Bahamas Cruises From Virginia Beach
Nassau, the Bahamian capital city, is a port of call on both Carnival cruises from Virginia.
Cruising from Virginia Beach to the Bahamas is easy, with the Port of Norfolk only 18 miles away. This 400-year-old historic port is where Thomas Jefferson landed after voyaging across the Atlantic in 1789. Today, the port area has been revitalized to include museums, monuments and restaurants. It’s also used by Carnival Cruise Lines to take travelers to the Bahamas on five- and six-day cruises. The port is about 20 minutes away from Virginia Beach, and there is plenty of secure parking.
Cruising To Half Moon Cay
To travel from Virginia to Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, book the six-day cruise aboard the Carnival Splendor. Enjoy the private island by swimming in the ocean, riding horses through the surf, or petting tame stingrays. There’s a water park that looks like a giant pirate’s ship, so you can let the kids play while you sip rum punch and sway to the beat of a local calypso band.
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Carnival Returns To Norfolk Virginia After 3 Year Absence
Carnival Cruise Line has returned to Norfolk, Virginia for the first time since 2019. On Sunday, CarnivalMagic set sail for a six-night Bahamas cruise becoming the largest ship to depart from the citys Half Moone Cruise Center.
To commemorate the special day, Carnival welcomed guests with a Back to Fun event that included a ceremonial ribbon-cutting that cleared the way for guests to enter the terminals new gangway, built to accommodate larger ships, and board Carnival Magic as the ships crew welcomed them aboard.
Norfolk is a key seasonal homeport for us and we are excited to have Carnival Magic based in Norfolk for our guests to enjoy and to support the local economy, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. I want to thank the City of Norfolk for its ongoing commitment to Carnival and the enhancements it made to the beautiful Half Moone Cruise Center, so that we could bring the larger Carnival Magic here for our restart.
This weeks cruise will include stops in Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and Freeport.
In total, 11 voyages with various itineraries will depart from Norfolk this summer and fall, visiting destinations in Bermuda, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Carnival became the first major cruise line to return its full 23-ship fleet to guest operations on May 2 with Carnival Splendors sailing from Seattle.
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Cruise From Norfolk Virginia
Various seasonal cruise ships depart from Norfolk, Virginia. As a cruise port, Norfolk is the departure point for Carnival cruise ships sailing to the the Bahamas, Bermuda or the Caribbean islands. However, please be aware that only a few select dates are available for cruises from Norfolk. With that said, it’s advised to check availability and reserve your cruise from Norfolk as soon as possible considering the limited amount of sailings available from this cruise port.
Although Norfolk is a popular drive to port, if you need to fly into the area the cruise ship dock isnt far from Norfolk International Airport . It takes about 20 minutes for a taxi to drive the 10 miles to Nauticus in Norfolk, where the cruise terminal is located. The ride is metered and costs about $20.
Cruise passengers that drive to the pier can park at the Cedar Grove parking lot located in downtown Norfolk. It is suggested that you first drop off your luggage with a porter at the terminal before proceeding to parking. The parking fee is $15 per night, , and no reservation is necessary. Complimentary shuttles are available to get you back to the pier.
Interesting Spots Of Norfolk
Norfolk makes a good base for exploring coastal Virginia because of its strategic location at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.The number of activities and attractions in Norfolk makes it one of the most happening places. For boaters or surfers, the Atlantic Ocean is the perfect place to go. There are plenty of museums and art centers to explore for cultural vultures.A trip to Norfolk has everything you could want for a truly memorable vacation, whether you are into fine dining, naval history, or baseball.
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Carnival Cruises From Norfolk Va
Thinking about a fun cruise from Norfolk Virginia? Think Carnival Cruises for an experience packed with a variety of food, fun-filled activities, lavish entertainment, exciting new places to visit, and fun! The full schedule of Carnival cruises out of Norfolk is below.
The Carnival Magic is the “Fun Ship” cruising from Norfolk. It features Carnival WaterWorks, Ocean Plaza food-and-entertainment space, and the Lanai half-mile promenade deck.
Cruising To Freeport Bahamas
Both the five-day and six-day cruises from Virginia stop in Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island. After docking, relax on the white sand of Xanadu Beach, sip a rum drink at one of the seaside bars, or shop for authentic Bahamian goods on streets lined with markets and shops. Book a Carnival excursion to swim with dolphins, explore the Lucayan National Forest, or snorkel off a coral reef.
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Cruising To Nassau Bahamas
The Nassau port of call is also included on five- and six-day cruises aboard the Carnival Splendor. Nassau hosts over a million visitors each year. While in port, relax on the beach, take a tour of the shoreline on a jet ski, and visit the Atlantis Resort and its casino. Immerse yourself in 18th-century history and architecture at the Queen’s Staircase, or take a swim with the dolphins by booking an excursion through the ship.
Cruise Lines Out Of Norfolk Va
One cruise line currently offers cruises from Norfolk, Virginia. Cruise ships dock near the Nauticus museum, on the attractive downtown waterfront. For departures see our calendar of cruises from Norfolk.
