Name: Transatlantic: Spain & Azores
Brand: Norwegian Cruise Line

Overview

The Norwegian Viva leaves Barcelona behind as she sets course for Mediterranean and Italy on this 9-night Norwegian Cruise Line sailing. Ports of call include Villefranche-sur-Mer, Messina, and Split, giving you the chance to explore some of Mediterranean and Italy's most captivating destinations. Life on board the Norwegian Viva is as much a part of this holiday as the ports themselves - and Norwegian Cruise Line ensures there's plenty to enjoy both on board and ashore. From £930 per person, you could be stepping aboard the Norwegian Viva and heading for Mediterranean and Italy.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Founded in 1966, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), part of global cruise company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (which also owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises), is the third-largest cruise line in the world in terms of cruise passengers. NCL has become well-known for its colourful ships featuring a pop-icon style painted hull.

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Barcelona

Barcelona, a city defined by its innovative spirit from the architectural wonders of Gaudto the bustling medieval streets of the Gothic Quarter, offers a vivid window into Spains artistic soul. The city benefits from a Mediterranean climate, ensuring pleasant weather perfect for leisurely explorations of its many districts. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian utilize Barcelona as a key port, giving travelers the chance to immerse themselves in a blend of modernist architecture and vibrant local life. An intriguing fact about Barcelona is its beach was artificially created in preparation for the 1992 Olympics, showcasing the city's ability to ingeniously reinvent itself while maintaining its historical roots.

Day 2

Villefranche-sur-Mer

Nestled on the sun-kissed shores of the French Riviera, Villefranche-sur-Mer exudes an enchanting charm steeped in maritime history. Its azure waters have witnessed the passage of ancient mariners and modern-day adventurers alike. Bask in the Mediterranean climate, where gentle sea breezes mingle with the scent of citrus groves, offering respite from the bustling city life. This idyllic haven provides a gateway to the authentic essence of France, with its quaint cobblestone streets and colorful waterfront cafes. As cruise lines dock in its picturesque harbor, Villefranche-sur-Mer unveils its hidden treasures, inviting travelers to savor its culinary delights and immerse themselves in its vibrant local culture.

Day 3

Livorno

Day 4

Civitavecchia

Perched on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Civitavecchia boasts a storied past intertwined with maritime adventures. As the gateway to Rome, its harbor has welcomed seafarers for centuries, echoing with tales of ancient civilizations and grand conquests. The Mediterranean climate blesses visitors with balmy breezes and sun-drenched days, creating an idyllic atmosphere for exploration. Away from the bustling metropolis, Civitavecchia offers an authentic Italian experience, where cobblestone streets wind through charming piazzas and trattorias serve up delectable seafood caught fresh from the sea. Don't miss the chance to stroll along the historic harbor walls, built to protect against marauding pirates centuries ago.

Day 5

Salerno

Salerno beckons with tales of maritime glory, its shores echoing with the echoes of ancient seafaring civilizations. Nestled along the picturesque Amalfi Coast, Salerno boasts a Mediterranean climate, where warm sea breezes kiss sun-kissed shores year-round. Cruise lines navigate these crystalline waters, offering a glimpse into Italy's authentic soul beyond the well-trodden paths. Visitors are treated to the region's culinary delights, from freshly caught seafood to fragrant lemon-infused dishes. As the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast, Salerno invites exploration of its rugged cliffs and charming coastal villages, revealing the true essence of Italian coastal living.

Day 6

Messina

Amidst the sun-kissed shores of Messina lies a tapestry of history woven with tales of ancient civilizations and legendary events. Its storied past, marked by encounters with Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans, echoes through its cobblestone streets and majestic architecture. The Mediterranean climate here offers a balmy embrace, perfect for leisurely exploration and al fresco dining. Beyond the bustling ports, Messina unveils hidden gems, from charming cafes to vibrant markets, where travelers can savor authentic Sicilian flavors and immerse themselves in local traditions. As the gateway to Sicily, Messina beckons cruisegoers with its rich heritage and timeless allure, promising an unforgettable journey through the heart of Italy.

Day 7

Corfu

Day 8

Bar

Day 9

Split

Day 10

Ravenna

Nestled along the Adriatic coast, Ravenna beckons with a storied past, adorned by its status as the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Its warm Mediterranean climate offers a serene backdrop for exploring its UNESCO-listed treasures, including magnificent Byzantine mosaics that narrate tales of emperors and saints. Unlike bustling tourist hubs, Ravenna's tranquil ambiance invites cruisegoers to immerse in authentic Italian life, strolling its cobbled streets and savoring local delicacies like piadina, a savory flatbread. Amidst its artistic allure, Ravenna surprises with a unique claim to fameit was the final resting place of the great poet Dante Alighieri.

Day 1

Barcelona

Day 2

Villefranche-sur-Mer

Day 3

Livorno

Day 4

Civitavecchia

Day 5

Salerno

Day 6

Messina

Day 7

Corfu

Day 8

Bar

Day 9

Split

Day 10

Ravenna

3195

Passengers

1506

Crew

2023

Launched

142500t

Tonnage

294m

Length

41m

Width

22kts

Speed

Decks

USD

Currency

Norwegian Viva

The second stunning ship in the Prima Class, Norwegian Viva® is designed for you to live life to the fullest.

