to weatherWeather is unpredictable; captains prioritize safety over port visits, don't get angry at changes
Carnival reputation vs other linesExperience it for yourself; every cruise is different regardless of line, watch multiple creators for balanced views
Solo cruising anxietyAttend solo cruiser events, trivia, and activities; easy to meet people on cruises

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat are the current issues with Carnival Encounter after dry dock?
QHas Royal Caribbean removed the free souvenir cup from drink packages?
QWhat is the current state of the Australian cruise industry?
QShould first-time cruisers be concerned about Carnival?

Topics Covered

Drink Package1 Sad BaconItinerary Route1½ Happy BaconLoyalty Program1 Happy BaconShip Condition1 Sad BaconService Crew1½ Happy BaconValue Pricing½ Happy BaconPool Deck3 Sad BaconCabin Interior4½ Sad Bacon

Port Highlights

Brisbane1½ Happy Bacon
Bundaberg1 Sad Bacon
Byron Bay2½ Sad Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE for another week of cruise news, industry updates and live discussion with our cruise community. Tonight we’re covering several major cruise industry stories including: 🚢 Carnival Encounter controversy Passengers returning from the ship’s dry dock are reporting incomplete renovations, leaks in cabins and areas of the ship still resembling a construction site. 🥤 Royal Caribbean quietly removes a popular drink package perk The Coca-Cola souvenir cup will no longer be automatically included with premium drink packages, meaning guests must now pay extra if they want Freestyle machine access. 🛳 Celebrity Solstice returns from dry dock The ship has received new venues including Sunset Park, Trattoria Rossa and Fine Cut Steakhouse as part of a major modernization program. 💎 Regent Seven Seas sees strong demand for Australia The ultra-luxury line says its upcoming Australian winter season is almost sold out and may expand operations down under. 🏆 CLIA Cruise Industry Awards announced Australia and New Zealand’s top cruise travel agents were honoured at the industry’s biggest awards night in Sydney. ⚓ New incentives to attract cruise ships to NSW ports 🏰Disney Adventure Arrives in Singapore 5 years of Disney Magic awaits cruisers from Singapore on the newest and biggest ship in the Disney fleet, Disney Adventure. Recently christened by the ships godparent - Robert Downey Jr. PLUS we’ll share our experiences, answer questions and discuss what these stories mean for cruisers in Australia. Join the conversation LIVE! 👍 Like 💬 Comment 🔔 Subscribe