Everything.. Norwegian Viva/Prima class #2

[Steff79]

2025 is Viva at summer in Europe again, many cruises are open to book now in the med.

 

mostly same cruises for Prima in northern Europe then the years before are open to book now for 2025 too.

[RVACruiser43]

18 minutes ago, Steff79 said:

2025 is Viva at summer in Europe again, many cruises are open to book now in the med.

 

mostly same cruises for Prima in northern Europe then the years before are open to book now for 2025 too.

I am looking to move our November 2024 Pride of America Cruise to something else.  We do our first PofA next week and wife is thinking once is enough, we will see in a couple weeks if that changes LOL.  I was thinking about the Viva Transatlantic in Nov 2024 ending in San Juan.  At least this should be a bit warmer weather not repeating the cold weather shortcomings of Prima on the TA.  I will be following this thread to take in any changes that may be integrated into Viva from the Prima feedback.

I wonder when the smaller ship itineraries will be released for 2nd half of 2024 and into 2025?  

 

I really appreciate all the input you have provided on Prima.

 

Tom

[pinklady65]

24 minutes ago, Steff79 said:

2025 is Viva at summer in Europe again, many cruises are open to book now in the med.

 

mostly same cruises for Prima in northern Europe then the years before are open to book now for 2025 too.

I've already booked Viva for September 2025

[BenCoudon]

6 minutes ago, RVACruiser43 said:

I am looking to move our November 2024 Pride of America Cruise to something else.  We do our first PofA next week and wife is thinking once is enough, we will see in a couple weeks if that changes LOL.  I was thinking about the Viva Transatlantic in Nov 2024 ending in San Juan.  At least this should be a bit warmer weather not repeating the cold weather shortcomings of Prima on the TA.  I will be following this thread to take in any changes that may be integrated into Viva from the Prima feedback.

I wonder when the smaller ship itineraries will be released for 2nd half of 2024 and into 2025?  

 

I really appreciate all the input you have provided on Prima.

 

Tom

Sommer already said that in his view, Prima is 97% "Perfect"   So I am not expecting any significant changes for the Viva

[Sand and Seas]

2 minutes ago, BenCoudon said:

Sommer already said that in his view, Prima is 97% "Perfect"   So I am not expecting any significant changes for the Viva

We loved our Prima cruise to ABC islands so we are planning to book again for a warm weather cruise.  It has some new ship quirks, but nothing that took away from our overall appreciation of the ship.  

 

I'll be interested to see what (small?) changes they make for Viva.  

[CruizinSusan70]

On 11/6/2022 at 9:52 PM, BenCoudon said:

 

I did not check cruise reviews since I disembarked the Prima.  I don't know that the people that were on the New York to Galveston said and now the 7 nights Carabean cruises out of Galveston.  It would be interesting to see 

There are currently no 7 night cruises out of Galveston and there won't be any until the Prima home ports there after her TA next fall.

We were on the 11 night repositioning cruise from Galveston to Miami.  The only major problems were the size of the Improv and Syd's, the size of the main pool and the juggling and cancellations of many of the shows.  Small tweaks will be done to the Viva and now since Prima Plus #3 is pushed back to 2025, hopefully major improvements will be made to eliminate the current problems with the Prima.

[RVACruiser43]

22 minutes ago, BenCoudon said:

Sommer already said that in his view, Prima is 97% "Perfect"   So I am not expecting any significant changes for the Viva

I guess I will have to agree to disagree with his analysis LOL  My main concerns were with the Thermal area and the cold weather keeping us from enjoying the outdoor area.  That Thermal issue could easily be corrected, and keeping the ship in warmer climates solves issue #2 so I am open to trying Viva 🙂  Plus the price for an OV for the 15 day cruise is within a couple hundred $$ of our PofA booking and will use worldpoints to upgrade to balcony.

 

How are you doing in cold Canada?  We are feeling it down here today Someone left your doors and windows open to let the cold air blow into Virginia from north of the Boarder.

Tom

[BenCoudon]

1 hour ago, RVACruiser43 said:

I guess I will have to agree to disagree with his analysis LOL  My main concerns were with the Thermal area and the cold weather keeping us from enjoying the outdoor area.  That Thermal issue could easily be corrected, and keeping the ship in warmer climates solves issue #2 so I am open to trying Viva 🙂  Plus the price for an OV for the 15 day cruise is within a couple hundred $$ of our PofA booking and will use worldpoints to upgrade to balcony.

 

How are you doing in cold Canada?  We are feeling it down here today Someone left your doors and windows open to let the cold air blow into Virginia from north of the Boarder.

