Debuting this August, the Norwegian Viva finally has a godfather.
With its homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a slogan that challenges cruisers to “live it up!,” who could be a better godparent than global music sensation Luis Fonsi?
The five-time Grammy winner and singer of the worldwide hit “Despacito” grew up in San Juan, where he spent the first ten years of his life.
As the godfather of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest Prima-class ship, Fonsi couldn’t help but be delighted at the prospect.
“I am so honored to be named Godfather of NCL’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva, and look forward to sharing her with the amazing people of Puerto Rico, a community that truly represents the spirit of ‘live it up.’ Growing up on an island, the ocean plays such an important part in my life, and there is nowhere else I’d rather be,” he shared.
As the ship’s godfather, Fonsi will lead the traditional ceremony of breaking a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow on November 28, 2023.
After the christening in Miami, celebrations will continue aboard the ship with performances from Fonsi and other A-list Latin talents, including singers Paulina Rubio and Pedro Capó and comedian Marcello Hernandez.
What Can We Expect From the Norwegian Viva?
After being constructed in the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the Norwegian Viva successfully floated out of the shipyard last year and will enter service in August 2023.
As the 19th ship in Norwegian Cruise Lines’ fleet and the second of six Prima-class vessels, she sports a structure and design reminiscent of the first Norwegian Prima.
At 142,500 gross tons, the two are the same size.
Like her predecessor, Viva is expected to set new benchmarks for her 3,219 passengers with international cuisine and high-end dining experiences, a sustainable cocktail bar, the fastest slides on a cruise ship (the Drop and Rush), a go-kart racetrack spanning three levels, and some of the most spacious accommodations and public areas in the industry.
Many also await the first cruise line production of “Beetlejuice, the Musical.”
Offering 7-day Caribbean and European Itineraries
From December 2023 to April 2024, Viva will offer seven-day Caribbean sailings that will call on Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Bridgetown, Barbados; St. John’s, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. For its summer European voyages, the ship will visit Athens, Greece; Rome; Lisbon, Portugal; and Venice, Italy.