Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship: Overview and Things to Do

Following in the footsteps of Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva is the second ship in the cruise line’s Prima class, which will include six total ships when all is said and done. 

For Norwegian fans, this highly anticipated ship (and the class overall) is a can’t-miss. With some of the best of the best in today’s modern cruising industry, there’s so much to love.

Considering taking a cruise on Norwegian Viva soon? Already have a cruise booked and just need to know what you can expect? Here’s everything you should know before you set sail.

Norwegian Viva Stats 

While Norwegian Viva is certainly not the largest ship on today’s seas, it hardly sits on the small side, either. Norwegian Viva measures in at…

• Gross tonnage: 142,500
• Length: 965 feet
• Guest Capacity: 3,099 (at double occupancy)
• Crew:1,506

Norwegian Viva Construction

Norwegian Viva has been a long time coming. Construction started in 2019. In August 2022, the ship floated out from its dry dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Venice, Italy, around which time it was also announced that the ship’s first sailings would be delayed due to supply chain issues. (The ship was originally scheduled to make its debut in July 2023).

It took another year before the ship was actually delivered, on Aug. 3, 2023, nearly a year after the debut of sister ship Norwegian Prima. The handover also took place in Venice, Italy, at the Fincantieri shipyard. The ship embarked on its first sailing later that month, Aug. 10, in the Mediterranean. 

The ship’s christening, with godfather Grammy-winning Luis Fonsi, however, is still yet to come. The event is scheduled for Nov. 28, and will take place in Miami before the ship moves on to its first homeport: San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

After the winter season, the ship will move back to Europe and start offering European sailings in April 2024, before returning to Puerto Rico for the 2024-2025 winter season.

Staterooms

The Norwegian Viva staterooms are stylish, modern and hardly what you might expect on a cruise ship if it’s been a while since you’ve set sail for a vacation. Even the smallest staterooms feel larger than they are, and offer a high-end, luxurious feel. 

Norwegian Viva stateroom options include…

• Studio staterooms
• Interior staterooms
• Oceanview staterooms
• Balcony staterooms

Studio staterooms are a unique feature that first premiered on sister ship Norwegian Prima. These staterooms are designed particularly with solo travelers in mind. If you typically travel solo and have bemoaned single supplement pricing on cruise ships in the past, you’ll love this new option. 

Studio staterooms are narrow, but outfitted with all the furnishings you need, including a full-size bed, plenty of storage and an entertainment center hanging over the bed, for easy watching before you snooze.

The décor is primarily dark blue in hue and sleek, with a slight industrial feel. Plus, if you book one of these staterooms, you also get access to an exclusive lounge only open to other singles guests — perfect for mixing, mingling and seeing where your trip takes you.

Interior staterooms are for the couples, small families or groups of friends who don’t want to splurge for a more expensive stateroom, but who don’t qualify for a studio stateroom.

Light and airy with lots of neutral colors, these sophisticated staterooms even feature their own sitting areas, something you don’t always see in interior staterooms.

Oceanview staterooms take the same aesthetic and give it an upgrade, with lots of floor space and big, circular windows on one wall, next to the bed.

Again, furnishing and design choices are made with extra space in mind, so you can enjoy time spent in your stateroom without feeling claustrophobic or cramped. Do note, however, that these ocean views aren’t as grand as what you might get on some other ships.

Balcony staterooms are very similar to the oceanview staterooms, but with a gorgeous, furnished balcony and large, glass doors that lead out to it.  

Suites

Norwegian Viva’s suites are split into two categories:

• Club balcony suites
• Traditional suites

Club balcony suites are pretty similar in décor to the regular balcony suites, but you can expect a few extra elegant touches. You’ll enjoy more space to spread out, and, depending on the club balcony suite that you book, you may even have enough space to fit four people comfortably.

Then, there are the traditional suites, offering multiple beds, large balconies, butler and concierge service and other features. 

The Haven

The best of the best, in terms of accommodations on this ship, however, can be found within The Haven. 

Many cruise lines now offer separate, VIP areas of their ships, within which travelers can enjoy a little more privacy, exclusive spaces away from the cruising masses and extra luxury perks — and Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Haven is its take on all of the above.

Guests in The Haven get access to a private sundeck and extra amenities include 24-hour butler and concierge services. The décor in The Haven suites is slightly more upscale, with a lot of dark wood tones.

There’s an array of suite options within The Haven, such as the Premier Owner’s Suite, which can easily accommodate eight travelers and which includes separate living and dining areas, three bedrooms with king-sized beds, three bathrooms, a half bath, and an outdoor hot tub.

Free Dining

Norwegian Cruise Line as a whole has developed somewhat of a reputation for offering ample, amazing dining options, and you can certainly find some fantastic offerings aboard Norwegian Viva. The best part? You don’t even have to spring for specialty, for-a-fee dining options on this ship in order to enjoy great eats.

Here are your free dining options on this ship: 

• The Local Bar and Grill, for pub food but without the dark and (sometimes dingy) pub feel
• Hudson’s, a main dining room with amazing views
• The Commodore Room, another main dining room, with a fancy feel
• The Indulge Food Hall, for a food hall setting serving up international eats
• Surfside Café & Grill, a buffet that serves three meals per day and provides both indoor and outdoor seating

You can also order room service 24 hours per day (though in some instances, room service fees do apply). Additionally, if you’re a guest staying in The Haven, you’ll also get access to The Haven Restaurant, a complimentary fine dining option exclusive to Haven guests. 

