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I lately had the chance to take a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest Prima-class ship, Norwegian Viva. Throughout my time on board, I received the lay of the land (ship) and loved a variety of what Viva has to supply by way of meals, leisure, and actions. To assist together with your cruise planning, I’ve put collectively an inventory of ten cruise suggestions and issues you need to know earlier than taking a Norwegian Viva cruise.

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10 Issues to Know Earlier than Taking a Norwegian Viva Cruise

1. Indulge at Indulge Meals Corridor.

Many company cruising on Norwegian Viva could also be brand-new to the idea of Indulge Meals Corridor, because the venue solely lately debuted aboard Viva’s sister ship Norwegian Prima in 2022.

This complimentary indoor/outside eating area is sort of a hybrid of a buffet, a sequence of meals vehicles, and a standard sit-down restaurant. There are numerous meals stations all through the venue, every with its personal theme and delicacies. These embody barbecue favorites at Q Texas Smokehouse, salads at The Backyard, noodle dishes from world wide at Nudls, and small-plate tapas at Tapas (amongst others). Some are extra of a standard counter, whereas others really appear to be a meals truck (Tapas is even situated in an airstream trailer!).

To dine at Indulge Meals Corridor, you sit at any of the tables situated indoors or outside on the restaurant. On a pill, you order the dishes you need from as most of the eateries as you need. When you place the order, a server will ship the dishes as they’re prepared. Alcoholic drinks can be found to order (for an additional cost) from the pill as properly.

Dessert and non-alcoholic drinks are the one stuff you’ll need to get by yourself. A desserts station has plated treats able to seize, and the drinks station is much like those you see in a cruise ship buffet. Talking of the buffet, Indulge Meals Corridor will not be a substitute for the buffet — Norwegian Viva has a standard buffet as properly.

2. Beetlejuice: The Musical is a must-see.

Norwegian Viva’s headlining theater manufacturing is the Broadway present Beetlejuice, and it’s properly price seeing. Severely, even when you don’t suppose you’ll have time to see it or aren’t positive if you wish to see it, make the time and go.

It’s a full-on manufacturing and among the finest musicals I’ve seen on any cruise ship. When you aren’t acquainted with the premise, right here’s how NCL describes it: “The 90-minute Broadway adaptation of Tim Burton’s iconic 1988 movie narrates the story of the Deetz household as they try to rework an uproariously haunted home.”

I knew nothing concerning the storyline in any respect going into the present, so every part about it was new to me. And let’s simply say I walked out actually happy and joyful I made the time see it!

3. Contemplate getting a day go to the spa’s thermal suite.

Norwegian Viva (and her sister ship Norwegian Prima) each characteristic a brand-new thermal suite design within the spa, which features a two-story waterfall wall. The primary area manages to be massive however cozy, that includes a heat jetted pool, a saltwater float pool, and heated tile loungers together with the waterfall.

Different options of the thermal suite embody an fragrant steam room, a charcoal sauna, an infrared sauna, a salt room, an ice room, and experiential showers.

Step into the sunshine within the leisure space, which options a number of plush loungers and daybeds in entrance of floor-to-ceiling home windows. On many cruise ships, the spa is situated on a decrease deck and the thermal suite typically doesn’t have any home windows. Nonetheless, the spa is on decks 15 and 16 on Norwegian Viva, permitting for huge expansive views within the leisure area — a pleasant juxtaposition to the darkish rooms in the remainder of the thermal space.

When you plan to get pleasure from as many actions and facilities on Norwegian Viva as you may however you continue to need to expertise the spa, I like to recommend getting a day go vs. a go for the complete cruise. It’ll offer you an opportunity to expertise all that the thermal suite has to supply, however not make you are feeling such as you’re paying for an space you’re not utilizing sufficient.

4. Fish are out, triangles are in.

Norwegian Cruise Line is understood for pointing company in the precise path (actually!) in relation to determining the place you’re on the ship within the stateroom hallways. On its older ships, the hallway carpeting incorporates a fish design the place the fish are swimming in direction of the entrance of the ship. That approach, if the place your cabin is relative to the aft and ahead elements of the vessel, the fish will remind you of the path you have to go.

On NCL’s newer ships, the road has changed the fish with a extra trendy, summary triangle design. So as an alternative of on the lookout for which approach the fish are swimming, ahead is the path the triangles are pointing.

Although the fish are nice, it’s a pleasant replace to the design whereas nonetheless retaining the delicate usefulness in what will be complicated, repetitive stateroom hallways.

