Firing on 1 out of 4 Cylinders

Norwegian Viva Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

sylvia1973

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Vote: 1

Overall rating:

3.1 out of 5

10 Night Western Mediterranean (Lisbon To Rome)

Sail date: September 20, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Viva

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9342

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 month ago

Review summary

We just returned from a 10-day cruise on Norwegian Viva, starting in Lisbon and ending in Rome. We have done two river cruises on Viking and Emerald, and four ocean cruises on Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity (Edge) and NCL. In each case we had a balcony cabin. I would have to say that, out of all six cruises NCL was the overall lowest quality and least value for the money. The key detractors were: 1. Poor Food Quality and Selection: a. NCL Viva offers two main dining rooms: Hudson’s on deck 7 and the Commadore on deck 6. The ambiance in both was moderate, with Commadore feeling claustrophobic and needed another two feet of ceiling. The decor in both is average and the atmosphere is hectic. The menus are identical, and the food quality, variety and taste were somewhere between a Denny’s and an Olive Garden…but definitely lower than a Olive Garden. b. In comparison, The Celebrity Edge class offers four completely different included dining experiences; Mediterranean, Continental, French and Italian. Each one has a unique and elegant ambiance with an excellent individual menu and daily unique specials. The meals in any one of these offerings were simply outstanding. I could see no reason to go to a specialty restaurant. c. Viva’s French and Italian specialty restaurants were the only ones that could compare to Celebrity’s included venue’s…and at a significant extra charge. d. Even breakfast was poor at the Viva’s Hudson’s. I tried the simplest items… pancakes…but even these were seemingly stale and dense. I literally had to saw through my Eggs Benedict English muffin. e. The buffet was less than Denny’s quality and selection. I have seen and appreciate a high-end buffet…but this was pure assembly line and poor quality. I would have rather eaten at Denny’s. 2. Poor Drink Quality: a. Almost everything on Viva is a pre-mix, and it tastes like it. Even the wine is on tap at the bars. Don’t ever try to get a Margarita with real lime…its always an overly sweet pre-mix. It feels like the old MacDonalds orange mix when you want a real Orange Crush. 3. Lack of Personal Connection: a. Viva feels like an assembly line for hospitality that is just half a bubble off: b. Our room attendant never introduced himself and we were never really sure who he was. In contrast, our Celebrity room attendant not only introduced himself, but immediately spotted the need for a gallon of distilled water for the CPAP machine and found a hair pin for my wife in seconds. c. None of the room attendant staff encountered seemed to know ANYTHING about the rest of the ship, its restaurant locations, amenities, or entertainment. It felt like an upstairs/downstairs class segregation of crew with little personal ownership of the rest of the ship. d. The table staff at the restaurants was either full on or felt like they were either one week into their first cruise with a lack of needed experience or were just burnt out. e. On the other hand, it felt like the overly dramatic and enthusiastic breakfast buffet greeter had just done two lines of cocaine every time you saw here first thing in the morning. f. The security staff on disembarkation and embarkation were brutally stoic, without a smile…EVER. They did not seem to enjoy their jobs in the least. 4. Restaurant Breakfast Hours a. If you weren’t out of the bunk and at the table by 09:30, you were relegated to the overcrowded feeding trough of the 17th floor breakfast buffet, as every sit down venue closed at an inexplicably early 09:30. I’m on holiday…not in the army. 5. Lack of Detail: a. No turn down service. b. No fridge replenishment. c. Tablets for ordering wine in a specialty restaurant. This latter point could be executed to deliver both the information of a tablet and the elegance of a wine list experience, but it was just a clunky tablet with a user interface that not even the server understood. d. No free water for excursions. Only one out of six provided water. e. There was a Starbucks coffee bar, but you quickly found out that it was extra…a lot extra. In contrast, Celebrity had their own coffee bar, with wonderful daily pastries and it was all included…including the shot of Baileys in her cappuccino that my wife was offered each morning! f. Only one out of six of the excursions offered wireless hearing units for the tours…very poor indeed. g. Limited roving servers in the outdoor venues. 6. Bland Interior Common Areas: a. The central atrium is just boring. It has zero “Wow” effect. b. As noted earlier, the ambiance of the included food venues was below par for this kind of vessel. Viva’s key strengths were: 1. Outdoor Areas: a. The best and most extensive outdoor lounging areas I have ever seen. I could always find a lounging location…and not just a sun chair, but a cool themed area that was extra comfortable. 2. Cabin Bathrooms: a. Viva’s cabin bathroom was the best laid out and most roomy that I have ever experienced on a ship. 3. Cleanliness and Ship Condition: a. Viva was truly shipshape! I know that it is a relatively new ship, but still, the level of cleanliness, on a ship that big, with that many people onboard, was notable. 4. Entertainment: a. The entertainment that we did see in Syd Norman’s Pour Bar was nothing short of OUTSTANDING!! (The venue was far too small for the talent on display) b. The 80’s show in the theater was fantastic. Top quality musical talent at both. In the end, though, a cruise is all about food, drink, luxury, and entertainment…and Viva was only hitting on one of four cylinders. I would not go on another NCL cruise when, for the same money, I can have a far more complete experience with Celebrity and their Edge-class ships.

