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    City Cruises

    3.6 (216 reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - City Cruises

    Bartending services

    Catering services

    Event lighting services

    4 More Services

    On-site management services

    Post-event cleaning services

    Venue rental

    Venue Security services

    City Cruises Photos

    CITY CRUISES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - City Cruises

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    Reviews With Photos

    Margarita!
    Emily B.

    Perfect spot for date night! The buffet-style dinner was surprisingly delicious, offering something for everyone: chicken, beef, salads, and etc! Of course we had to get the jumbo margarita...! After dinner, we headed up to the upstairs bar to enjoy the water views, so relaxing and romantic. The night wrapped up on the dance floor, even some staff joined in, making the overall vibe a 10/10. The service was top-notch, food was great, and the experience was unforgettable (we even got to take our glass home)! Whether you are planning a family gathering or a special night out, City Cruises is definitely worth checking out.

    Buffet dinner
    Kaylee V.

    Made what I could of it too have a good time but they mixed up our romance package and we had to wait awhile to get that settled. Food at the buffet was barely warm by the time it was our turn (nothing to rave about either). The VIP experience was basically the normal one nothing vip at all. There was a sweet 16 birthday and the kids kinda took up the entire dance floor or were brushing their hair near my food. Great view of the sunset tho

    Drinks
    Zarielle A.

    Went on the dinner cruise June 3rd to celebrate my friends birthday. I purchased the guaranteed window with view tickets along with the boarding photo / frame add on and 4 premium drink vouchers. We arrived early and were able to go ahead and board which was nice. The boat was limited to first and top deck for us since a high school prom reserved the second deck. The first deck we were on wasn't too crowded, quite a bit of empty tables were left which was nice. The music and ambiance was enjoyable and a good vibe. The drinks were alright. I was happy I did purchase the vouchers because the regular price of the cocktails and drinks were too high honestly. I just didn't like that with the drink voucher you couldn't just order whichever cocktails you wanted off the menu. The food buffet included many options which were good. I didn't like that right after everyone got their plates and were eating / finishing eating their first plate the workers were already breaking down the buffet, which made it awkward for those who went back for seconds and those who wanted seconds couldn't get them because all the food was taken away so fast. The dessert bar wasn't very good. By the time I got over to it everything was gone and the desserts that were left were all messy and flipped over so I only got like a small piece of cake and a dry bland cookie. We did go up to top deck for a little bit and it was nice but there were so many high schoolers up there being kind of loud, so we couldn't really enjoy it. I don't see myself doing the dinner cruise again honestly, but I'm thinking about trying the brunch cruise maybe. My overall rate of experience : 7/10

    Voucher  for checking in on Yelp. Couldn't use sad face
    Janice M.

    On the mother's day 2 hour brunch cruise in Norfolk. Freedom Elite is our cruise ship today. Staff assisted every customer on the cruise ship. All patrons are well dressed and excited to enjoy the day cruise. Seven tables for the guests. Every group of guests were seated together. Mother and I were seated with another group of guests. Every guest is given a drink ticket to use for each drink they consume. Buffet style food lined the ship. There is bacon, sausage and eggs to chicken and prime rib. Mimosas for those who want to indulge. There are pastries as well. Well organized from the time we boarded til we arrived back to Waterside. *Sn this should be a 5 star rating however, they do not have bottled water, only tap which my mom doesn't drink tap. Amazing time.Thank you City Experiences

    The meal .

    I went to the spirit of Norfolk cruise this past weekend (June 07th, 2025) for my cousins graduation gathering. First, the boat they use now isn't as nice as the one they had before that caught on fire. They should've replaced it with something nicer I feel! We were highly disappointed in the price for the food we had. It was $85 PER PERSON for a terrible meal . We went during lunch time at 2:30 pm . The best part was that the boat was clean. They don't have sweet tea , only unsweetened and soda products we had to pay for. The lunch was extremely disappointing. I'm not sure who the chef was but the meal was not good & buffet style. I think if they are charging that much, they should offer FRESH plated meals. By the time everyone gets their food on one half of the boat , the food is picked over. Some salad mixture that was extremely soggy, pork bites, bland salmon , potatoes, cold Mac and cheese, and street corn (which was the best tasting thing). The staff was nice & the bathrooms were clean! The deck is kind of rusted since the boat is older. I would go back for dinner to see what they offer. But if you can, avoid lunch. :/

    Bar Area
    Living M.

    Once I heard the Spirit of Norfolk was up and running again, I couldn't wait to finally experience one of the lunch or dinner cruises. After checking the site, I noticed a Candlelight Lunch Buffet was scheduled to sail on my birthday, so I immediately booked the date. Boarding day arrived, and that's when it started. Upon arriving to the berth, we were disappointed to find out that there was no handicapped parking closer than the one and a half block we had to walk from the parking deck. Then we were just a tad bit confused because the ship's name didn't read "Spirit of Norfolk" moving past that we finally got on the ship. The captain and crew were all very friendly and accommodating. They constantly asked if we were okay, and our server checked in frequently. My suggestions would be to lower the price for the lunch cruise. Very little was offered once you boarded. Perhaps you could add some visuals, like posters depicting the things the Captain spoke about that we couldn't see under the water, Karaoke, trivia games, Ice breakers to encourage mingling... just a few thoughts to make the voyage interesting for those who can't move to the upper or lower decks.

