Norwegian Viva cruise ship officially christened by godfather Luis Fonsi
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) celebrated the christening of Norwegian Viva at Port Miami with an all-star lineup of Latin performers.
After debuting in August and completing its inaugural summer season in Europe, the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s award-winning Prima Class (following the 2022 debut of Norwegian Prima) was christened at Port Miami on Nov. 28, 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 Norwegian Cruise Line President David J. Herrera.
The official christening ceremony was held portside in Norwegian’s cruise terminal. It was hosted by radio personailty Elvis Duran, and featured Norwegian Viva’s godfather – singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Luis Fonsi – who officially named and christened the vessel when a champagne bottle was broken across the ship’s hull to signify good fortune and safe travels.
Following the ceremony, Fonsi performed his award-winning hit “Despacito,” as well as “No Me Doy Por Vencido” and “Échame La Culpa” on the ship. Additional performers included “Saturday Night Live” cast member (and Miami native) Marcello Hernandez, the “Queen of Latin Pop” Paulina Rubio, and artist Pedro Capó.
“It is so exciting to celebrate the magnificent Norwegian Viva in true Latin-style in Miami and alongside fellow A-list Latino entertainers,” Fonsi said. “We are giving her a proper despedida before she makes her debut in my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.” Fonsi was chose in-part because he also has ties to Puerto Rico, where he is from, and Miami, where he now lives.
Viva’s christening festivities also included the dedication of the Knut Kloster Hall, a new installation at the NCL Terminal that honors the company’s founder and highlights the cruise line’s 57-year history.
Norwegian Viva Itineraries
After an inaugural sailing and select voyages from Miami, Norwegian Viva will reposition to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 15, 2023.
Through March 2024, Viva will offer seven-day Caribbean voyages with 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 Europe for Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries.
With a capacity for 3,099 guests, Norwegian Viva features a three-story “go-cart” Speedway, an open-air food market featuring 11 unique eateries called Indulge Food Hall, and an art collection that includes “Every Wing has a Silver Lining,” a 52-foot-wide interactive piece from British digital artist Dominic Harris. It also features a VR arcade, miniature golf, high-tech darts, pickleball courts, and a few dry slides, including a drop dry slide.
NCL’s year-round “Free at Sea” offer includes unlimited open bar, specialty dining, shore excursion credits, complimentary Wi-Fi, discounted rates for the third and fourth guests, and free round-trip airfare for the second guest.
“Since she launched in August, Norwegian Viva’s initial guest satisfaction scores have outshined any newbuild in the history of the NCL fleet,” said Harry Sommer, president & chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., “a testament to not only how stunning this ship is, but also the exceptional level of service and attention provided by our amazing crew on board.”
To celebrate the musical lineup at Norwegian Viva’s christening event, NCL has put together a Live it Up! Spotify Playlist inspired by top Latin music superstars.
