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Set sail, as thousands of seafaring Americans have, when you book a Carnival cruise from the 400-year-old seaport of Norfolk. The city is today the proud home of a sparkling waterfront filled with green parks, lively shopping malls, delicious restaurants… and even fascinating maritime museums and monuments. Before you cruise from Norfolk, you’ll find yourself near two colonial villages — Colonial Williamsburg and Olde Towne Portsmouth — plus miles of beaches, and a blooming botanical garden. So definitely make time to explore before your cruise from Virginia, and round out your vacation with some history and picturesque sightseeing.
Driving Directions to the Norfolk Cruise Pier
In November 2016, Port Norfolk and Konecranes (Finnish crane manufacturer) signed a USD 217 million contract for building and delivering 86 rail-mounted gantry cranes. The US company TMEIC is the supplier of cranes' drive and control systems. As an exclusive CCL-Carnival homeport (since 2002), Norfolk's main competitors are the homeports Baltimore MD and Charleston SC (another CCL-exclusive departure port in the USA). Currently, Norfolk's cruise business generates ~USD 153 million annually (in direct spending by cruise companies and passengers/crew), ~USD 170 million in Virginia state wages, and supports ~2800 local jobs. In 2025 Carnival Cruise Line will have cruises from Norfolk to Bermuda, the Bahamas and Caribbean. The following cruises have been moved from Baltimore to Norfolk due to the Key Bridge disaster, including a rare Transatlantic repositioning cruise to Spain.
Norfolk, Virginia Cruise Port
Norfolk Port's annual capacity was increased by 400,000 TEUs (up to 1,83 million). It borders to the west Elizabeth River and to the north - Chesapeake Bay (Atlantic Ocean). The city has population around 250,000 (metro 1,67 million), ranking it the Virginia state's second-largest - after Virginia Beach (around 450,000 / metro 1,72 million).
Day 4: Nassau
The city itself offers various arts and entertainment choices and dining, and 130 festivals are held within Norfolk throughout the year. Closer to the port, the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center also doubles as a maritime museum, one displaying one of the largest privately-owned collections of cruise memorabilia in the United States. Nearby is Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, the home of the Battleship Wisconsin. Traffic around the port can get hairy on cruise ship turnaround days, especially if there's a festival on at the adjacent Town Point Park. Plan accordingly, and consider getting dropped off or picked up a short walk from the terminal. The Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center does not have any amenities worth noting.
Day 2: Fun Day at Sea
Carnival Cruise moves operations to Norfolk, Va. after Baltimore bridge collapse - WJLA
Carnival Cruise moves operations to Norfolk, Va. after Baltimore bridge collapse.
Posted: Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Other cruise lines that have stopped in Norfolk include Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Temporarily, Royal Caribbean also offers a few cruises from Norfolk. If more cruises are moved, we will post the information when it becomes available.
I ate my way through a luxury cruise ship. There are 5 dishes I'm still thinking about months later.
Cruises from Norfolk also come with serious seafaring credentials — the city is home to one of the best maritime academies in the country. Popular among tourists neighboring leisure and travel destinations are Virginia Beach. The city is at less than 2 hours drive distance from Richmond, 3 hours from Northern Virginia and 3 hours from Raleigh. The cruise port benefits greatly from the Norfolk International Airport offering 200 flights daily.
The deal was signed by Kenneth Alexander (Norfolk City Mayor) and Terry Thornton (CCL's Senior VP of Nautical and Port Operations). As part of the agreement, Norfolk City agreed to upgrade and expand the Half Moone Terminal for handling larger ships and to expedite the traffic by installing a PBB (Passenger Boarding Bridge). In July 2018, a heavy-load vessel delivered at Norfolk Terminals the first 6 rail-mounted gantry cranes - part of the USD 375 million port expansion project. Construction works for expanding the NIT (Norfolk International Terminals) started in 2019 and were completed in 2020. By this 3-phases project, the Port's south stack container yard was completely redesigned and fitted with 60 new RMGs (rail-mounted gantry cranes), 10 new shuttle trucks, a total of 30 new RMG TEU stacks.
Land Vacations
Most commonly, cruises from Norfolk go to exciting destinations such as Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean - All, and Dominican Republic.
Season 2021 included a series of 12 roundtrips and seasonal capacity ~50,000 tourists. Carnival Magic's 2023 ex-Norfolk season was CCL's ever-longest - 6 months (May 14th thru October 22nd). Think Carnival Cruises for an experience packed with a variety of food, fun-filled activities, lavish entertainment, exciting new places to visit, and fun! Regent Seven Seas cruise ship stops in Norfolk twice in coming years. This is an all-inclusive luxury ship, and all the cabins are suites. There are ATMs scattered throughout downtown Norfolk, including directly across from the cruise terminal on Boush Street.
Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Rent a private Ocean View Cabana for a luxurious beach day you'll never forget. "I loved my experience with Virgin Voyages. I have previously cruised with many other cruise lines. This cruise had the best entertainment and food." "The best vacation I have ever had. The adults only experience immediately elevates any cruise experience. The fine dining and exceptional service there is truly no better way to vacation." In February 2020, CCL-Carnival signed a 5-year agreement with Norfolk City for seasonal homeporting at Half Moone Cruise Center (2020 through 2025).
Shore excursions will focus on day trips to historical places, such as the living museums of Colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown Settlement, and the Revolutionary War battlefields at Jamestown. While these attractions are certainly worthwhile, you don't need to head out of Norfolk or even take a tour to have a fun day in port. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help.
The area is packed with things to do and sites to see, for all different types of pre-cruise vacationers. The city’s surrounding areas have been developed as well, making the entirety of downtown Norfolk a tremendous place to spend a few days, and eventually embark for a cruise. If you live in the Mid-Atlantic area, might we suggest one of our cruises from Norfolk?
However, the cruise ship pier is adjacent to Nauticus is a maritime-focused science and technology center, which includes the Battleship Wisconsin. There's a gift shop and small cafe in the lobby of the Nauticus, if you need to grab something before embarkation begins. Cruising from Norfolk is so appealing to vacationers because of its splendid itineraries to the Bahamas, as well as the awesome attractions you can find in Norfolk itself, before and after your cruise vacation. Continue below for our best cruise deals on cruises leaving from Norfolk, Virginia. With a lengthy maritime history, the area has been used as a port for several decades. Cruise ships, leaving from the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, are one of the more recent developments to this section of Virginia where the Chesapeake Bay flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Cruise ships in Port Norfolk VA dock at Nauticus Half Moone Cruise Terminal (officially "Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center", aka "Decker Half Moone Center"). This modern facility (construction cost USD 36 million) was inaugurated in 2007. It is located in downtown, on the city's Nauticus Waterfront on the Elizabeth River. As port of call (on transit itineraries), the Port's business expands each year.
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