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Naval Station Norfolk

Norfolk, Virginia, is the proud home of the largest naval base in the world. No matter what your reason is for visiting Norfolk, you shouldn't miss the opportunity to tour Naval Station Norfolk .

Naval Station Norfolk's mission is to support and improve the personnel and logistics readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The Norfolk naval base provides seaport, airport, and squadron facilities, quality of life, and personnel management services.

Don't miss the tours of the Naval Base . The 45-minute tour departs from the Naval Tour and Information Center located at 9079 Hampton Blvd, next to Gate 5. Bus tours conducted by Navy personnel ride past aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious assault ships and the busy airfield. The tour also drives by historic homes from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition. There is a charge for the tour. A picture ID is required for all adults.

Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest Naval Station, occupies about 4,300 acres on a peninsula known as Sewells Point. Port facilities extend more than four miles along the waterfront and include some seven miles of pier and wharf space.

75 ships and 134 aircraft are home-ported here, and when they are not at sea they're along side one of the 13 piers or inside one of the 11 aircraft hangars for repair, refit, training and to provide the ship's or squadron's crew an opportunity to be with their families. Naval Station Norfolk is homeport to aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, large amphibious ships, submarines, supply ships, airplanes and helicopters.

Air Operations conducts over 100,000 flight operations each year, an average of 275 flights per day or one every six minutes. Over 150,000 passengers and 264,000 tons of mail and cargo depart annually on Air Mobility Command aircraft and other chartered flights from the NSN airfield. It is the hub for Navy logistics going to the European and Central Command theaters of operations, and to the Caribbean.

The land on which Naval Station is located was originally the site of the 1907 Jamestown Exposition , a mammoth 300th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607. 21 states constructed buildings that celebrated their history and industry. Pennsylvania House, a 2/3rds replica of Independence Hall, is one of several state houses that are still standing at the Naval Station.

During the Jamestown Exposition, high-ranking naval officers agreed that this site was ideal for naval activity. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, the Secretary of the Navy was persuaded to buy the property.

Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise

The Victory Rover makes 2-hour narrated cruises past Naval Station Norfolk. It departs from Nauticus on the downtown waterfront. Enjoy a fascinating and entertaining commentary along the way aboard this Navy-themed vessel. See aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, guided missile cruisers and all of the other ships that form the world's most powerful fleet. On board, guests will enjoy plenty of comfortable seating, clean restrooms, air-conditioned enclosed deck, open-air upper deck, snack bar and souvenir shop.

Reservations are available. Bring a camera and binoculars.

Hampton Roads Naval Museum at Nauticus & the Battleship Wisconsin

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum presents 225 years of naval history in the Hampton Roads region. The museum is also responsible for the historic interpretation and day-to-day operations of the Battleship Wisconsin.

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the entrance to the Battleship Wisconsin are located on the second floor of Nauticus : The National Maritime Center in downtown Norfolk (at One Waterside Drive). There is no on-site parking, but there are several city operated parking garages within walking distance.

Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises

Experience the most popular way to see the world’s largest naval base and the Port of Virginia. Two-hour cruises depart daily from Nauticus, home of the Battleship Wisconsin, in Downtown Norfolk. Cruise past the vessels that ensure our freedom—destroyers, cruisers, submarines, aircraft carriers and more. A fascinating fact and fun-filled narration is provided.  Snack Bar and restrooms on board.  #1 tour in Norfolk on TripAdvisor.

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Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

SAILING SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH AT 6:30PM-WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON BOARD!

American Rover Sailing Cruises Norfolk, Virginia

Come aboard and explore Hampton Roads Harbor and the Port of Virginia on board the American Rover Sailing Ship. Our red-sailed schooner features ample comfortable seating on our shaded top deck and climate-controlled below-deck lounges with restrooms and a ship’s store and bar. Beer, wine, and mixed drinks are available for sale — no BYOB. Cruises depart from Waterside Marina on Norfolk’s Downtown Waterfront.

Our Cruises

• Clock Varies
• Hour Glass 2 hours

Two-Hour Sunset Cruise

Set sail on this fun and romantic evening cruise! The Sunset Cruise is the perfect way for adults, couples, groups of friends, and colleagues on a company outing to spend an evening.

Two-Hour Norfolk Harbor Cruise

See the sights on this daytime cruise, our most popular for children and families! You can lend a hand setting the sails, take a turn at the helm, or simply sit back and enjoy the cruise as the captain points out the highlights of the harbor!

• Calendar May 12
• Clock 3 p.m.

