Norwegian Cruise Line officially named and welcomed the new Norwegian Viva into its fleet.The Prima-class ship was christened in a traditional ceremony held in Miami, Florida on November 29, 2023.
“To christen Norwegian Viva in Miami is incredibly special to many of us at NCL, not only because Miami is our hometown, but also because we can share this moment with our local family and friends,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Launching a ship is no solo endeavor. I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards the entire NCL team, our partners and especially our amazing crew who have contributed to bringing Norwegian Viva to life and who care for and deliver exceptional vacation experiences for our guests.”
The traditional christening ceremony included the breaking of a bottle of champagne on the ship’s hull for blessings and safe travels. The ship’s godfather, Luis Fonsi, was given the honor of breaking the bottle of champagne before headlining an evening full of entertainment from artists with Miami and Latin roots. The Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, producer and musician is a native Puerto Rican and is very excited for Norwegian Viva to debut in his hometown.
“It is so exciting to celebrate the magnificent Norwegian Viva in true Latin-style in Miami and alongside fellow A-list Latino entertainers,” said Fonsi. “We are giving her a proper despedida before she makes her debut in my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.”
Norwegian Viva debuted in August 2023 and spent her inaugural summer season offering world-class vacations in Europe. The ship has the capacity for just over 3,000 guests and 1,500 crew members. Guests can enjoy amenities like Indulge Food Hall, an open air food market featuring 11 dining options, a 52-foot-wide interactive work of art at the Metropolitan Bar entitled “Every Wing Has a Silver Lining,” a 3-story Viva Speedway go kart track, and so much more.
Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. said, “The addition of Norwegian Viva further elevates our world-class fleet, providing our valued guests with another incredible way to vacation, discover new experiences and create unforgettable memories. Since she launched in August, Norwegian Viva’s initial guest satisfaction scores have outshined any newbuild in the history of the NCL fleet, a testament to not only how stunning this ship is, but also the exceptional level of service and attention provided by our amazing crew onboard.”
Norwegian Viva will sail her inaugural sailing and select voyages from PortMiami before repositioning to San Juan, Puerto Rico. She will be the newest ship to homeport in San Juan when she arrives in December 2023.