ncl cruise director julie valeriote

5 things I love about new cruise ship Norwegian Viva — and 5 that disappoint me

Editor's Note

Norwegian Viva, the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line 's Prima class, is nearly a carbon copy of its older sister, Norwegian Prima — but that doesn't mean you won't have plenty to love.

What Norwegian uses to differentiate Norwegian Viva from Norwegian Prima are art installations, entertainment ("Beetlejuice," anyone?) and additional seating at Indulge Food Hall, among other minor tweaks.

I'm halfway through the ship's nine-night inaugural sailing from Trieste, Italy, to Lisbon, Portugal, and I've rounded up some of my favorite things, as well as some that aren't so great. Find out what you should absolutely try and what might annoy you if you're planning to sail.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

5 great things about Norwegian Viva

Indulge food hall.

Like many items on this list, Indulge Food Hall isn't new to Norwegian. It debuted on Norwegian Prima, but it's new to me since this is my first experience with the Prima class .

So, what exactly is Indulge? It's a food court-style experience that has taken some of the best eateries from around the Norwegian fleet and put them in one place to allow passengers to try a bit of everything. You'll find a tapas food truck that offers small plates reminiscent of what you'd be able to order from Bayamo on Norwegian Escape, as well as a tiny outpost of barbecue restaurant Q Texas Smokehouse, serving pulled pork sandwiches like the ones you can get on Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss.

On Norwegian Viva, the line removed Starbucks from the space to make room for more tables and alleviate congestion. (But caffeine fans need not worry; Starbucks also has a stand-alone venue on Deck 7 in the atrium area.) You sit wherever you'd like and order from a touchscreen. My group's food showed up in mere minutes, and it was delicious. I highly recommend the Indian dishes from a counter called Tamara.

The best part is that the food is free. That's particularly notable for a line like Norwegian, which is notorious for its nickel-and-diming. Not only does Indulge Food Hall provide an additional complimentary food option, but some of the food available there comes with a fee at the corresponding stand-alone alternative restaurants (Bayamo, Q) on other ships.

Solo cabins and lounge

Norwegian was the first cruise line to make a real effort to accommodate solo travelers with the studio cabins it introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010. The concept has carried through to the line's newest vessels, including Norwegian Viva. But what's special about them on Viva is how upscale they look.

The neutral, timeless color scheme — a far cry from the bright purples and greens that punctuated the studio concept's original iteration — carries through to a dedicated Studio Lounge, to which all passengers booked in studio cabins have access. There, they'll find seating, free beer and soda on tap, plus daily breakfast items and snacks. Dedicated solo meetups are often scheduled, too.

Norwegian Viva has 73 cabins for one, each of which is an inside room (no window) and offers 93 square feet of space. The accommodations are tiny but cozy and well appointed, featuring a single full-size bed, a small desk/vanity and an open-concept closet. Bathrooms are shower-only and have no doors — because why would you need privacy from yourself?

Speaking of cabins in general, another point worth noting is the exceptional lighting. It might seem small, but seeing what you're doing in every corner of the room makes a difference. Makeup lighting around the vanities is also a godsend.

I sailed on Norwegian Encore shortly before boarding Norwegian Viva, and one of the biggest reasons I avoided the atrium area on Encore was that it made me claustrophobic. The colors were dark, and the ceilings felt low. That's not the case on Viva.

The Penrose Atrium on Deck 6 is lighter, brighter and has a more open feeling. It's a much more pleasant — albeit much louder — space than on some of Norwegian's previous vessels.

In addition to a neutral white, tan and green color scheme, the three-deck space is outfitted with comfy seating (the felt loungers are amazing), an abstract central banquette and an overhead glass lighting display that looks a bit like a sky full of cartoon stars. You'll also find Starbucks, a whiskey bar, a few shops, and desks for guest services, shore excursions, Wi-Fi assistance and future cruise bookings in the central area.

Escape rooms

Norwegian Cruise Line's Galaxy Pavilion virtual-reality game space makes a return on Norwegian Viva, and it features two escape room choices. A group of friends and I selected one that had us searching for Mystere, a magician who went missing after a magic trick gone wrong.