Mother’s Day Afternoon Sail

Join us for a 2 Hour Cruise aboard the elegant Sailing Ship American Rover. Our top deck provides ample comfortable seating with plenty of shade. Relax with Mom and be entertained by our ship’s musician.

• Calendar June 7
• Hour Glass 3.25 Hours

Harborfest Parade of Sail

Join us aboard the American Rover for the Harborfest Parade of Sail! In the parade will be work boats, Navy and Coast Guard vessels, tug boats and visiting sailing ships. Coffee, Juice and Water Included

• Hour Glass 2.5 hours

Harborfest Fireworks

Beat the crowds and Experience the Harborfest Fireworks from the best Vantage Point of all! After a quick tour of the Inner Harbor we will position the ship to give you an incredible view of the region’s best fireworks show!

• Calendar June 16

Father’s Day Afternoon Sail

Join us for Father’s day on a two-hour cruise aboard the American Rover in Downtown Norfolk! Sail the smooth waters of the Elizabeth River and Hampton Roads Harbor while enjoying music from our ship’s musician with dad.  Includes a Charcuterie Snack box for all and a Complimentary Beer for dads.

• Calendar July 4

July 4th Fireworks Cruise

Celebrate Fourth of July by experiencing the Downtown Norfolk fireworks from the best vantage point of all! Enjoy a tour of the Inner Harbor and see the incredible fireworks show!

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CRUISING TODAY AT 11AM AND 2PM - SEE YOU ON BOARD!

Naval Base Cruises in Norfolk, Virginia

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We cruise the smooth waters of the Elizabeth River & Hampton Roads Harbor. Check our calendar below & book your cruise in Norfolk, VA today!

Narrated Norfolk Naval Base Tour

The Norfolk Harbor cruise aboard the Victory Rover is your front row seat to the naval fleet! See destroyers, submarines, and other vessels while taking in the sights of the harbor.

• Hour Glass 2 hours

Special Events

• Calendar June 8th
• Hour Glass 1.5 Hours

Harborfest Fireworks Cruise

After a quick tour of the Inner Harbor, we will position the ship to give you an incredible view of the region’s best fireworks show!

• Calendar June 7th
• Hour Glass 3 hours

Harborfest Parade of Sail

Join us aboard the Victory Rover for the Harborfest Parade of Sail! In the parade will be work boats, Navy and Coast Guard vessels, tug boats and visiting sailing ships.

July 4th Fireworks Cruise

Avoid the crowds and see Downtown Norfolk’s 4th of July fireworks from the best vantage point in town, aboard the Victory Rover! We position the boat so you have the best view!

Norfolk Naval Base Cruise Tour: The Largest In The World

The Norfolk Naval Base is the largest in the world and while it is off-limits, one can see it with a naval base cruise.

Once Britannia ruled the waves, but that era ended with World War Two. After that war, the U.S. Navy has been the undisputed maritime power in the world and nowhere is that more apparent than at the naval base at Norfolk. While the naval base is a secure site and it is not open to tourists, parts of this massive base are visible from the roads and various vantage points. There is even a cruise down the harbor so that one can get a much better look at America's most powerful warships.

America has many superb naval museums that one can visit all around the country . While all these museums feature old ships that have been decommissioned and donated to become museums, one can also see America's mothball fleets. If one is up in Pennsylvania, one can see what's left of Philadelphia's once-mighty mothball fleet .

What To Know About The Naval Base At Norfolk

The American naval base in Norfolk is the largest American naval base and the most powerful in the world. It is the home port of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command with the largest concentration of naval forces with around 75 ships and 134 aircraft.

The Naval Station Norfolk stretches for 4 miles along the waterfront of Hampton Roads peninsula. The station supports the operational readiness of the US Atlantic Fleet, providing facilities and services to enable mission accomplishment.

• Largest:  The Norfolk Naval Base Is The Largest Naval Base In The World
• Supports: The US Atlantic Fleet
• Newport News Shipbuilding Yard: Where The Super Aircraft Carriers Are Built
• Number of Ships: Around 75 Naval Ships and Many More Aircraft and Other Facilities

The Norfolk naval base is home to four carrier strike groups and their assigned ships - that alone is perhaps more powerful than any other navy in the world.

Not far from the naval base is the Newport News Shipbuilding yard - it is this shipbuilding yard that builds all the super aircraft carriers of the U.S. navy.

Related:  How To Get The Most Out Of A Historical Visit To The Pearl Harbor Museum & Memorial

Cruises Of The Norfolk Naval Base

If one would like to get a glimpse of this mighty naval base, then enjoy a Norfolk Harbor cruise aboard the Victory Rover . On the cruise one will be able to see destroyers, submarines, and other vessels while taking in the sights of the harbor.

