What's Happening with Norfolk VA cruises in 2024?

[OBX Cruiser]

Have looked multiple times on Carnival.com and numerous other sites for cruises out of Norfolk Virginia on 2024. Website does not show any while supposedly there are supposed to be six months worth. What gives?

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@OBX Cruiser I just responded to you in another thread, but Carnival Cruise Line's website seems to be up and running with Norfolk, Virginia itineraries available for booking. Both Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunshine will be cruising out of Norfolk, Virginia. Please check again and let me know if you are having any other issues. 

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-expanding-cruises-from-norfolk-virginia/90583

[OBX Cruiser]

Thank you for your reply and link. Unfortunately,  I am on the Carnival site now, those sailings shown are for July to Oct 2023 (Magic) and Feb to April 2025 (Sunshine). No sailings are shown for 2024. 

[SpaceCowboy9]

Yes, I'm not seeing any Norfolk cruises for 2024 either - weird.  I'm three hours from Norfolk and four from Charleston - so I'm still taking the cruises from Charleston

[Cruising Caribbean]

@OBX Cruiser That's so odd! Why do you think the cruise line doesn't have the Norfolk options available for booking right now? I found info online that states CCL will be pausing the sailings out of  Norfolk in 2024 to allow for terminal enhancements at Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center. This could be why the line doesn't have any booking options out of Norfolk for next year. 

@SpaceCowboy9 That's another great option! You are pretty much in the middle of both Cherleton and Norfolk. As someone who has access to both, which port of call do you prefer and why?

[Emrys]

So apparently, Carnival Cruise Line never planned on offering cruises out of Norfolk in 2024. The cruise facility there will be undergoing a major upgrade. Carnival already will return in 2025.

[SpaceCowboy9]

@Cruising Caribbean I have not sailed out of Norfolk - but I do like sailing out of Charleston - while it lasts

[Cruising Caribbean]

@SpaceCowboy9 It is such a bummer that Carnival Cruise Line will no longer be homeporting in Charleston! Do you plan to stop cruising out of Norfolk instead? Based on your original post, it sounds like you were considering Norfolk as an option until we confirmed that CCL will not be offering cruises out of Norfolk in 2024 either! What a shame. 

Do you have any other backup options? You could always drive down south to Port Canaveral! It would be a full day's drive, but there are lots of CCL options out of there. From where you are located, it will probably take about 7 hours or so of driving, but it could be done in a day! Jacksonville would be another great option and much closer than Port Canaveral to you!

[SpaceCowboy9]

@Cruising Caribbean for a home port, we will start cruising out of Norfolk.  We have driven to both Jacksonville and Baltimore.

The back-up is flying somewhere. Charleston (and I assume Norfolk) did not have may itinerary options, if we want something different, we'll fly.

Love flying to San Juan and taking a cruise from there.

[3Sisters]

@SpaceCowboy9 I have heard such amazing things about cruising out of San Juan. I would really like to try a cruise out of there and spend some extra time at one of the awesome resorts nearby. The tickets from the States are very reasonable too! Jacksonville has a bit more variety in terms of itineraries. It's always nice to switch up the ship too. I don't mind the same stops but I definitely like exploring the ships. I'm usually one to cruise for the ship, not so much for the stops, but I'm sure that will change once my kids get older.