A playground at sea

As their tagline goes, “It’s different out here.”

Marc said, “We give our guests options—real ones. We make it easy. And then we get it out of the way so they can actually enjoy the moment.”

On my first night aboard Norwegian Luna, I found myself trying to decide what to do after a lovely dinner at Hudson’s, one of the ship’s 17 dining venues. Should I go to the Thermal Suite? But I also wanted to see the ‘90s show at Syd Norman’s Pour House. And I couldn’t miss Elton!

I decided that I was going to do them all. I was drunk on freedom—and I hadn’t even ordered a single drink from the 18 bars and lounges onboard.

At Syd Norman’s, the band transported me back to the ‘90s by playing hits from my youth. Then I went to the Thermal Suite at Mandara Spa where I had a blissful time experiencing the aromatic steam room, Finnish sauna, clay sauna, charcoal sauna, salt room, ice room, and the experiential shower before going for a dip in the vitality and flotation salt pool. At the Thermal Lounge, I planted myself on one of the heated loungers and relaxed.

I could have stayed there forever but Elton was waiting at the Luna Theater.

“Elton: A Celebration of Elton John” was a visual and musical spectacle. It was a joy to watch. It even made some audience members cry.

After the show, I headed to The Local Bar & Grill for a midnight snack—it’s open 24/7.

Then I stopped by Syd Norman’s Pour House to watch some karaoke and Improv at Sea to catch some comedy before finally heading back to my comfortable stateroom.

I had already experienced so much—excitement, relaxation, music, comedy, delicious food—nd it was only the first night.

Out at sea

We were still docked when I fell asleep. By the time I got up, I was surprised to realize that we were out at sea—we had been sailing so smoothly that it didn’t wake me.

I stepped out onto the balcony and stared out at the water—it’s one of my favorite things to do on a cruise.

The beautiful view followed me to Surfside Café & Grill where I ate way too much crispy bacon from the impressive breakfast buffet.

I continued exploring Norwegian Luna, discovering so many great spots like La Terrazza, the Observation Lounge, and the day beds by the infinity pools. I kept thinking, ooh, this is my favorite spot. No, this is my favorite spot. Okay, no, this is really my favorite spot… No no no, it’s this.

Indulge Food Hall is definitely one of my favorite spots. Beautifully designed, the different stations offer a variety of culinary offerings—tapas, soups and salads, noodles, Texas barbecue, rotisserie, Indian fare, plant-based food and more.

You order using a tablet and your food is delivered to your table hot and fresh. I got guac and chips, papadum, chicken tikka with basmati, chorizo and my favorite montadito de cangrejo.

For dessert, I grabbed a soft-serve cone from one of the machines. It’s the perfect treat on a hot day.

There’s always a lot happening on the ship: performances, games, fitness sessions, arts and crafts, parties and more. It’s overwhelming in the best way.

A cruise is like a giant buffet. Everything has been laid out for you—all you have to do is pick and enjoy what you want at your own pace.

Those who want an active, adrenaline-filled cruise can play pickleball, table tennis and basketball, try the multi-level obstacle course called Moon Climber, go on the Aqua Slidecoaster, a hybrid roller coaster water slide that they call the wildest ride at sea, or brave The Drop, the free-fall dry slide that will have you spiraling 10 stories down.

There’s something for everyone on Norwegian Luna—from activities to accommodations. There are Solo, Inside, Oceanview and Balcony staterooms, and those who want an even more elevated experience can book suites in The Haven, an exclusive ship-within-a-ship complex with its own restaurant, bar and lounge.

High-tech mini golf

I joined (and lost) The Last Man Standing game show, played high-tech 12-hole mini golf at Tee Time and carnival games at Luna Midway, chickened out at the Aqua Slidecoaster, and watched the sunset from one of the day beds.

At dinner at The Commodore Room, one of Norwegian Luna’s multi-course sit-down main dining rooms, I decided to just have appetizers and desserts.

