Membership FAQ

Please visit our membership page for details on our available membership levels, their pricing and the benefits for each one.

You can purchase your membership online or with the Membership Department at membership@nauticus.org or 757-664-1005.

Memberships are active immediately upon purchase.

General admission purchased on the same day may be applied to your membership purchase. Please visit the front desk during your visit or contact Membership@nauticus.org.

Our membership program brings you flexibility as to who you bring to Nauticus. On each visit, you can invite any family member, friend or caregiver – they no longer need to reside in your household.

To get started, choose the headcount level that best suits your needs (see our membership page for a complete list of levels offered). Please note, your chosen level will include anyone ages 3+; one named cardholder (16+) must be present for each visit; and the daily cap on general admission is determined by the number of people covered by your chosen membership level.

Once your application has been received, please allow one week for your digital membership card to arrive by email. The digital card can be uploaded into your Apple or Android Wallet and scanned onsite at the admission desk / kiosk for quick entry into Nauticus.

Yes! Prior to your visit, please call the Membership Office at (757) 664-1005 to verify your membership status. The admission desk can provide you a temporary card to use until you receive your digital membership card by email. If you join online, you will be emailed a confirmation that you may print out and use right away.

If there is an error on your card or you cannot locate your card/email please contact the Membership Office at (757) 664-1005 or membership@nauticus.org.

A 10% discount on membership is available to seniors (60+), active and retired military, and dependent military, who present appropriate ID. (Valid beginning July 1, 2023) To receive this discount, you must purchase the membership in person at the admissions counter or contact the Membership Office at (757) 664-1005, membership@nauticus.org.

You can create your membership account here. It’s important that you use the same email address used to create your membership, to ensure your membership is linked to your account. Any time you’re purchasing tickets/registering online, make sure you’re first signed into this account (before adding tickets to your cart) for your member discounts to apply. 

Please contact the Membership Department at membership@nauticus.org or (757) 664-1005 to update any of your personal information, including a name change to a cardholder. Name changes to any cardholder will incur a $5 processing fee (limit one name change allowed per cardholder per year).

No, you can name additional persons (ages 16+) as cardholders in instances where there are family members or caregivers that might like to visit without the primary cardholder present. Keep in mind, at least one named cardholder must be present for very visit.

Please contact the Membership Department at membership@nauticus.org or (757) 664-1005 to update a name change to a cardholder. Name changes to any cardholder will incur a $5 processing fee (limit one name change allowed per cardholder per year).

If your current membership level does not admit the number of people in your party, you may add one additional person onto any membership level for just $30, or purchase discounted admission tickets for your guest(s) when you arrive. 

To accommodate a larger group size than your current membership allows, we suggest upgrading to the next level that fits your needs. You may upgrade your current membership at any time, however, your expiration date will remain the same. Alternatively, you can renew early at an upgraded level to receive an upgrade for the remainder of your current membership term, plus your new year of membership. To upgrade your membership or renew early at a higher level, contact the Membership Office at (757) 664-1005.

Yes! Any of our memberships are available to be on auto-renewal. When checking out with your membership, check the box to sign up for auto-renewal. 

Yes! Members receive 10% of dining in the onsite café and shopping in the gift shop. Simply present your digital membership card to check out to receive at 10% off your purchases.

Parking Discount – Available For NAUTICUS 6 and Above Only:

We provide a parking voucher for a discount of $2.00 for Nauticus 6 members and above. The parking voucher is valid in any downtown Norfolk garage except the following: MacArthur North/South, Scope Garage and York Street Garage. The discount is limited to one vehicle within the members party and can only be redeemed once a day, the same day as their visit. On select event days/special rate days in the garages, the parking discount may not apply. 

To get your parking voucher, please visit the admissions desk. Questions? Please contact the Membership Office at (757) 664-1005 or membership@nauticus.org.

Yes! Members receive discounts on guest tickets, workshops, Sail Nauticus memberships/programs, summer camps and select events including WinterFest on the Wisconsin, Nauticus After Dark and more. The number of discounted tickets will match the level of your membership. For example, if you have the NAUTICUS 6 membership, you will have access to 6 discounted tickets per experience, per visit. 

Members must login to their account with Nauticus to book these tickets or purchase onsite at the front desk. See next FAQ for details on creating an account. 

Yes, as a Nauticus member you are entitled to reciprocal admission to other museums participating in the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Passport Program. View the ASTC Travel Passport Program guide here. 

PLEASE NOTE: We recommend reviewing the two exclusions on the first page, in addition to calling reciprocal institutions prior to visiting to find out their admissions policy; every institution can be different. Be prepared to show your digital membership card and valid ID when you arrive.

As a Nauticus member, you will receive member-exclusive email updates about upcoming programs, member-only events, and all Nauticus happenings. If you are not receiving member-only emails, please contact us with your correct email address at (757) 664-1005 or membership@nauticus.org.

Also, for upcoming events, please view our Events Calendar. For general museum updates,  sign up for the museum’s e-newsletter and connect with us on Facebook and  Instagram.

In order to create a more sustainable, straightforward and flexible membership program structure, we have re-aligned our membership levels and visitation allowances more closely to our ticket prices. Due to the more flexible nature of our membership levels to include any size party from 2 to 10 people, we have discontinued the distribution of one-time guest passes. We continue to offer discounted admission tickets for the guests of all our members.  Please reach out to our Membership Office at (757) 664-1005 with any questions, as we are happy to help you navigate our membership levels and make the best choice for you!

All existing guest passes will be honored until the expiration date of your membership. 

Nauticus offers various membership levels to accommodate groups of any size between two and 10 people. All Nauticus membership levels are named based on their admission allowances for anyone aged three and up (NAUTICUS 2, NAUTICUS 4, etc.), including family, friends, caregivers, and more. To accommodate a larger group size than your current membership allows, we suggest upgrading to the next level that fits your needs. You may upgrade your current membership at any time, however, your expiration date will remain the same. 

Alternatively, you can renew early at an upgraded level to receive an upgrade for the remainder of your current membership term, plus your new year of membership. To upgrade your membership or renew early at a higher level, contact the Membership Office at (757) 664-1005.

Memberships are nontransferable and nonrefundable. All annual and other memberships are revocable licenses. Nauticus reserves the right to refuse or revoke membership and/or deny admission without refund for noncompliance with applicable rules and terms or for inappropriate conduct at any time.

Memberships are tax deductible to the full extent of the law, please save your purchase receipt for your records. Please consult your tax attorney for specific guidelines.

Your support helps us to benefit our community through education, impactful experiences and by sharing access to maritime resources. For higher level gift giving or donation opportunities, please contact the Development Department at (757) 664-1046.

Of course! Any level of membership is available as a gift and may be purchased online, at the admission desk or by phone (757-664-1005). Please be sure to clearly indicate the recipient and the gift-giver. You may include a personalized message with the gift membership, as well as any special instructions for the Membership Office.