Almost Live …. Sailing Aboard the NCL Viva on Her Maiden Trans-Atlantic

[PATRLR]

On 11/8/2023 at 1:18 PM, mking8288 said:

A320 NEO seatmap on Seatguru isn't accurate or inclusive

Seatguru really isn't what it used to be.  https://www.aerolopa.com is much better and more accurate.  They have quite a few of the TAP planes I see.

I return you now to your regularly scheduled "Live" thread, already in progress.  😉

Edited November 19, 2023 by PATRLR

[ColdCruise]

48 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

Seatguru really isn't what it used to be.  https://www.aerolopa.com is much better and more accurate.  They have quite a few of the TAP planes I see.

I return you now to your regularly scheduled "Live" thread, already in progress.  😉

Thank you for sharing that info  @PATRLR wasn't aware of that site. Interrupt anytime, this thread is not going as originally planned for various reasons (mainly days gave been too busy).

 

Agree - SeatGuru went south after acquisition by another company & I hope the same doesn’t happen with this dearly loved subsidiary 🧐

[ColdCruise]

Day 4 Sea Day after Punta Delgada 

 

Rough Seas is the title for the day

 

woke up to 57-62 knot winds, with the 15th Deck feeling like I was riding a drunk elephant.

 

Good day to catch up the trip report

 

[ColdCruise]

Latitudes Gathering 1130 Day 4 Viva Theater - packed

 

Sorry - forgot how to fix the flipped photo issue … on the viewer to adjust 😆

 

lots of ambassadors aboard too

 

the entertainment 

 

the Cruise Director

 

the Ambassador seating

 

the Staff Captain

Edited November 19, 2023 by ColdCruise

[ColdCruise]

And the senior staff calling out their dance team

 

[ColdCruise]

And the other section of Ambassadors 

there are 17 onboard of the 340 total. Cruise Next director said most ever on board a sailing …

 

[ColdCruise]

And the man onboard with the most nights under his belt … 1,000+
 

 

[ColdCruise]

In case you’re wondering on the on board promotion 

 

1- pushing the AQUA

2- offering double up on cruise next for any cruise or cabin at least 4 months out 

[ColdCruise]

catching up on the Daily Freestyles

 

Embarkation Day, Lisbon (Day 1)

 

 

 

 

 

and the promotions

 

[ColdCruise]

Our SJ cabin - Master Bedroom suite, midship by slides (lots of complaints online but no problems here)

 

Sitting area

 

 

 

entryway ( sorry upside down issue)

balcony ( everything was pre-positioned in the deep section outside the bedroom

 

and a welcome treat

 

 

 

 
 

 

[ColdCruise]

SJ cabin bathroom, in the entryway. This suite’s bathroom was exactly the same physically as the standard inside and balcony bathrooms. The only difference was in the toiletries, this had L’Occitane, which is what is in the Spa Balconies on Pr1ma (last Sept) and V!va this sailing. 
 

Still this class ship has best bathroom size for non-Haven AFAIK.

 

 

 

 

[ColdCruise]

SJ cabin - separate master bedroom, areas are separated by a pocket door. This locks from bedroom side and if not locked will slam open/close with ship’s movement 

 

 

Note: bed is right inside the door 

 

Lots of closet space (robes are lovely - puffy with fine microfiber lining)

 

 

[ColdCruise]

we have very nice support staff for this cabin:

Roque - cabin steward

Jenzer - butler

Lanie - asst. concierge

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by ColdCruise

[sjacobs11]

3 hours ago, ColdCruise said:

Our SJ cabin - Master Bedroom suite, midship by slides (lots of complaints online but no problems here)

 

Sitting area

 

 

 

entryway ( sorry upside down issue)

balcony ( everything was pre-positioned in the deep section outside the bedroom

 

and a welcome treat

 

 

 

 
 

 

What deck are you on? We're in an SJ on deck 15 in March. We've been wondering about the size of the balcony and yours looks HUGE. TIA!

[ColdCruise]

5 hours ago, sjacobs11 said:

What deck are you on? We're in an SJ on deck 15 in March. We've been wondering about the size of the balcony and yours looks HUGE. TIA!

Will post after the cruise, out of safety/privacy 

are you port side or starboard side? I might be able to check the outside 

for obstructions from top side

[sjacobs11]

Just now, ColdCruise said:

Will post after the cruise, out of safety/privacy 

are you port side or starboard side? I might be able to check the outside 

for obstructions from top side

Hi! Totally understand. We are on the starboard side. Thank you!

[ColdCruise]

Embarkation Lisbon

 

The Portuguese pilots had a scheduled strike that ended at 0700 the 16th which delayed Viva’s arrival and turned debarkation for those with early flights into a bit if a mess. Covered in detail elsewhere (https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2853119-norwegian-viva-november-16-2023-lisbon-to-miami/ &

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2969073-viva-live-21-days-rome-to-miami-plus-a-few-days-in-rome/ )

Our Bolt dropped us off by the road instead of in front of the terminal. Once we got to the terminal we were directed into the conga line for pax with baggage tags. Surprisingly so priority there for suites or Haven. However it moved pretty fast. Baggage drop, security screening (TSA style), suites registration, escort on board and muster station = 1 hour 9 minutes 

 

muster station was just a card swipe

[ColdCruise]

Walking video alongside Viva as we’re under escort to the ship - beautiful ship!

 

[ColdCruise]

Interrupting the catch up part to show the beautiful seas today, 20 Nov, from the heated loungers in the spa:

 

 

Smooth sailing today ⛵️ 

[ColdCruise]

Since we are in that beautiful SJ suite, we also get to have breakfast and lunch at Cagney’s. We can also sync up with the helpful and friendly assistant concierge, Lanie, during those meal times. 
 

The embarkation day lunch menu at Cagney’s:

 

This is also the lunch menu today - 20 Nov, Day 5.

Edited November 20, 2023 by ColdCruise

[ColdCruise]

Jumping ahead to the Daily Freestyle for Tuesday, 21 Nov (3rd of 5 consecutive sea days):

 

 

 

 

 

And the daily specials & promotions

 

 

,.

 

[FLAHAM]

How disappointing.  While the Daily lists an “informal bridge play get together,” it lacks the organized bridge program (beginner lesson, intermediate lesson and game) that I have enjoyed on sea days on four previous NCL transatlantic crossings.

[mugtech]

3 hours ago, FLAHAM said:

How disappointing.  While the Daily lists an “informal bridge play get together,” it lacks the organized bridge program (beginner lesson, intermediate lesson and game) that I have enjoyed on sea days on four previous NCL transatlantic crossings.

It was listed the same way on our recent ,Royal Caribbean TA, but one of the people, with help from a few players, organized daily duplicate bridge with 6 or 5 tables every day, playing 20 hands a day.  Royal provided a bottle of champaigne(free art auction type) to the winners every day.  Some others just played rubber bridge.

[ColdCruise]

The card set up in Onda came about after the CC M&G. Several CC attendees mentioned how the card players were monopolizing the Observation room and others said that the tables in there weren’t really suitable for cards. The GM, Nelson Martins, was fielding questions and promised he’d have a restaurant set aside for cards and it’d be posted in the Daily schedule, online & printed, the next day. He came through as he promised.

 

So far I’ve found the V!va officers and staff very responsive, as well s available.

 

I posted the officers in the roll call thread, but attaching here as well :

[ColdCruise]

Our position this morning, 21 Nov, Day 6, and sea conditions :

We set clocks back 1 hour overnight. Winds have been freshening since the photos were taken but seas still calm, just bigger wind-driven ripples.

 

Edited November 21, 2023 by ColdCruise