Luxury versus budget on Norway’s Viva cruise ship: Travel experts experience life on board in two different ways on a Miami cruise… to see if it’s worth buying a £13,000 suite
They’re travel experts who decided to spend the day – and find out whether it’s worth spending more than £13,000 on a luxury cruise.
The sailors in question are Nicky KelvinEditor at Major travel site The points manand ex-Carnival Cruise director Matt Mitchamwho packed up their video camera sets and sailed on Norwegian cruise lines newest ship, the Norwegian Viva, and experienced it in two different ways during a sailing trip from Miami to Puerto Rico.
Their images are fascinating.
Matt stayed in a chic Haven Premier Owner’s Suite, which costs from $17,049/£13,320 (plus taxes and fees), and then experienced a host of paid extras, including the Luxury Vibe Beach Club and the Mandara Spa Thermal Suite.
Nicky stayed in a budget windowless ‘Stateroom’, priced from $1,479 (£1,155) per person (excluding fees), and experienced the ship’s all-inclusive amenities, from the Infinity Beach club to the ‘scary’ 10 deck high slides. Read on for their verdict…
BUDGET
Nicky Kelvin of The Points Guy in his budget-less, windowless ‘Stateroom’
Nicky’s room costs from $1,479 (£1,155) per person (excluding fees)
Nicky told MailOnline Travel that his room on the ship was ‘basic’ but ‘cozy’
Nicky and Matt sailed from Miami to Puerto Rico (above)
Nicky describes the Norwegian Viva on the video as a ‘chic hotel’
Nicky told MailOnline Travel that his room on the ship, which he describes in the video as a ‘fancy hotel’, was ‘basic’ but ‘cozy and comfortable for a budget trip’.
He added: ‘Overall it was a good way to travel.’
The food also impressed.
Nicky said: ‘The food really blew me away. For an inclusive package you got so much, with a variety of good quality food – there was plenty of choice.
Above, Nicky hangs out by the striking infinity pool at Infinity Beach, which is open to all guests
This image shows the sun lounger area on Infinity Beach
Yum is the word: travel expert Nicky said the food ‘really blew me away’
“It was also great to receive dining credits, which allowed me to try the fancier side of the menu.”
The range of activities for budget sailors also received praise.
The footage shows Nicky having a blast as he plummets down Norwegian Viva’s thrilling slides ‘The Rush’ and ‘The Drop’, while splashing around in the Infinity Beach club’s striking infinity pool – which sits right on the edge of the ship – and watch the award-winning Beetlejuice The Musical with Matt and race on the ship’s impressive multi-deck kart track.
Nicky’s footage shows him having a great time as he crashes down to Norwegian Viva’s thrilling slides ‘The Rush’ and ‘The Drop’ (above)
The Norwegian Viva’s slides curl down over 10 decks of the ship
Nicky said: ‘There is so much to do on this ship that you will never be bored.’
Any disadvantages?
Nicky admitted that his room ‘although not necessarily for the price’ ‘would have been nicer with a balcony’, concluding that while his experience was ‘very pleasant’ he would ‘like to try the more luxurious option next time’. .
LUXURY
Upstairs – Matt’s Haven Premier Owner’s Suite, which he described as ‘so luxurious’
The owner’s suite has a living room and three bedrooms and costs from $17,049/£13,320 (plus taxes and fees) per week
Matt is clearly happy with his suite’s bathroom, which features a jetted tub on the balcony
Matt’s comments are significant, as he has lived aboard a ship – and he said of his owner’s suite – which features a living room, three bedrooms and bathrooms and a balcony with a hot tub – that he “still had never seen a hut’. so luxurious’.
Praise indeed.
And the compliments kept coming.
He told MailOnline Travel that his entire experience was ‘incredible’, revealing that the crew were ‘amazing and very hospitable’, the food at the exclusive Haven Restaurant ‘exquisite’ and the Mandara Spa Thermal Suite ($339/£264 per person) . a highlight of the activity’.
The Luxury Vibe Beach Club, which costs $259 (£200) per person for a seven-day sailing
Matt and Nicky compete on the ship’s multi-deck karting track (above two images)
Matt enjoys the ‘exquisite’ food in the exclusive Haven Restaurant
In the video, Matt describes the Mandara Spa Thermal Suite as ‘stunning’, with footage showing him getting a massage and relaxing in a ‘salt floating pool’
The Mandara Spa Thermal Suite costs $339 (£264) per person for a seven-, eight-, nine- or 10-day pass
In the video, Matt describes this spa as ‘stunning’, with footage showing him getting a massage, relaxing in a ‘salt floating pool’ and taking an ‘ice shower’. “I’ll do anything for a salary,” he jokes.
He also really enjoys the Galaxy Pavilion entertainment centre, which costs $199 (£155) per guest for the trip, $29 (£22) for an hour and $49 (£38) for a day.
And there were good times at the Luxury Vibe Beach Club, which costs $259 (£200) per person for a seven-day sailing.
Any disadvantages?
Matt concluded: ‘This experience had no negative factors for a luxury trip. The cruise had so much to offer.”
Visit to see the original video www.youtube.com/watch. For more information from The Points Guy, visit thepointsguy.com/uk-travel.
Galaxy Pavilion entertainment center – $199 (£155) per guest for the trip, $29 (£22) for an hour, $49 (£38) for a day
The Haven Bar, where the staff show off their cocktail-making wizardry