Norwegian Viva, the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line's Prima class, is nearly a carbon copy of its older sister, Norwegian Prima — but that doesn't mean you won't have plenty to love.
What Norwegian uses to differentiate Norwegian Viva from Norwegian Prima are art installations, entertainment ("Beetlejuice," anyone?) and additional seating at Indulge Food Hall, among other minor tweaks.
I'm halfway through the ship's nine-night inaugural sailing from Trieste, Italy, to Lisbon, Portugal, and I've rounded up some of my favorite things, as well as some that aren't so great. Find out what you should absolutely try and what might annoy you if you're planning to sail.
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Like many items on this list, Indulge Food Hall isn't new to Norwegian. It debuted on Norwegian Prima, but it's new to me since this is my first experience with the Prima class.
So, what exactly is Indulge? It's a food court-style experience that has taken some of the best eateries from around the Norwegian fleet and put them in one place to allow passengers to try a bit of everything. You'll find a tapas food truck that offers small plates reminiscent of what you'd be able to order from Bayamo on Norwegian Escape, as well as a tiny outpost of barbecue restaurant Q Texas Smokehouse, serving pulled pork sandwiches like the ones you can get on Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss.
On Norwegian Viva, the line removed Starbucks from the space to make room for more tables and alleviate congestion. (Starbucks is now a stand-alone venue on Deck 7 in the atrium area.) You sit wherever you'd like and order from a touchscreen. My group's food showed up in mere minutes, and it was delicious. I highly recommend the Indian dishes from a counter called Tamara.
The best part is that the food is free. That's particularly notable for a line like Norwegian, which is notorious for its nickel-and-diming. Not only does Indulge Food Hall provide an additional complimentary food option, but some of the food available there comes with a fee at the corresponding stand-alone alternative restaurants (Bayamo, Q) on other ships.
Norwegian was the first cruise line to make a real effort to accommodate solo travelers with the studio cabins it introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010. The concept has carried through to the line's newest vessels, including Norwegian Viva. But what's special about them on Viva is how upscale they look.
The neutral, timeless color scheme — a far cry from the bright purples and greens that punctuated the studio concept's original iteration — carries through to a dedicated Studio Lounge, to which all passengers booked in studio cabins have access. There,
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Welcome to the vibrant and captivating city of New Orleans, where a melange of cultural flavors converge. In a city where there are a myriad of dining options, choosing where to go can become overwhelming. So, set forth on this delectable journey that I’ve verified and immerse yourself in the culinary delights that await in the heart of this enchanting city:
I’ve been a fan of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class ships ever since I laid eyes on Norwegian Prima at the Fincantieri’s Marghera. Italy, shipyard where it was built. My admiration for the ship was bolstered when I sailed on its maiden voyage out Iceland.
The Brazilian artist Wanda Pimentel’s “Envolvimento” paintings (1968-84) are hard-edged domestic vignettes — kitchens, bathrooms, the insides of cars — rendered in a lean, almost festive palette of mostly reds, greens and yellows. In these claustrophobic spaces, feminine-seeming thighs, ankles, feet and hands make fetishistic cameos, jutting out at awkward angles or lingering near water puddles and toilet-paper rolls. Sometimes, they’re framed by thick, windowpane-like lines that cast the viewer as a peeping Tom. “The house is not only a space of intimacy but also of fear,” says Alexandre Gabriel of São Paulo’s Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel gallery, which will present Pimentel’s work at the Independent 20th Century art fair in New York City next month.
As long as people have been traveling, they’ve sought mementos and souvenirs. Ancient Egyptians and Romans brought spices, animal skins, and gold back from foreign trade missions or conquests. Modern travelers hunt for handicrafts or traditional art, tangible reminders of other places to use in their own lives at home: a Moroccan rug splayed across the living room floor, a gleaming Venetian glass vase to fill with wildflowers.
The Portrait Milano debuts December 1 in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. The location makes sense, given that the 73-room property belongs to the Lungarno Collection — a group of Italian boutique hotels founded by the family of Italian loafer king, Salvatore Ferragamo.
Rocked by a Covid relief financial scandal that led to the jailing and resignations of now-former CEO Fabio Cannavale and chief operating officer Andrea Bertoli, Amsterdam-based Lastminute.com’s shareholders elected Luca Concone as an executive director, and he’ll serve as CEO.
When guests drive up to Marina Riviera, a boutique hotel in Big Bear, California that opened in the autumn of 2022, they won’t see a big sign for Casetta, the parent company that founded the hotel portfolio in 2019. Nor will they see its Casetta floral logo splashed on every corner of the lobby (look closely on the bath products and robes, though, and you’ll find it).
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High pollution levels in Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai and surrounding provinces are keeping tourists away and alarming locals, with the government on Monday urging residents to avoid outdoor activities.
Explora Journeys, a privately-owned sub-brand of the MSC Group, is applying a “luxury lifestyle hotel” ethos to its Millennial-friendly cruise ships, which will feature Ocean penthouses and residences, in addition to entry-level Ocean suites.
Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world, changed the flight game in 1997 when United Airlines, Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, and Lufthansa agreed to join forces.