Throughout the 45-minute experience, we searched for clues to help us locate him and escape the locked area. Unfortunately, the final piece of equipment glitched — even though we did everything right, according to the crew member overseeing our progress — so we never got to see the conclusion, despite solving all of the puzzles correctly.

Regardless, it was a fun way to spend some time, especially if you've got a group traveling together. Each of the two rooms can hold up to six people. It costs $15 per person to play, and I felt it was well worth the price.

I know many people like to disconnect during vacation, but for those of us who want (or need) to stream, post, check email or do work, a solid onboard Wi-Fi connection is crucial.

On Norwegian Viva, I have a Wi-Fi package that includes streaming for two devices, and the performance has been nothing short of astounding. This is the first time I've sailed on a ship where both devices (my laptop and my mobile phone) stayed connected to the network the entire time. I haven't lost service, and I haven't been involuntarily disconnected.

Perhaps the connection speed and reliability aren't surprising, given that Norwegian Viva (as well as many of Norwegian's other ships) runs on Starlink Wi-Fi.

Prices are steep, though. You can activate one device for general web browsing, checking emails and messaging for $29.99 per day. To purchase a streaming and VPN package for one device, it's $39.99 per day. A second device can be added for $15.99 per day or $25.99 per day, respectively. Four-device packages are also available, but rates are not posted. Prices are subject to change by ship and itinerary.

Note that many of Norwegian's cruise fares come with a set number of free Wi-Fi minutes based on cruise length. The offer is good for two devices per cabin.

5 disappointing things about Norwegian Viva

Entertainment.

Because entertainment is one of the few areas that sets Norwegian Viva apart from Norwegian Prima, I was excited to experience the new shows, especially after NCL told us it was bringing Broadway production "Beetlejuice" on board . Unfortunately, the musical isn't ready yet, so I won't be able to see it on my voyage. (The PR team has told me it's scheduled to begin its run in late August.) It's understandable since new ships often have a few kinks to work out, but it was still disappointing.

Norwegian Viva's other highlight productions include a live version of popular game show "Press Your Luck," where passengers can win money, and "Icons," a song revue that features bits of famous tunes by everyone from Whitney Houston and Bruno Mars to Celine Dion and Elton John. The former isn't ready yet, either, and the latter doesn't stand up in terms of modern-day cruise entertainment — at least not for the time being.

"What's to come is ... a different version of 'Icons,'" said Julie Valeriote, director of entertainment operations for Norwegian Cruise Line, who offered an explanation for why the show didn't seem to stack up.

Although the "Icons" singers are immensely talented, the show reminded me of something straight off cruise ships in the 1990s. The only things missing are feather boas, giant headdresses and perhaps some high kicks. But Valeriote told TPG during an exclusive interview that eventually the show will utilize the thrust portion of its stage, which will come out partway into the audience. Tables will be set up throughout the space, and the singers will interact with attendees as they perform.

For now, though, it's not what passengers have come to expect from the line.

Other popular and highly touted entertainment options are the interactive musical performances at Syd Norman's Pour House, a separate lounge that aims to transport passengers to the golden age of rock 'n' roll. Although the performances I saw there were phenomenal, the space is far too small for a ship the size of Norwegian Viva. If you don't show up half an hour ahead of showtime, you'll be lucky if you can even find standing room inside.

I don't even have children, and I'm scratching my head about the state of Splash Academy, Norwegian Viva's kids club. Most other vessels in the fleet have dedicated spaces for different age groups. On Viva, two spaces on Deck 15 forward accommodate all kids from 6 months to 17 years.

Although the youth staff runs separate age-appropriate activities for children from 3 to 12 years, they're all held together in the same space, which is weird. I can't imagine any 12-year-old wanting to be lumped in with toddlers.

The ship also lacks a dedicated Guppies space for children from 6 months to 2 years old. Instead, parents are allowed to utilize the existing space (toys provided) for parent-supervised play with their youngsters when there are no planned activities for the 3-to-12 set.

