Off to the Bahamas on NCL's brand-new baby

My hands clutch the steering wheel. I grit my teeth in concentration. I am gunning it towards the cart in front of me, determined to take the lead, or at least move out of second to last place. A rule follower from way back, I am juggling the instructions to stay to the right and overtake on the left (so unnatural) and keep the cart in a smooth line, with my competitive desire to win.

As I round the right hand turn on the incline, I am distracted by the glittering Atlantic Ocean laid out before me, and the stillness that comes with seeing nothing on the horizon. And I remember I am already a winner today. I am zooming on a three-storey go-cart track that winds atop Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) newest baby, the Norwegian Viva, as we sail towards a private island in the Bahamas. Yes, I am already a winner I think, as I am passed by another go-carter.

Hours later, after finishing third last in my race, I lose myself again, this time in Viva's luxurious Mandara Spa, where a two-storey waterfall cascades down stone, creating such a tranquil atmosphere that I momentarily forget I am in the belly of a ship. I lay on a heated daybed contemplating a dip in the heated "vitality" pool, or the flotation salt pool. There are halls of treatment rooms offering everything from an aroma stone massage to teeth whitening, and a mix of saunas, including a charcoal sauna, a salt room and an ice room.

I am on a three-day cruise off Miami to celebrate the christening of Viva, the newest arrival in Norwegian's upscale Prima class. And what a gorgeous baby she is. Spread across 20 decks with space for 3099 passengers and 1500 crew, Viva is airy, bright and beautiful. Designed to elevate cruising, there are many spectacular spaces throughout the ship, but a highlight is the interactive 16-metre digital artwork Every Wing Has a Silver Lining, which runs nearly the length of the Metropolitan Bar and changes as guests touch it.

Viva's decks, lined with brown and green sun loungers, offer a selection of pools, including a mini infinity pool with a glass front that leaves me feeling somewhat exposed, but only momentarily as I become absorbed with gazing off the side and into the blue abyss.

Guests can stroll on the Oceanwalk, with nothing but glass between you and the sea. This meanders around to The Concourse and a sculpture garden.

The cruise is taking me to Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island oasis in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, but there is plenty to keep me entertained on the way.

Aside from the electric go-karts, adrenaline junkies can also enjoy two "dry slides": The Drop, the first free-fall dry slide in the world, and The Rush, which winds its way down 10 stories at a terrifying speed. There's also the Kids Aqua Park, a tidal waterslide, the main pool and hot tubs.

An important aspect of cruise comfort is food, and Viva does not disappoint.

The Indulge Food Hall features 11 eateries offering everything from Indian to Italian. Hudson's is the ship's main restaurant, where you can enjoy three-course dinners and glorious views through floor-to-ceiling windows. My meal of steak and Caribbean lobster tail was sublime.

The Commodore Room also offers three-course dinners, and is a more intimate venue. The Local Bar & Grill dishes up classic pub fare any time of the day or night, and the Surfside Cafe is a casual buffet service.

Other restaurants offer variety, but come with a surcharge, including Cagney's Steakhouse, Le Bistro, Onda by Scarpetta, Los Lobos, Food Republic, Palomar (I recommend the lobster), Hasuki (Japanese) and Nama (sushi).

The choice can seem overwhelming, but Wes Cort, NCL's vice president of food and beverage, says expectations are ever-changing.

"I've got chefs that are from Spain, Germany, France, beverage guys from Romania, Colombia, a restaurant team from China, even a couple of Americans," he says. "All very diverse, very talented.

"Beverage also has really escalated in the last five years. I tended bars back in the day when the back bar would never change. You know, you had the big bottle of Galliano. Do people drink that stuff? No, but you have to have it there," he says.

"Now products change so quickly."

Viva's sustainability efforts include a range of cocktails created from leftover foods such as banana peel. Surprising, different, and well worth a try.

The highlight of Viva's myriad entertainment offerings is Beetlejuice, the full 90-minute Broadway musical. The show is performed in Viva's three-storey "transformational" theatre, which can be adjusted into a nightclub.

Other entertainment includes Press Your Luck, based on an American game show. Guests audition for the show and have the chance to win $5000. I haven't seen the original, and I didn't win a dime, but I enjoyed the spectacle of it. There's also Icons, a song and dance show and, on smaller stages around the ship, varied musicians and comedians. Syd Norman's Pour House was packed every night. I caught a great stand-up act there, who mocked Viva's premium-paying guests to the delight of the crowd.

It's an immense amount of choice, and I cannot see it all on a three-day jaunt, but the variety is essential, according to NCL's director of entertainment operations Julie Valeriote.

"We have everybody to consider," she says. "We have the people who love the Broadway musicals, we have the people who love rock and roll. And we have people who have children on board, we have people who don't want children around them at all. So we have to consider all of this."

Speaking of those "mockable" premium-paying guests, The Haven is an exclusive ship within the ship. Accessed via private elevators, it features penthouse suites, 24-hour butlers, a bar and restaurant, and a spectacular infinity pool.

I do fine with one of Viva's elegant balcony rooms which blend style and functionality. It's well appointed with plenty of storage.

After two days exploring Viva we arrive at Great Stirrup Cay, owned by NCL since 1977. There is a tropical holiday feel as I step off the tender. It is spectacular, with turquoise waters washing over white sand beaches. An umbrella in the sun beckons.

"Can I get you a drink?" asks a waiter as I settle in. It is 10am, but I am on holiday, so why not? With a choice of restaurants and the beautiful beach, there is no need to want for anything. But if you do want more, there's the exclusive Silver Cove retreat, where guests pay a premium to rent a cabana and enjoy an infinity pool overlooking the sea, free flowing Moet and a lagoon-like bay that is paradise perfection.

I opt for a snorkel. I ask two workers where is best and, giving me a quizzical look, they gesture to the expanse of beach, indicating everywhere.

Visibility is great and although there aren't masses of fish, I find myself paddling around for longer than planned.

After my go-kart success, I keep the adrenaline up with a zipline. The brave can reach speeds of up to 80kmh on the Island Zipline Adventure course. I take on three of the six lines, which require me to step off a platform 30 metres in the air. The view from the launching pad is phenomenal. "This is incredible," I tell the zipline assistant as he checks my connection. "You can see the whole island."

Another excursion is swimming with the pigs, where we take a boat to nearby Goad Cay to splash about in crystal-clear water while feeding decent-sized pigs. I'm holding out a flimsy skewer with a piece of apple on the end as one of the beasts paddles greedily towards me. It's bizarre and terrifying, but the pig gobbles my offering and moves on. I look around to see many in my group delighting in the experience. Perhaps I missed something, or maybe I just need to spend some time getting comfortable with pigs. I guess I should return to the Bahamas via Viva and work on that.

THE SHIP: Norwegian Cruise Liner's Norwegian Viva

THE SIZE: 294 metres, 1646 cabins, 3099 guests

GOOD TO KNOW: Viva runs Caribbean routes off the US from December to April and European itineraries for the rest of the year.

GET ON BOARD: Seven-day Caribbean cruises are available from $1740.

EXPLORE MORE: ncl.com/au

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The writer was a guest of NCL.