Norwegian Viva Debuts in Europe, Welcomes First Passengers

NCL’s newest cruise ship Norwegian Viva has welcomed her first guests with an inaugural sailing from Trieste, Italy to Lisbon, Portugal.

Norwegian Cruise Line welcomed the very first guests to sail aboard the all-new Norwegian Viva, the brand’s highly-anticipated new ship and the second in the Prima Class, as it embarked on its maiden voyage from Trieste, Italy.

Making her grand debut in Europe on August 10, Norwegian Viva departed for her first journey: a nine-day sailing through the Mediterranean that will take guests from Trieste to Lisbon, Portugal with stops in some of Europe’s most incredible seaside destinations. Viva will visit several ports on the inaugural voyage, including Salerno, Cannes, and Ibiza.

Norwegian Viva will sail a selection of Greek Isles and Mediterranean voyages through November 2023 before homeporting in San Juan, Puerto Rico in December for a season in the Caribbean.

“This summer, our guests will have the opportunity to explore Europe aboard our newest magnificent vessel, Norwegian Viva, while enjoying its well-appointed spacious design, elevated experiences, expansive culinary offerings, and signature Norwegian Cruise Line hospitality provided by the best crew in the industry,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

*Norwegian Viva*‘s three-story atrium is anchored by a custom mural and a chandelier reminiscent of a starry night sky (image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

“Norwegian Viva’s tagline is ‘Live it Up,’ and I have no doubt our guests will be doing just that while they cruise to some of the liveliest cities in Europe and the Caribbean during the ship’s inaugural season,” Herrera continued in a press release.

What to expect aboard Norwegian Viva

Similar in design to her award-winning sister ship Norwegian Prima, Viva offers a number of noteworthy onboard attractions, including the three-level racetrack Viva Speedway, and The Drop and Rush, the two fastest slides at sea.

The new ship’s Viva Speedway boasts three stories and 14 thrilling turns (image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Both ships also feature Indulge Food Hall, an upscale food market with 11 distinctive eateries, and the Metropolitan Bar, NCL’s sustainable cocktail bar.

The upscale and spacious design of Norwegian Viva is enhanced by an extensive array of artwork throughout the ship, including The Concourse, a multimillion-dollar outdoor sculpture garden.

The Metropolitan Bar features a dynamic, interactive 52-foot-wide art piece by modern British digital artist Dominic Harris. Harris’ Every Wing Has a Silver Lining digital sculpture, designed exclusively for Viva, creates engagement with cruisers by responding to passing activity throughout the day.

*Norwegian Viva*‘s *Every Wing Has a Silver Lining* digital sculpture, created by Dominic Harris, changes throughout the day (image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian Viva also offers a world-class entertainment lineup, headlined by the Tony Award-nominated comedy Beetlejuice The Musical and the iconic game show Press Your Luck LIVE, an immersive experience where the audience participates to win incredible grand prizes.

What’s next for Norwegian Viva

After her maiden voyage, Norwegian Viva will cruise a series of Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries until her official christening in Miami on November 28, 2023.

The Queen of Latin Pop, Paulina Rubio, Saturday Night Live cast member (and Miami resident) Marcello Hernandez, and musician Pedro Capó will join Luis Fonsi, Latin Grammy-award-winning artist and godfather to Norwegian Viva, during the celebration to formally name the ship.

*Norwegian Viva* will cruise a series of Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries after her maiden voyage (image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Viva will then homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a season of Caribbean voyages from December 2023 through March 2024, calling on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, USVI.

In May 2024, Norwegian Viva will return to Europe for a series of Mediterranean itineraries. With an average of 10.5 hours in port, cruisers will have more time to explore with fewer days at sea.

More news about Norwegian Cruise Line

Are you planning to sail on NCL’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva? What are you most looking forward to doing on board? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Carrie Ann Karstunen

Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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