Norfolk’s crescent-shaped marina, initially used as a fort to protect the growing maritime industry during the mid-1700s, is now the site of the city’s newest attraction. The Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, a $36 million cruise facility will open April 7 and welcome its first passenger ship April 28.

With sailings from Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, the Half Moone, built by the City of Norfolk, will aid vacationers, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region, in traveling to exotic locations such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada, without having to fly or drive to an inconvenient ship terminal location.

While catering to those within a reasonable driving distance, Norfolk’s Half Moone will also provide an estimated 60 percent of passengers, who come from as far away as Florida and Texas, with an embarking location for their cruise destination. Others are expected to come from cities in nearby mid-Atlantic states, such as Richmond, Va., located 90 miles from Norfolk; Washington D.C., which is less than 200 miles away; or Baltimore, Md. and Philadelphia, Pa., both located about 250 miles away. As a result of this growth, Norfolk has equipped the Half Moone with passenger-friendly amenities and designs to make travelers feel at ease and stress-free, including state-of-the-art embarkation (check-in) stations and a separate VIP check-in area.

The Half Moone will also serve as a premier venue for special events offering interior event space, including a Half Moone Vista, which will display facts about the original fort and a Bermuda Room displaying artifacts and objects that tell the story of the historic connection between Virginia and Bermuda. Outside, the Half Moone will feature a Promenade Deck overlooking the Elizabeth River and a Lido Deck with panoramic views of downtown Norfolk.

The Half Moone is also expected to increase the drive-to cruise appeal of residents in the Midwest, where this kind of accessibility and convenience has not been available to cruise-seeking vacationers before. With an easy-access port from which to disembark, Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center is designed to eliminate the stress of ‘in-between’ travel, which includes flying or driving long distances in order to access an available harbor.

The following is an itinerary of sailings, slated to disembark from Norfolk’s new terminal in 2007:

• April 28 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• May 5, 12, 19 and 26 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• June 2 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• June 9 – Carnival Cruise Lines: Bahamas



• June 10 – Carnival Cruise Lines: ‘Cruise-to-Nowhere’



• June 16 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• June 30 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• July 7 and 14 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• July 21 – Royal Caribbean International: Bermuda



• October 7 – Carnival Cruise Lines: Bahamas



• October 13 – Carnival Cruise Lines: ‘Cruise-to-Nowhere’



• October 22 – Fed Olson Cruise Line



• October 25 – Seabourn Cruise Line



• October 28 – Princess Cruise Lines