A first look at Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Norwegian Viva, the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class, embarked on her maiden voyage from Trieste, Italy on Aug. 10.
With features like a three-level racetrack, multiple infinity pools and Galaxy Pavillon — a VR gaming area complete with two escape rooms — Norwegian Viva mirrors the design of Norwegian Prima, which debuted last summer, but has some new features and enhancements. For example Indulge Food Hall, a food market style eatery featuring 11 dining options, has increased its capacity by reconfiguring the space without a Starbucks in that area.
“We have increased the capacity almost by 90 seats and also we have designed it a little bit differently so that now you can have your meal outside,” says Nelson Martins, general manager of Norwegian Viva. “All the restaurants, we have increased the capacity. We have also changed the staterooms a little bit. We have more light especially on the vanity table and we’ve changed the mattresses — the ones on Prima were already excellent — but we’ve done it a bit differently. We’ve also looked at the pressure of the showers.”
Also new in entertainment programming is BEETLEJUICE The Musical, which is set to debut later this month.
“The Tony-Award nominated musical is beyond fun, recreating many of the fan-favourite, nostalgia-inducing scenes from the original movie with the added element of Broadway-calibre musical numbers,” Richard Ambrose, senior vice president of entertainment and cruise programs tells Travel Courier. “We have worked with the Broadway show’s original creative team and producers to bring BEETLEJUICE The Musical to Norwegian Viva. It is the biggest production we have ever had on board an NCL ship, from incredible scenery, special effects, puppetry and over-the-top costumes.”
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship marks the arrival of the second of six ships in the Prima Class set to debut through 2028.
“Although I have not yet stepped on board Norwegian Viva — that will have to wait until November when she arrives in Miami for her inauguration — I have heard such incredible feedback from guests and travel advisors alike,” says John Chernesky, senior vice president of sales for North America for NCL. “The Prima Class takes the NCL brand to another level with the elevation of design, onboard experiences and well-appointed, spacious accommodations. My twin boys are most excited about the three-level racetrack on board Norwegian Viva, although Food Republic is a close second. My wife and I also look forward to spending quality time in the beautiful, expansive spa as well as dining in the guest favourite – Palomar.”
Chernesky told Travel Courier that “travel advisors are incredibly important to us and our business. We are completely committed to the travel advisor community and continue to advocate that they are an extension of our team. It’s a partnership where we all win together… At the beginning of this year, NCL updated the commission tier structure so that the travel agency can either earn their tier based on net bookings or booked revenue, whichever option is best for the travel agency.”
Other changes on Norwegian Viva include the chandelier in the theatre space, which now has an LED screen that has the ability to interact with the live shows, a new ice cream spot in Indulge, enhanced nightclub configuration in the theatre space and the ability to move chairs which were grounded on Prima, which debuted last summer, by the Waves pool bar.
“When it comes to venues such as Syd Norman’s or Improv, we reshuffled our spaces, making sure that we can have more people coming into it, as well as our recreational facilities,” says cruise director Marzena Slodyczka, adding that new simulators were also added in the VR space. “We do have new features in the virtual world of Galaxy Pavilion that I strongly recommend you to visit because there are new machines over there as well.”
A christening ceremony with godfather Luis Fonsi, the Latin GRAMMY award-winning artist known for the hit song “Despacito” will be held in Miami on Nov. 28.
“In addition to the incredible features of the ships, I’m thrilled about the destinations Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva will visit for the next year,” adds Chernesky. “Norwegian Viva will sail a selection of bucket-list worthy Greek Isles and Mediterranean voyages through November, before homeporting in San Juan, Puerto Rico in December for a season in the Southern Caribbean — with every day in port! Norwegian Prima is finishing her season in Europe with cruises through the Mediterranean and Northern Europe before sailing to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, Texas.”
