10 Reasons to Holiday on NCL Viva

Free at Sea is a package offered to NCL customers to make their time onboard even more special! Enjoy premium drinks including spirits, wines, draft beers, cocktails, and soft drinks as well as at least one meal at a speciality dining restaurant. You can also expect WIFI at no extra cost and discounts on excursions, the perfect way to experience more for less. Based on a 6–8-day sailing, this whole package will cost you as little as £149pp. With such good value for money, it’s certainly a no-brainer!

For days at sea, you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice with so many fun and thrilling activities onboard to keep you entertained. If you’re a big kid at heart, the Wave waterslide is a must! For something out of the ordinary, why not head to the Galaxy Pavilion! a virtual world out at sea filled with simulators and escape rooms. Or maybe the Viva Speedway will be more up your street, a three-level racetrack perfect for a little competition. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to try everything,  as there was just so much to choose from.

The most important parts of any cruise… the drinks and with Viva’s vast selection, you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you need a starting point, let me recommend my personal favourite, the smoked peach margarita! After my first sip I was sold and it quickly became the drink of the holiday, although I had to try others too of course. The frozen strawberry daiquiri was ideal for chilling by the pool on those hot sunny days. While the choice of wine was second to none and complimented our evening meals perfectly.

Although speciality dining isn’t a necessity due to the extensive complimentary dining options, it’s certainly nice to treat yourself every now and again! With the Free at Sea package, then you get one free speciality dining meal which is worth making use of. If you’re a foodie, like me, you’ll love taste-testing all the options on board and making each mealtime extra special. My personal favourites were Cagney’s Steak House and Hasuki, as both had fantastic food and exceptional dining experiences.

For some, the thought of being on a ship may make them feel constrained however I’m glad to say this is certainly not the case onboard Viva. The ship was almost at full capacity and it never once felt crowded. There was always an available sunbed, a spare seat at the bar, or a free table. I was lucky enough to stay in a balcony cabin and I couldn't believe the size of the room (I was blown by the size of the shower). There is also plenty of space for a leisurely lap around the ship, if you fancy stretching your legs and getting a bit of fresh air.

All of the onboard entertainment was fantastic! With so much variety, there is something for everyone. I, of course, sampled as much as I could including the ‘Icon’s’ concert which was so much fun. It featured songs sang by legends, think Dolly, Gaga and more. The vibe in the evening was great with the theatre turning into a nightclub, if you wanted to party the night away. For a more quiet evening, there is live music across the ship. We loved a pre-dinner drink accompanied by live vocalists, it created such a laid-back atmosphere.