Carnival Norfolk News

[bmarnett]

It looks like there is news coming out for Norfolk.  I wonder if they are going to expand the Half Moone Cruise Port there and make it year round since Carnival is getting kicked out of Charleston, SC at the end of 2024?

 

https://www.wavy.com/news/norfolk-to-announce-future-plans-with-carnival-cruise-line/

[mz-s]

I hope they have plans for attached parking somehow. That seems to be the biggest bottleneck for the port from folks I’ve heard that have sailed from there.

[shof515]

most likely the news is about the Magic sailing from Norfolk for during the summer months instead of just seasonally.

Between this, and the Bermuda cruise ship 2023 schedule this is  just more proof that:

Magic is being re positioned to Norfolk for the Summer months like what the Bermuda ship schedule says and that the Magic is no longer sailing out of NYC

 

 

 

[Jamman54]

54 minutes ago, shof515 said:

most likely the news is about the Magic sailing from Norfolk for during the summer months instead of just seasonally.

Between this, and the Bermuda cruise ship 2023 schedule this is  just more proof that:

Magic is being re positioned to Norfolk for the Summer months like what the Bermuda ship schedule says and that the Magic is no longer sailing out of NYC

 

 

 

Yep. Funny how they are waiting until Monday, coincidentally the same day that the Carnival Venezia itineraries are being announced. 

[tidecat]

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

Yep. Funny how they are waiting until Monday, coincidentally the same day that the Carnival Venezia itineraries are being announced. 

It looks those booked on Magic out of New York are getting changed to Venezia. I suspect the change of ship needs to happen on Carnival's end before the new Norfolk bookings can open.

[shof515]

37 minutes ago, tidecat said:

It looks those booked on Magic out of New York are getting changed to Venezia. I suspect the change of ship needs to happen on Carnival's end before the new Norfolk bookings can open.

i have 2 cruises booked for the magic out of NY in June and August and i am surprised those changes did not happen yet and so far the magic is still on carnival website as sailing out of NY. they should remove all of magic ny sailings from the website now

[Jamman54]

52 minutes ago, shof515 said:

i have 2 cruises booked for the magic out of NY in June and August and i am surprised those changes did not happen yet and so far the magic is still on carnival website as sailing out of NY. they should remove all of magic ny sailings from the website now

I expect those bookings to disappear tomorrow or Sunday. 

[CarnivalShips480]

Yes, I also think this is about Magic staying for the summer and Venezia doing Magic's New York cruises. We found this on the Bermuda port schedule.

 

I'm sure Norfolk is excited

[vwrestler171]

I think Magic will stay in NY, but Sunshine will move to Norfolk for the summers instead of just getting the Magic for a few cruises.

[tidecat]

47 minutes ago, vwrestler171 said:

I think Magic will stay in NY, but Sunshine will move to Norfolk for the summers instead of just getting the Magic for a few cruises.

Sunshine might move there in January 2025. Right now Sunshine is scheduled for Charleston through the end of 2024. I think if Magic were keeping her New York itineraries, Carnival wouldn't be scheduling Venezia to visit Bermuda on sailings that are currently being sold as Magic.

[shof515]

7 hours ago, vwrestler171 said:

I think Magic will stay in NY, but Sunshine will move to Norfolk for the summers instead of just getting the Magic for a few cruises.

the Bermuda 2023 cruise ship located here https://www.marineandports.bm/Documents/Shipping_schedules/2023 Cruise Ship Schedule.pdf says something different.it mostly shows the magic doing bermuda cruises in august our of norfolk instead of nyc

[cellfree]

21 hours ago, mz-s said:

I hope they have plans for attached parking somehow. That seems to be the biggest bottleneck for the port from folks I’ve heard that have sailed from there.

Cruised out of  Norfolk in October, it definitely is a bottleneck, after reading about the parking situation beforehand we decided to stay at a hotel that offered parking and Uber to cruise port, worked well, but even after being dropped at a roundabout right in front of terminal we had to join a long line outside in the drizzle, then we realized the line appeared to be as a result of people waiting for an elevator as stairs were blocked off by two workers directing people to elevator, asked if we could take stairs and were told “oh yes,” so that started a throng of us walking up the stairs - it was all a little crazy - and once up the stairs and inside there were still two more lines to navigate - wouldn’t choose Norfolk unless we lived really close. Reason in October for choosing it was to meet daughter and husband there who live in VA and visit Bermuda with them. 

Edited November 12, 2022 by cellfree

[Jamman54]

It's now official. 2023 Carnival Magic sailings from NYC have been transferred to the Carnival Venezia. I expect that the next announcement will be that the Magic will be sailing from Norfolk May through October. 😎

Edited November 14, 2022 by Jamman54

[Jamman54]

Actually no announcement is needed as bookings for the whole summer are already available! 😎

[VolzCruiser]

Looks like year round sails out of Norfolk starting 2025

 

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/norfolk-announcing-future-plans-with-carnival-cruise-line-monday/

[mz-s]

Good news for Norfolk!

