Carnival opens 2025 bookings for Norfolk, heading toward year-round first

This first phase will offer sailings on Carnival Sunshine from Feb 18 through April 2025, with plans to open further itineraries in the coming months.

'As we work closely with city and port officials on our plans to increase from seasonal to year-round operations, we’re delighted to open these sailings for sale, so guests from all over the southeastern US can start doing some planning of their own for 2025,' Carnival President Christine Duffy said.

The line has been sailing from Norfolk since 2002, 'and we’re pleased to expand our offerings from this historic, charming community while strengthening our support of the local economy,' Duffy said.

Six-/eight-day rotation

Carnival Sunshine will rotate six- and eight-day cruises to destinations in the Bahamas and eastern Caribbean, such as Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay, Bimini, Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Princess Cays.

Bahamas sailings available to book now include six-day cruises to Bimini, Nassau and Freeport or Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Freeport.

Eastern Caribbean sailings include eight-day cruises to Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Amber Cove.

Carnival Sunshine is expected to carry approximately 100,000 passengers from Norfolk in 2025.

Half Moone Cruise Terminal improvements

Year-round sailing is the next step, as Carnival and Norfolk leaders continue to discuss necessary port and Half Moone Cruise Terminal improvements to support a further expansion of operations. Last month, Carnival announced plans to offer a six-month series of four- to 10-day voyages aboard Carnival Magic in 2023.