Even more odd is that there's no space allocated exclusively for tweens and teens. Other ships offer Entourage, a lounge for older kids, where there are supervised but less structured activities. On Norwegian Viva, teens can attend age-specific activities throughout the vessel and in the Splash Academy area when it's not in use.

That solution is a problematic one. I have never seen so many unsupervised teens and tweens running through public areas, lounging in stairwells, being loud and generally creating a disturbance. Because I've not seen this on any other ship I've sailed, I assume it's due to the programming and lack of a dedicated teen hangout.

I'm OK with taking time to get used to a new ship. However, I've been on board Norwegian Viva for five days, and I still find it difficult to figure out where things are. Many of the ship's interior spaces aren't symmetrical, so it's easy to overshoot where you're trying to go if you're on the wrong side of the vessel — I'm looking at you, Le Bistro. Trying to find the Oceanwalk outdoor promenade and alfresco dining area? It's easy to miss the automatic doors on Deck 8.

And it doesn't stop there. The casino is a labyrinth, and you'll likely have to ask someone how to find your way out of it the first time you pass through. To reach the minigolf course, I had to walk partway through the buffet to find a set of stairs that would take me to Deck 18 since it doesn't run the full length of the ship. (The forward elevators only go to Deck 17, so you have to walk aft, across the pool deck, enter the buffet and then go up.)

Then there are the traffic flow issues. It's difficult to maneuver your way around the seating area by Starbucks in Deck 7's atrium, and the corridor that runs down Deck 8 aft on the starboard side is a hot mess. It feels narrow and runs right through The Local, a nearly round-the-clock eatery that serves free pub grub. When trying to find The Local, I walked through it without realizing what it was (thanks to poor signage) and wound up all the way aft at Indulge Food Hall before turning around and doubling back. It's a mistake that I saw several others also make, and it caused congestion in the area.

Lack of quiet spaces

If you enjoy playing cards or reading in peace, or need a quiet place to relax or check email, Norwegian Viva isn't the ship for you. It has no onboard library, card room or other out-of-the-way space that isn't loud. Unlike on some of the line's other ships, Starbucks is out in the middle of the atrium's hustle and bustle, and late at night, there's music blasting, teenagers screaming and crew members vacuuming the carpet there.

I tried working in the Observation Lounge on Deck 17 forward, but I was met with families loudly playing board games, teenagers showing off for one another and other things that made it impossible to concentrate without headphones.

I've resorted to staying in my cabin when I need some peace, to the dismay of my wonderful room steward, who can't get in to do her job. But even in my room, it's not as quiet as I'd like. I have a connecting room, and I can hear every word spoken by the family on the other side, along with the movement of balcony furniture and general sounds from the port where we're docked. This is one of the least soundproof rooms I've had on any ship, and I've been woken up a couple of times by slamming doors or people talking loudly.

Missing fish

If you're a Norwegian Cruise Line regular, you likely know all about the fish that appear on the carpeting in the cabin corridors on most of the line's ships. They serve as a directional aid. If you're trying to figure out where you're headed, look down. The fish are always swimming forward toward the front of the vessel.

Sadly, the fish have been replaced by more subtle triangles that point forward on Norwegian Viva. (Prima also doesn't have the fish, and an industry colleague told me they were removed from Hawaii-based Pride of America during its last refit.) I'm sure there was a reason for it, but it makes me sad. The carpet fish were both whimsical and functional and set Norwegian's ships apart from those in other lines' fleets.

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I dropped 10 stories on Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship. Here's what it was like.

The Atlantic Ocean was the last thing I saw before the floor beneath me disappeared.

As I stood inside a metal tube at the top of The Drop last month, a free-fall slide on Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship Viva , a robotic voice gave me a four-second countdown before I dropped 10 stories. I slid from Deck 18 to Deck 8 in seconds.

When I fell, my stomach dropped, too, and I clutched the straps of the cloth liner I’d been given a little tighter. But as I rounded the first turn, my shock turned to awe when the opaque tubes gave way to a translucent section.

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The blue horizon appeared briefly before I went hurtling back toward the ship. Norwegian billed the attraction as the world’s first free-fall dry slide when it debuted last year on Viva’s sister ship, Prima. And unlike water slides, it’s a no-muss, no-fuss way to get a theme-park quality adrenaline fix.

