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I tried two of the NEWEST cruise ships one week apart: here's how they compared

Cruise Blog
Cruise Blog
🏅Authority
👁️ 49K views📅 2 years ago⏱️ 18:58

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator compares two recent cruise ship debuts, Celebrity Ascent and Norwegian Viva, based on personal experiences sailing on each within a one-week period. The comparison covers ship design, dining, staterooms, entertainment, and onboard amenities. The creator notes that Celebrity Ascent features a more sophisticated, boutique hotel aesthetic with spacious public areas and high-quality buffet options. In contrast, Norwegian Viva is described as having a more traditional design with some indoor spaces feeling cramped and crowded. Regarding dining, the creator highlights the innovative complimentary food hall on Norwegian Viva but finds the Celebrity Ascent buffet superior. Stateroom experiences varied due to the different cabin categories occupied, though both ships offered functional and well-designed accommodations. Entertainment on Celebrity Ascent focuses on immersive, original productions, while Norwegian Viva offers big-name Broadway musicals like Beetlejuice. Ultimately, the creator concludes that Celebrity Ascent is better suited for adults seeking a premium, design-focused experience, whereas Norwegian Viva is a better fit for families and thrill-seekers due to its diverse activities and racetrack, despite some perceived design flaws regarding crowd management.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Celebrity Ascent
Seriously Tasty
All-time creator consensus for Celebrity Ascent
Solid Strip

This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsShip Comparison🏅Authority CreatorSponsored
Veteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I was invited to sail on a two night media cruise on board celebrity Ascent

Norwegian Viva is the best choice for solo Travelers with a specifically curated experience

I would consider this restaurant a grand slam for Norwegian Cruise Line

Creator's Tips & Advice

Consider booking a free Etsy package which includes some specialty dining on Norwegian Viva
Guest traveling with children will want to consider the attractions offered by Norwegian Viva
Utilize the outdoor space on Norwegian Viva to alleviate some of the crowdedness inside

Questions This Creator Answers

QHow do the newest cruise ships from Norwegian and Celebrity Cruises compare?
QWhat are the differences in design, dining, staterooms, entertainment, and innovation between Celebrity Ascent and Norwegian Viva?

Topics Covered

Dining Specialty3½ Happy BaconEntertainment Shows4 Happy BaconDrink PackageMehDining Buffet4 Happy BaconCrowd Capacity2 Sad BaconPool Deck3½ Happy BaconShip Condition4 Happy BaconCabin Suite4½ Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube