24 | NCL: VIVA
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Complimentary to all passengers, its located on the ideal deck 8, just beside ocean boulevard. After a busy day, a more low-key dinner was on the cards. but just because it was a more relaxed dining experience did not mean that service or quality was skimped on. I decided to go for the trusty staple of a burger and
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The Speedways are a new feature onboard NCL, with Prima being the first ship in the fleet to feature a go-karting track. The entrance to the Viva Speedway is located on Deck 18. Onboard Viva, the speedway is the longest and largest track at sea spanning across three decks. A sure way to raise the adrenaline - a zoom across the Viva Speedway was definitely on the cards for my three-day voyage.
An afternoon of brief exploration, it was a quick
return to the cabin to change ahead of dinner and before we knew it, it was bye bye Barcelona and hello to the open seas. There is something special about sailing away from your first port, as you watch the coastline disappear into the distance and hear the rustle of the ocean waves. It’s a simple moment of cruising but still, to this day remains one of my favourites. After sail-away, the observation lounge was our choice for a pre-dinner cocktail. If being one with the ocean is one of your favourite parts of cruising, there is no better place for you. With windows that span across the lounge, you can take in the horizon with a drink in hand. The area is spacious, with contemporary furnishings and perhaps a bit quieter than the rest of the areas onboard. It would be the ideal place to retreat during a day-at-sea and curl up with a good book- or perhaps just to take in your surroundings. Norwegian Viva has an array of speciality dining options to choose from, Cagney’s Steakhouse was one that I got to try while onboard. Cagney’s is an American steakhouse and holds a sense of notoriety amongst NCL cruisers. And for good reason, the food was spectacular. I opted for the jumbo shrimp trio, the petite fillet mignon with truffle mash and peppercorn sauce. To cater to my sweet tooth, for dessert I chose the raspberry creme brûlée. The views from Cagney’s steakhouse are spectacular, with the possibility of requesting a table beside the window to enjoy the fabulous sunset while tucking into a premium meal. Stomach full and sights
hot breakfast options, fruit, alongside a selection of pastries. Fruit juices, water, and coffees are also available. Following breakfast, we availed of the open tender service for a quick fifteen minute journey to Cannes, France. Of all cruise destinations, Cannes is by far one of my favourites. A stunning resort town on the French Riviera, the area is world-renowned for being a favoured locations amongst film stars and celebrities alike. I have always had a keen interest in film and just a short walk from the tender port, you can visit the Palace of Festivals, the home of the Cannes Film Festival. Fancy some stargazing? The handprints of some of the world’s most famous actors are dotted along the entrance of the Palace of Festivals. Cannes is also a great location to pick up some tourist paraphernalia,
or
some lush items from the boutiques that line the streets. Not catch a glimpse of any stars at the Palace of Festivals? Never fear, there is always the chance of catching a glimpse of them onboard one of their yachts which line the Marina on the walk from the port. Cannes is a slow tourism city, you can take it at your own speed. Visit the shops and the marina or walk uphill to take a snap with the Cannes sign! You’re not too far from Hollywood after all. A sun kissed afternoon spent exploring luxurious
Cannes, we headed back to the boat shortly before the all aboard time of 4pm. The evening was ours to
fries, with a strawberry daiquiri. A great choice after a warm day if I do say so myself! The local bar and grill had some of my favourite dining options onboard, truly committing to Norwegian’s freestyle mantra, you can order whatever you like at whatever time you like. Fancy chicken wings at 11am? Or an apple pie at 1am? The Local Bar and grill is the place to be. It’s a great spot for the fun-seekers onboard as it stays open until long after Viva Theatre and Club shuts! Entertainment onboard Viva doesn’t always come in the form of performances and shows! In fact, the new Prima series has an entire area dedicated to fun in the Galaxy Pavilion. The Galaxy Pavilion is an interactive and immersive area onboard. A gamers paradise, the Galaxy pavilion hosts a range of video game simulators, arcade games and an entire virtual reality experience. Not well versed in the world of technology or virtual reality, myself and my plus one decided to dip our toes in the water. Sticking to the theme of space, we decided on the virtual reality spaceship simulator- the scenario we chose? A wooden rollercoaster. Goggles on, world out, I had often heard the amazement with the world of Virtual reality, but never had I experienced it to such a degree. All the senses are invigorated! Don’t avoid the Galaxy Pavilion with the belief it’s catered for children or teens, it’s for all ages! Returning back to planet earth, we headed to enjoy some of the late night enjoyment at the Metropolitan bar. The Metropolitan bar hosts a range of different shows, from music performances
to trivia nights! At this particular occasion, we headed on our way to catch a performance of renditions of Fleetwood Mac’s most iconic tunes. A chill way to ring in another night onboard. Before we knew it, our last day on Norwegian Viva had rolled around and we were docked in the Italian port of Livorno. A port city, guests can either choose to disembark and avail of the shuttle service from Livorno port into the city centre. Or guests can book on a shore excursion and take a full day trip to Florence and Pisa. These shore excursions can
be organised pre-cruise or while on board but it is recommended to organise these early on in your cruise as spaces can fill up fast. Typically the Florence and
Pisa excursion takes around 6-8 hours- with the ship having a later all-aboard time to cater to those looking to prop up the leaning tower for those pictures. Wanting to maximise our experience onboard Viva, we decided to just disembark at Livorno and take the shuttle service into the city centre. The shuttle service is priced at around 7 euros per person for a return journey. The shuttle takes around fifteen to twenty minutes and drops you off right beside the tourist information office. Travellers can collect a map from tourist information services and visit some of the city’s sights. A port city, a lot of the monuments honours Livorno’s rich maritime history. Other than that, travellers can embrace Livorno’s cafe and shop culture. Of course, when in Italy I had to enjoy authentic cappuccino!