Norwegian designed the slide for the Prima Class after hearing from guests who had limited time to ride previous drop water slides and didn’t want to don a bathing suit, according to Julie Valeriote, the line’s Director of Entertainment Operations.

“So, it's just much more convenient, and I think more people are willing to do it,” Valeriote told USA TODAY. “It expands the opportunity for the guests to have a really cool experience.”

When I emerged from the slide, I stood up, finally exhaled and headed to the onboard Starbucks to go about my day.

Who can ride The Drop?

Passengers who meet height and weight requirements can ride the slide (riders must be at least 55 inches tall – 4 feet and 7 inches – for instance). Only one guest can ride at a time.

How much does The Drop cost?

The slide is included in the cruise fare.

What other activities does Norwegian Viva have?

The Drop is just one of many activities Viva has on offer, including:

• The Rush and The Wave: The Rush is another 10-story dry slide – albeit without the free-fall component – with two chutes that allow for multiple riders. But water slide lovers won’t have to do without: The Wave, which marked the line’s first Tidal Wave water slide when it launched on Prima, makes an appearance on Viva as well.
• Viva Speedway: The three-level go-kart track is back with a new name on Viva. If you’re looking for a thrill, it’s sure to do the trick – even if you come in last place like I did. Just try not to get distracted by the ocean views. The attraction costs $15 per person.
• “Beetlejuice” The Musical: The stage production made its at-sea debut on Viva. And while it may be a “show about death,” as the characters tell the audience, it’s packed full of comedy and a striking set. Valeriote said the ship’s 90-minute adaptation uses replicas of set pieces used on Broadway.
• Galaxy Pavilion: The virtual-reality arcade from Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class ships was reimagined for its Prima Class. Guests will find flying simulators; a Topgolf Swing Suite where they can try their hand at golf, football and other sports; two escape rooms and more.

Passengers can choose from multiple packages and play as much as they want. For $29, guests get unlimited access for one hour or for a whole day for $49. The escape rooms cost $15 per person. They can also select activities a la carte.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I dropped 10 stories on Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship. Here's what it was like.

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NCL - The Chief Officers of Norwegian Escape

On October 23, 2015, for the first time in its 48-year history, the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) start a cruise ship of the shipping company from Hamburg on a cruise. It's the brand new one Norwegian Escape , a Breakaway Plus class ship currently on the Meyer Werft in Papenburg.

The 2 meter long and 324 meter wide ship starts its first voyage with a two-night premiere event for travel sales. This is followed by a 41,4-night cruise for end customers from Hamburg to Southampton.

From November 14, 2015, Norwegian Escape will be commuting year-round from / to Miami / Florida on a 7-night route through the eastern Caribbean. There are three ports on the route list, namely St. Thomas / US Virgin Islands; Tortola / British Virgin Islands and Nassau / Bahamas. The route planning seems a bit poor; With what the ships of the breakaway class offer the guests, the destinations served are only decoration anyway. For most travelers, the focus is on the experience of the ship and the entertainment on board.

How do they say? "On every ship that steams and sails, there is always someone who regulates it". On the Norwegian Escape there are several people due to the size. Yesterday, the US shipping company presented the captains and senior officers of the 163.000 ton ship. Became a captain Evan Hoyt appointed. He has been with NCL since 2005. Most recently he was in command of Norwegian Breakaway. His vacation representative became a captain Gunnar Hammerin , currently the captain of the Norwegian Pearl. He has worked for NCL and Star Cruises for 20 years.

Became staff captains Robert Lundberg and Preston Carnahan certainly. The Swede Lundberg has been with NCL since 2006. In his last two positions he served as Chief Officer on board Norwegian Breakaway and as Staff Captain on board Norwegian Getaway . Preston Carnahan is a Texan. He has been working on board various NCL ships since 2003. He is currently the Staff Captain of Norwegian Epic.

