Great Itinerary....Cruise not so much
Norwegian Viva Cruise Review
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 4
Helpful Votes: 94
10 Night Classic Mediterranean (Athens To Rome)
Sail date: July 13, 2024
Ship: Norwegian Viva
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 9750
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 1 month ago
Review summary
This was a great vacation itinerary and we had a great time especially because we were with our daughter, her husband and our beloved grandchildren. It was educational and fun as well. The cruise was not remarkable but the accommodations were comfortable, however not exceptional. I would recommend the itinerary but not necessarily the ship. As I mentioned the crew was exceptional and for me perhaps the saving grace for the ship.Embarkation
Embarkation was very efficient, went smoothly and quickly, without a hitch.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The food on this ship was mediocre at best. Using thirty plus cruises as a reference, I believe this was perhaps the worst food ever. There was very little variation in both the buffet and main dining rooms, particularly in the main dining menu appetizers. The steak in the "available every night" section of the menu was chainsaw tough.
I realize that the cruise line is likely trying to encourage the specialty dining options, but this is not the way to do it.
One brightspot was the Indulge dining area. The variety of selection was good and the service was fast and friendly.
Onboard Activities
There were a number of fun things to do on the ship. The only water slide, we called the toilet bowl, was a short ride but definitely fun. The infinity pools on deck eight were not too crowded and refreshing especially after a day of 105 degree touring. We also tried the multi-deck go cart racing which was fun and the $15 cost was fairly reasonable. It was a little disappointing that there were only two hot tubs on the ship available to the non Haven passengers.
Entertainment
The entertainment (again using many cruises as a reference) was pretty routine fare with the exception of the show "Beetlejuice" which was outstanding in every aspect; actors, sets and special effects.
Service and Staff
The staff on the Viva were above and beyond friendly and efficient. Most every crew member we encountered was cheerful and seemed genuinely eager to please. This always amazes me given the incredible amount of hours they work and the difficult passengers they sometimes encounter. Mush praise is due them.
Ship Quality
I think that how much one likes the design and layout of a ship has to do with personal preference. Personally, I was not a fan. I didn't care for the fancy glittery look and feel of the ship design. Some of it was a bit too blingy for me. Also, I have always liked the more traditional atrium and a more woodsy scheme throughout a ship. It just feels more nautical. Finally, I did like the balcony cabin, especially the bathroom which was spacious and comfortable.
The common areas of the ship were immaculately clean and well maintained. Kudos to the unsung heros (at least they're heros to me) that are constantly and quietly cleaning.
Cabin / Stateroom
As previously mentioned, the cabin was very nice. There were a sufficient number of outlets which is nice for a change. Also the TV was placed well. It was frustrating though to have to pay for newer movies. One thing I have to mention is that the closet doors were finger smashers. Both my wife and I got our fingers smashed a number of times. Finally, the balcony chairs were superb!
Ship tip
Make sure you look closely at the dining facility hours.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Here we went to what is thought to be Mary's house where the apostle John perhaps brought her after Jesus' crucifixion. Afterward we went to the ruins of Ephesis which are a must see! Being of the Christian Faith it was particularly meaningful for me to see one of the places where the apostle Paul lived during his travels. Don't miss it. Finally, we had a tour of a Turkish rug factory where the carpets are all hand made. The dexterity required in making a carpet on the loom is fascinating.
Rome is a fascinating place full of amazing art, architecture and ancient history. To see it properly would take days. As this was our second time in Rome (the first time we were much younger and walked ten plus miles in one day) we spent several hours on the hop-on hop-off bus riding through the city. Our first time in Rome we saw must of the major sites, the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Forum, St. Peter's Square, Vatican and more, up close and personal. This time we were content to see it from our seats on the bus.
We had a long scenic drive along the Napali coast with a stop and tour of a LimonCello factory where we had a refreshing break. We then returned along the coast and went to the ruins of Pompei. We walked the ruins extensively and it was very interesting. Though the inhabitants of this ancient city seemed to live well, we have much to be thankful for.
We did an excursion (non ship) that included a Bospherus river cruise and a tour of the old city. It was very interesting and informative. I found the Roman cistern to be very interesting.
Didn't do much here. Went to town, walked a bit, had a nice coffee Granite with bread stuffed with Nutella. It was delicious. Rest of the day was spent on the ship just chillin.
This was our beach day. We walked about a mile along the waterfront to an area of the beach which was a little, and I mean very little, less crowded. It was an okay beach, but not the nice sandy beaches we're are used to. It was stoney and hard on the feet, however the water was clear and refreshing.
They all were great. We did non ship excursions which were high quality and significantly cheaper than the ship's.
Rode the mules up to the town which was, shall we say, an experience. After that we spent six hours enjoying a refreshing afternoon of swimming and sailing from a deluxe catamaran whose crew was extraordinary. We finished the day seeing a gorgeous sunset as the boat was returning to the port.
Here we did a lot of walking. We walked all the way to the windmills where the scenery was delightful and stopped in a few shops along the way.
Disembarkation
The disembarkation was easy, efficient and well managed.