Norwegian Viva – Gym, Running & Sports Review

We spent nine nights on Norwegian Viva, sailing from Istanbul to Rome. The itinerary included Kusadasi, Mykonos, Santorini, Piraeus, Olympia, Valletta, Catania and Salerno. During that time, we took a close look at the sports facilities on board. The ship was nearly full throughout the cruise, which gave us a realistic impression of how well the facilities work when many guests are on board.

Sport-Ahoi Rating: 2.6 out of 5

Note on the Sport-Ahoi rating: This rating looks only at the sporting opportunities on board. It is not an overall review of the ship. Even with a lower rating, a ship can still be a great choice for an active holiday when combined with active shore excursions and exercise ashore.

• Running & Cardio: 3/5

• Gym & Strength Training: 3/5

• Fitness Classes: 2/5

• Swimming: 2/5

• Ball Sports: 2/5

• Active Shore Excursions: 1/5

• Other Sports & Leisure Activities: 5/5

• Relaxation & Recovery: 3/5

Running & Cardio – 3/5

There is practically no real running track on Norwegian Viva. The closest option is the Boardwalk on Deck 8. It is possible to walk a full loop here, but the route passes straight through a bar area. For this reason, it is not really suitable for running. Brisk walking is possible, though, and we saw several guests using it for that. It is not possible to walk or run all the way around the ship on the upper decks.

The Pulse Gym has a very large number of treadmills. We counted around 20, as well as three steppers and five bikes, including recumbent bikes. Even on our fully booked cruise, the treadmills were never close to being full. That is good for cardio training, but in our view some of this space could have been used for more strength-training equipment.

Gym & Strength Training – 3/5

The free Pulse Gym is at the front of Deck 16 and has great forward-facing sea views through its large windows. It is clean, towels are provided, and there is a water station with sparkling water.

Most of the equipment is from Technogym. Cardio machines take up most of the gym. For strength training, there are three dumbbell benches, enough free weights including heavier dumbbells, a multi-gym station, a Smith machine and several machines for legs and upper body. There is also a small stretching area.

The equipment is enough for a solid full-body workout. However, when many guests are training at the same time, individual machines or benches may be occupied. We found the gym pleasantly quiet from around 7:30 pm, when many guests had already gone to dinner.

Fitness Classes – 2/5

There is a separate spinning room next to the gym. During our cruise, a few free classes were offered, including morning stretching. Overall, the class programme was fairly limited.

Norwegian Cruise Line also offers fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates and indoor cycling. What is actually available depends on the individual cruise. Compared with some other cruise lines, we found the selection rather limited.

Swimming – 2/5

The main pool is on Deck 17. In theory, it is possible to swim a few short lengths, but the pool is mainly designed for cooling off and relaxing. Once a few other guests are in the pool, proper swimming is hardly possible.

Depending on how busy it is, you may be able to swim a few short lengths. Proper swim training is not really possible on Norwegian Viva.

Ball Sports – 2/5

The sports complex on the upper decks includes the Stadium, a small playing area. Pickleball and apparently basketball can be played here. During our cruise, though, we did not see anyone playing basketball.

There are therefore some options for ball sports on Norwegian Viva. However, other ships have larger multi-sport courts and a wider choice of sports.

Active Shore Excursions – 1/5

There were no dedicated walking excursions or bike tours on our cruise. The excursion to Olympia was probably the closest option with a sports connection. However, it was more cultural than active and, like many excursions offered by the American cruise line, fairly expensive.

In our view, Olympia is easy to visit independently and for much less money. You can read more in our guide to visiting Olympia from Katakolo by train.

Other Sports & Leisure Activities – 5/5

Norwegian Viva really stands out when it comes to other sports and leisure activities. The sports complex on the upper decks offers much more than the usual options at sea. The go-kart track, which stretches across several decks, is particularly impressive. We tested it ourselves and wrote a separate review about it.

There are also three dart stations, a well-designed nine-hole mini-golf course and three waterslides, two of which run side by side. The mini-golf course feels more like a small adventure course than a standard mini-golf course.

Anyone who enjoys active leisure activities will find plenty to try on Norwegian Viva. This area is definitely one of the highlights on board for families, friends and groups.

Relaxation & Recovery – 3/5

The main spa area comes at an extra cost. However, several hot tubs on Deck 17 and the infinity pools on Deck 8 can be used free of charge.

Although the ship was nearly full during our cruise, the pools were usually not completely crowded. Mornings were especially quiet. After a workout or a long day ashore, the hot tubs are a pleasant place to relax.

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Overall Conclusion

The lack of a running track, limited swimming options and a fairly small choice of ball sports all cost points.

On the other hand, the Pulse Gym is well equipped for cardio training and offers great views from the front of the ship. The strength-training equipment is enough for a basic workout, although we would have preferred fewer treadmills and more machines for strength training.

Norwegian Viva is particularly strong when it comes to leisure activities. Go-karts, mini golf, waterslides, darts and pickleball mean there is plenty to do on board.

Overall, we think many other ships offer better sports facilities. But if you combine the good leisure activities on board with independent excursions and exercise ashore, Norwegian Viva can still be a good choice for an active holiday.

Note: All information reflects the personal opinion of the Sport-Ahoi authors. Details such as the number of machines, facilities, classes and opening hours can change or vary depending on the itinerary and travel period. If you notice an error, we would be happy to hear from you through our contact page.