Norwegian Viva Review: Mediterranean Cruising With a Racetrack

The Norwegian Viva, which gives cruises within the Mediterranean and Caribbean, contains a three-level racetrack, the place friends pilot electrical go-karts round tight turns whereas having fun with open-ocean views. However the ship is not nearly thrills.

It additionally gives dwell leisure, trendy out of doors areas and glorious eating choices — just like the Indulge Meals Corridor, which serves seven completely different cuisines. In contrast with different Norwegian ships, the Viva, which debuted in 2023, feels extra boutique and design-forward.

At practically 1,000 toes lengthy, it accommodates round 3,200 friends. It’s massive sufficient to supply sturdy facilities and leisure, however not so huge that it appears like a floating shopping center.

Norwegian Cruise Line invited me to sail a 10-day Mediterranean itinerary aboard the Viva in November 2025. Though the price of the crusing was coated, the opinions listed here are my very own.

After 10 days of stops throughout Greece, Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, I left impressed with how nicely the Viva features as a floating resort — providing lots to do on sea days with out overwhelming you with points of interest you’ll by no means use.

The Viva’s signature racetrack attraction had a $15 per-ride upcharge, and I went 3 times. It felt like a deal in comparison with my native go-kart observe, which costs $30 per session.

Driving a go-kart whereas crusing previous Mediterranean landscapes appears like a online game come to life. It was too chilly for the pool, so having a dry-land thrill possibility was perfect.

Past the racetrack, the ship options Ocean Boulevard, an out of doors promenade wrapping across the vessel with design components like a transparent walkway over the water. Infinity swimming pools and scorching tubs line the decks, although the variety of scorching tubs typically fell wanting demand.

Inside, the multistory atrium hosts bars, musicians and trivia all through the day.

The cabins had been compact, however well-designed, with good design selections to maximise storage. I stayed in a balcony stateroom that felt surprisingly spacious for a cruise cabin. Rolling suitcases match neatly below the mattress, and there have been ample cabinets and drawers. The closet’s two-section structure meant my husband and I might every declare our personal area.

My room had a personal balcony overlooking one other public deck and its swimming pools.

If I had been crusing on a decent finances, I’d e book an inside room. Whereas it was good to step out on my balcony and examine the climate day by day, I discovered that the structure and storage of the inside rooms had been nearly similar to mine. Getting a room with no balcony or window sometimes leads to financial savings of about 40% or extra. These rooms begin at between $2,000 and $3,000 for a pair on a 10-day Mediterranean crusing.

I spent so little time in my cabin that the financial savings would have been price it.

I selected this itinerary as a result of I needed to expertise as many locations as doable with out the logistical problem. I’ve traveled to Europe dozens of instances, however this was my first time experiencing it through cruise.

For coastal areas just like the Mediterranean, cruising is good. In Santorini, I hiked 20 miles from Fira to Oia in a day. I used to be so exhausted that I fell asleep as quickly as I returned to my room — and I wakened in Mykonos the subsequent day for one more day of exploring.

I do not thoughts exploring alone. The truth is, I typically desire it; it is powerful to persuade a bunch to hike 20 miles with you. So I solely opted for NCL’s excursions on a few stops: Zadar, Croatia and Corfu, Greece.

I would been to Zadar and the encircling space earlier than, however I by no means bought an opportunity to see its well-known Cerovac Caves. As a result of it will take greater than an hour to get there by automotive (and I did not wish to threat not discovering a taxi again), I booked this tour by way of NCL. In Corfu, it was an analogous story. I needed to see Paleokastritsa (well-known for its vibrant blue waters), however it will take half-hour by automotive or greater than an hour by bus to get there.

Although a taxi doubtless would have been cheaper — each NCL excursions price greater than $100 — reserving by way of NCL was logistically simpler, as there is a assured bus ready for you at a particular begin time. NCL additionally ensures they’re going to get you again to the ship on time. For these two locations, the peace of thoughts was price it.

With greater than a dozen eating venues, the Viva gives selection. I most frequently discovered myself at Indulge Meals Corridor, which offered the most important choice and most persistently high-quality meals among the many included choices.

Utilizing the pill system, you may order small plates from any of the seven completely different cuisines — together with barbecue, Indian, and plant-based choices — and all the pieces arrives on to your desk.

At Surfside Cafe, the primary buffet, breakfast remained static all through the 10-day cruise. Whereas it is arduous to tire of eggs, pancakes, potatoes, oatmeal and a customized omelette bar, some rotating worldwide breakfast choices would have been welcome.

Lunch and dinner, against this, modified every day. Alongside regulars like pizza, salad and steamed greens, there have been new entree choices every day, holding the buffet from changing into monotonous.

