Skip navigation

Nauticus Welcomes Luxury Cruise Ship to Downtown Norfolk with Local Market Experience

March 25, 2026

NORFOLK, VA (March 25, 2026) – Nauticus is pleased to welcome its first port-of-call cruise ship of the 2026 spring season with the arrival of the MS Allura to downtown Norfolk.  The 67,000-ton luxury vessel is part of the Oceania Cruises fleet and will be docked at Nauticus’ Half Moone cruise terminal for a two-day stopover on March 25–26, 2026.  The MS Allura is a new vessel for Oceania, launching in July 2025.  More than 1,000 passengers will explore the region through curated shore excursions while also enjoying Norfolk’s vibrant waterfront, walkable downtown, and local attractions.  The MS Allura accommodates 800 crew members. 

Just steps from the cruise terminal, Nauticuswill host a specialCruise Market Day, offering guests an authentic taste of the city. The first-of-its-kind market will feature a dozen local vendors, live music, regional goods, artisan products, and local flavor—creating a welcoming and memorable experience right on the waterfront.

This activation highlights Norfolk’s growing role as a dynamic cruise destination, connecting visitors directly with the local community and small businesses while enhancing the overall port-of-call experience.

EVENT DETAILS:
What: Allura Cruise Ship Stopover & Cruise Market Day
When: March 25–26, 2026
Where: Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center & Nauticus Waterfront Campus
Who: Cruise Norfolk, Nauticus, local vendors, and visiting Allura passengers

For more information about Cruise Norfolk, 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.

###

340,000 Unique Cruise Passenger Visits; Record-Breaking Year for Norfolk

March 25, 2026

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.

###

Additional video can be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1a4qt3lfbj6i7vbxj4dug/AN8hWqT6Sl_I3BEhO-02xts?rlkey=h688ul6f2fwstbo2su4iint0m&st=zy3hlcqx&dl=0

Norwegian Cruise Line Expands Norfolk Port Calls, Strengthening Regional Tourism and Economy

March 25, 2026

Norfolk, VA – Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center, operated by Nauticus, announced an expanded slate of cruise ship port calls from the world’s fourth-largest cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).  In 2027, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Pearl is scheduled to call on Norfolk each week from April to August.  These newly-added visits – 20 in total – represent one of the largest port-of-call commitments in Norfolk’s history and will introduce approximately 49,000 additional cruise ship passengers to the Hampton Roads region.  Unlike Carnival Cruise Line’s year-round calls in which passengers set sail for the Bahamas or Bermuda, NCL’s 2027 port-of-call activity positions Norfolk as an itinerary stop.  While in town passengers can opt to take guided excursions or explore the region on their own.  

“We’ll have the opportunity to welcome nearly 2,500 additional passengers and a thousand crew members every single Tuesday for five months,” said Nauticus executive director, Stephen E. Kirkland.  “That activity, coupled with our Carnival sailings each weekend, represents a broadening economic impact for this entire region.”

In February, the Carnival Sunshine began sailing weekly from Norfolk’s cruise terminal; Nauticus has welcomed more than 180,000 unique passenger visits so far this year.  Other cruise lines scheduled to visit in 2025 and 2026 include Holland America, Princess, TUI Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Azamara, Seabourn, and Viking. 

About Cruise Norfolk

The Half Moone Center is located at Nauticus 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.