Norwegian Viva review: What to expect on Norwegian Cruise Line's 2nd Prima Class ship
Table Of Content
The crew was amazing, and after just a few days, the ladies at Starbucks were calling me by my first name when I approached the counter. Most crew members usually had a smile on their face and were willing to help. Lots of people in a small space got really hot and disorganized, but soon my parents and I had our luggage and were out the door and into a taxi. The Prima was scheduled to dock in Barcelona at 5 a.m., and disembarkation was set to begin as soon as local authorities cleared the ship. The earliest time was for people who wanted to take all of their luggage off the ship themselves. For two tours in Granada and Seville, Spain, I joined a small group using a private tour company.
Norwegian Sun: Best for retirees
The free-at-sea promotion is a scam, and how they advertise this is deceptive. Shore excursions are more expensive than any other cruise line, and their service is deplorable. In addition to the lower quality of service, the food in their main dining room has become so bad that it's reminiscent of a High School Cafeteria. If it's swanky digs you're after (and you have the money to spend), you'll find plenty of options on these ships. If you're a U.S. citizen departing on a Norwegian Viva cruise in Europe, you must have a passport for travel. For round-trip sailings from San Juan, you can use your original birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license.
Online check-in
There was no set sail party on the first night and there was no main headliner show either. During our first night at dinner, we overheard the lady next to us saying she couldn’t wait to get off the ship and get back home. Hayley and I laughed, especially considering we had literally just gotten onboard a few hours earlier and we were so excited. Guest services indicated that those of us joining for just two nights didn’t have any options for purchasing drink or Internet packages, much to our surprise.
Is Norwegian Breakaway a good ship to cruise on?
A group of friends and I chose a magic-themed experience that had us trying to find a missing magician. My last cruise on Pride of America featured a large buffet as well in the Aloha Cafe, so I was surprised by this tiny Garden Cafe. Here’re my honest thoughts about Norwegian Cruise Line after more than a decade, including a few things I really liked and others that left me expecting more.
Here's a recap of everything you'll need to know before a voyage on Norwegian Viva, from food and entertainment to the types of cabins available, as well as what stood out and what you might want to avoid. Our time on the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship was a fantastic experience with so much to do that the only downside was we simply didn't have time to try everything. Additionally, this two night sailing on Norwegian Sun didn’t totally provide a holistic view of the cruise line. Since we boarded at the tail-end of a long sailing, the vibes onboard were very subdued. This certainly wasn’t a traditional cruise and felt more like we came super late to the party, like when a party is almost over and everyone’s getting ready to go home. Hayley and I dined both nights in Norwegian Sun’s main dining room - and it honestly left me a little disappointed.
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Posted: Fri, 16 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Two of Norwegian Viva's top shows weren't ready when I sailed on the ship's inaugural sailing. Broadway show "Beetlejuice" was in tech rehearsals at the time, and an onboard rendition of the popular game show "Press Your Luck" also hadn't debuted. Room service is no longer free on Norwegian Cruise Line ships, and a $9.95 surcharge applies to all deliveries, along with a 20% delivery charge (note this is not a tip). Although tipping is not expected, it's nice to offer a couple of dollars to the crew member who delivers your meal. For passengers in the mood for Asian cuisine, Nama sushi and Hasuki teppanyaki on Deck 7 aft are both solid options.
The ship had a small shore excursion desk where the staff mostly sold ship-sponsored excursions and offered limited information about the ports themselves. The Free at Sea package included 300 minutes of Wi-Fi for this entire 12-night cruise, meaning I had to remember to log off to keep from using minutes. My father quickly learned logging off was not the same as just turning off the Wi-Fi on his device after a bunch of his allotted minutes went away fairly quickly when he wasn’t doing anything.
Norwegian Viva cabins and suites
If you’re scrolling through endless Norwegian Cruise Line reviews, let this complete guide to the cruise company give you the larger overview of what sets this brand apart from the rest. There are some interesting innovations from Norwegian that other cruise lines have since adopted, but they started here. Although Norwegian Getaway doesn’t sail from Florida as often as it used to, the ship was built to ooze Miami, starting with the hull, with art designed by Miami artist David "LEBO" Le Batard. It's impossible to miss the painting, which features a mermaid and pelicans and employs the colors of the sea. Inside, the overall color palate successfully melds bright purples and turquoises with more muted browns and gleaming silvers.
How much does it cost to go on Norwegian Breakaway?
Norwegian Sun was built in 2001 while Pride of America construction was complete in 2005. At this time, most cruise ships being built were nowhere near the giant mega ships that cruise lines are building today. For this 12-night cruise, the Free at Sea package included three meals at specialty dining venues. Additional meals were available as an upgrade — $99 for two more, $139 for three more, and $30 more for each additional meal you wanted after that. The upgrades are per person, so you cannot buy a two-meal package and share it with another person, giving each of you one additional meal. So, for example, an upcoming cruise on the Prima — a seven-day trip from Galveston, Texas, to the Caribbean in February — is about $2,400 per balcony cabin (with two people).
As it turns out, one of the port stops we were looking forward to was changed. A few weeks before the cruise, NCL replaced a stop in Porto, Portugal, with one in Vigo, Spain. Norwegian offers many different types of staterooms to accommodate all kinds of travelers. Whether you’re traveling solo or with the whole family, on a budget or looking to splurge, you’ll find a stateroom that will suit your needs. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
While many restaurants and activities are included in the cruise fare, it's really the extras that create a special experience. You have the choice to spend extra on exclusive spaces such as the spa's thermal suite, the Norwegian Breakaway adult-only Vibe Beach Club, on a handful of entertainment offerings or on specialty restaurants. For a more traditional cruise traveler, that approach can seem like nickel and diming, but for those accustomed to resort stays, it's quite similar. Encore cabins range from compact solo studios to huge family suites that can sleep up to six.
The idea of the “best” ship is subjective, but the biggest and newest ship is Norwegian Encore, which debuted in 2019. Norwegian will be introducing the new Leonardo class of ships in 2022. Check out of fact sheets of Carnival, and Princess Cruise Lines to see what other options are awaiting you.
So, it's up to you, but know that your stateroom attendant, the counselors in the kids' club, and your dining room servers would probably not turn down a tip. We cruised with NCL to AK last Sept without a hitch so when we received a brochure in the mail, I was excited to find another itinerary I wanted to cruise. We called to book it on a Sunday night & were so excited that we recruited another couple to join us, who called and made their own reservation, using our reservation #.
In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation. Norwegian Cruise Line's fleet consists of 19 ships that come in a wide range of sizes and feature differing mixes of venues and activities. Some are jampacked with fun zones that make them perfect for families, while others are geared toward couples and retirees.
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