Tom

On the other blog, I have already listed all the items that I disliked on the Prima.  On decks 6, 7 and 8, they gave way too much space to the venues that are generating additional revenue:  Casino, Duty Free shops, Art and photo shops.  Unless they reduce those spaces, the problems will not be fixed. Same issue with the observation lounge on deck 15:  Lots of space allocated to the Galaxy Pavillion so almost impossible to get a seat, especially during sea days.  They also need to re-think the layout of The Locals.  They installed a huge screen for people that want to watch sports but with under 20 seats available to watch tv, makes it useless.  They will also need to find space to have a venue to host special events. (something similar to the Bliss Lounge on other ships).  The Belvedere bar (with 135 seats) is not a good place.  They could reduce the size of the Commodore dining room. With this size of ship, Hudson dr and 1/2 of the current Commodore dr should be enough.  Give that space to the Belvedere bar and you get a very decent venue to host their Art auctions, M&G, trivia and bingo during the day and even live entertaiment at night.

I agree with you that with the outdoor space, capacity issues for the indulge food hall and the locals would probably be resolved when sailing in hot weather.  But it appears that this is not their intention.  Northern europe and Iceland are still destinations scheduled for the Prima for the next few years.  

 

For the cold weather, balme it on Buffalo, not on me LOL.  Up to last week, I was still walking outside wearing shorts.  Right now, it is not that bad for November  currently -2 celsius. And just a trace of snow on the ground.  Your cold weather comes from north-west.  But once you are back from your PoA cruise, I will make sure that I open doors and windows to cool you off  🙂   

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by BenCoudon

[PATRLR]

I apologize if I missed this as I only scanned the first few pages of this thread.

 

I can see that Viva arrives in NYC on November 27.   I don't see any sailings from New York that I can book, and the next bookable cruise is Dec 6 out of Miami.    Is it safe to assume that between November 27 and December 6 will be private cruises and/or repositioning to Miami?

 

We want to book the first public US sailing and it appears that will be Dec 6 out of Miami.   Did I miss anything?

Edited December 7, 2022 by PATRLR

[RVACruiser43]

On 1/15/2022 at 7:36 PM, jonesnewl said:

Yep, I tried a booking with 3 and the spa balcony was indicated as unavailable. I don't think they are offering any 3 person spa balcony cabins at this point. I'm very curious to see if the thermal suite is basically the same as on the Encore and Bliss or if it is going to be different.

This may have been answered, but after cruising on Prima’s TA I would not book the thermal again.  I found it very lacking and preferred even the Dawn And Star thermal to Prima.  No Hot tub or any hot water with jets.  The locker area is poorly designed and very small lockers and tight quarters.  1. The entry door is right at the lockers and when open gives folks in the hallway a view of people changing! 2. It is uncomfortable to get from the toilet area to the sink area which are on opposite sides of the lockers when someone is changing, not enough space to comfortably pass.  3.  Lockers are much smaller than any other thermal area I have used -Dawn, Star, Jewel, Gem, Pearl, Bliss and PofA.  The Men’s locker area did not have a single robe on three different visits towards the last few days of the cruise.  One good thing was there were plenty of hot stone loungers in two areas.

[RVACruiser43]

I saw a post elsewhere yesterday that said the #3-6 ships were put on hold and are being redesigned.  Anyone know if this is true, or if It is mentioned here and I just have not reached those posts?

 

[RVACruiser43]

After much thought I went ahead and changed our Nov 2024 PofA 7 day booking to the 15 day Viva TransAtlantic Lisbon to San Juan.  PofA was a bit pricey and I was able to move from an Aft Balcony on it to an OV on Viva with the Air promo for only $400 additional. Will be upgrading the OV using worldpoints in another week after my next statement cycle.  I am hoping this cruise is warm enough to reduce the shortcomings of  Prima in the Northern climates and unusable outside spaces.  I am particularly looking to see if NCL has improved the Spa Thermal area from the poor design on Prima.

 

Tom

[RVACruiser43]

I am wondering if anything has been done for VIVA to eliminate/reduce the awful creaking of the room ceilings in rough waters?  Prima was the noisiest ride I have experienced. We met a couple ladies that had a handicap room but couldn’t sleep due to the noise.  NCL gave them a second cabin just to sleep in! They needed to keep the handicap room for showering and storing the scooter.  That will be a problem when the ship is fully loaded with passengers.

 

 

[Karaboudjan]

4 hours ago, RVACruiser43 said:

I saw a post elsewhere yesterday that said the #3-6 ships were put on hold and are being redesigned.  Anyone know if this is true, or if It is mentioned here and I just have not reached those posts?

