Cruises from Norfolk

April 18th, 2008

Norfolk is a city located in Virginia, USA near the Elizabeth River at Chesapeake Bay. It is the headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet of the United States Navy. It is a busy port city, with the downtown area being especially popular due to a cruise ship pier. The number of cruises from Norfolk has increased recently due to the construction of a terminal beside the pier. It is highly regarded for its close proximity to hotels, restaurants and shopping centers.

The Norfolk Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center is a cruise ship terminal designed to welcome passengers from all over the country. There is also a huge collection of ocean liner collections on exhibit. It contains 400 year old artifacts from Jamestown, which was the site of the first English settlement in America during the 1600’s. The terminal boasts state of the art facilities that enhance the enjoyment of travelers.

Going to the Half Moone Terminal is easy. The Norfolk International Airport is located near the terminal. Taking a taxi should take about 20-30 minutes. There is no parking available on the location itself. Instead, travelers can park at a spot near Monticello Avenue called Cedar Grove. The parking rate is about $10 per night for cruises.

There are plenty of cruises from Norfolk to chose from. One such service is provided by the Royal Caribbean International. They offer cruises from Norfolk to Bermuda, New England and Canada. The Carnival Cruise Line has a cruise to the Bahamas.

The ports in Norfolk use a luggage system named “Express Debark”. This involves the use of color coded tags and luggage and will be arranged according to those tags. While boards their cruises from Norfolk, passengers are assisted by stewards to make the whole process run smoothly.

Aside from cruise ships, other attractions in the area include the Nauticus, a maritime themed science museum. Visitors can take a look at exhibits, watch films, examine aquariums and take part in interactive theaters. The USS Wisconsin, which is a part of the US Navy’s reserve fleet, can be seen at the museum. It is one of the largest battleships built by the US Navy,

There are plenty of activities to do while waiting for the cruise proper. Near the cruise port is a shopping complex called the MacArthur Center. There are a wide variety of shops, restaurants and movie theaters to help pass the time. Norfolk is also known as the culture capital of Virginia, USA. There are museums and theaters scattered throughout the surrounding areas.