My Personal Experience Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Brand-New Ship the Viva: Q&A Edition

In November 2023, one of our Boscov’s Travel employees went on an inaugural cruise onboard the brand-new Norwegian Viva! Read her incredible experience below:

Norwegian Viva

Q: Was this your first time sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line? – A: No, this was not my first time sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line. I have sailed about six times with them!

Q: Where did you sail to and from? – A: The ship sailed round trip from Miami, Florida to Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

View of Miami from Norwegian Viva

Q: What stateroom did you stay in? – A: I had a wonderful and cozy balcony stateroom.

Q: What did you love most about the ship? – A: What I loved most about the ship was actually the décor! From the colors and all – it was extremely warm and welcoming.

Q: What surprised you most about the ship? – A: The layout of the ship surprised me the most! It was very different than any other class of Norwegian ships that I’ve been on. The new design is a ‘smart design’ allowing for all the fun to be right in the middle of the ship.

The Atrium

Q: What was your favorite entertainment onboard? – A: My favorite entertainment was definitely the Improv at Sea shows. They were hilarious and I laughed all night. I also played a game in the comedy club with other passengers one day and we all had a great time!

Q: What was your favorite restaurant onboard? – A: I enjoyed Hudson’s Dining Room the most. The design was stunning with floor to ceiling windows and great food. One of the times I ate there, I had the Beef Wellington and it was so tasty and savory. I did not have a meal I didn’t like!

Q: Did you enjoy the Indulge Food Hall concept? – A: I really liked the concept of Indulge Food Hall and have never eaten somewhere like it before. Indulge is an eat around the world concept all in one place. I tried a good bit of the food there and it was delicious! Another neat thing about Indulge is there is not much of a wait time. It felt as if my food was fresh and on the table right after I ordered it!

Indulge Food Hall

Indulge Food Hall Outdoor Dining

Q: What was your favorite bar onboard? – A: My absolute favorite bar onboard was the Observation Lounge. I loved the décor there especially and the views! Plus, the drinks were fantastic.

Q: What activities did you do onboard and which was your favorite? – A: I tried out the Viva Speedway (sooo fun!), spent time at the pools and bars, and also played the game at the Improv at Sea as I mentioned. If I have to pick a favorite onboard activity, it would definitely be the Viva Speedway. There were beautiful views of the ocean and it was so fun to zip around three levels of track!

Pool Deck

Infinity Pool

Waves Pool Bar

Q: What did you think of the Oceanwalk? – A: The Oceanwalk was pretty neat with how you are able to walk on the glass above the ocean!

Q: Was there anything on the ship you’ve never seen before? – A: There was much on the ship I have never seen before from the Indulge Food Hall, the Viva Speedway and the layout. This ship was so neat and fun!

Q: You mentioned you sailed to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. What do you want to share about the port? – A: Great Stirrup Cay is a port where the ship tenders. So once on the island, I had a great time and the weather was beautiful. I was able to take a behind the scenes tour, spend time at the beach, ate and explored the island. The beaches were extremely beautiful, and there were many activities/excursions including ziplining, wave runner tours, shopping, eating, relaxing and more. As the island is private, there were no locals haggling at the beaches which was very nice. Great Stirrup Cay is truly a relaxing port to visit!

Great Stirrup Cay Beach Entrance

Great Stirrup Cay Beach

Jumbey Beach Grill

Great Stirrup Cay Ziplining

Great Stirrup Cay Lighthouse

Q: Did you go on any excursions? – A: Yes! I was fortunate enough to go on a behind the scenes tour of Great Stirrup Cay which showed us where the employees (who actually live on the island) stay, what they can do when they’re off work, where they shop, and more!

Great Stirrup Cay Behind the Scenes Tour Entrance

Great Stirrup Cay Behind the Scenes Tour Employee Housing

Q: Is there anything else we did not discuss that you would like to mention? – A: The staff onboard the Viva and at Great Stirrup Cay were all very friendly and helpful. They made the cruise even more enjoyable than it already was!

Q: What do you recommend to anyone sailing on the Viva? – A: Definitely, it’s a nice ship whether you’re going for the ship itself or the itinerary.

Q: Would you sail on the Viva again? – A: Yes! Of course.

Does this incredible experience incline you to sail on the Norwegian Viva? Your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor is ready to assist you in planning whenever you’re ready! Contact your local Boscov’s Travel or call 800-755-8020 or visit https://www.boscovstravel.com/cruises/norwegian/index.html to learn more.

 

A Week at the Excellence Playa Mujeres

The following post is written by Adam from the Boscov’s Travel Marketing Department.  Adam recently vacationed at the Excellence Playa Mujeres, and shares his insight into the resort and his overall travel experience booked through Boscov’s Travel.