The Croat became chief engineer Zoran Posa appointed. His deputy is Edin Huskanovic . Zoran Posa has been with Norwegian Cruise Line since 2002. His last position was as chief on Norwegian Breakaway. The Swede Huskanovic is currently working as Chief on Norwegian Jade. The Salzburg native will be the hotel manager on board the Norwegian Escape Sean Wurmhoeringer . Most recently, he led the hotel team on Norwegian Getaway.

The ship's entertainment team is in charge Julie Valeriote . The Canadian has been with NCL since 1999. In her role as Cruise Director, she was most recently responsible for the entertainment offerings on Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. All photos officers of Norwegian Escape © NCL / Norwegian Cruise Line

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* Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.

Biography - Julie Valeriote

Director of entertainment.

Julie Valeriote is a seasoned professional with nearly 25 years of dedicated service with Norwegian Cruise Line, where she ascended through the ranks on various ships within the Entertainment division. Her unique journey led her to the role of Fleet Cruise Director before eventually assuming the position of Director, Entertainment Operations. As a respected leader, Julie now oversees the entertainment aspects of the NCL fleet, contributing significantly to the company's success in the maritime industry.

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Norwegian Escape’s Captains and Senior Leadership named

Norwegian Cruise Line announced the seasoned captains and senior officers who will serve on Norwegian Escape, the line’s newest and largest ship that will homeport in Miami year-round beginning in November 2015.

Captain Evans Hoyt, an experienced seafarer with more than 30 years at sea, will take the helm of Norwegian Escape upon delivery of the ship in Germany this October. Currently serving as Captain of Norwegian Breakaway, Captain Hoyt will be responsible for all aspects of the ship, her guests and crew. He joined Norwegian Cruise Line in 2005, and has served as Captain aboard four ships within the Norwegian fleet, including the U.S. flagged Pride of America. Born in Morocco, the son of a U.S. diplomat, he has lived in many different countries. Hoyt graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York in 1982. When Captain Hoyt is on holiday, Captain Gunnar Hammerin will take command of Norwegian Escape. Currently serving as Captain of Norwegian Pearl, Captain Hammerin began his nautical career more than 40 years ago serving in the Merchant Marine. He has more than 30 years of experience as a Captain, 20 of those years with Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises.

Staff Captains Robert Lundberg and Preston Carnahan will be on board to introduce the vessel to guests during her very exciting inaugural season. As Staff Captains, they are second in command and report directly to Norwegian Escape’s Captain. They are responsible for the Deck Department and are versed in all of the responsibilities and duties of the Captain. The Staff Captains will also assist Norwegian Escape’s Captain with all operations, including being responsible for the safety of guests, crew, the ship and the environment. Originally from Sweden, Lundberg joined Norwegian in 2006 and since has served as Chief Officer on Norwegian Breakaway and Staff Captain on board Norwegian Getaway. Hailing from Texas, Carnahan joined the company in 2003 and has held positions on several ships, including Norwegian Pearl and Pride of America. He currently serves as Staff Captain on Norwegian Epic.

Zoran Posa will launch Norwegian Escape in the position of Chief Engineer and when on holiday will be relieved by Edin Huskanovic. The Chief Engineer has full responsibility of the entire technical operation of the ship, plays a key role on the ship’s senior management team and works closely with the Staff Captain and Hotel Director. Posa, who is from Croatia, has been a member of the Norwegian team since 2002 and has spent the majority of his time working on board Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky, and most recently as Chief Engineer on Norwegian Breakaway. Huskanovic, from Sweden, joined Norwegian in 2001, holding positions on Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn. He currently serves as Chief Engineer on Norwegian Jade.

Sean Wurmhoeringer will serve as Norwegian Escape’s Hotel Director. Sean began his career at Norwegian in 2002 on board Norwegian Sun and has since held a variety of positions on numerous ships in Norwegian’s fleet. As Hotel Director, he has led teams on several ships, including Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway and most recently, Norwegian Getaway, where he led the hotel team that successfully launched and delivered the ship in 2014. He is from Salzburg, Austria.

Cruise Director Julie Valeriote will lead Norwegian Escape’s entertainment team. Valeriote, who hails from Canada, joined Norwegian in 1999 and has led entertainment teams on Norwegian Epic, where she was also part of the ship’s inaugural team, and most recently launched Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, where she has cultivated a strong following of guests who admire her unending enthusiasm and positive energy.