Carnival Cruises sail from Norfolk. The huge Carnival “fun ships” offer cruises to the Bahamas and Bermuda in the spring and fall.
Cruise lines that used to have departures from Norfolk include Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruises and Royal Caribbean. They may return in the future.
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Cruising On The Carnival Splendor
Both the Bahamas cruises that leave from Virginia are aboard the Carnival Splendor. The ship is 952 feet long and it can hold 3,000 guests as well as a crew of 1,150. There are plenty of on-board entertainment options including karaoke, music and stand-up comedy in the El Morocco Lounge. In addition to several pools, there’s a splash park and the Carnival Twister waterslide. Relax with a spa treatment, test your luck in the casino, or enjoy fine-dining at the Pinnacle Steakhouse.
Bahamas Cruises From Norfolk
Carnival Cruise Line offers cruises from Norfolk to the Bahamas. Get onboard the big Carnival ship for a trip to beautiful islands. Click the link to see the schedule of cruises and more information.
The Bahamas are a group of small islands on the Atlantic side of south Florida and Cuba. Carnival’s cruises go to ports of Nassau, Freeport and sometimes Half Moon Cay.
Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. It is on New Providence Island, which is connected by two bridges to neighboring Paradise Island. The famous “Atlantis” super-resort is on Paradise Island. In Nassau you can enjoy a variety of watersports, shopping, dining and attractions. This is also the historic heart of the Bahamas.
Freeport is on Grand Bahama Island. Go to the casino and barefoot beach bars. In Freeport, one of the favorite excursions is the “dolphin encounter.” Get up close and personal with a dolphin. You can also go kayaking, fishing or biking.
Half Moon Cay is the cruise line’s private resort island. Only 2 percent of the island is developed and it’s a bird sanctuary. Enjoy the long curved beach, nature trails, aqua park or horse rides on the sand.
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Carnival Cruise Resumes Cruises From Norfolk In Over 2 Years With First Departure Sunday
May 11, 2022 / 03:57 PM EDT
May 11, 2022 / 03:57 PM EDT
NORFOLK, Va. Cruise season is ramping up and Norfolk is joining in on the fun.
Carnival Cruise will resumed cruises from Norfolk Sunday, May 15, with the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic departing from the Half Moone Cruise Center and onto a six-day journey to The Bahamas.
This was first cruise vacation to sail from Norfolk in more than two years. Executive Director at Nauticus, Stephen Kirkland, says they are ready to go.
Its a very busy day weve got about 3,812 guests that were going to be welcoming on to this big vessel behind me, said Kirkland.
Carnival Magic is the largest ship to depart from Norfolk and will be one of 11 voyages to depart from Norfolks Half Moone Cruise Center in the summer and fall 2022.In total, 11 voyages with various itineraries will depart from Norfolk this summer and fall, visiting destinations in Bermuda, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Weve gone from 0 activity on our pier to quite literally the busiest cruise season weve ever had in the history of Norfolks program180 thousand passengers will be coming through this year, Kirkland stated.
He says theyve taken COVID precautions very seriously. Crews still wear masks on board the ship and 98 percent of the guests are vaccinated.
Teresa Smart and Melody Harris says they took their monitored Covid test 48 hours before boarding.
Check WAVY.com for the latest updates.
Cruise Lines That Visit Norfolk
Several cruise lines offer cruises that stop in Norfolk, but don’t start here. Passengers spend the day visiting local attractions.
The small ships of American Cruise Line stop in Norfolk on their way between Baltimore and Charleston. The cruise is on the Intra-Coastal Waterway.
Oceania Cruises has a cruise visits Norfolk each year. They are mid-size luxury ships.
Princess Cruises stop here each year as part of cruises from Canada to Florida.
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.
Silversea also offers an all-inclusive luxury cruise to Norfolk.
Other cruise lines that have stopped in Norfolk include Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.
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Pre And Post Cruise Options From Norfolk
Nauticus in Norfolk: This complex, which also includes the cruise ship dock, is dedicated to Norfolk maritime history. The Battleship Wisconsin is permanently docked here and open for tours. She was commissioned in 1944 and immediately reported for duty in the Pacific during WWII, as well as seeing action in the Korean War and Operation Dessert Storm. There is also a maritime-themed science center for kids with an aquarium, hands-on exhibits, interactive theaters, and a variety of educational programs.
Virginia Beach: The span of white sandy beach goes on further than the eye can see! Its flanked by a three mile long boardwalk that is dotted with family friendly attractions but the highlight for kids of all ages is the amusement park. There are plenty of ocean front hotels to choose from and wonderful shops and restaurants.
Colonial Williamsburg: Step back in time the 18thcentury to be exact, and learn how Williamsburg played a major role in the American Revolution. Stroll through a recreated town of homes, shops, and public buildings. There are re-enactments, demonstrations, lectures, theater, and so much more! Be sure to leave time for a visit to Yorktown and the Jamestown settlement.
Busch Gardens: Not a garden at all, but an amusement park divided into seven sections, each themed to a different European country. Lots of thrill rides, shows, restaurants and shops, its one of the best parks in this country.