5. The “recycled” cocktails are actually good — belief me!

As a part of its sustainability efforts, Norwegian Cruise Line created a brand-new bar for its Prima-class ships referred to as the Metropolitan Bar. It incorporates a line of “zero-waste” cocktails, made with meals scraps from kitchens across the ship that may in any other case be discarded.

This implies you’ll discover issues on the menu just like the Croissant Mai-Tai made with day-old croissants, the Cucumber Cool made with cucumber pulp cordial, and the Bananarum-ble made with banana peel syrup.

I had the possibility to attempt a number of of those cocktails and let me let you know, you wouldn’t know they’re made with meals scraps — they had been scrumptious. The Metropolitan Bar’s menu is wonderful — each in idea and execution.

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6. You’ll be able to seize a chunk to eat within the Commentary Lounge.

Company on the lookout for a fast chunk to eat alongside sweeping ocean views ought to head as much as the Commentary Lounge on deck 17. Not solely is there a full-service bar, however there’s additionally a mini buffet serving a small variety of dishes at breakfast and all through the afternoon. A complimentary self-serve drink station is situated on this area as properly.

It’s the proper spot to flee the hustle and bustle for some time and simply watch the world go by, which is likely one of the greatest issues about taking a cruise.

7. Pay attention to the useful design.

There are many considerate design touches on Norwegian Viva that make it not solely a extra fascinating ship, but in addition extra user-friendly for the company and crew members. For instance, it would ease some minds to know that, in my expertise, Norwegian Viva has one of many cleanest, most well-kept buffets on a cruise ship.

That is achieved, partially, by having spoon rests subsequent to most of the alternatives vs. placing the utensil again into the meals while you’re executed serving it. It’s at all times gross to understand {that a} serving spoon is falling into the meals and the deal with — which a number of different individuals have already touched — is now touching the meals itself. With many dishes, that downside is solved on Norwegian Viva.

One other instance is easy however so vital to ladies particularly — there’s a shave bar within the bathe. With smaller cruise ship showers, it may be additional troublesome to shave your legs if there’s nothing to prop your foot up on. The shave bar is a simple resolution that I used to be so joyful to find on Viva. I additionally appreciated the USB shops subsequent to the mattress for simple cellphone charging.

Out within the elevator banks, I seen a design characteristic that left me questioning why I haven’t seen this on all trendy cruise ships: a rubbish can constructed into the wall. This provides company a simple place to throw trash away with out the eyesore that could be a regular standalone rubbish can.

8. Head to the Belvedere Bar for after-dinner drinks.

These on the lookout for an upscale, attractive bar for after-dinner drinks needn’t surprise the place to go — I’ve discovered the place for you: the Belvedere Bar. Positioned on deck 6, the Belvedere Bar is located between The Commodore Room (one of many primary eating rooms) and the ship’s specialty steakhouse Cagney’s.

Whereas there are many bars to select from on Viva, this one feels particularly cozy as a consequence of its decrease deck, inside location; use of darkish blue and brown tones; and a darkish however inviting ambiance with small lamps on every desk.

Along with drinks you’ll discover at any full bar, the menu features a collection of wines, “spritzer” cocktails, and — the bar’s distinctive providing — bottled cocktails. They embody the tropical tequila-based Su Primo, the gin and Chambord-based All About That Basil, and the bourbon-based Bourbon Fantasy.

9. Go-karting ought to be booked ASAP.

Norwegian Prima and Viva characteristic the longest go-kart tracks within the NCL fleet. And naturally, this top-deck attraction is standard (for apparent causes) amongst cruisers. One race, or “warmth,” prices $15 per individual and contains eight laps across the three-story monitor.

If you wish to get pleasure from this standard exercise, attempt to guide your time slot as quickly as you get on the ship (it will probably’t be booked pre-cruise for many company). This manner, you’ll have probably the most time slots to select from and might decide a great time that works to your schedule.

Reservations will be made on the touchscreens situated on the elevator banks, in addition to on the NCL app and on the desk on the Speedway entrance.

10. The ship has an unique Starbucks “Been There” mug.

When you’re a fan of Starbucks’ “Been There” mugs (or the older “You Are Right here” variations), you’ll be joyful to know that over half of the ships in NCL’s fleet have their very own “Been There” mug.

The one on Norwegian Viva incorporates a fairly purple and blue coloration scheme, and contains options of the ship in addition to Nice Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye — two non-public NCL locations within the Bahamas and Belize, respectively.

Company should buy the mug at Starbucks on deck 7. Additionally do not forget that you probably have onboard credit score, you should use it for Starbucks drinks and Starbucks merchandise.

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