Been on 2 cruises out of Norfolk and they have been wonderful. Especially not having to take a fligh

Carnival cited a factor outside Norfolk's control - a new rule that will force it to burn lower-sulfur fuel - as a major reason for the change. It said it will move its Baltimore-based ship out of that city, Norfolk's main competitor. Carnival has no scheduled cruises out of Boston after this year as well.
The facility's struggle to retain cruise lines led some City Council members to suggest that Norfolk take a new tack with its Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, which the city opened with great fanfare in 2007.
Councilman Andy Protogyrou said it's time for the city to shift its focus away from the cruise industry and adopt a new business model. Councilman Tommy Smigiel said the build-it-and-they-will-come strategy hasn't over 65 travel insurance quote worked.
We have a great partnership with the Port of Norfolk, over 65 travel insurance quote the statement continued. Guests sailing from Norfolk really enjoy the convenience and affordability of having a high quality cruise vacation option available within driving distance. over 65 travel insurance quote For all of these reasons, we will evaluate all viable options to return to Norfolk in the future.
over 65 travel insurance quote Norfolk resident Bob Greene, who has traveled with his wife on five cruises from Norfolk, said he found it extremely over 65 travel insurance quote convenient going out of Half Moone. Why would a cruise line not want Norfolk? he added, citing the port's over 65 travel insurance quote deep channels and the short trip to the ocean.
Carnival provided only scant details behind its decision to leave Norfolk, it but emphasized new environmental requirements beginning in 2015 related to the sulfur content in fuel used by cruise ships.
Carnival submitted a plan to U.S. regulators to comply with the rules but hasn't yet received over 65 travel insurance quote approval. The Baltimore Sun reported that Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley was so concerned about Carnival deciding to drop Baltimore because of the tougher standards that he contacted the Environmental Protection Agency's over 65 travel insurance quote acting administrator, Bob Perciasepe, to urge approval of the company's plan.
Even without the environmental issue, however, Norfolk has had only a toehold at best in the cruise business in recent years. over 65 travel insurance quote That's caused some Norfolk elected officials to second-guess the city's original $32.4 million investment in the facility. (An additional $5 million was provided by the Virginia Port Authority.)
Over the life of the terminal, the city has spent $9.2 million to run Half Moone and to cover the annual debt service. During that time, the facility generated $7.7 million in revenue, coming up about $1.5 million short of covering all the bills, according to information from the city.
Protogyrou referred to the facility as a non-performing asset when the council voted on the budget in May. He said he believed it was time for the city to re-examine the facility's future. over 65 travel insurance quote Can we sell it? Can it be converted to partial office space to generate income? he said at the time.
MacArthur over 65 travel insurance quote Center routinely sees increases in customer traffic related to cruise stops, though the downtown Norfolk mall has no specific sales data to reflect that, said Jim Wofford, the general manager.
Cruise ships tend to dock early in the morning and often midweek, usually quiet times of day, Wofford said. Lines of cruise passengers will form near the coffee shop outside Nordstrom as shoppers wait for the department store to open, he said.
COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon over 65 travel insurance quote rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, over 65 travel insurance quote click the report violation link below it.
I'd call Carnival's "open door" a securely locked glass one that just looks open. There's no assurance that Carnival won't shrink due to losses and lawsuits from the string of disasters it's had. It's time to start planning a new use for Half Moon that will generate steady income. I don't know the layout or size of the place so I can't suggest options, but a restaurant, expansion of the Nauticus/Wisconsin program, educational uses come to mind. This was a gamble that didn't work out as expected. Time to move on.
Looked at renting it for the Norfolk Mini Maker Faire event. It was booked the weekend we had targeted, over 65 travel insurance quote so we ended up using the Scope. Originally it seemed like an odd idea but really the facility would have worked great for it. It has a nice inside area upstairs, plenty of outside area, and then the first floor which is a bit more "rough" (concrete floors and the like, similar to most convention halls.) Not a bad venue at all for events, just not sure what the quote would have looked like. Can't really rely on hotel room commits and such for booking it. Another plus is it's not locked into ticket master contracts.
So sad. Try as we might, Hampton Roads never seems to catch a break. The ships were full, the customers had a good experience, the captains liked the port and the celebration over 65 travel insurance quote center is top notch. Dont know what else the area could have done to make it work for them.
