This past year was an exciting time for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) when they released the first ship in their brand new Prima Class of ships, the Norwegian Prima. 2023 stands to be just as, if not more exciting, as NCL poses ready to launch the second ship in this new class of ships, the Norwegian Viva.
The Norwegian Viva will expand on the new and expansive amenities that the cruise line added to its repertoire onboard with the Norwegian Prima.
Come along with us as we explore this new and exciting ship, currently set to debut summer 2023.
Launch Date and First Itineraries
“Welcome aboard the all-new Norwegian Viva, the next stunning ship in the brand-new Prima Class, designed for you to live life to the fullest,” states NCL regarding this state of the art ship.
Currently, the Norwegian Viva is set to make its debut in June 2023. The first cruise itineraries with the ship will sail through the Mediterranean region of Europe. The ship will make stops at destinations such as Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Majorca, Portugal, Turkey, and Croatia.
The first Norwegian Viva cruises will be 8-, 9-, and 10-day sailings. These Mediterranean cruises will extend from the summer to November 2023.
As of right now, on Norwegian Cruise Line’s website, the soonest itineraries that are currently available to book set sail in August 2023 and September 2023.
These late summer itineraries range from 7- and 9-night cruises. The current cost for these sailings range from $3,543 for two people, to $5,146 for two people (including taxes and fees). Keep in mind, this price is always subject to change.
In the winter of 2023 to 2024, The Norwegian Viva will make a journey across the Atlantic Ocean, and will start sailing itineraries around the Caribbean. During its Caribbean season, the ship is currently scheduled to make its homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Once the Viva makes its way to the Caribbean, the ship will visit ports such as Tortola, St. Maarten, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Norwegian Viva will be conducting these Caribbean sailings starting in December 2023.
Ship Specs
As of right now, the ship is set to weigh in at 142,500 gross tons. The ship will measure in at about 965 feet in length. So far, the Prima Class ships are not the largest in terms of size in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, although they do feature some of the largest amounts of activities and entertainment onboard.
The ship is being constructed at the well-known Italian shipyard Fincantieri.
At full capacity, the Viva will be able to accommodate 3,219 passengers. Guests will be able to explore more than 43,000 square feet of outdoor space.
The Norwegian Prima has 20 decks for passengers to explore, and the Norwegian Viva is set to have about the same once it is finished.
In a press release, Norwegian Cruise Line stated, “Mirroring the upscale design and structure of her record-breaking sister ship Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, also built by renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy, will debut at 965 feet long, 142,500 gross tons and accomodate 3,219 guests at double occupancy.”
Prima Class Ships
The Norwegian Viva is the second of six ships that will ultimately make up NCL’s Prima Class.
The first of these ships, the Norwegian Prima, was launched this past year and introduced some new and exciting features to the NCL fleet. Currently the other four ships scheduled to be apart of the Prima Class are not yet named.
The Prima Class brings an upscale feel and atmosphere to the NCL fleet, with a large selection of suite staterooms on offer, and the largest amount of deck space of any NCL ships so far, for outdoor viewing.
Details
“Norwegian Viva sets the standard in the premium segment, illustrating our commitment to pushing boundaries in four main areas: wide open space, service that puts guests first, thoughtful design and experiences beyond expectation,” states the Norwegian Cruise Line Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Harry Sommer.
The Norwegian Viva is set to be an excellent addition to not just the NCL fleet, but also the Prima Class. The Viva will closely resemble its sister ship, the Norwegian Prima, in terms of size, design, and amenities.
Amenities
The Viva will feature one of the most unique amenities at sea - the Viva Speedway. This new and thrilling experience is a must-do for any traveler sailing onboard NCL’s Prima Class ships. This race track measures about 1,400 feet, and spans three decks of the ship on the Norwegian Prima, and is set to be very similar onboard the Norwegian Viva.
The Prima Class sets to deliver something appealing to every cruise guest. There are a plethora of both thrills and chills onboard.
In addition to the race track, the Norwegian Viva will also feature a 10-deck dry slide, named The Drop. When it debuted on the Norwegian Prima, this slide was the first free-fall dry slide in the world. In addition to The Drop, Prima Class ships will also have a second dry slide onboard, named The Rush. The Rush allows guests to race their travel companions and fellow passengers, as the slide is a dueling-slide style.
For kids, the Norwegian Viva will have a large outdoor splash pad area named the Kids’ Aqua Park. Additionally, the ship will have several dedicated areas for children and teens, named the Splash Academy.
In terms of pools and outdoor areas, the ship will feature activities such as The Wave, NCL’s first tidal wave waterslide. The Prima Class vessels will feature beautiful areas such as Infinity Beach where guests can enjoy stunning ocean views while enjoying an infinity pool. In addition, guests can take a stroll on the Oceanwalk, an outdoor area complete with a glass walkway.
Other areas of activity and entertainment for guests include the Galaxy Pavilion, an immersive reality experience. This area will allow passengers to explore the first flying theater simulator at sea.
Guests will be able to relax in the beautiful Spa Thermal Suite onboard the Norwegian Viva. Passengers can enjoy paid-for services, as well as indulge in heat therapy areas such as saunas and more at the spa.
Dining
NCL’s Norwegian Prima features five complimentary dining venues, and the Norwegian Viva is currently set to be the same.
These complimentary dining areas include; The Local Bar & Grill, Hudson’s, Indulge Food Hall, Surfside Cafe & Grill, The Commodore Room, The Haven Restaurant (Complimentary to suite guests staying in The Haven).
The Prima has eight specialty dining spaces onboard, and the Norwegian Viva is likely to feature the same. These venues include; Cagney’s Steakhouse, Food Republic, Hasuki, Le Bistro, Los Lobos, Nama Sushi & Sashimi, Onda by Scarpetta, and Palomar.
Staterooms
The NCL Prima Class ships feature onboard the most amount of stateroom categories and varieties out of any Norwegian Cruise Line ships so far.
On the Norwegian Prima there are seven different categories, including The Haven (ultra-luxury suites), Suites, Club Balcony Suites, Balconies, Oceanview, Inside cabins, and Studio cabins.
These staterooms range in how many guests they can accommodate, from 8 guests in some of The Haven rooms, to 1 guest in the Studio staterooms which are designed specifically for solo traveler passengers.
“Travelers will live up every second of their journey in the most spacious accommodations including the brand’s largest inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms,” says Norwegian Cruise Line.
Design
The Norwegian Viva is set to very closely resemble its sister ship the Norwegian Prima. It is likely that the Viva’s design, atmosphere, and aesthetics will be nearly identical to the Prima, with some minor changes.
“We have taken everything our guests love to the next level with this brand-new class of ships designed with them in mind,” states Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer.
Conclusion
The second ship in NCL’s Prima Class is set to make waves and break records, just as its twin ship, the Norwegian Prima did last year. The Norwegian Viva will feature all of the latest and greatest amenities, dining, and entertainment that can be found amongst the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.
Guests looking to book a voyage onboard the Norwegian Viva this year still have plenty of opportunities, as many of the summer sailings in August 2023 still have availability.
We are looking forward to everything new and exciting that the Norwegian Viva will be bringing to the cruise line industry, and we are eagerly awaiting this summer to finally see the Viva set sail!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
