Just days after taking delivery of Norwegian Prima, the first in its new Prima-class of cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Line has marked the float out of her sister ship Norwegian Viva.
Norwegian Viva is the second of a planned total of six Prima-class cruise ships due to join the NCL fleet through 2027, with her delivery scheduled for next year.
The float out marks a major milestone in the construction of the ship as it signifies the end of her exterior build and her first time touching water, with work now due to continue on her interior fit and finish at a wet berth.
Norwegian Viva touches water for the first time
RELATED: Norwegian Cruise Line makes Latitudes upgrades more accessible
RELATED: Norwegian Viva debut delayed as supply chain issues impact shipyard
The float out ceremony was attended by Harry Sommer, President & CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line and Antonio Quintano, Shipyard Director of Fincantieri, at the Marghera yard in Venice, Italy.
To celebrate the occasion, a commemorative coin was welded into Norwegian Viva in a traditional maritime ceremony intended to bring good luck to the ship.
“The float out of Norwegian Viva has been much anticipated and it’s an incredibly proud day for us all,” said Sommer. “As our nineteenth ship and the second in our innovative Prima Class, Norwegian Viva continues to represent our ongoing commitment to giving guests the best holiday experience imaginable.”
“With Norwegian Viva’s name meaning ‘to be alive’, and her motto being ‘Live it Up’, we simply cannot wait to put this into practice and welcome guests on board soon for the vacation of a lifetime,” he added.
The Prima-class feature a waterfront promenade deck that wraps around the entire ship.
Norwegian Viva will follow the design of Norwegian Prima, with The Haven — the line’s luxury “ship within a ship” located at the back of the ship, giving her a stern area intentionally modelled on the high-rise condos of Miami.
Like her sister ship, and the cruise line’s Breakaway-Plus class cruise ships Norwegian Viva will also boast a race track at sea. The Viva Speedway will span three levels, while the upper deck will also feature two freefall drop dry slides, The Rush and The Drop.
Other features in common with Norwegian Prima are the 44,000-square-foot outdoor promenade called Ocean Boulevard, which wraps around the entire ship with several pools and restaurants, as well as The Concourse outdoor sculpture garden, the Indulge Food Hall with 11 different eateries, and the Oceanwalk glass bridges and Infinity Beach.
Norwegian Viva rendering
The 142,000-gross ton, 3,219-passenger ship will spend her inaugrural cruise season in the Mediterranean, sailing eight, nine and 10-day cruises from Venice (Trieste), Rome (Civitavechhia) and Athens (Piraeus) until November, 2023.
She’ll then reposition to the Caribbean, sailing weeklong cruises from San Juan, Porto Rico, visiting the British Virgin Islands; Antigua; St. Maarten; Barbados; St. Lucia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Pacific World has become the first cruise ship of Cape Town’s 2026/27 season, arriving with…
Qatar Tourism and Old Doha Port held talks with five cruise operators at Seatrade Cruise…
MSC Musica has entered the Palumbo Malta Shipyard for a 45-day refurbishment that will add…
Travelmarvel has returned to Egypt with the maiden voyage of its new Nile river ship,…
The family of a South African crew member who died aboard MSC Euribia is seeking…
Holland America Line has completed a series of upgrades at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, including…