I heard the editor of "Forbes Magazine" describe over 65 travel insurance quote the current over 65 travel insurance quote administration as having "one foot on the throat of capitalism" and I think that this might be an example of that. We need an EPA, but one that understands the reach of its actions. Carnival has been beset by trouble, and as anyone business should, is finding ways to cut costs. They can't predict the next hurricane but they can calculate rising fuel costs. Regulation that adds to fuel cost with have repercussions, like Carnival seeking to dump Norfolk as a port. But the port needs to redouble its efforts to recruit new business. Carnival is not the only cruise line.
I heard the editor of "Forbes Magazine" describe the current administration as having "one foot on the throat of capitalism" and I think that this might be an example of that. We need an EPA, but one that understands the reach of its actions. Carnival has been beset by trouble, and as anyone over 65 travel insurance quote business should, over 65 travel insurance quote is finding ways to cut costs. They can't predict the next hurricane but they can calculate rising over 65 travel insurance quote fuel costs. Regulation that adds to fuel cost with have repercussions, like Carnival seeking to dump Norfolk as a port. But the port needs to redouble its efforts to recruit new business. Carnival is not the only cruise line.
Been on 2 cruises out of Norfolk and they have been wonderful. Especially not having to take a flight over 65 travel insurance quote to Tampa or Miami. According to the people from Carnival that I spoke with, the problem is the excessive port fees that Norfolk charges.I was told they are the highest over 65 travel insurance quote on the East Coast. Therein lies the problem. Lower the port fees and maybe we get more cruise lines coming into Norfolk. Really a shame to lose this opportunity.
Reading these comments only strengthens my belief that Norfolk's high port fees ran off the cruise lines; along with the obvious poor planning, lack of contracts and overall bad judgement. Councilman Andy ProtoGYRO over 65 travel insurance quote says it's time to move on as if " oh well, another over 65 travel insurance quote one didn't make it" . With this irresponsible way of doing business there is little doubt as to why everything city council promotes is a failure. Norfolk has the best natural port on the east coast by far but the worst group to promote it. This place wasn't built to be used for weddings or galas, it is a wonderful and convenient cruise over 65 travel insurance quote terminal and with proper management would thrive as such. Lets hope city council goes before the terminal is torn down ( by the taxpayers).
It is unlikely you will travel here for a cruise. It is hard for you to come by car due to traffic concerns. In general unless you need to come here you don't come here. We are geographically out of the way road wise and otherwise on the east coast. over 65 travel insurance quote No matter how efficient the city claims their cruise parking to be for those who embark from Norfolk it is really not. It is great to have the cruise business and I am sorry to see it go. Norfolk gambled and lost. It was great to use Norfolk tax payer's dollars to bottle city water and sell it to the cruise ship travelers with the Norfolk label saying that it was one of the best city water supplies in the country. That was novel. It is decent city water. Nice while it all lasted.
I was walking to work one morning and some British couple stopped me and said they were looking for this (insert hyped up description of a market with fruits and vegetables and everything. It took me a second to figure out what they were talking about. I was like, "Oh, yea the Farm Fresh Marketplace grocery store is 2 blocks over 65 travel insurance quote that way." Heh.
The City of Norfolk can add the cruise teriminal, that was built with millions and millions of tax dollars from its citizens, to the list of White Elephants that the city leaders have pushed on this populist. Why not just go to Las Vegas and gambel the money away next time. Thanks again Mayor Fraim and all your cronies for squandering the taxpayers money. Any of you ready for another "crap shoot"?
over 65 travel insurance quote its funny, people cry over why local governments do not have enough money to fund schools, but they never ask what has changed. Virtually nothing, other than the fact that tax money is reallocated for other uses and things go up. Inflation in a word. In order to offset that, you have to generate revenue. Rocking back on your heels and praying to your God won't save you or Norfolk. When was the last time anyone was satisfied with their pay being cut by taxes. Well, repub or demo, either way you are going to pay the piper unless over 65 travel insurance quote you find a way to offset it.
We had three casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Crime was NOT an issue. Gambling addicts, yes, but crime no. It all depends on how the area is patrolled and enforced. And I know it drove Nebraska over 65 travel insurance quote insane to lose all of that tax money, over 65 travel insurance quote just across the river, to Iowa.
Joy also bring in c