As a result of I had a Extra at Sea bundle (now a part of the Free at Sea program), which bundles extras like open bar, specialty eating, and tour credit, I had credit to attempt 4 specialty eating eating places.

Hasuki, the teppanyaki venue, the place your meals is ready on a grill in entrance of you, was probably the most entertaining, due to the full of life chef performances.

I ordered filet mignon at each Le Bistro and Cagney’s. In comparison with the steak I ordered one other night time from the complimentary most important eating room, it was clear that the specialty eating places used higher-quality cuts. At $60 further per particular person, although, I am unsure the meals high quality alone justified the premium.

The elegant environment could possibly be price paying for, although. Le Bistro, Cagney’s and Palomar are quieter, extra polished and extra intimate than the primary eating room — perfect for a special day. Palomar, which focuses on Mediterranean delicacies, ended up being my favourite.

I attempted the galaktoboureko for dessert (a dish of custard baked between layers of crispy phyllo dough), which was one thing I’d by no means had earlier than crusing with NCL. I preferred it a lot that I sought it out once more at a bakery in Greece.

On-line complaints about small parts at specialty eating places did not match my expertise. On cruise ships the place all-you-can-eat meals is ample, smaller parts assist scale back waste. And should you’re nonetheless hungry, a second dinner on the buffet is at all times an possibility.

If you wish to really feel fancy with out the upcharge for specialty eating, you’ve got two selections: The Commodore Room and Hudson’s. The 2 eating places serve related meals, however Hudson’s wins on environment with its 270-degree views over the ship’s stern. That made it the higher possibility of those two waiter-service eating places, in my view.

One other waiter-service restaurant — The Native Bar & Grill — is open 24/7 and serves bar meals like nachos and burgers.

Except for fundamental drinks like water, tea, espresso and choose juices, most drinks price further — which is commonplace throughout the cruise business.

There’s a Starbucks within the atrium, plus bars starting from poolside spots to elegant lounges to the energetic, rock-themed Syd Norman’s Pour Home, which is a staple throughout a lot of NCL’s fleet.

One space the place NCL lags behind rivals is cocktail innovation. Some bars, like a whiskey-themed venue, leaned into their themes, and some distinctive drinks appeared on menus (together with a croissant mai tai!).

Whereas I used to be onboard, “Beetlejuice: The Musical” was the crown jewel of Viva’s leisure. The lead performer was glorious, the pacing held my consideration, and the marginally grown-up humor landed nicely. I additionally appreciated that it ran about 90 minutes — shorter than the Broadway model — making it simple to suit right into a busy schedule of ports and onboard actions.

Past Beetlejuice, the Viva provided different gems like a mentalist who blended magic tips with psychology, counting on predictable human feelings to create his illusions.

Different points of interest on the Viva embody a waterslide and some dry slides. I attempted the dry slides extra typically because it was a bit chilly for the water slide.

There’s additionally an space on the higher deck for complimentary actions like foosball, ping pong and a single pickleball court docket. Even on my sold-out crusing, I managed to snag the pickleball court docket a few instances.

A number of different actions, together with mini golf and darts, incur a small upcharge.

Though my crusing was bought out, the ship not often felt crowded. The primary bottleneck occurred at breakfast on heavy port days when everybody needed to disembark early. The Viva handles this by opening seating in adjoining specialty eating places — Palomar and Meals Republic — to alleviate congestion. Whereas few passengers appeared keen to hold their plates over to those quieter areas, I used them day by day.

The ship has no scarcity of quiet retreats, together with the expansive Remark Lounge, which remained calm even throughout peak instances.

Crowds had been extra noticeable throughout tenders, when small boats ferry passengers to ports the place ships cannot dock.

Not all ports required tenders, but it surely was extra frequent in smaller cities. I by no means waited for morning tenders as a result of I at all times rushed to catch the “early chook particular” — the primary tender of the day, which generally has no line since few passengers are prepared that early.

Getting back from my cease in Kotor, Montenegro, nevertheless, was a unique story. The tender line stretched for over an hour. Whereas there was no threat of lacking the ship (everybody else was in line, too), it was a irritating method to spend valuable trip time.

The Norwegian Viva excels as a house base for port-intensive itineraries. With the racetrack, strong leisure, a number of eating venues, sports activities courts and mini golf, there’s lots to do on a sea day, however not a lot that you just really feel such as you’re lacking out if you’re off exploring.

For me, it was a great method to discover the Mediterranean coast. I needed a cruise that took me to a brand new Greek island or Italian metropolis day by day, and Viva delivered.

 (Prime photograph by Sally French)