EXCLUSIVE: We sailed away from stress with Norwegian Cruise Line, which has rest and relaxation at the heart of its cruises around the Med – and found a way to save money, too
Want to explore countries and cities around the Mediterranean, but not sure which ones to visit? We got to see a variety on a Norwegian Cruise Line trip – and it opened our eyes to a whole new way of holidaying.
We joined the 294-metre Norwegian Viva ship – the newest ship in NCL’s fleet – for a seven-day cruise around Spain and Portugal. On board the luxury vessel, which called at Lisbon, Gibraltar, Seville, Motril, Ibiza, Majorca and Barcelona, there were impressive restaurants to dine in as well as a state-of-the-art spa offering top-of-the-range treatments. It made for the ultimate wellness retreat at sea.
Wellness offerings on board Norwegian Viva
Travelling on Norwegian Viva really is a spa-cation on the waves. The ship has a range of saunas – including the world’s first charcoal sauna at sea, which helps to relieve muscle tension – and the Mandara Spa also includes an aromatic steam room, a calming salt flotation pool and a refreshing ice room. One of our favourite areas was the room filled with heated beds at the front of the ship, with panoramic views of the ocean – the perfect hangout after an hour or two of being pampered in the spa.
Keeping your fitness levels up during your trip is easy too, as the gym offers high-intensity boot camps as well as relaxing evening yoga sessions. For the ultimate in wellness, the stretching classes are a must.
Beauty treatments
Guests can try out the latest facials and soothing massages at the spa, along with manicures and pedicures, teeth whitening and anti-wrinkle injections. The Elemis 100-minute Biotec facial and massage we tried left us feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Renowned skincare expert and make-up artist Nathalie Eleni was on board with us, and told us she’s noticed the demand for wellness travel rising. “It’s the best of both worlds for guests, with impressive high-tech treatments, equipment and classes to rival some of the
best land-based gyms and spas,” she said of the Viva – and we couldn’t agree more.
The food on Norwegian Viva
With more than 16 dining options available on board, you can expect to be well fed. The buffet runs from breakfast until the evening and offers everything from croissants to cannelloni, while the speciality restaurants serve top-notch sushi, Mexican, Italian, French and Japanese cuisine.
One of our favourites was the teppanyaki restaurant Hasuki, where we had delicious meat and fish dishes cooked right in front
of us by the chef. And if you want to glam up for a night, Le Bistro is the place to do so. We enjoyed a flavoursome coq au vin and a glass of champagne in the quaint French restaurant, which has chic decor and giant chandeliers.
We recommend signing up for NCL’s ‘More At Sea’ package when booking your cruise, which includes additional speciality dining options as well as unlimited premium drinks, more Wi-Fi minutes and excursion credits.
It costs $39 per person per day, with NCL saying it could save around $2,000 on average if you totalled up everything separately.
Land excursions
Viva docked at a different destination each day, allowing passengers to hop off and explore either on their own or with a guide. Options included hiking up The Rock in Gibraltar, kayaking down the Guadalquivir River in Seville and tucking into the catch of the day in Ibiza’s Old Town. One of our highlights was sampling tapas in the heart of historic Malaga, followed by an afternoon wandering round the city’s ancient cathedral.
Gary Anslow, NCL’s regional vice president, summed up our trip perfectly when he told us, “Wellbeing takes many forms, from connecting with family and friends to exploring new destinations, finding quiet moments with a book or dancing under the stars.” We did it all on this memorable cruise.
How much does a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise cost?
Norwegian Viva sets sail on a 10-day cruise to Italy, France and Spain on 18 November 2025, starting in Rome, calling
at Naples, Florence/Pisa, Provence, Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Cartagena, Grenada and Seville, and ending in Lisbon. Prices start from £2,308pp for a balcony stateroom.
This is a similar route to the one Rebecca took, which costs £1,839pp (travelling between 14-21 June).