All Prices

Customer reviews

Reviews

Excellent Ship great staff

A beautiful ship with plenty of top class entertainment and activities if you want them . Good choices are first class and the itinerary on t hi s cruise was just what I wanted

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Viva

Reviews

The scenery made up for the shortfalls of the actual cruise experience

It was largely what we were expecting - re: accommodation and entertainment. We thought the food offerings were not very good. As it was an Alaskan cruise we were expecting at least a salmon and crab evening. I thought the buffet would be a bit like the Las Vegas offerings but standard was pedestrian. However, food cooked well and presented nicely. Enjoyed being able to eat in three speciality restaurants and our favourite was the French restaurant - that we really liked. Staff on board all brilliant. Entertainment very loud so we avoided the shows after the first night. Evening music in the main bar was excellent when it was a guy called Randon, otherwise not so good. Port side tours were good. Organisation and communication excellent - never felt left to find out important information for ourselves - daily newspaper listing all activities. Very impressed with that. We would probably not choose an American cruise company again. We are definitely European and our cultures seem so different!

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Jade

Reviews

Great Getaway on Norwegian Getaway

Fantastic round trip cruise from New York up to Halifax. The entertainment was good and the cruise co-ordinator made sure everyone was having a great time. We missed the Beatles bar that Epic had and there wasn't quite the same amount of choices when it came to watching tribute bands/entertainment, but Staff were really friendly and accommodating and did their best to make our trip an enjoyable one. The stops were really interesting and we saw plenty of wildlife - would definitely go back to Boston as a separate trip too as we simply didn't have enough time to see everything. Gave us a taste of that side of America and Canada and we would definitely recommend the cruise and the location. Just booked our 4th cruise with Norwegian around the Med and back on Epic so looking to compare our last few trips and see what has changed.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Getaway

Reviews

Less than impressive, NCL could do much better

British Isles, France, Netherlands and Belgium 11-night cruise Having had more than 35 cruises across several cruise lines (including Holland-America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, P&O, Marella and others), this for me was one of the worst. The quality of main dining-room meals at dinner was poor with a sluggish service to match (often two-and-a-half hours for a three-course serving). So the service was so poor that towards the end of the cruise, I gave up and decided to eat in the buffet! Very many of the on-board activities seemed aimed at extracting as much money as possible from guests. And the entertainment was hit-and-miss. A good British magician/illusionist but a less-than-funny comedian. Edinburgh and Dublin were good destinations, but both involved time-consuming tenders as well as transport from harbour to city centre. Docking at Belfast, too, was a bus or taxi ride from the city centre, or even the Titanic Exhibition (which was one of the highlights of the cruise for me).

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Sky

Reviews

Cruise from port of Jacksonville

Had another fantastic cruise with Norwegian, great staff, entertainment, brilliant food, with a disappointment in the Bahamas. So as typical Norwegian, staff and food fantastic, the shows are brilliant, however our 1 island stop was a disaster with everything on the Island closed for Good Friday. Everyone was boarding taxis to the town centre and getting there to find everything closed, so felt a bit of a rip off with none of the drivers saying so. Went to Norwegian's private island for the first time also which was amazing definitely would return there. All in all it was a great cruise with a great company in Norwegian.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Gem

Reviews

A mixed experience

The cruise was from Auckland to Sydney with ports in NZ and Tasmania en route. The ship itself was smaller size and older but very nicely refurbished. Weather was mainly fine en route except for 2 very rough days in the Tasman sea. I am a single traveller and the Norwegian website would not allow me to book the 3 speciality restaurants as encouraged pre embarkation. The package of Freedom at Sea was dining time and table size as required daily so there were no pre booked tables for singles. The meetings for the 35 or so sole travellers were at 5 pm every day which didn’t really suit me. Similarly the fitness classes tended to be very early morning too. The two main restaurants were fine in terms of food quality but the menu was rather repetitive. The speciality restaurants offered variety of choice. I avoided the buffet as even though staff were encouraging passengers to sanitise their hands, many just walked past and ignored them. I have been on larger ships where buffet items were served rather than hundreds of people using the utensils. The staff were invariably pleasant and helpful with the exception of some excursion staff who yelled instructions at people patronisingly and made the waiting experience needlessly stressful. My main concern was the lack of any dress code at all save that men must wear long trousers in the French restaurant.In the lounges and at dinner, many passengers had not even changed from daytime casuals and shorts ,caps and t shirts were considered acceptable. I guess this was just the wrong cruise line for me as I had made an erroneous assumption that it would be like Olsen. The vast majority of passengers were American and Canadian who perhaps prefer a more informal atmosphere. The entertainment on this American owned liner was very poor indeed to my mind though seemingly enjoyed by others. Two poorly choreographed and screechy song and dance shows plus Mr Penguin, a magician and an unfunny comedian. The lounge entertainment was dire too with the exception of Leon , an excellent young entertainer. So I chose this cruise for the itinerary but the anything goes atmosphere on board just didn’t suit me. Norwegian have some great cruise routes but the onboard experience was disappointing and I would be very hesitant to travel with NCL again.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Spirit

Reviews

First time, probably last

Ship was spotless and crew were fabulous. Entertainment lacklustre, food only OK. Itinerary 8 out of ten, however port timings disappointing. Booked complete package including hotels and transfers, these were all very good. Also had more at sea which worked very well for us, very good value for money overall

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Spirit

Reviews

Alaska and the Inside Passage

This was our 5th cruise with NCL (all on different ships) and whilst we had a good time, we were slightly disappointed with the Joy. The food was not as good as we have had on previous NCL cruises and the entertainment on offer was decidedly "underwhelming"

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Joy