 

 

I have seen some articles about delays attributed to supply chain issues.  I have not seen anything about redesign.  Maybe wishful thinking on someone's part?

[RVACruiser43]

2 hours ago, Karaboudjan said:

 

I have seen some articles about delays attributed to supply chain issues.  I have not seen anything about redesign.  Maybe wishful thinking on someone's part?

People have a way of revising information to meet their own hopes and views.  I suspect you are correct.  NCL announces a new timeline for the ships and its due to supply chain issues and someone decides its really for a design change LOL.

[Steff79]

at the moment it is not clear if the third ship will be a Prima+ ( Bigger ) ship or not.

And if there will be some changes.

But delays are normal at the Moment.

Meyer will have with a Carnival Jubilee a delay too

[Sailing12Away]

I've heard rumors on FB that the thermal spa jets were finally installed/fixed. So bubbles should be there in the spa now.

[RVACruiser43]

50 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

I've heard rumors on FB that the thermal spa jets were finally installed/fixed. So bubbles should be there in the spa now.

Which pool or both or a new hot tub?  Some folks seemed to think NCL was going to solve the issue by installing an actual hot tub.  No idea where they would find the room everything on that ship is so crowed.

[Sailing12Away]

On 12/11/2022 at 6:13 PM, RVACruiser43 said:

Which pool or both or a new hot tub?  Some folks seemed to think NCL was going to solve the issue by installing an actual hot tub.  No idea where they would find the room everything on that ship is so crowed.

I believe they were referring to the main therasomethingorother pool that was supposed to have jets in it.

[BenCoudon]

On 12/11/2022 at 10:39 AM, RVACruiser43 said:

People have a way of revising information to meet their own hopes and views.  I suspect you are correct.  NCL announces a new timeline for the ships and its due to supply chain issues and someone decides its really for a design change LOL.

I mentioned before that in New York City, when they launched the VIP-Media cruises, Harry Sommer said the Prima was 97% "perfect" and only minor changes would be made.  Therefore, when the boss says something like that, anyone hoping or expecting major improvements on the subsequent ships are walking towards huge disapointments.  

[reeinaz]

Time to stalk this thread. I just booked the Nov 2024 TA, Lisbon to San Juan. 

[BirdTravels]

On 12/11/2022 at 5:21 PM, Sailing12Away said:

I've heard rumors on FB that the thermal spa jets were finally installed/fixed. So bubbles should be there in the spa now.

 

On 12/11/2022 at 6:13 PM, RVACruiser43 said:

Which pool or both or a new hot tub?  Some folks seemed to think NCL was going to solve the issue by installing an actual hot tub.  No idea where they would find the room everything on that ship is so crowed.

 

No bubbles. Just 12 jet stations in the fresh water hydrotherapy pool. Similar to BA/BA+ ships. They were running last week. 

 

Edited December 15, 2022 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

On 12/7/2022 at 4:01 PM, PATRLR said:

I apologize if I missed this as I only scanned the first few pages of this thread.

 

I can see that Viva arrives in NYC on November 27.   I don't see any sailings from New York that I can book, and the next bookable cruise is Dec 6 out of Miami.    Is it safe to assume that between November 27 and December 6 will be private cruises and/or repositioning to Miami?

 

We want to book the first public US sailing and it appears that will be Dec 6 out of Miami.   Did I miss anything?

Nope. Dec 6 appears to be the one and only continental US cruise of the Viva. After that, she goes to San Juan and never returns to the continental US (at least the current advertised schedules through the end of 2025).

 

From Nov 27-Dec 6 will be PR/Media/TA cruise(s) (Prima did one to Halifax) and then a repositioning cruise from NYC to Miami. 

Edited December 15, 2022 by BirdTravels

[PATRLR]

19 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Nope. Dec 6 appears to be the one and only continental US cruise of the Viva. After that, she goes to San Juan and never returns to the continental US (at least the current advertised schedules through the end of 2025).

 

From Nov 27-Dec 6 will be PR/Media/TA cruise(s) (Prima did one to Halifax) and then a repositioning cruise from NYC to Miami. 

Thanks for the sanity check on my observation.  Much appreciated.  I've booked that week.  Will @BirdTravelsbe on that week?  We know how the Bird seems to enjoy inaugurals.

 

[JIMESOPUS]

This was posted on another thread, thanks @Crazy planning mom 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BEETLEJUICE-to-Play-Norweigian-VIVA-Cruise-in-2023-20221217