You probably associate Norfolk cruises with a 4-year enlistment. But Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines offer cruises out of Norfolk for a much shorter term-and you don't have to lift a finger while you're on board!

Norfolk's port area is close to the downtown core, which has been revitalized over the past few years. Consider arriving in Norfolk a day or two early and shopping at MacArthur Center, Norfolk's one million square foot shopping center. Or visit d'Art on your way home and find one-of-a-kind artwork to take back with you.

As far as cruising, Carnival offers a 6-day Bahamas cruise that leaves Norfolk on a Sunday and sails to Nassau in the Bahamas, arriving Tuesday morning. Spend Tuesday and Wednesday exploring Nassau, then board your ship Wednesday evening and set sail for Freeport. One day is spent in Freeport, then your re-board and set sail for home, arriving back in Norfolk on Saturday.

Another Carnival option is the 2-day "Cruise to Nowhere". Leave Norfolk on Saturday evening, spend Sunday at sea, and return to Norfolk Monday morning, rested and refreshed, ready to face your work week. With prices starting under $400, this is a great weekend getaway.

The other cruise line operating out of Norfolk is Royal Caribbean. This cruise line offers 6, 7 and 8-night Bermuda cruises on the Empress of the Seas. There's also an 8-night New England and Canada cruise that heads north during the summer.

Empress of the Seas is the smaller of the two Royal Caribbean Ships that call Norfolk home. 692 feet long, she can accommodate 2,020 passengers and cruises at 19.5 knots. Amenities include a day spa, fitness center, top-notch restaurants, a wide selection of wines and other drinks, casinos and a rock-climbing wall. The Empress is typically used on Royal Caribbeans 5- and 7-night Bermuda sailings.

For the other cruises, Royal Caribbean sails the Grandeur of the Seas. A longer ship at 916 feet, she can sail with up to 2,446 passengers at a speed of 22 knots. She has all the amenities of the Empress, but adds a beautiful atrium area with on-board shopping. There is also a conference center aboard the Grandeur for those who have to get some work done while aboard.

Since the Grandeur is a larger ship, she sails to more destinations. One of her longer cruises is a 9-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that visits San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; Samana in the Dominican Republic; Labadee in Haiti; and returns to dock in Norfolk.

Royal Caribbean only began sailing out of Norfolk in April of 2007, so this is still a market that's being discovered. With a little searching, you're likely to find a deal on your cruise. And if you're within a day's drive of Norfolk, you can save even more by skipping airfare.

Parking is $10 per night at the Cedar Grove facility. Leave your bags at the Nauticus terminal, drive to Cedar Grove and park, then take the complimentary shuttle back to the terminal, where you can board your ship and relax, knowing you don't need to worry about anything but which wine you want with dinner.

Norfolk cruises are a great way to find an undiscovered gem in the cruise business. But better take it soon, before the rest of the world finds out!

Cruise Trip Info is one of the leading cruise information resources online. Learn more about Norfolk cruises and other great trips like Alaskan cruises.

Source: www.articlesbase.com