    Exterior
    Keisha L.

    A lunch time cruise with the fam on a hot and humid Saturday was right on time!!! We purchased tickets online, so heads up you still have to go to the box office and physically pick up the actual paper ticket in order to board. You do make your first stop or a photo opp as your board so get ready to say cheese!! Once on the boat, we were seated and greeted and then by invitation only (which really meant they did not want everyone swarming the buffet at one time, they sent you up tabke by table). The food was pretty good!! I'll admit I was kinda surprised as this can be a hit it miss area. The meatballs and the mashed potatoes were a favorite as the mash tasted like grandma made them from scratch. The meatballs were seasoned and flavorful. There was also some seasoned fish and done chicken that were decent. For the non meat eaters, they also has a mini salad bar with a range of fixings. Drinks as you can imagine are most definitely overpriced but they soften the blow with light up cups and a few other cute glasses that you can keep with purchase. The DJ kept it lively as he played a nice set and took recommendations from the guests. If you can rage the sun and want to get the most of your experience head to the upper deck and spend your fine there!!! You get to take in the total vibe of the cruise as you pass Nautilus and a plethora of naval ships and vessels along the way!!! The cruise is all of about 2 hours which is the perfect amount of time and well worth it!!! Don't forget to stop by and take a peak at your pic, which if they can find you on the boat, they will bring them to you to see towards the end. PS. Check in on Yelp and you get one premium drink for free!!!! Happy Sailing!!

    Buffet style food. Meh

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Everything was fabulous! The staff, the room, the FOOD. Our server, Cassy, was the best! Great evening.

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    2 years ago

    The taxes and fees doubles the price of the ticket so you pay over $300.00 for a two person brunch

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - City Cruises

    What exactly is included in the premium drink package? Is it worth buying?

    We just purchased that today and they still have stipulations on what drinks it includes.

    Has anyone booked a party of 20 or more? If so was it worth it and a ball park figure?

    Is it worth paying extra for the window seat or do you have enough time after the meal to sit on the top deck?

    You don't have to purchase a window seat and yes you will have time after eating to enjoy the top deck.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - City Cruises

    Just did the Spirit of Norfolk cruise for my 3rd year anniversary with my girlfriend and it was a lot of fun.

    Mentioned in 63 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Victory Rover - Museum and USS Wisconsin

    Victory Rover

    4.6(102 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Huge thank you to Lauren with our Norfolk harbor cruise team today!…read more We left over TWO HOURS early and still got caught in unbelievable traffic, construction, and a completely full parking lot. By the time we called, we truly thought we had missed the boat (literally and figuratively). Lauren went above and beyond to contact the crew and help us. She also helped us find a second parking lot when the designated lot was full. Because of her kindness and professionalism, they waited for us and we were able to experience an absolutely incredible cruise today. Customer service like that matters. Thank you for turning a stressful morning into wonderful family memories. . All this before we met the crew who patiently waited for us at the dock. They were gracious as they welcomed us aboard. The two hours were filled with so much detail on not only the ships we were looking at, but the buildings we were looking at and their history. The captain filled in with interesting bits of trivia about the harbor, the rivers that run into the Chesapeake Bay and facts of some piers and docks that had historical significance. The boat has an upper deck if you want to sit in the open. For those who prefer a little less adventure, you can sit inside the lower area that is fully enclosed. There is a small drink and snack bar where you can purchase drinks and packaged snacks. They have souvenir t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other small items for purchase. Highly recommend this cruise. You will not be disappointed in the cruise or the customer service.

    Huge thank you to Lauren with our Norfolk harbor cruise team today! We left over TWO HOURS early…read moreand still got caught in unbelievable traffic, construction, and a completely full parking lot. By the time we called, we truly thought we had missed the boat (literally and figuratively). Lauren went above and beyond to contact the crew and help us. She also helped us find a second parking lot when the designated lot was full. Because of her kindness and professionalism, they waited for us and we were able to experience an absolutely incredible cruise today. Customer service like that matters. Thank you for turning a stressful morning into wonderful family memories. . All this before we met the crew who patiently waited for us at the dock. They were gracious as they welcomed us aboard. The two hours were filled with so much detail on not only the ships we were looking at, but the buildings we were looking at and their history. The captain filled in with interesting bits of trivia about the harbor, the rivers that run into the Chesapeake Bay and facts of some piers and docks that had historical significance. The boat has an upper deck if you want to sit in the open. For those who prefer a little less adventure, you can sit inside the lower area that is fully enclosed. There is a small drink and snack bar where you can purchase drinks and packaged snacks. They have souvenir t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other small items for purchase. Highly recommend this cruise. You will not be disappointed in the cruise or the customer service.