set on enjoying another day on Norwegian Viva, there was room for one nightcap before retiring to our cabin in anticipation of our arrival in Cannes. The French sun glimmering into the cabin, a warm welcome to the day ahead. There is always something exciting about waking up in a new location, a new adventure to fill each day. Cannes, France is a tender port, meaning that guests can book a tender via the mobile NCL app or on the TV in the cabins. If you are seeking an early tender, it is recommended to book a tender upon embarking on your cruise. However, if you prefer to make the most of your vacation in your own time, the option to join one of the open tender’s operating is available. Passengers are made away of these open tender journeys via the interactive screens dotted around Norwegian Viva. The open tender process was easy to navigate
and meant that breakfast could be enjoyed at our own pace. Breakfast was served at the Surfside cafe, with a full buffet available there are a collection of
enjoy, and continuing on the note from luxury. There was opportunity to explore the Mandara spa on Deck 16. Reasonably priced for treatments and access to the thermal suite costing ( prices), the Mandara Spa is a must stop spot. Especially if on a longer itinerary! Luckily, I was able to embark on a tour of the Spa’s facilities which avails of a salt room, steam room, barber shop, salon as well as many different treatment rooms. My favourite area in the spa? The thermal suite by a mile, the area is immersive with a cascading feature wall that relaxes you with just a glance. There are a range of hot tubs and water therapy pools that allow you to soak off a day of travel. The aromas and atmosphere of the thermal spa make it well worth the fee. Seeking to expand our horizons a bit after a tranquil trip to the spa. Before we knew it, dinner had rolled around once again and this time it was time to avail of one of the complimentary options onboard. Undoubtedly, the local bar and grill is a hub onboard Norwegian Viva.
September/October 2023
Our morning was spent enjoying Livorno with our sights set on returning to Norwegian Viva a bit earlier to enjoy parts of the ship we had not yet explored. Returning just after lunch time, we indulged, in the indulge food hall. The area consists of a number of different eateries and all options can be ordered straight to your table through the interactive screens on each table. It was a great location to pick and choose what you would like for a bit more of a grazing lunch. Time to tee up for some golf. Located on deck 18 just beside the speedway is a 9 round course of crazy golf. Costing ten dollars per person, this was a great way to spend the afternoon. Each hole takes a different theme, from trivia to spin the wheel to a Photo Booth. Soaking up the sun with a competitive game.
Despite being one of my first visits upon
embarkation, I was still yet to try the Viva Speedway. The three-tiered go-karting track on Norwegian Viva. On day three, it was closed for a point in the mid-afternoon. So best believe I was first in like for when the attraction reopened! Helmets on- and go time! With the wave of the black and white flag off I went. Pedal to the metal to try and top the leaderboard- there is always a little bit of fun in competition! Combining with the speed, the breathtaking views of the ocean and the sunset, the Viva Speedway was truly a notable way to spend our last night onboard. Sticking to the theme of all things Italian. Our last dining experience was a trip to Onda by Scarpetta. Another speciality dining option offered by Norwegian Cruise Line. The location of Onda was just spectacular, we were able to get an outside seat and look out the passing ocean and the orange hue of the sunset. For starter, I had the creamy polenta, margharita for main with garlic potatoes on the side. To top it all off, an indulgent chocolate cake to round up our dining experience. A bittersweet atmosphere in the air as our trip came to close. It was time to make the most of it and head to the Viva Theatre and club for a performance of The Other Guys : Boybands from the 60’s to now. A performance sure to put a smile on your face, it was the ideal way for our cruise onboard NCL Viva to come to an end. With that, our three day adventure on Norwegian Viva had come to close. The newest ship in the fleet, Norwegian Viva makes a splash onto the cruising scene with its many amenities, dining and entertainment offerings. Similar to its sister ship Prima, Norwegian Viva brings in a new era for NCL and what a welcome era it is!
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