Norfolk (Virginia USA) has formally entered a new era of year-round cruising with the arrival of Carnival Sunshine.
The 3700-passenger vessel set sail on its inaugural weekly cruise from Norfolk Port's Half Moone Cruise Center, marking the start of continuous homeporting operations.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city officials, including Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander and Nauticus Executive Director Stephen Kirkland, it was announced that Norfolk is now a permanent homeport, with expectations to handle ~150,000 cruise passengers annually.
Officials indicated that this development represents a significant milestone for Cruise Norfolk and noted their appreciation for Carnival Cruise Line/CCL's decision to designate Norfolk as the vessel's homeport. The year-round itineraries visit popular destinations in The Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Eastern Caribbean. Beginning in September, the liner will also visit CCL's new private resort Celebration Key Bahamas.
Following an extensive refurbishment, the Carnival Sunshine ship now boasts an upgraded water park, a redesigned rope course, a refreshed mini golf course, a new jogging track, and synthetic flooring on all open decks. Additional improvements include updated cardio machines in the gym, motion-activated lighting in all guest cabins, and a modernized casino featuring a new host desk on the promenade deck. These enhancements, combined with routine dry dock maintenance, have notably elevated the vessel's overall condition and appeal.