smilegirl07

Keith, I hope you had another amazing day. I wanted to ask you one thing. I came to find out that quite a few reviewers on Youtube weren't that happy with Viva and one thing they pointed out was that when they stayed behind to experience the ship at a port, unfortunately a lot of the venues were closed. Even the dining options were limited, they said. But then they were on different itineraries, most of them were in the Caribbeans, I believe. And i get it. I bet NCL is trying to be more $$$ conscious and when most of the people are off the ship at ports, they limit venues. Was this the case for your cruise as well? As I have mentioned, I am traveling with kids and there may be a few days we are just going to stay behind to explore the ship, and enjoy the venues while it is less crowded. But at the same time if the most of the places will be shut I might as well get off and keep the kiddoes busy. Let me know what your cruise was and if they kept places open/closed/limited at ports! Thank you in advance and have a safe trip back home! Let me know

Thank you for another update of a great day. I can't believe how fast time goes by! I was so torn today trying to decide what to do in Villefranche, should I just hang out at the port area and town of Villefranche or go to Eze, Nice or even Saint Paul de Vence.... Are you planning to stay in Rome for a few days before you head back home once you disembark? Hope you enjoy a great day in Livorno, looking forward to the update! Have a good night!

I think I am going to choose Maseilles as one port that we are not getting off as well. Sounds like all is going good though, hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise! Quick Q. Is the gym on Viva open 24/7 or if not what are the hours? I Googled but could not find the info.... Have an awesome day!

what is the best way to get the contact info of the port agent/ship? I can't believe that I am asking this after 20+ cruises..... Thank you in advance!

I just heard this also! They were left behind in Granada and rejoined the ship after their family back home arranged the transportation, hotel etc. They were on a private tourand were late by. about 1.15 hours, the ship's all back aboard time was 5, leaving the dock at 6 but they did not make it back till about 6:15. Keith, Thank you for all those updates! It is disappointing when you are eating your steak and your wine glass is empty! But I am glad your Cagney's experience was better than the ones before! Hope you enjoy the rest of the cruise and keep us posted! Have a good night!

Hi, I am not the OP but both the Icons show and comedy show says " Reservations are not offered" meaning, it is just first come first serve? I was just guessing!

Sounds like a fun day! I just looked at the NCL app to see the excursion you did to possibly book it and it is already sold out.... I was waiting too long. I thought I should check out the Alhambra while in Motril.... which I think may be too much for my kids. I am curious to find out how Onda was! You guys seem like very easy going, positive, fun loving people who will have a good time no matter what! Enjoy the rest of your cruise and can't wait to hear about the next port! I booked some catamaran boating and snorkeling in Ibiza... which I have to make it to the meeting point on our own... I would appreciate it if you can hint me how the transportation is at the port! Anywayz, have a good night!

that was ME! 🙂. thank you!

Not sure if I am jealous more so because of the mudslide at the Vive or dinner at the Le Bistro. 🤣 Enjoy!

I hope you are having an amazing time! quick two questions! How's the internet speed? Unfortunately, my husband will have to work a few hours a day and I got him the unlimited internet package (not the streaming kind) but was wondering if we should upgrade to the streaming kind. Also for Gibraltar, I am just planning to buy the tickets to the cable car and the rock and explore on our own however would youb rather recommend a tour? It was pretty pricy. was it hard to catch a cab/walk to the cable car/rock area? No rush to answer, take your time and only when you can, after all you are on a cruise! Have a blast! Thank you!

Good to know! Thank you! 🙂

OMG, I love you for doing this review! We met on a few other topic discussions, I am doing the exact same itinerary in August on the viva. Same as yours plus the three kids/the August heat and the crowds...🤣 Please let us know how beautiful Viva is, how's the service/food/cabin etc and ports! I am so excited for you! Happy and safe cruising! Have fun in Lisbon as well!

Will do! Thank you!

Thank you for the info! Besides the pick pocket-ers in big cities, I have to watch out for the apes in Gibraltar....and make sure they don't take my stuff...😅

😱 $500 is absurd amount. Pre booking things is the key I guess! and yes my YOLO state of mind pops up when I start planning and looking into details and the budget and relaxing vacation is now out the window... 🤣 Thank you, we are so excited!

Yes, I've got this....!🙌😆. Like you mentioned I think my biggest nemesis will be the August heat but we are from TX 🤣 where it reaches 110 easy during summer, there was a period time last summer where we reached 110 in over 10 consecutive days, so hopefully we are trained for the heat! Thank you! Have a great weekend!

