City Cruises Norfolk kicks off its 2023 season with substitute vessel after Spirit fire
City Cruises kicked off its 2023 season Tuesday with a substitute vessel working in the place of the Spirit of Norfolk.
The Spirit of Mount Vernon sailed from Washington, D.C., last month and is moored at the Norfolk waterfront near Town Point Park.
As the company celebrates its 45th season in the city, general manager Jolene Price-Thompson said City Cruises Norfolk is excited to continue the strong tradition on the waterfront and bring people on board.
Price-Thompson said the vessel, which she referred to simply as The Spirit, will be here for the season, but beyond that wasn’t determined.
“Our goal is to get a Spirit of Norfolk — II, III or IV, whatever rendition it would be — back in this market for sure,” she said.
A fire destroyed the Spirit of Norfolk on June 7, 2022, during a cruise down the Elizabeth River. There were no injuries to the 108 people on board, including a group of elementary school students, but the ship, valued at $4 million, was deemed unsalvageable.
“Safety is our top priority,” Price-Thompson said. “We have always maintained all regulations and protocols that are required of us from the Coast Guard and the mariner world.”
Atop the sun deck, Price-Thompson spoke about the newly renovated ship brought into the market offering new menus, new craft cocktails and a variety of specialty cruises. Sharing the same likeness to its sister ship, the three-level dining vessel, featuring two interior decks and three exterior observation decks, has a capacity of 400 guests.
In the past 10 years, the cruise line has seen close to 4 million guests, including more than 400,000 students, and has hosted over 3,000 reunions, toasted over 2,500 weddings and celebrated more than 1,500 proms. The company also operates the smaller Freedom Elite yacht.
The company is expecting 90,000 visitors this season and is meeting its booking expectations, a spokesperson said.
“We’re letting everyone know that we’re back,” Price-Thompson said. “We’re cruising and we have a lot of wonderful things to share with folks.”
The approximately 2.5-hourslong cruises head north toward Naval Station Norfolk before turning around back down the Elizabeth River.
Events manager Matthew Thomson has worked for City Cruises for 13 years and said they are a tight-knit family.
Formerly a singing server on the Spirit of Norfolk, Thomson said the company kept everyone employed following the fire.
“We’re all just so happy to have the opportunity to continue cruising in Norfolk,” he said.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