Embarkation

1 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

1. Poor Food Quality and Selection: a. NCL Viva offers two main dining rooms: Hudson’s on deck 7 and the Commadore on deck 6. The ambiance in both was moderate, with Commadore feeling claustrophobic and needed another two feet of ceiling. The decor in both is average and the atmosphere is hectic. The menus are identical, and the food quality, variety and taste were somewhere between a Denny’s and an Olive Garden…but definitely lower than a Olive Garden. b. In comparison, The Celebrity Edge class offers four completely different included dining experiences; Mediterranean, Continental, French and Italian. Each one has a unique and elegant ambiance with an excellent individual menu and daily unique specials. The meals in any one of these offerings were simply outstanding. I could see no reason to go to a specialty restaurant. c. Viva’s French and Italian specialty restaurants were the only ones that could compare to Celebrity’s included venue’s…and at a significant extra charge. d. Even breakfast was poor at the Viva’s Hudson’s. I tried the simplest items… pancakes…but even these were seemingly stale and dense. I literally had to saw through my Eggs Benedict English muffin. e. The buffet was less than Denny’s quality and selection. I have seen and appreciate a high-end buffet…but this was pure assembly line and poor quality. I would have rather eaten at Denny’s. 2. Poor Drink Quality: a. Almost everything on Viva is a pre-mix, and it tastes like it. Even the wine is on tap at the bars. Don’t ever try to get a Margarita with real lime…its always an overly sweet pre-mix. It feels like the old MacDonalds orange mix when you want a real Orange Crush.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

3. Lack of Personal Connection: a. Viva feels like an assembly line for hospitality that is just half a bubble off: b. Our room attendant never introduced himself and we were never really sure who he was. In contrast, our Celebrity room attendant not only introduced himself, but immediately spotted the need for a gallon of distilled water for the CPAP machine and found a hair pin for my wife in seconds. c. None of the room attendant staff encountered seemed to know ANYTHING about the rest of the ship, its restaurant locations, amenities, or entertainment. It felt like an upstairs/downstairs class segregation of crew with little personal ownership of the rest of the ship. d. The table staff at the restaurants was either full on or felt like they were either one week into their first cruise with a lack of needed experience or were just burnt out. e. On the other hand, it felt like the overly dramatic and enthusiastic breakfast buffet greeter had just done two lines of cocaine every time you saw here first thing in the morning. f. The security staff on disembarkation and embarkation were brutally stoic, without a smile…EVER. They did not seem to enjoy their jobs in the least.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Fantastic bathroom. Very nice cabin

Ship tip

1. Outdoor Areas: a. The best and most extensive outdoor lounging areas I have ever seen. I could always find a lounging location…and not just a sun chair, but a cool themed area that was extra comfortable. 2. Cabin Bathrooms: a. Viva’s cabin bathroom was the best laid out and most roomy that I have ever experienced on a ship. 3. Cleanliness and Ship Condition: a. Viva was truly shipshape! I know that it is a relatively new ship, but still, the level of cleanliness, on a ship that big, with that many people onboard, was notable. 4. Entertainment: a. The entertainment that we did see in Syd Norman’s Pour Bar was nothing short of OUTSTANDING!! (The venue was far too small for the talent on display) b. The 80’s show in the theater was fantastic. Top quality musical talent at both.

Thumbs up