2024 Norwegian Viva Review

By now, you’ve no doubt seen images of NCL’s new ship, the VIVA. But how is the experience of sailing on it? I had the opportunity to experience the VIVA this month, and I’m here to tell you all about it!

As a seasoned travel advisor specializing in cruises, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing various cruise lines and ships.

My recent voyage aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line Ship VIVA offered a fresh perspective on modern cruising.

In this post, we will discuss the overall experience I had on the VIVA and I’ll give you honest opinions about the food, the entertainment, and the ship itself.

In a hurry? Check out this quick summary of the NCL VIVA.

NCL VIVA REVIEW

Overall Experience on the NCL VIVA

The VIVA is a testament to elegance and comfort. Its warm, soft color scheme creates a welcoming atmosphere, complemented by the consistently excellent service.

The crew, always greeting us with a smile, maintained an immaculate environment throughout the ship.

The laid-back vibe was perfect for our port-heavy itinerary, allowing us to focus on our exciting excursions.

The ship is quite large, at 956 feet long. It can accommodate 3099 passengers plus about 1500 crew members. That being said, I never did feel crowded or like I had to wait in line for things I wanted.

Embarkation was an absolute breeze, and getting off at the ports was well-organized and simple as well. Getting off the ship on our final day was easy (even though the port of Civitavecchia is a circus.)

VIVA Itinerary and Destinations

The VIVA is currently sailing in the Mediterranean, which is where we sailed. However, soon it will journey to the Caribbean, where it will make its home in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

San Juan is one of my favorite cruise ports, so I’m quite tempted to sail on VIVA again once it’s in the Caribbean.

Our itinerary was a 9-night, port-intensive itinerary. While I loved the ports, I think I prefer a few sea days mixed in so I can relax and explore the ship more.

Our Itinerary was:

• Athens, Greece
• Santorini, Greece
• Kusadasi, Turkey
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Mykonos, Greece
• Katakolon, Greece
• Catania, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Livorno, Italy
• Civitavecchia, Italy

From Athens to Rome, each port brought its own charm and adventure.

Accommodations on the VIVA

We stayed in room 16720. This is classified as a Spa Balcony Room. The cabin is located on deck 16, forward, and is just steps from the spa.

🛳 Pro Tip: If you are prone to seasickness, try and get a room in the middle of the ship, and on a lower deck to reduce the amount of movement you feel!

Our Spa Balcony Room was a delightful retreat. Spacious and well-designed, it boasted a luxurious bathroom with a waterfall shower head.

The ample closet space and abundance of electrical plugs were a pleasant surprise, a noticeable upgrade from other lines.

The balcony, adorned with comfortable chairs, became our private sanctuary, and it was a wonderful place to start and end our days.

Unlimited access to the Spa Thermal Suites was a cherry on top, offering a tranquil escape. Unfortunately, NCL is doing away with the perk of access to the spa in these rooms, which is a bummer.

The location is still great if you plan on using the spa a lot, and it’s nice and quiet in this area of the ship.

The NCL VIVA offers interior, ocean view, and balcony rooms throughout the ship. They also offer suites of varying sizes and prices. NCL offers solo cabins which is a definite perk for solo travelers who don’t want to get penalized with a solo supplement charge.

Here are the NCL VIVA Deck plans

Dining Options on the Viva

The dining experience was a mixed bag. The ‘freestyle’ concept of NCL, while offering flexibility, lacked the personalized touch of a dedicated waiter and table. I missed that aspect from previous cruising experiences.

The variety at the buffet was adequate but repetitive. There were a lot of seating areas in the buffet which was nice.

For the main dining rooms, the menus were the same in each dining room and didn’t seem to change much during the week.

There seemed to be a lot of dining options, however, they often weren’t open, especially at lunchtime. One of our favorite places was Indulge. Here, you could order food from a variety of different places and they would be brought to your table.

The sports bar had decent bar food snacks as well as a larger area where you could order food as well.

Specialty dining included a French Restaurant, a Mexican Food Restaurant, Sushi, Hibachi, Steak House, and an Italian Restaurant.

Our cruise fare came with 2 specialty meals and we chose Hibachi and Steakhouse. Specialty dining at the Hibachi Grill and Steakhouse was enjoyable but didn’t quite hit the high mark one would expect from such experiences. The Fahrenheit Steak House on Carnival is far superior to Cagneys on NCL.

Entertainment and Activities on the VIVA

Onboard activities catered to a wide array of interests. The fitness facilities were top-notch, and unique offerings like the go-kart track and top golf simulator added a fun twist. However, those were an additional charge.

There was also a sports deck with ping pong, modified soccer, and other games, as well as an area for darts and mini golf.

The pool deck, while vibrant, could benefit from an adults-only area. It also seemed quite small for the number of guests that can be onboard.

This didn’t become an issue on this cruise, but I can expect that on Caribbean Sailings, the pool is going to get very crowded.

There are some great lounge areas on the side of the ship with infinity hot tubs and sun beds lining the ship.

The Thermal Spa stands out as VIVA’s crown jewel. Its scale and beauty surpass any spa I’ve encountered on other ships, (including the Disney Rain Forest Room) offering a serene and luxurious experience.

As far as entertainment, I dont know if we were just too tired to find it, or if it was lacking, but I definitely was underwhelmed with the options.

There were 2 main shows, each shown twice. You needed reservations for both, and we were unable to get reservations to ICONS, which is a singing show with various artists from different eras.

Beetle Juice, one of the main shows, was well-executed but veered towards adult themes, a detail worth noting for families. I didn’t see any warnings, and I don’t consider myself easily offended, but there were definitely sexual undertones and even a few F-bombs dropped, so be warned if you have kids with you.

Safety and Accessibility

The ship excelled in cleanliness and safety measures.

The medical facilities, despite being costly (that’s a story for another time, but the moral of it is, ALWAYS GET TRAVEL INSURANCE), provided professional and caring service during an unexpected need.

Value for Money

When it comes to value, the VIVA fares well against its competitors like Royal Caribbean and Carnival. The pricing felt fair for the offerings, without the feeling of being nickel-and-dimed.

The Wifi works well for keeping in touch with work and family at home and is priced comparably to other cruise lines.

The drink package was adequate, although unfortunately doesn’t include Starbucks without an additional upgrade charge, which I did not do.

NCL VIVA Comparison with Other Cruises

As my first NCL experience, VIVA was a blend of hits and misses. The freestyle approach pales in comparison to the structured dining of lines like Carnival and Disney. However, it does hold an edge over Princess in terms of energy and vibrancy.

The Norwegian Cruise Line Ship VIVA is a blend of luxury, relaxation, and adventure. While it shines in areas like accommodations and spa facilities, it has room for improvement in dining and entertainment. It’s a solid choice for those who prefer a laid-back cruise experience with a focus on destinations.

Have you sailed on the VIVA or are considering it? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments. I’m here to offer advice and insights for your future cruising adventures!

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