DSCN0145.JPGAfter spending a week in Mexico two years ago, my wife and I decided to spend our yearly vacation in the land of guacamole again this year. During our previous stay in at the Secrets Silversands resort in Mexico, we enjoyed the beach but it wasn’t ideal for going into the deep waters of the Caribbean. When deciding where to go this year, the beach had to be priority. After much research, discussion and competitive “the resort I found is better than yours” banter we decided on the Excellence Playa Mujeres. And by we, I mean her.

After the flight and breezing through customs we were picked up by AMStar Tours for our private transfer to the resort. The resort was about 20 minutes from the Cancun Airport. Our guide, Carlos, did a fantastic job of providing an update of the Cancun area since our previous visit. During the drop off at the resort, he also provided his contact information in case we needed to change our pick up time or schedule any excursions we wished to take with AMStar Tours.

If you are going to an all-inclusive in Mexico, I would highly suggest using AMStar for airport transfers from the airport to the resort. They are dedicated to providing world-class services and their team is staffed by nothing less than travel professionals. And besides, when you’re stepping into a private vehicle at the airport, it makes you feel like a celebrity. Treat yo self!

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After making it through the city, we finally arrived at the Excellence Playa Mujeres. As always, it’s nice to be greeted with a cold towel and “Complimentary champagne, Sir?” Once inside, it’s always a sight to behold at how large the lobby can be at an all-inclusive resort- three floors and decorated to the nines. After checking in, we were escorted to our room right away. This year we decided to splurge a little more on our room and stayed in a Terrace Suite with Plunge Pool.

This Terrace Suite offers an expansive (807 sq. ft.) private terrace with Plunge Pool, comfortable lounge furniture and an open-air shower. If you decide to spend a vacation at this Excellence resort, stay in this suite. It was nice waking up in the morning and being able to lounge or swim when the sun was coming up. Also, my wife and I would enjoy a cocktail before going down to dinner each evening.

Excellence offers gourmet dining in ten international restaurants and eleven bars; no reservations needed. All meals, unlimited beverages, snacks, and 24/7 room service are included, plus all of the restaurants feature healthy menus and vegetarian dishes.

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We ate at a majority of the restaurants for dinner, the only ones we didn’t eat at were Basmati (Indian), Spice (Asian), and the Flavor Market (Tapas). And the only reasons why we didn’t eat at those places was because we wanted to eat at Chez Isabelle (French) and Agave (Mexican) more than once. I really believe that the menus in the restaurants at the Excellence are designed so that you are able have an appetizer, a salad, the main course, and dessert, and leave satisfied. The meals are portioned well and never disappoint.

Lunch was another experience all together. The Excellence had your standard buffet for breakfast and lunch. In addition to that, the Lobster House and the Grill offered a la carte menus for lunch. But the one we visited the most was Las Olas. Las Olas is located on the beach and has a selection of fast food, salads, wood-oven pizzas, and grilled favorites. The main course they offered was different everyday. One day we ate Seafood Paella, which was prepared in a giant wok, and another day we had Jamaican Jerk Chicken. It was fresh and served buffet style. It was by far the best place to eat lunch.

During our stay in Cancun 2 years ago, we went on a snorkeling excursion that gave us the opportunity to swim with sea turtles. This excursion is no longer available because the sea turtles habitats are now protected, which is a great because it helps the species from becoming extinct. So this year we decided to buy our own snorkeling gear and bring it with us.

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The beach at the Excellence provided more than enough space and ocean for us to explore the waters. We snorkeled at least twice a day and saw Bluefin Trevally, Starfish, Batfish, Sea Turtles, and a Manta Ray. Because of our decision to buy snorkeling gear, we decided we didn’t need to leave the resort to experience an excursion. We also took advantage of the free water sports offered by the resort and took the Stand Up Paddle Boards into the Caribbean a handful of times.

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Overall, our stay at the Excellence Playa Mujeres was by far the best vacation at an all-inclusive we have ever had. The service of the staff, the accommodations, the food, and the overall experience exceeded our expectations and was nothing short of amazing.

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If you’re ready to start planning your getaway, email [email protected], call 800-755-8020 or direct message us.

Visit Boscov’s Travel located within select Boscov’s including Pennsylvania (Camp Hill, Colonial Park/Harrisburg, Easton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Neshaminy/Bensalem, Wyomissing, Reading, Pottstown, Pottsville, Scranton, Selinsgrove, Wilkes-Barre), New York (Binghamton), New Jersey (Atlantic City and Moorestown), Delaware (Wilmington), and Maryland (Salisbury).  View our locations here. If you live a little further away, book over the phone by calling us at 800-755-8020. Learn more at boscovstravel.com.