What Happened to the Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

The Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship was an iconic part of Norfolk, Virginia’s waterfront. Built in 1996, the cruise ship was designed to provide tours of the city’s historical sites and attractions.

It was a popular tourist attraction, and many people would take their families on board for a day or evening of sightseeing. However, the Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship has since been sold and is no longer in service.

The cruise ship was originally owned by Premier Cruises Lines, Inc., but it was later acquired by Nauticus Maritime Center in 2003. Nauticus planned to use the cruise ship for educational tours as well as regular sightseeing cruises.

Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, Nauticus had to sell the ship in 2011. The new owner was reported to be an investment firm from Florida called SSC Marine Group, LLC.

SSC Marine Group planned to refurbish and modernize the Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship and use it for sightseeing cruises once again. However, their plans never came to fruition as they encountered delays with obtaining the necessary permits and licenses from local authorities. Furthermore, they encountered financial difficulties which eventually led to them selling the ship in 2016.

The current owner of the Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship is unknown as it has been sold multiple times since 2016 with no information about its current whereabouts being released publicly. It is unclear what will happen to the iconic vessel although some reports have suggested that it could end up being used as a floating casino or restaurant on another part of the East Coast.

Conclusion: The Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship is no longer in service after having been sold multiple times over the past few years due to financial difficulties and delays with obtaining necessary permits and licenses from local authorities. Its current whereabouts are unknown but some reports have suggested that it could end up being used as a floating casino or restaurant on another part of the East Coast.