Norwegian Escape

Currently being built at Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Escape will sail weekly 7-night cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean beginning on November 14, 2015. The 164.600 gross ton ship will be the largest ever to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4.200 guests to tropical Caribbean destinations including St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian Escape’s signature hull artwork is designed by marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, Guy Harvey.

Norwegian Escape’s dining and entertainment will include outposts of several popular land-based outlets, including the first-ever floating Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, a music venue and outdoor bar on The Waterfront that will feature live nightly performances. James Beard Award-Winning Iron Chef Jose Garces will have two concepts on board, a Latin seafood speciality restaurant and Pincho Tapas Bar, while Miami-based The Pubbelly Restaurant Group will develop the menu for the Food Republic, an upscale food emporium. The District Brew House, a hip, urban craft beer hall featuring an exclusive partnership with Miami’s own Wynwood Brewing Company, will serve up more than 24 draft beers while The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar, features an array of immersive wine experiences, focusing on tasting, education, and the enjoyment of wine. Norwegian Escape will also feature Miami’s oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road.

Continuing with Norwegian’s commitment to excellence in entertainment, Norwegian Escape will feature two Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals headlining in the Escape Theater: After Midnight, the smash-hit musical that combines the big-band songs of Duke Ellington and the best dancing from Broadway; and Million Dollar Quartet, the smash-hit musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. In a new concept exclusive to Norwegian Escape, the Supper Club has been re-imagined for an unforgettable dinner and show. For The Record: Dear John Hughes is a critically acclaimed Hollywood night that celebrates classic soundtracks of motion picture masters in a one-of-a kind 360° post-modern cabaret.

The ship will feature the largest ropes course at sea, a three-storey multiplex of heart-pounding challenges complete with two planks and five Sky Rails, zip tracks that allow guests to soar through the air. Norwegian Escape’s Aqua Park will be the largest at sea and includes a new Aqua Racer slide, while the expansive sports complex boasts a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle miniature golf course. Adding to the family fun, Norwegian Escape will also feature an expanded Kids’ Aqua Park; entertainment from Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids; along with the line’s first dedicated nursery for young cruisers two and under.

Accommodation includes the company’s signature luxury ship–within-a-ship complex: The Haven by Norwegian; along with Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; and many options for families, multi-generational groups, spa enthusiasts and more.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is an internationally operating cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida with two offices in Wiesbaden and London overseeing operations in Europe.

Founded in 1966, Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to “Cruise Like a Norwegian” on one of 13 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise holiday on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. In August 2014, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the seventh consecutive year, as well as in October 2014, for the second consecutive year, “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards. In addition the company has received the World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” from 2012 to 2014.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, debuted in June 2010 and, in the United States, has been named “Best Overall Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly two years in a row and “Best Ship for Sea Days” by Cruise Critic. The Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the 4.000-passenger Norwegian Getaway in the first quarter of 2014. The largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami, Norwegian Getaway boasts 28 dining venues, including seafood restaurant Ocean Blue by famed New York Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and a branch of Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC series “Cake Boss”. The entertainment line-up includes Broadway shows Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor and the unique dining and magic venue, the Illusionarium. Known as New York’s ship, sister ship Norwegian Breakaway is the largest vessel to homeport year-round in the city. The Company has four 4.200-passenger vessels on order at Meyer Werft: Norwegian Escape with delivery scheduled in the autumn of 2015, Norwegian Bliss with delivery in the spring of 2017 and two further ships with delivery in the spring of 2018 and autumn of 2019.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of the Miami Dolphins/Sun Life Stadium, The New York Knicks and Legends in Concert; and the official cruise line partner of The GRAMMY Awards and is an official partner of the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall.

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What ship is cruise director Julie Valeriote currently working?

By tgcassidy , July 16, 2012 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Does anyone know which ship Julie is currently cruise director?

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www3traveler

The last I knew Julie was on The Pearl, but that has been a month or so ago.

Were you on the cruise? Did you see her?