I received a warm welcome from Ricardo Dagalea, one of the many Filipinos working aboard Norwegian Luna. Ricardo, who has been with NCL for years, gave diners at The Commodore Room such incredible service that one couple even gave him big hugs as they left. Ricardo was attentive without being overbearing, always anticipating needs and making every table feel special. He had such great, infectious energy that you’d leave The Commodore Room smiling.

I watched Syd Norman’s “A Tribute to Eagles” at the theater and then played arcade games at the Luna Game Zone. When I got hungry again, I popped over to Surfside Cafe & Grill and grabbed some pizza from the dinner buffet. 

NCL’s chief experience officer Mark Hansley said, “We have the only wood-burning pizza oven (at sea). The pizza that comes out of that wood-burning oven is incredible."

It was incredible—and gave me fuel for the Awesome ‘80s Party happening at the main pool.

Port day

The next day was port day. I ate my bacon and cereal quickly—Great Stirrup Cay beckoned.

While some guests headed off for shore excursions like jet ski tours and swimming with pigs, my first stop at NCL’s private Bahamian island was the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, where I chilled by the beach as zipliners flew by overhead.

I spent the rest of my time on Great Stirrup Cay at the Great Life Lagoon—a massive, cruise ship-sized pool with swim-up bars.

NCL is still developing Great Stirrup Cay. This summer, Great Tides Water Park will open—it will have 19 waterslides, cliffside jumps, Splash Cay and the Wandering River.

I could have taken the tram back to the ship but I’m so glad I chose to walk across the panoramic bridge instead. It gave me a great view of Norwegian Luna and the incredibly blue Bahamian waters. 

Back on Luna, I had a late lunch at Surfside and a hot fudge sundae at The Local before going back onto the deck to stare at the water. It was so beautiful—it looked like 28 different shades of blue. My phone camera couldn’t do it justice.

I visited the adults-only Vibe Beach Club, checked out the peaceful Horizon Park and returned to Mandara Spa to spend more time on the heated loungers.

My last dinner on the ship was at the French restaurant Le Bistro, one of Norwegian Luna’s specialty dining concepts. I had goat cheese croquettes, roasted pork chop, and île flottante, a meringue dessert that I’m still dreaming about.

Luna eclipse

I walked into the Luna Eclipse party amazed by how quickly the crew had transformed the theater into a club. Onstage, a DJ played dance hits as flashing lights and lasers bathed the entire venue.

I had so much fun on Norwegian Luna that I didn’t want to leave. Sadly, all cruises must come to an end—and we had reached the end of mine. After another good night’s sleep, I returned to Surfside for one final breakfast. Then, it was disembarkation time.

As I stepped off Norwegian Luna, I found myself already missing it—not just the ship and its many offerings but the feeling of being completely untethered from routine. Out there, time stretched, stress melted away, and joy came easily. It’s the kind of escape that lingers, long after you’re back on land.

Meet Norwegian Luna’s cruise director—he’s Pinoy!

Alvin Kabigting Oliva still remembers the moment that changed his life. 

He was on his way home from his hotel job in Manila and was walking through a mall when he chanced upon an ad—it was for a junior host position at Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). “I applied, I got the job, and the rest is history,” Alvin told The Philippine STAR. 

That was 20 years ago.

His first contract brought him aboard Norwegian Star, which sailed from Seattle to Alaska and Canada. There, as a junior host (now called cruise staff), he helped run game shows and trivia quizzes, led dance parties and organized other fun activities for guests.

Alvin, who is originally from Tondo, rose through the ranks, eventually becoming an assistant cruise director and then being named cruise director 10 years ago. Today, he is the cruise director of Norwegian Luna, NCL’s newest ship.

"It’s a classic job in the cruise industry. As a cruise director, you're in charge of entertainment overall. The activity staff, the cruise staff, production, the technical team, the broadcast team, the recreation team, the youth staff, the musicians are all under my program."

Alvin manages all the activities, events, and performances on the cruise. Basically, he makes sure everyone aboard is having fun. "I keep them busy, especially on days at sea. I also ensure that the ship’s flow is well-planned so activities aren’t all concentrated in one area."

Huge responsibility

It's a huge responsibility and one that requires a lot of strategy. Successful cruise programming means giving people plenty of options of things to do so not everyone crowds in the same place at the same time, keeping things moving smoothly and avoiding crazy lines at restaurants during meal times.

