Norwegian Cruise Line has celebrated the christening of the all-new Prima Class ship, Norwegian Viva, with a star-studded ceremony in Miami, Florida.
Following Norwegian Viva’s debut in August and its inaugural summer season of European sailings, over 1,500 guests attended the christening ceremony held at PortMiami.
“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. Launching a ship is no solo endeavour. 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.”
David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line
GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and Godfather to Norwegian Viva, Luis Fonsi, christened the ship with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship’s hull- signifying good fortune and safe travels for all guests who sail onboard.
Continuing into the evening, the celebrations continued with a next-level entertainment line-up, headlined by Fonsi himself. Other talented performers included “Saturday Night Live” cast member, Marcello Hernandez; the Queen of Latin Pop, Paulina Rubio, and recently announced GRAMMY® Award-nominated artists, Pedro Capó.
“It is so exciting to celebrate the magnificent Norwegian Viva in true Latin-style in Miami and alongside fellow amazing Latino entertainers. We are giving her a proper despedida before she makes her debut in my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.”
Luis Fonsi, Global Music Sensation & Godfather of Norwegian Viva
The festivities at Norwegian Viva’s christening ceremony also included the unveiling and dedication of the Knut Kloster Hall, a new installation at the NCL Terminal paying homage the cruise line’s founder, Knut Kloster.
With the capacity for 3,099 guests, Norwegian Viva has plenty of unique and thrilling activities, including the three-story Viva Speedway; an open-air food market featuring 11 unique eateries; and an awe-inspiring art collection.
“As a Company, it has been a milestone year with the debut of next-generation ships across all three of our best-in-class cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 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.”
Harry Sommer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Following its inaugural sailing and select voyages from Miami, Norwegian Viva will reposition to San Juan, Puerto Rico as the newest ship to homeport there when she arrives on 15th December 2023.
Throughout March 2024, the ship will offer port-intensive seven-day Caribbean voyages, featuring calls to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with no days at sea. In April, 2024, Norwegian Viva will return to sail Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises, allowing guests to experience the beauty and culture of Europe.
