Rob and Ali Cruise & Travel
#3 AU/NZ
Boarding Carnival Encounter! Grinchmas in July 2026 Cruise Begins
We’re back onboard Carnival Encounter for a special three‑night Grinchmas in July cruise from Brisbane — and the festive feel hit us the moment we stepped onto the ship. Christmas trees, decorations and holiday music were everywhere, giving the whole place that cosy mid‑year Christmas vibe that Aussies know so well. For lunch we headed to The Pantry, where we noticed a few changes to the food options since our last visit. Some of it we liked, some we’re still deciding on, but it definitely felt different. Sailaway was absolutely perfect with blue skies, warm weather and our first look at the new Cruise Director, Franco, who brought great energy right from the start. This was Franco's first gig on a ship in Australia and his first week flying solo. We think he nailed it. Welcome to Australia Franco. In the evening we met up with our good friends Deb and Matt for dinner at Trattoria. It was another fantastic meal, and the included glass of wine on embarkation day is always a nice touch. After dinner we joined the fun at the 80s Rock ’n’ Glow Party, before finishing the night in the Piano Bar listening to the fabulous Cassidy Rae - Cheers y'all. All in all, it was another wonderful embarkation day and the perfect start to what promised to be a fantastic Grinchmas in July cruise. You can also find lots more information on our website at www.robandali.net Thanks for supporting us and take care. Don't forget to Like and Subscribe to watch more of our Cruise and Travel adventures. LINKS: Cassidy Rae - https://cassidy-rae.com/ #carnivalcruise #CarnivalCruiseLineAustralia #CarnivalEncounter #choosefun #cruisevlog