[toad455]

I am so happy for Norfolk 

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION IN NORFOLK TO BRING HIGHEST GUEST VOLUME IN PORT’S HISTORY
 
Additional 2023 Carnival Sailings from Norfolk Are First Step in Discussions About Proposed Year-round Operation Starting in 2025
 
MIAMI, Nov. 14, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line today announced it will more than double the fun and the cruises it offers from Norfolk, Virginia, in 2023, and extend sailings to a consecutive six-month period from May through October. The announcement is a first step toward a proposed year-round cruise program from Norfolk starting in 2025, as Carnival and City of Norfolk leaders discuss necessary terminal and port improvements to support an expansion of operations.
With plans to welcome about 100,000 guests next year, Carnival’s increase in operations will bring the highest volume of cruise guests in the history of Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center. The new 2023 offerings go on sale today and will include four- to 10-day voyages aboard Carnival Magic. Available itineraries include Eastern Caribbean, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and Canada and New England. 
“We have been working closely with Norfolk city officials on this expansion since our successful restart earlier this year and it’s great to now share our plans with our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We look forward to building on our 20-year commitment to this community and continuing the momentum toward further expansion in the future, while increasing our positive economic impact in Norfolk.”
Carnival has been sailing from Norfolk since 2002 and Carnival Magic, which began sailing seasonally for the first time in May, became the largest ship to embark guests from the port, following enhancements to Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center. Carnival Magic accommodates up to 4,724 guests and offers bow-to-stern fun including a wide variety of stateroom accommodations, a multitude of dining options, Carnival’s signature entertainment, the Cloud 9 spa, water slides and the Serenity, adult-only retreat.
"For twenty years, Norfolk has valued its partnership with Carnival Cruise Line. Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for our cruise program and our community,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander. "For a full six months next year, guests from across the Mid-Atlantic will have the chance to board a Carnival ship from Norfolk and beginning in 2025, our collective goal is for Carnival to set sail from Nauticus year-round”
Carnival’s plan to deploy Carnival Magic for a longer stay in Norfolk is part of a larger expansion of the cruise line’s mid-Atlantic guest operations. In June of 2023, Carnival will begin offering year-round service from New York when the 5,260-passenger Costa Venezia joins the fleet as Carnival Venezia. This will allow Carnival Magic which has been splitting its spring/summer season between New York and Norfolk, to remain in Norfolk for half the year.

[mz-s]

I would love to cruise from Norfolk, it's actually closer to me than Charleston and the Magic is an obvious upgrade from the Sunshine. But so far Norfolk cruises have been too expensive and I don't really look forward to parking my car in the projects while I am on the cruise. I love how in Charleston the cars are on port property so you know they are secure.

 

I look forward to the improvements that Norfolk is making to support this expansion in operations.

[CarnivalShips480]

This has to be Magic from Norfolk year round.

 

I'm interested to see what happens with this.

Edited November 14, 2022 by CarnivalShips480

[StephPS79]

I live about 15 minutes from the port, cruised out in June.  It was wonderful to not have to pay for airfare or a hotel (although budget aside, it feels more like vacation when you fly somewhere new!).  We Ubered, so didn't really have to deal with the parking fiasco, and not sure I would willingly deal with that nightmare.  No problem with the port itself though, pretty smooth embarking/debarking.  Didn't really care for the Magic, I don't mind a ship with loud decor, but I found the Magic's decor to be downright unpleasant.  Overall, even being so close to the port, I'm not yet decided if I'd pass on a ship I actually like and go out of Norfolk again.  Maybe on a casino comp room, but probably wouldn't pay a priced fare.  

[Bostwick girl]

I read the announcement this evening about Norfolk so thought I’d check out the sailings. There was an 8 day to New England and Canada for mid October 2023 that looked great! Checked it out, everything was already sold out except interior to be assigned for 2700+! I assume either it was posted before today to book or it sold out really fast!

 

[shof515]

Just now, Bostwick girl said:

I read the announcement this evening about Norfolk so thought I’d check out the sailings. There was an 8 day to New England and Canada for mid October 2023 that looked great! Checked it out, everything was already sold out except interior to be assigned for 2700+! I assume either it was posted before today to book or it sold out really fast!

 

check back in a few days. the booking engine might be a wonky since the booking just opened up. i noticed the same thing for the venezia sailings too

[CarnivalShips480]

10 hours ago, Bostwick girl said:

I read the announcement this evening about Norfolk so thought I’d check out the sailings. There was an 8 day to New England and Canada for mid October 2023 that looked great! Checked it out, everything was already sold out except interior to be assigned for 2700+! I assume either it was posted before today to book or it sold out really fast!

 

That cruise was already up before today along with the Norfolk cruises for May, early June, late September, and October