They’re travel experts who decided to seas the day – and find out if splurging over £13,000 on a luxury cruise is worth it.
The sailors in question are Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large of travel site The Points Guy, and ex-Carnival Cruise Director Matt Mitcham, who packed their video camera kits and set sail on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Viva, and experienced it two different ways on a sailing from Miami to Puerto Rico.
Their footage is fascinating.
Matt stayed in a swanky Haven Premier Owner’s Suite, which costs from $17,049/£13,320 (plus taxes and fees), and then experienced a host of paid-for extras, including the Luxury Vibe Beach Club and Mandara Spa Thermal Suite.
Nicky stayed in a budget windowless ‘Stateroom’, costing from $1,479 (£1,155) per person (excluding fees), and experienced the ship’s all-inclusive features, from the Infinity Beach club to the ‘scary’ 10-deck high slides. Read on for their verdicts…
BUDGET
The Points Guy’s Nicky Kelvin in his budget 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 ‘cosy’
Nicky and Matt sailed from Miami to Puerto Rico (above)
Nicky describes Norwegian Viva on the video as being like a ‘swanky hotel’
Nicky told MailOnline Travel that his room on the ship, which he describes on the video as being like a ‘swanky hotel’, was ‘basic’, but ‘cosy and comfortable for a budget trip’.
He added: ‘Overall, it was a good way to travel.’
The dining also impressed.
Nicky said: ‘The food really blew me away. For an inclusive package you got so much, with a variety of great quality food – there was plenty of choice.
Above is Nicky hanging out at the eye-catching infinity pool at Infinity Beach, which is open to all guests
This image shows the sunlounger area at Infinity Beach
Yum’s 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 as well.’
The activities on offer for the budget sailor also got the thumbs up.
Nicky’s footage shows him having a whale of a time plummeting down Norwegian Viva’s thrilling slides ‘The Rush’ and ‘The Drop’, splashing around at Infinity Beach club in the eye-catching infinity pool – which sits right on the edge of the ship – and, with Matt, watching award-winning Beetlejuice The Musical and racing around the ship’s impressive multi-deck go-kart track.
Nicky’s footage shows him having a whale of a time plummeting down Norwegian Viva’s thrilling slides ‘The Rush’ and ‘The Drop’ (above)
Norwegian Viva’s slides curl down 10 decks of the vessel
Nicky said: ‘There is so much to do on this ship that you will never be bored.’
Any downsides?
Nicky admitted that ‘while not a necessity for the price’, his room ‘would have been more enjoyable with a balcony’, and concluded that while his experience was ‘very pleasant’, he would ‘love to try the fancier option next time’.
LUXURY
Above – Matt’s Haven Premier Owner’s Suite, which he described as ‘so luxurious’
The owner’s suite comes with a living room and three bedrooms, and costs from $17,049/£13,320 (plus taxes and fees) per week
Matt is clearly delighted with his suite’s bathroom, which features a balcony hot tub
Matt’s comments carry weight, as he has lived on board a ship – and he said of his owner’s suite – which comes with a living room, three bedrooms and bathrooms and a balcony with a hot tub – that he’d ‘never seen a cabin so luxurious’.
Praise indeed.
And the plaudits 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) ‘an activity highlight’.
The Luxury Vibe Beach Club, which costs $259 (£200) per person for a seven-day sailing
Matt and Nicky go head to head on the ship’s multi-deck go-kart track (above two images)
Matt enjoying the ‘exquisite’ food at the exclusive Haven Restaurant
On the video Matt describes the Mandara Spa Thermal Suite as ‘stunning’, with footage showing him having 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
On the video Matt describes this spa as ‘stunning’, with footage showing him having a massage, relaxing in a ‘salt floating pool’ and taking an ‘ice shower’. ‘I’ll do anything for a paycheck,’ he quips.
He also thoroughly enjoys the Galaxy Pavilion entertainment centre, which costs $199 (£155) per guest for the voyage, $29 (£22) for an hour, and $49 (£38) for a day.
And good times were had at the Luxury Vibe Beach Club, which costs $259 (£200) per person for a seven-day sailing.
Any downsides?
Matt concluded: ‘This experience had no negative factors for a luxury trip. The cruise had so much to offer.’
To see the original video visit www.youtube.com/watch. For more from The Points Guy visit thepointsguy.com/uk-travel.
The Galaxy Pavilion entertainment centre – $199 (£155) per guest for the voyage, $29 (£22) for an hour, $49 (£38) for a day
The Haven Bar, where the staff show off their cocktail-making wizardry
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