    Photos
    Victory Rover
    Victory Rover
    Victory Rover

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    American Rover - Forward Mast

    American Rover

    4.5(56 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    We booked a 7.30 till 9.30 sunset criuse during Harborfest, an annual festival on the waterfront…read more We boarded at 7ish with maybe 30 to 40 other folks so it was not crowded on the boat and we had our choice of seats, nice chairs with backs and arm rests. The crew were very friendly. Especially Connor and Lauren, the bartender. There was a bar with snack concessions for purchase. The cruise began at 7.30 out into the harbor with narration by the captain of the history of the harbor, the various ships docked in the harbor and the many shipyards. We saw dolphins playing in the water and were able to see the festival attendees, vendors and hear the music from the shore. There was a musician on board who walked around playing guitar and singing after the narration. We would have preferred more history to the music but he was entertaining. They raised the sails once we got off the shore and that was cool. We were able to stay on the ship after docking to enjoy the drone show that was part of the Harborfest activities, which was impressive but also disappointing in that it only lasted a few minutes, maybe 5 at tops. But overall it was a great cruise, nice ship that was clean and well ran. The deck underneath was also very nice with cool furnishings and is where the bar and bathrooms were located.

    Absolutely amazing experience from check in to deboarding. The captain was knowledgeable and…read morefriendly along with the staff. My friend and I had an amazing time!! Well worth the price!

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    American Rover
    American Rover
    American Rover - Just before the turnaround at sunset

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    Just before the turnaround at sunset

    Carrie B Showboat

    Carrie B Showboat

    3.0(1 review)
    1.1 mi

    When I called to ask if there was anything special going on at the Bayou Bugaloo with your boat,…read morethe man who answered the phone could have told me you had a free piano show and anyone could attend instead of your attitude explaining to me it was for private events only at a minimum of $3,000. I'm giving this three stars only for the fact that my Mom has been talking about this boat being at the festival all weekend. Other than that i would NEVER rent your boat based on how you spoke to me and for not informing me of the free event. Good Customer service is going extinct every single day.

    From the owner: Celebrate your next event on the Carrie B Showboat. From a simple party to a sophisticated themed…read moreaffair requiring catering, flowers, and music, our Party Planners can arrange everything for you or you can use your own vendors—it is entirely up to you.  Whether choosing to remain dockside, or to include a harbor voyage as a part of your charter, your celebration on the water will be exciting and special. Pickup locations available in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton & Chesapeake, VA – or just about any Southeastern Virginia dock! The Carrie B goes beyond Corporate Charters, Weddings, Reunions, School Events and Military Functions. Our list also includes: Corporate Events Weddings and Receptions Rehearsal Dinners Bachelor Bachelorette Parties Anniversaries Reunions Prom Graduation School Charters Educational Cruises Military Functions Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s Holiday Parties Sweet 16 Fundraiser Birthdays Retirement Memorial Service Bon Voyage

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    Carrie B Showboat
    Carrie B Showboat
    Carrie B Showboat - Carrie B docked downtown Hampton.

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    Carrie B docked downtown Hampton.

    No Frill Bar and Grill - Cup o' Chili

    No Frill Bar and Grill

    4.4(1.1k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    It's been a while since I last reviewed the No Frill Bar and Grill located just off Colley Avenue…read morein the Ghent section of Norfolk. This local favorite has maintained a loyal following since opening its doors in 1987, and after one visit it's easy to understand why. Having grown up in Norfolk, I still make the trip over from Chesapeake from time to time because some places are simply worth returning to. Our favorite bartender Lauren is always friendly, attentive, and helpful with menu suggestions if you're undecided. She also happens to make a fantastic drink, which certainly never hurts. My wife ordered the Sesame Shrimp Salad consisting of fried butterflied shrimp, organic mixed greens, fresh vegetables, mandarin oranges, crispy wontons, and their house Red Dragon dressing. The presentation alone was impressive, but the flavor balance is what truly stood out. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that I never even managed to get a taste myself, which is saying something. I decided on the Shrimp Platter and the portion size alone was enough to get my attention. The shrimp were fried to a perfect golden brown, served piping hot, and properly seasoned throughout. The crinkle-cut fries delivered that ideal contrast of crispy exterior and soft potato center, while the coleslaw brought a refreshing balance of sweetness and acidity that tied the entire plate together beautifully. No Frill continues to prove that you do not need unnecessary gimmicks when the food, service, and consistency speak for themselves. If you enjoy well-prepared comfort food served by people who genuinely care about the experience, this Norfolk institution remains well worth the visit.

    My husband and I enjoy No Frill when you're in the mood for just that -- no frill, laid back, good…read morecomfort food. the portions are huge and it's always consistent. The service is always great and the hosts/servers are always friendly. Our go to is the meatloaf. when you're looking for a good ol' comfort food - that's the best. They also have amazing desserts that are worth a try. We found this restaurant good for families (including our toddler)! Food was toddler approved!

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    No Frill Bar and Grill - Inside No Frill - Norfolk

    Inside No Frill - Norfolk

    No Frill Bar and Grill
    No Frill Bar and Grill - Club sandwich

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    Club sandwich

    City Cruises - venues - Updated May 2026

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