February 2004

Homeland Cruising

This old Navy town is now becoming known as a cruise ship port

by Mary Burnham

Until this year (2003), cruising to Bermuda involved flying or driving to New York City, finding the terminal and spending a small fortune to park. That’s how we boarded the Celebrity Horizon several years ago, but starting in summer 2004 the same ship is scheduled to make Bermuda sailings right out of downtown Norfolk from Nauticus.

It’s one of four major cruise lines making Norfolk a regular stop in 2004, up from two this year. The spectacularly luxurious Radisson Seven Seas Navigator will be back in Norfolk for a repeat performance of its Bermuda cruises. New for 2004, the Holland America Maasdam makes its inaugural Norfolk departure in January with 10- and 11-night cruises to the Caribbean.

For the first time, the home of the world’s largest naval installation will have year-round cruise service.

“Any month of the year you will be able to get on a ship out of Norfolk,” says Stephen Kirkland, cruise manager for Nauticus.

For the rest of this story, you can order the February 2004 issue of Hampton Roads Magazine.