I'm not sure because I never caught the last name, but I was on the Pearl over the 4th of July and the cruise director was Julie. I assume it's the same person (she's from Canada) that the OP is asking about.

The Julie that the OP is asking about is very tall, wears high heels, very stylish and is from near Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Does this sound like the Julie on your 4th of July cruise. She is a very nice lady.

Yes it is the same Julie - very nice CD. She was on the Pearl at the end of June

Thank you very much. She is the one i inquired about. We had her on the Jewel and the Spirit. She is from Canada and does a great job. Julie if you are reading this please chime in and say hello.

I am not sure that Julie reads this but Norwegian does. Hopefully someone will get a message to her.

• 3 months later...

Julie is on the Pearl.

I just got off the Blake Shelton cruise and she was on it.

I can confirm this...spoke with Julie via email just this morning.

Last time I saw Julie was ions ago ....hope is she off NCL...she left a lot to be desired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:(

You must be a friend, relative or co worker of Julie is that so? Thanks again for letting me know.

I believe she was the CD when we were on the Star last November. I remember seeing her photo on the wall and it said she was from Canada.

She was a good CD. She was very nice and really friendly when I spoke to her briefly in the elevator.

I'm always wondering whatever happened to Beantown Brian. He was Julie's assistant and he was quite the character. I would like to know if he made it as a full-fledged cruise director somewhere.

Julie was our CD on the Pearl in Alaska the first week of August. We all thought she was terrific!!!

For everyone looking for a "Julie fix"...

Here's Julie on the Epic in October, 2010

Oh my gosh - Julie is the BEST CD i have ever had!!!! Been on Dream, Spirit and 3 weeks on the Pearl with her. Wonderful.

Here's Julie on the Epic in October, 2010   [ATTACH]249405[/ATTACH]

Alright, it looks like I'm thinking of somebody else.

THIS is NOT the CD I remember on the Star in Nov 2011. Pfft, with my memory her name probably wasn't even Julie. I just remember her being Canadian.

Blonde hair. Not slim, not a hard-body, but not chubby either. Just kind of normal, I guess you could say. Her sidekick was Beantown Brian.

Anybody know who I'm talking about?

We are Julie fans here too. We cruised with her twice in 2011 - both times on the Pearl. She was very friendly.

When we would pass her on the pier, hallway, dining place - it didn't matter. She always stopped to talk & hug our DDs.

Pic from the NCL meet & greet we had last Thanksgiving.

Alright, it looks like I'm thinking of somebody else.   THIS is NOT the CD I remember on the Star in Nov 2011. Pfft, with my memory her name probably wasn't even Julie. I just remember her being Canadian.   Blonde hair. Not slim, not a hard-body, but not chubby either. Just kind of normal, I guess you could say. Her sidekick was Beantown Brian.   Anybody know who I'm talking about?

You might be thinking of Candi, but I don't know if she is Canadian.

Doesn't ring a bell.

I'll have to see if I can find our old Freestyle Dailys. Her name has got to be in there somewhere.

DEB63 your picture did not show up. Please repost the Julie picture at the meet and greet.

GrandmaHofmann

I never have a clue as to why anyone cares who the cruise director is. Generally, they are at worst overweening and obnoxious and at best, insignificant to my daily enjoyment of the cruise.

DaisyGoldberg

I never have a clue as to why anyone cares who the cruise director is.

Pretty much my thought when I see these threads chasing particular staff members around the world in hopes that they'll see them again. I certainly notice when there's a bad one, but I wouldn't notice or care if you swapped a good one for another good one mid-cruise.

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Review: Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian on the Norwegian Breakaway

by The Cruise Web Team May 14, 2013

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As you can see from the picture above, this dish was masterfully done. What  you may not know is that the incredibly cooked al dente rice was the perfect opposition for the creamy Parmesan, mushroom, and Jonah Crab mixture.

Unfortunately I dove headfirst into this final course without stopping to take a picture. The fruit was a firm yet jelly-like texture and complimented the rich dark chocolate truffle and crispy cookie. The sea salt really made the dish though, offering a contradiction to the rich and deep chocolate and raspberry.