The Norfolk Harbor Cruise is a two-hour Narrated Naval Base Cruise with the captain providing entertaining and fascinating commentary on the navy and base. The tour departs daily from Nauticus, home of the Battleship Wisconsin.

One will see destroyers, aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, submarines, guided missile cruisers, and more.

The Victory Rover that one will cruise on provides plenty of comfortable seating, an air-conditioned enclosed deck, an open-air shaded upper deck, a snack bar, and a souvenir shop.

Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or at the ticket window at Nauticus - although reservations are strongly recommended. This naval base tour is one of Norfolk's most popular attractions.

• Departure Point: Nauticus Museum - Home of the USS Wisconsin
• Price: From $28.00
• Duration: A 2 Hour Cruise
• See: Aircraft Carriers, Submarines, Destroyers, Amphibious Assault Ships, Guided Missile Cruisers, and More

Related:  Why Visiting NYC's Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is A Must

Don't Forget the Nauticus and Wisconsin!

The USS Wisconsin was one of four completed Iowa class battleships - the largest battleships ever built for the US Navy. She was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia and served in the latter part of the Pacific War against Japan.

After the war, she served in the Korean War and in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 against Iraq. She spent most of her career mothballed and from 1944 to her decommissioning in 1991 she only spent a total of 14 years in active service.

• Battle Stars: 6
• Class: Iowa Class Battleship

Like the others in her class, she was spared strapping and instead donated as a museum ship and today operated by Nauticus, The National Maritime Center.

Nauticus offers both the might battleship for tours as well as a superb naval museum to discover the history of the navy and what naval life is like.

• Nauticus Hours:  Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon – 5 p.m.
• Closed: Mondays

Make A Full Day With The Combo Ticket

To see the Nauticus museum , the Wisconsin, and go on a Norfolk Base Harbor cruise, consider buying a combo ticket. This is a full-day tour was the Naval Base Crusie takes around two hours one should then allow 2 to 3 hours for Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin. This discounted ticket must be used on the same day and one should keep in mind that Nauticus closes at 4.00 pm.

• Cost: Adult $41.35 / Children (ages 4-12): $27.45
• Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm / Sunday 12pm – 4pm

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The Boat Tour You Can Only Take In Virginia Will Bring Out Your Inner Adventurer

A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.

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One of the best parts about living in Virginia is the opportunity to experience all kinds of adventures, from rugged mountain hikes to historic walks and just about everything in between. Today’s feature activity is one that relatively few know about, but almost everyone who experiences it agrees that it’s a must: Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise. Operating from Norfolk, this fascinating boat tour will showcase the world’s largest naval base from a truly unforgettable perspective. Here’s more on this boat tour in Virginia that belongs at the top of your bucket list.

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What are your thoughts on the Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise? Is this a boat tour in Virginia that you’d sign up for? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! For more information, including rates and reservations, be sure to check out Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises online.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Interested in weather?

Interested in aircraft?

Well, good news!

Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Air Force (USAF) will visit five U.S. Gulf Coast cities this spring, flying aboard a USAF Reserve WC-130J hurricane hunter aircraft and a NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft. The main purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the impacts from tropical cyclones and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan...and they are bringing this tour right here to Norfolk!

This event will be held at Norfolk International Airport on May 8th and best of all...it's free!

Find out more information about the event below:

Event Information

What:  2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour

Where:  Signature Aviation at Norfolk International Airport - Norfolk, VA

                 6101 Burton Station Rd                Norfolk, VA 23502

When:  Wednesday, May 8, 2024

            2 PM - 4 PM (Gates close at 3 PM to new entries)

Admission:   FREE!  

Things To Do:  

• Tour Hurricane Hunter aircraft
• Meet the pilots & flight crew
• Speak with hurricane forecasters
• Meet with local National Weather Service meteorologists
• Walk through exhibits from various agencies & organizations
• Learn about weather safety & preparedness

Directions & Parking

The address of this event is:  6101 Burton Station Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502

The Primary Parking Location will be in front of the TSU Flight Offices as seen in the image below. We will have signs directing you where to go as you get near.

Participants

List of Booths:

NWS Houston/Galveston

Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Harris County Flood Control District

CITY OF HOUSTON Office of emergency manageMENT

United States Army Corps of Engineers

USAA - UNITED SERVICES Automobile association 

FLASH - fEDERAL aLLIANCE FOR SAFE HOMES

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Click the image above to visit NWS' Hurricane Preparedness website.

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Norfolk is just one stop on the 2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour!

Check out the other locations below:.

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