Get to Know Norwegian Viva NCL Travel Blog

Table Of Content

• NCL takes delivery of Norwegian Viva ship from Fincantieri Marghera
• VIDEO: Luis Fonsi to serve as godfather of NCL's newest ship Norwegian Viva
• things I love about new cruise ship Norwegian Viva — and 5 that disappoint me
• Norwegian Viva activities
• Learn From our Guests
• Card Issuer
• Included with your cruise fare:

A small wall-mounted touchscreen pad near the door controls the temperature and allows you to activate "do not disturb" and "make up room" options. One of the highlights of more recent NCL ships is Galaxy Pavilion, and there's one on Norwegian Viva. In addition to a slew of added-fee virtual reality games, it also has two upcharge escape rooms that accommodate up to six people who are OK with being locked in for 45 minutes while hunting for clues that allow them to escape. I sailed on a nine-night voyage when the ship was at roughly two-thirds of its capacity and was disappointed to note the ship sometimes felt crowded.

NCL takes delivery of Norwegian Viva ship from Fincantieri Marghera

NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE (NYC). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). Each NCL PRIMA class unit's building cost is EUR 730 million (USD 850M). In short, as long as you're prepared to shell out a little more for the full onboard experience, Norwegian Viva will not disappoint. Indeed, the atmosphere aboard Norwegian Viva is one of adult fun and casual sophistication.

VIDEO: Luis Fonsi to serve as godfather of NCL's newest ship Norwegian Viva

Taste the essence of Greece at Palomar, our first-ever Mediterranean seafood restaurant, marvel at the hand-blown chandeliers and savory French dishes at Le Bistro or see Teppanyaki in a whole new light at Hasuki. Our modern inside staterooms are highlighted with appointments like a TV, sitting area and more. Leisure days at sea, exciting moonlit nights, and nothing to distract from the journey ahead. Starlink provides fast Internet service at sea and is now available on Norwegian Viva. Using advanced low earth orbit satellites, SpaceX’s Starlink delivers industry leading broadband internet connectivity, which will improve the capacity, speed, and reliability of Internet on board. Although the youth staff runs separate age-appropriate activities for children from 3 to 12 years, they're all held together in the same space, which is weird.

things I love about new cruise ship Norwegian Viva — and 5 that disappoint me

The Haven Restaurant functions as the free main dining room for passengers booked in The Haven suite complex. It's open daily to passengers with access, and it features a set menu for the entire sailing. However, some of the areas — particularly those allocated for outdoor dining — seemed underutilized. Meanwhile, the ship's three small pools were almost always crowded, especially on sea days. My sailing was only two-thirds full; that doesn't bode well for times when the vessel is sold out. Passengers sailing aboard Norwegian Viva can even access The Haven with their own private bank of elevators located aft of the midships stair and elevator towers that are accessible to all guests.

That's not to say kids won't enjoy themselves on Norwegian Viva; our inaugural revenue sailing has been jam-packed with kids of all ages. But we'd be hard-pressed to recommend this ship to those with kids under 10 years of age; other lines simply do a better job of catering to those families. We had the chance to peek into an unoccupied Studio stateroom on Norwegian Viva and found it cozy and perfectly laid-out with modern décor and smart design -- including a great full-size bathroom. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise vacation every step of the way.

The menu comprises 11 beverages created with watermelon rind cordial, spent coffee ground cordial, banana peel syrup and pineapple peel. I tested the Cucumber Cool — vodka, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and cucumber pulp cordial — and loved it. On the wall across from the bar is a cool electronic art installation that senses when people pass by.

Learn From our Guests

Norwegian Cruise Line Celebrates Its Newest Prima Class Ship: 'Viva' - Forbes

Norwegian Cruise Line Celebrates Its Newest Prima Class Ship: 'Viva'.

Posted: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

It's home to a selection of video games, VR experiences and two escape rooms. Games can be played a la carte, and the escape rooms, which cost $15 per person, put groups of up to six people into a locked room for 45 minutes or until they solve clues needed to allow for their escape. The Haven suite complex also has a private wake-facing pool and hot tubs on decks 16 and 17 for passengers booked in The Haven suite enclave. For passengers in the mood for Asian cuisine, Nama sushi and Hasuki teppanyaki on Deck 7 aft are both solid options. The former offers for-fee a la carte sushi and sashimi, and the latter features a traditional experience where diners sit around a grill to watch a chef cook, perform tricks and tell cheesy jokes. Indulge Food Hall, only found on Norwegian's Prima Class ships, offers a food court-style experience where you seat yourself and select free items from a touchscreen menu, similar to an iPad.

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And of course, favorites like Cagney's Steakhouse, Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro French restaurant will be on board (with a bit of Prima flair, naturally). One thing is certain — you will never, ever run out of things to do on Viva. In between sunbathing and swimming, dining around the world, and being entertained from dusk till dawn, there are, of course, an endless amount of show-stopping activities.

Included with your cruise fare:

Passengers can also head down to The Local Bar and Grill on Deck 8, where casual fare like Reuben sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs -- plus a host of other flavorful delights -- is available nearly 24 hours a day. This seems like a problem -- a big one -- until you realize that Surfside is just one of many casual dining venues onboard that are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you've cruised before, or even if you just like to venture a bit off the beaten path, then you might want to skip the typical activities and do something a little different.

Most Norwegian bookings include basic ship Wi-Fi in the price of the fares. Cruisers who don't have it included or passengers who want to upgrade to a streaming package will have to pay. The cost varies by ship and itinerary, but it's generally costly, ranging from roughly $30 to $35 per person, per day, depending on your needs.

You'll be seated when you arrive, and you order from a touchpad. Items are priced a la carte and will be made to order, with each delivered when ready, rather than all at once. This specialty restaurant on Deck 7 is as elegant as they come, featuring a bright atmosphere with light blue accents and high-end decor, including giant floor-to-ceiling crystal chandeliers that are stunning.

I went with a crabcake, a beefsteak tomato with onions and balsamic vinaigrette, and a petite (5-ounce) filet mignon with a side of truffle fries. If you're someone who doesn't eat meat, fish or seafood, you might consider dining elsewhere. If your stomach is rumbling a bit too much before dinner, the luxuriously appointed Observation Lounge on Deck 17 forward offers gratis between-meal snacks daily from 3 to 5 p.m. Indulge, found on Deck 8 aft, is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with different menus for each meal. It's common for passengers to order a couple of items, eat them and then order a couple more.

Regardless, it was a fun way to spend some time, especially if you've got a group traveling together. It costs $15 per person to play, and I felt it was well worth the price. The vessel will spend the winter months (roughly mid-November through mid-April) offering seven-night Caribbean voyages from San Juan. The rest of the year, it will be based in Lisbon, from which it will conduct Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries that range from nine to 11 nights.

The pizza was lukewarm with way too much garlic, and the sandwich bread was stale. The second time, however, both the service and the food were lacking. Our servers seemed confused when my vegetarian dinner companion asked about meat-free options, and when my chicken tacos arrived, they looked gross — mushy and with brown avocado. The one saving grace was the wonderful strawberry frozen margarita I had.