Thank you so much for sharing the experience! So helpful! We are staying total of about 25 days as well, about 10 days prior (we are doing a farm stay in Tuscany and then heading off to Lake Como for some relaxing lake stay. Then catch the flight to Lisbon from Milan and have about 1.5 days in Lisbon before we hop on Viva, after the cruise we have a few days to spare in Rome before heading back home!). I booked a few fun boating excursions with paddle boarding, snorkeling, water biking stuff at Ibiza and Mallorca and I am planning for just on our own easy stroll around the city stuff at some other ports. Do you think it will be too much to go see Cinque Terre and Pisa in one day during our stop in Livorno? I booked an excursion that guarantees to be back to the ship on time while we stop in Livorno, I am doing much of Florence while we stay in Tuscany before the cruise so I want to go check out Cinque Terre while the ship stops in Livorno but am not sure if that would be too much..... Once again thank you for all the tips and info very helpful, I will watch out for the pick pocket-ers 😆 wtih a hawk's eyes... Last Q! Are there taxis readily available at ports in Ibiza and Mallorca? I got 3rd party excursions and we have to make it to the meeting points on our own. We are a family of 5 and I heard taxis are small in Europe so we may have to split in two groups.... Also one more.... how was Gibraltar? I am thinking to just buy thickets to go up the rock on our own and explore... but wasn't sure if it is far to make it to the cable car area (didn't I just say last Q? 🤣).. Anywayz... it is so awesome to hear all this from someone who stopped at all those ports not too long ago! Have a great weekend!

All figured out at this time! And yes, I made sure to get AirBNB that has lots of room for us to spread and washer and dryer is yes a must for family of 5! 🙂. thank you for the tips and info!

Thank you for such a detailed info! Love it! Would love to hear about your Cadiz experience once you visit in a few weeks! I agree, with kids and August heat in the Med, I am not going to do a FULL DAY tours.... that will exhaust all of us and may test my patience and sanity with the kiddoes.... We may mix up some more extensive tours along with take it easy in our own, head back to the ship in a few hours kinda stuff. Once again, thank you and have fun in Cadiz!

Ours was around those dates in 2024, but for 2025 it starts from the March 14th through the 23rd 2025(school calendar for next year just got published). it really depends on the state and school district as well. Oh, I am sorry, when we say "we(ours)" I mean TX 😆 and most southern states have spring break off around the same time(AK, AL, KS, GA, FL, MS, LA, etc). We also call it the ski week. When I was living in CA, we got our ski week around the 3rd week of Feb(or around president's day weekend) and then got actual spring break around first week~2nd week of April. Since you are leaving toward the end of Feb and get back after the first week of March, I think you will be OK, missing all those "days off for kids" before and after but who knows.... hope I helped a little! Hope you have an awesome time cruising!

@Turtles06 I was thinking the same thing! Just split into two groups! @European_CruiseGirl Yes, I'll look into Uber as well! Thank y'all for the info!

OMG, that would be awesome, besides the taxi-situation, I just want to know how it is generally, how it feels-the vibe on the ship, etc, etc. I think you and I may have the same itinerary, Lisbon to Rome, stopping everyday including Motril, cadiz, ibiza, Majorca and such....like literally 10 stops. I have done quite a few cruises in the US, leaving from the east, the west and the south(Galveston), on Celebrity, Carnival, Disney and BUNCH of Royal, but this is my first cruise in Europe and on NCL, so I am very excited/worried/anxious/etc. You are lucky to do it during the shoulder months... as it will be less crowded both at ports and on the ship, I unfortunately have school age kids so am doing the same itinerary staring 8/2. Anywayz, I would love to hear from you how everything is generally, that would be AWESOME! Thank you again and I hope you have an AMAZING cruise! 🙌

@pete_coach @Bulk-head thank you for the info, very helpful!

that is a great idea. haven't thought about that. Thank you

Y'all. Once again, I need help from you guys. Y'all are so awesome and I honestly get so much info from here. So we are cruising through the med (i've been to Europe BUT first time cruising in the Med) in early August this year on the Viva as a family of 5 and we are booking quite a bit of excursions from a 3rd party vendor. I know it is riskier but I am making sure that there are plenty of time before and after the excursion to leave from the port and get back to. I opted for 3rd party because of the variety. I was surprised how limited the choices are given by NCL. (Also they are all reserve now but cancelable if needed up to 2 days prior) My only concern is there are excursions that I am being picked up from the port and being dropped off back at the port vs there are ones I have to make it to the meeting point and I am not sure how readily available the taxis are especially for an odd number of 5 people. The ones that I am concerned are Gibraltar, Cadiz(Seville), Motril(Granada) and Marseille. Please help and thank you in advance!! 🙌