We arrived into Lisbon late but had a speedy check-in at the Marriott Lisbon. The Marriott is a little out of the main part of the city but as a resort has everything! It was the perfect pick-up spot for our Tour to Sintra & Pena Palace - both historic and picturesque places to visit.

Finally, it was time to board the beautiful Norwegian Viva which debuted in June 2023, and is the second Prima Class ship for Norwegian Cruise Lines. She has the highest staffing and space ratios on record amongst contemporary cruise ships and you notice it. There is plenty of wide-open space everywhere, so you never feel crowded. Norwegian Viva can accommodate 3099 passengers and has 1506 crew members. The cabins are light and spacious with large ensuites that contain a full-size shower with glass doors. No fighting with the shower curtains here! We were lucky enough to be in a balcony cabin which has a full-sized sofa in the room, plenty of hanging space and storage areas. The bedside lamps also double as usb charging ports which we thought were wonderful.

The ship offers many different dining and entertainment options onboard but let me start with the thrills and chills. There is nothing more exciting than getting on a go-cart track and racing three stories up on the high seas. You can also do the “The Drop” or “The Rush” which are free fall dry slides on the ship. For the kids Viva has a large outdoor splash pad area. There are also dedicated kids’ clubs onboard the ship. You can enjoy the beautiful ocean views whilst swimming in an infinity pool at Infinity Beach or take a stroll on the Ocean Walk which has a glass walkway.

Other areas to enjoy are the Galaxy Pavilion which is an immersive reality experience and Norwegian Viva is also offering Beetlejuice the Musical at Sea. Unfortunately, the show was not ready for this sailing.

There is no shortage of bars and lounges onboard with a total of 18 to choose from , including Viva Speedway Bar, Belvedere Bar, Luna Bar, Metropolitan, Soleil Bar, Studio Lounge, Syd Norman's Pour House, The Humidor Cigar Lounge, The Improve at Sea, Vibe Beach Club, Waves Pool Bar and more.

There were five complimentary dining locations onboard the ship. If you are staying in the Haven Suites, you also have the option to dine at The Haven Restaurant. Hudson's and The Commodore Room are the two larger-scale complimentary dining restaurants, while Surfside Cafe is the ship's buffet. Indulge Food Hall is a casual dining venue that features cuisine from all over the world. And, finally, The Local Bar & Grill is a Norwegian Cruise Line classic dining space, resembling a local pub where guests can get yummy eats 24/7.

There are also a few specialty dining restaurants onboard: Cagney's Steakhouse, Food Republic, Hasuki, Le Bistro, Los Lobos, Nama Sushi & Sashimi, Onda by Scarpetta, and Palomar. There is a dining option for everybody’s taste buds.

Our itinerary was Lisbon, Ibiza, Palma De Mallorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Civitavecchia. In Ibiza, we went to a beach club and just enjoyed the sun and the beach. In Palma De Mallorca after a catamaran ride, we did a trip to Cuevas de Genova and had tapas at an olive vineyard. We were interested in seeing the inside of the Basilica I Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Famili. We took a hop on hop off tour which dropped us off from the cathedral and we did a self-tour.

It is definitely worth the More at Sea option with Norwegian Cruise Line which gives you the Premium Beverage package, WiFi package, shore excursion credit and specialty dining package so something to make sure is included when you purchase your cruise.

We would recommend this cruise to foodies, adventure seekers, families, couples, the young and young at heart. With Norwegian Cruise Line, there is so much choice, that you really can cruise your way catering to just about everyone!