Specialty Dining

If you decide that you do want to spring for a few more dining options, beyond the handful of complimentary options aboard this ship, you’ll like what you see. Specialty dining on Norwegian Viva includes… 

• Cagney’s Steakhouse, a Norwegian Cruise Line classic offering all your favorite steakhouse eats
• Food Republic, for international cuisine
• Hasuki, for a Japanese grill experience
• Le Bistro, a French eatery with a light and airy feel
• Los Lobos, a Mexican restaurant 
• Nama Sushi & Sashimi, to get your sushi fix
• Onda by Scarpetta, an upscale Italian restaurant
• Palomar, a Mediterranean seafood restaurant that first premiered on Norwegian Prima

There’s also a Starbucks onboard and, with the debut of Norwegian Viva, select Starbucks locations on Norwegian’s ships will start offering an exclusive Starbucks mug to cruisers. If you’re a collector, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on one of these. 

Bars and Lounges

Just like there are plenty of places to chow down on this ship, there are also plenty of places to grab a drink. When you’re thirsty, head to…

• Viva Speedway Bar, for drinks next to the three-level race track, a stand-out feature that premiered on Norwegian Prima
• The Belvedere Bar, for cocktails in a sleek setting
• Luna Bar, for drinks next to the Indulge Food Hall
• The Local Bar, part of the The Local Bar & Grill
• Metropolitan, for sustainable, craft and biodynamic drinks
• The Observation Lounge, for great views and great drinks
• The Penrose Atrium Bar, for drinks while you people-watch in the three-story atrium
• Soleil Bar, for brews, mixed beverages and sea views
• The Studio Lounge Bar, exclusively open to studio stateroom guests
• Syd Norman’s Pour House, for a rock-and-roll-themed experience
• The Haven Lounge & Bar, only open to Haven guests
• The Humidor Cigar Lounge, where you can smoke and sip simultaneously 
• Vibe Beach Club, for full drink service in an adults-only setting
• Waves Pool Bar, for drinks by the pool
• The Whiskey Bar, which is exactly what it sounds like 

Activities and Entertainment

While this ship certainly impresses throughout, with its upscale stateroom and suite options, and ample restaurants and watering holes, the most impressive part of all is just how much there is to do when you’re not dining and drinking.

Read Also: Norwegian Cruise Ships – Newest to Oldest

Activities and entertainment abound, and there’s always something new and exciting to discover. Here’s what you can expect. 

Broadway-Style Shows

These aren’t your typical, second-rate cruise ship shows. Norwegian is truly bringing top talent to the high seas with its Broadway-style performances. For Norwegian Viva, the highlight will be Tony Award-nominated “Beetlejuice.”

While there is an announced delay in getting the show up and running for the ship’s first few cruises, when it launches, this will be one not to miss.

Not a fan of musicals? You can also check out the Icons concert experience, wherein you’ll hear tunes by favorite musicians throughout the ages. 

The Prima Speedway

The Prima Speedway premiered on Norwegian Prima as an industry first. Thrill-seekers will definitely not want to pass this experience up.

The speedway is three levels, a quarter-mile long and more than 20% larger than other racetracks on past Norwegian ships. Plus, you can go more than 30 miles per hour as you zip around the ship.

The Drop and Rush

Prefer your high-speed thrills with a side of free-fall? Then you’ll definitely want to check out the two fastest slides at sea: The Drop and Rush. The Drop is a world record-setting dry slide that’s 10 stories tall.

Near-Endless Artwork

This ship combines entertainment and art in myriad ways. There’s The Concourse, a sculpture garden that cost millions of dollars to create. There’s a digital art piece called “Every Wing Has a Silver Lining” that stretches 52 feet across the ship, at Metropolitan Bar, and it interacts with cruisers, for something new every time you see it. Take in the artistry of the ocean at Oceanwalk, Norwegian’s very first glass walkway at sea.

Mandara Spa

In the spa, you can expect to find amazing services that you’ll be hard-pressed to find on other cruise ships. These aren’t just your average massages. You can head to the charcoal sauna (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have the only ones at sea).

There’s a two-story waterfall in the spa. Thermal experiences include an infrared sauna, floatation salt pool, experiential showers and an ice room. 

Plenty of Ways to Soak Up the Sun

Craving some sunshine? Adults can enjoy the adults-only space that is Vibe Beach Club. A kids’ aqua park caters to your smallest travelers. The pool deck features the first tidal wave waterslide in the Norwegian fleet, plus infinity hot tubs. Infinity Beach provides multiple infinity pools.

Plenty of Ways to Play

For some fun without getting your hair wet, check out the multitude of ways to play aboard Norwegian Viva. There’s Tee Time, the first interactive and tech-immersive mini golf course at sea.

The Galaxy Pavilion offers lots of high-tech experiences. The Stadium provides games like beer pong, shuffleboard, pickleball and more. And, of course, the ship also offers a casino, if that’s your favorite way to play.

Norwegian Viva Kids’ Venues

Children will find their own spaces aboard Norwegian Viva. Guppies Open Play is a space for those ages 6 months to 3 years. The Splash Academy is for those ages 3 to 13. Entourage is dedicated to cruisers ages 13 to 17.

Norwegian Viva Itineraries  

Definitely sold on the idea of a Norwegian Viva cruise? Book your trip today, on one of the ship’s upcoming itineraries.

Final Thoughts

Norwegian Viva is a brand-new ship with loads to love. While it might not be as large as some of the other newest ships to debut in recent history or in the upcoming months, it has a lot on offer, from spectacular staterooms and suites to tons of activities and entertainment. Whether you’re a single traveler, couple, family or group of friends, there’s something on this ship for you.