Carnival, Norwegian cruise lines to boost Norfolk calls

Norfolk will soon see a major boost in cruising activity, with Carnival Cruise Line‘s popular ship Carnival Freedom homeporting there in 2027 and Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Norwegian Pearl making 20 calls that same year.

Carnival Cruise announced the news on Wednesday while unveiling its 2027/2028 lineup. The 100,000-ton Carnival Freedom will reposition from Port Canaveral to Norfolk in May 2027, establishing a new homeport. Carnival Freedom, a newer ship, will replace Carnival Sunshine for service in Norfolk. The Carnival Sunshine has been operating weekly, year-round sailings from Norfolk since February.

Cruise Norfolk, operated by Nauticus, said Carnival Freedom is “launching the most diverse and expansive cruise program ever offered from Norfolk.” Carnival Freedom will arrive in Norfolk on May 23, 2027. From there, its itineraries will include cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Eastern Caribbean and Canada.

Carnival Freedom is a Conquest-class ship that offers a wide variety of dining venues, a WaterWorks waterpark and the RedFrog Pub. The boat can accommodate more than 3,000 guests.

Norfolk officials believe that the Carnival Freedom will bring renewed passenger enthusiasm and boost the region’s economy through increased tourism spending at hotels, restaurants, attractions and local businesses.

“Carnival’s commitment to Norfolk brings more travel options for our passengers, draws visitors from across the East Coast, and strengthens our position as a key player in the cruise market,” Nauticus Executive Director Stephen E. Kirkland said in a news release. “This homeport expansion is a win for our city, our guests, and our economy.”

In other news, Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center, operated by Nauticus, also announced an expanded slate of cruise ship port calls from the world’s fourth-largest cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line. In 2027, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Pearl is scheduled to call on Norfolk each week from April to August, 20 visits in total. Nauticus says these visits will introduce approximately 49,000 additional cruise ship passengers to the Hampton Roads region.

Cruise Norfolk manages the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in downtown Norfolk, welcoming more than 300,000 cruise passengers annually.