340,000 Unique Cruise Passenger Visits; Record-Breaking Year for Norfolk
Weekly Carnival cruise service in 2025 exceeds passenger projections.
Norfolk, Va. – Norfolk celebrated a landmark year on Saturday as the Carnival Sunshine departed for another Bahamas cruise vacation. Each week since February 11, 2025, Nauticus has welcomed the 103,000-ton cruise ship and facilitated the embarkation and debarkation of approximately 7,000 weekly cruise passengers. In total, Nauticus welcomed 338,959 unique passenger visits in 2025, exceeding initial projections by nearly 40,000 cruise guests. In 2025, Nauticus facilitated 47 total ship calls from Carnival Cruise Line, and 15 additional port-of-call visits from other major lines. During that same period, nearly 100,000 crew members also visited Norfolk, further underscoring the scale and economic impact of cruise activity on the region.
“2025 exceeded expectations and firmly established Norfolk as a dynamic cruise destination,” said Stephen Kirkland, Nauticus executive director. “The goal now is to build on this success with strategic, prudent, growth.”
Earlier this fall, officials announced the Carnival Sunshine will be replaced by weekly sailings from the Carnival Freedom in 2027. That same year, the world’s third-largest cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line, plans for 20 port-of-call visits, introducing approximately 49,000 additional passengers to the Hampton Roads region.
With year-round cruising now firmly established, there is no offseason pause. The Carnival Sunshine will return for its 2026 sailings with an arrival on Sunday, January 4.
For more information about Cruise Norfolk and upcoming sailings, visit Visitnorfolk.com/cruisenorfolk/.
About Cruise Norfolk
The Half Moone Center is located on Nauticus’ campus along the downtown Norfolk waterfront. The 80,000 sq. ft. facility is home to Virginia’s only cruise ship program. Cruise Norfolk offers passengers a unique setting from which to begin and end their cruise as it shares its space with Nauticus’ Maritime Discovery Center, sailing center and the historic Battleship Wisconsin.
About Nauticus
Nauticus is a maritime discovery center located along the waterfront in downtown, Norfolk, VA, offering a unique form of experiential learning for all ages. Through interactive exhibits and STEM to STERN programming, Nauticus uses the museum, Battleship Wisconsin, sailing center, and Schooner Virginia to tell the story of the maritime environment, industry, and the military. The Nauticus Foundation is the nonprofit, 501©3 that supports the mission and activities of Nauticus. Nauticus’ mission is to benefit the community through education, impactful experiences, and sharing access to maritime resources. For more information, visit www.nauticus.org.
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Additional video can be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1a4qt3lfbj6i7vbxj4dug/AN8hWqT6Sl_I3BEhO-02xts?rlkey=h688ul6f2fwstbo2su4iint0m&st=zy3hlcqx&dl=0