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruise Director Breakaway JAMIE VALERIOTE

By caddykid12 , March 31, 2017 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Do cruise directors change? Or do they stay with 1 ship?

On YouTube videos it seems Jamie's been there from 2013 to 2016. Just was curious to see if thats how NCL does it. And keeps the same CD

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cd can and do change from time to time.. it all depends on if the CD likes to stay with one ship for multiple contracts.

Do you mean Julie?

Yes Julie. Stupid autocorrect on Android

When does her current contract end?

Do cruise directors change? Or do they stay with 1 ship?   On YouTube videos it seems Jamie's been there from 2013 to 2016. Just was curious to see if thats how NCL does it. And keeps the same CD

We were on the Breakaway April of last year and two weeks ago and both times Dan Dan was the CD.

Julie was on the Escape the first time we went on her but I think she might be gone from NCL now - not positive though.

OnTheGoMom921

We were on the Breakaway during the inaugural season and Julie was the CD. She was on for about 6 months to "break in" the ship/entertainment staff. I believe they move her around to the newer ships for a short term. But she hasn't been on the Breakaway since the first season (Beginning April 2013), as far as I know. She was an awesome CD on our Breakaway cruise!

CruisinHarvey

Julie got promoted. She's not on any one ship anymore. I don't know her title now. She's like the CD coordinator.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Julie on the Epic March 18 sailing. She was onboard for a couple of days to do some training. She looked fantastic and brightened the room.

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Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Chapter 3: In Their Own Words: Career Stories From Graduates of the Fanshawe College Recreation and Leisure Services Program

3.2 Julie Valeriote, Director of Entertainment Operations

Julie Valeriote

Director entertainment operations, norwegian cruise lines.

Working in Play – Exploring the Recreation and Leisure Industry Copyright © 2022 by Linda Whitehead, BA, M Ed, MBA is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Norwegian Names Escape Captains and Senior Leadership Team

• February 24, 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced the captains and senior officers who will serve on Norwegian Escape.

Captain Evans Hoyt, an experienced seafarer with more than 30 years at sea, will take the helm of Norwegian Escape upon delivery this October. 

Captain Hoyt joined Norwegian Cruise Line in 2005, and has served as Captain aboard four ships within the Norwegian fleet, including the U.S. flagged Pride of America.  Born in Morocco, the son of a U.S. diplomat, he has lived in many different countries. Hoyt graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York in 1982.

When Captain Hoyt is on vacation, Captain Gunnar Hammerin will take command of Norwegian Escape. Currently serving as Captain of Norwegian Pearl, Captain Hammerin began his nautical career more than 40 years ago serving in the Merchant Marine. He has more than  30 years of experience as a Captain, 20 of those years with Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises.   

Staff Captains Robert Lundberg and Preston Carnahan will be on board to introduce the vessel to guests during her very exciting inaugural season.

Originally from Sweden, Lundberg joined Norwegian in 2006 and since has served as Chief Officer on Norwegian Breakaway and Staff Captain on board Norwegian Getaway. Hailing from Texas, Carnahan joined the company in 2003 and has held positions on several ships, including Norwegian Pearl and Pride of America.  He currently serves as Staff Captain on Norwegian Epic.

Zoran Posa will launch Norwegian Escape in the position of Chief Engineer and when on vacation will be relieved by Edin Huskanovic. Posa, who is from Croatia, has been a member of the Norwegian team since 2002 and has spent the majority of his time working on board Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky, and most recently as Chief Engineer on Norwegian Breakaway. Huskanovic, from Sweden, joined Norwegian in 2001, holding positions on Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn.  He currently serves as Chief Engineer on Norwegian Jade.

Sean Wurmhoeringer will serve as Norwegian Escape’s Hotel Director. Sean began his career at Norwegian in 2002 on board Norwegian Sun and has since held a variety of positions on numerous ships in Norwegian’s fleet. He is from Salzburg, Austria.

Cruise Director Julie Valeriote will lead Norwegian Escape’s entertainment team.  Valeriote, who hails from Ontario, joined Norwegian in 1999.

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