Norwegian Prima vs Norwegian Viva: Head-to-Head Comparison
CDC inspection scores, outbreak history, and sanitation records compared
Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Viva? The Short Version
Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva are sister ships: both are Prima-class ships in the Norwegian fleet, so they share a hull design and much of the same layout. Norwegian Viva is the newer ship by 1 year (2023, against 2022 for Norwegian Prima). Both carry 3,219 passengers, but Norwegian Prima measures 142,500 gross tons to 142,500 for Norwegian Viva. That is 44.3 gross tons per passenger on Norwegian Prima and 44.3 on Norwegian Viva, about the same space per guest.
On their most recent CDC inspections, Norwegian Prima scored 99 (June 3, 2026) and Norwegian Viva scored 100 (April 14, 2026). Norwegian Prima averages 98 across 2 inspections; Norwegian Viva averages 98.5 across 2 inspections. Their lowest scores on record are 97 for Norwegian Prima and 97 for Norwegian Viva. Neither ship has a failing score in the inspections we hold.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | Norwegian Prima | Norwegian Viva |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Line | Norwegian | Norwegian |
| Latest Score | 99 | 100 |
| Avg Score | 98 | 98.5 |
| Total Inspections | 2 | 2 |
| Times Failed | 0 | 0 |
| Outbreaks | N/A | N/A |
| Trend | ↑ Improving | ↑ Improving |
| ShipTea Rating | 🟢 Smooth Sailing | 🟢 Smooth Sailing |
| Gross Tonnage | 142,500 | 142,500 |
| Passengers | 3,219 | 3,219 |
| Year Built | 2022 | 2023 |
Score History
Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Viva
Every CDC Inspection on Record
Each ship's dated Vessel Sanitation Program scores, newest first. A score of 86 or higher passes.
| Date | Ship | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 2026 | Norwegian Prima | 99 | Pass |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Norwegian Viva | 100 | Pass |
| Mar 9, 2025 | Norwegian Viva | 97 | Pass |
| Jan 2, 2025 | Norwegian Prima | 97 | Pass |
Beyond Sanitation: Ship Tea's Other Ratings
Each rating is scored out of 100 and explained on its rankings page.
| Rating | Norwegian Prima | Norwegian Viva |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Score | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| Environmental Score | 77.4 | 77.4 |
| Crew Treatment Score | 70.8 | 70.8 |
Where and When They Sail
Norwegian Prima has 48 sailings scheduled through December 2027, mostly from San Juan and Southampton; Norwegian Viva has 49 sailings scheduled through November 2027, mostly from Galveston and Miami. Both sail from Civitavecchia-Rome and Ravenna, so if you are choosing between them for the same trip, compare their sailing dates. The next departures are Norwegian Prima on November 8, 2026 and Norwegian Viva on November 7, 2026.
Every Norwegian Prima sailing → Every Norwegian Viva sailing →
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