"We plan our offerings for quite some time. It takes six months, sometimes a year of planning. It is a very hectic job," said Alvin.

Before being the cruise director of Norwegian Luna, Alvin had been the cruise director of Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Prima. All three ships are part of NCL's Prima Class lineup. "I am the longest-serving cruise director in this class of ship," he said.

Norwegian Luna, which sails from Miami to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, is special for him because it's the first ship that he opened as cruise director — meaning he was part of the original team that brought the ship to life, from pre-launch preparations to its very first sailings.

This meant a lot of planning and weeks spent rehearsing at NCL's creative studio in Tampa, Florida. Alvin said, "We like to make it big. We like to make it different. We say, 'It's different out here.' Our intention is to offer something new and that's never been seen before."

Freedom and flexibility

"Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered freestyle cruising. We have mastered that. It means that our guests have freedom and flexibility. If one of your family members decides to just hang out or chill, or you decide to go for a quick bite, you can. It's all up to you. This is a true vacation. You can wear what you want. You can do what you want. You can catch a show or live music. We offer programming that is very flexible for everybody."

Their team takes care of everyone aboard—including solo travelers. Solo travelers are free to explore and enjoy the ship's offerings on their own (and as a solo traveler, let me tell you—it's a lot of fun) but those looking for company can easily find it, thanks to NCL's solo program.

"Our solo program is also an industry-first. We make sure our solo travelers are taken care of. Our solo hosts prepare a program for them. Solo travelers can meet other solo travelers, they can watch a movie, catch shows, go to bars, do recreational activities. They end up making new friends."

Alvin's team lines up activities for all sorts of cruisers, including families, kids, teens. "Soon, we will have a pajama party and a family glow party. We are also launching 'Sea of Discovery! An Under-the-Sea Festival.' It's like a field day event where families can gather, learn and play games. We're really excited about our family programming."

Alvin is also excited about NCL’s entertainment offerings. "NCL is known for the quality of entertainment. I’m really proud of our shows. ‘Elton’ is excellent. ‘HIKO’ is something to see. Also the Syd Norman shows, including the Fleetwood Mac tribute."

The cruise also has a lot of game shows. "We have Battle of the Sexes, Majority Rules, Sing It If You Know It, Wheel of Fortune. I host Deal or No Deal. We have a lot of high-tech game shows. We partner with developers for crowd-control game shows."

Themed parties are another big thing on cruise ships and Norwegian Luna has no shortage of them. Alvin said, "Our newest parties on Luna are Luna Eclipse, Island Night, Latin Live, and Planet Disco. At Planet Disco, we're gonna bring you back to the '70s."

Good vibes

At Luna Eclipse, which Alvin describes as a next-level glow party, he was onstage, hyping up the crowd.

Alvin doesn't just work behind the scenes. As cruise director, he is front and center, always visible to guests, interacting with them, having fun with them in his dazzling outfits.

On my three-night cruise, I kept seeing him everywhere—at the theater during “Syd Norman's Presents: A Tribute to The Eagles,” vibing to the music at Great Life Lagoon at NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Caye, welcoming guests back onboard after port day, bringing good energy wherever he went.

It’s clear that he loves seeing guests happy—and guests love him for it.

"Alvin Oliva was our cruise director and he is the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time)," posted a guest online. 

Another one wrote, "If Alvin Oliva is the cruise director on the Luna, I look forward to his attire at these parties."

Alvin is a success story. His two decades at NCL have enriched him in many ways. He’s built a comfortable life. He’s seen the world. But that’s not the best part of the job for him—it’s the joy of seeing cruisers enjoying themselves.

Alvin has this to say to Filipinos who have yet to try cruising: "They need to check out our fleet. NCL offers a lot of ships and different itineraries all over the world. Not only that, they will not get bored onboard. I would also like to emphasize that NCL is known for safety. It's our number one priority. And we really focus on guest service. That's something that we are very proud of."

For more information or to book a cruise, call +632-862-63209 or visit www.ncl.com.