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Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center, operated by Nauticus, announced an expanded slate of cruise ship port calls from the world’s fourth-largest cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). In 2027, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Pearl is scheduled to call on Norfolk each week from April to August. These newly-added visits — 20 in total — represent one of the largest port-of-call commitments in Norfolk’s history and will introduce approximately 49,000 additional cruise ship passengers to the Hampton Roads region. Unlike Carnival Cruise Line’s year-round calls in which passengers set sail for the Bahamas or Bermuda, NCL’s 2027 port-of-call activity positions Norfolk as an itinerary stop. While in town passengers can opt to take guided excursions or explore the region on their own.

“We’ll have the opportunity to welcome nearly 2,500 additional passengers and a thousand crew members every single Tuesday for five months,” said Nauticus executive director, Stephen E. Kirkland. “That activity, coupled with our Carnival sailings each weekend, represents a broadening economic impact for this entire region.”

In February, the Carnival Sunshine began sailing weekly from Norfolk’s cruise terminal; Nauticus has welcomed more than 180,000 unique passenger visits so far this year. Other cruise lines scheduled to visit in 2025 and 2026 include Holland America, Princess, TUI Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Azamara, Seabourn, and Viking.

About Cruise Norfolk: The Half Moone Center is located at Nauticus along the downtown Norfolk waterfront. The 80,000 sq. ft. facility is home to Virginia’s only cruise ship program. Cruise Norfolk offers passengers a unique setting from which to begin and end their cruise as it shares its space with Nauticus’ Maritime Discovery Center, sailing center and the historic Battleship Wisconsin.

About Nauticus: Nauticus is a maritime discovery center located along the waterfront in downtown, Norfolk, VA, offering a unique form of experiential learning for all ages. Through interactive exhibits and STEM to Stern programming, Nauticus uses the museum, Battleship Wisconsin, sailing center, and Schooner Virginia to tell the story of the maritime environment, industry, and the military. The Nauticus Foundation is the nonprofit, 501©3 that supports the mission and activities of Nauticus. Nauticus’ mission is to benefit the community through education, impactful experiences, and sharing access to maritime resources. For more information, visit www.nauticus.org.

Congress recently approved legislation spearheaded by President Donald Trump that eliminates thousands of dollars in incentives for homeowners who invest in solar energy.

If you’ve been considering going solar, now is the time.

Solar installers in Hampton Roads say they’re seeing a surge in demand for rooftop panels as homeowners seek to get a federal tax credit that expires at the end of this year.

“Business is exploding right now,” said Nolie Diakoulas, director of business development for Virginia Beach-based Convert Solar, which operates statewide.

The federal tax credit “has been a very, very large driver over the past 13 years or so that we've been in business,” he said. “Specifically, right now, people are understanding, ‘Oh, wait a second, it’s going away.’”

The Investment Tax Credit first started rewarding homeowners who installed solar in 2006, but the amount fluctuated over the years. President Joe Biden’s signature climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, expanded and stabilized the credit by setting it at 30% through 2032.

President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, recently passed by Congress, gets rid of the residential credit, along with several others meant to help stimulate growth in clean energy.

People who want to take advantage before it expires will have to have panels installed and in service by Dec. 31.

Diakoulas said the cost of home solar systems varies depending on the size, but the average is about $30,000, which can be paid with cash or through loan financing.

That means the tax credit saves homeowners an average of $9,000 in upfront costs, which he said is often a deciding factor for customers. People without a tax liability that large can split the credit across several years.

Donny Damon, who lives in the Thoroughgood area of Virginia Beach, installed panels through Convert Solar a few years ago, and said it was a “no-brainer.”

“We want to comply with what's going on in the world and try not to use as much energy – and, of course, get the tax credit,” he said.

Damon said his monthly electric bill is now less than $8 per month, with the solar panels covering a majority of electricity needs even in the peak summer heat.

He pointed to his thermostat set at 64 degrees. “I keep it frosty in here, because I can.”

Deborah Arenstein is program manager with Solarize Virginia, an outreach initiative of the nonprofit Local Energy Alliance Program based in Charlottesville. Rising energy costs are another big reason she encourages the switch.

The regional power grid operator recently held an auction that set record-high prices for electricity, amid surging demand from data centers and delays in new energy projects.

“Energy prices are going up,” Arenstein said. “By going solar, it is guaranteed that your electric bills will not be going up (significantly) over time.”

Dominion Energy is also proposing changes to a different type of credit that benefits homeowners, called net metering.

“If you produce more energy than you are using, you're banking it, which means that you can then access that energy when you are not producing as much, without a charge,” Arenstein said.

The current ratio is 1:1, meaning if you produce one extra kilowatt-hour, that’s the same amount you earn back. Dominion plans to reduce the ratio of return starting next year.

Each year, Solarize requests proposals from solar installers and selects vetted companies to offer discounted pricing to its participants.

The group recently extended its deadline for interested homeowners to sign up for the 2025 program through Aug.15, allowing people an additional window to secure tax credits.

Diakoulas said the cutoff for Convert Solar to accept new orders that can be completed in time will likely be around mid-October.

Installers will then shift their focus toward the leasing model of rooftop solar, in which a third party owns and maintains the system, while the homeowner pays a set monthly fee.

Virginia’s General Assembly only started allowing solar leasing last year. That change is now key to keeping solar companies alive, Diakoulas said.

But he worries the elimination of tax credits will likely put smaller installers out of business.

Bold murals, naval vessels, and calming waters greet you in Norfolk, where the relaxing qualities of a coastal destination meet the energizing elements of an artsy urban city. From glassblowing demonstrations to Filipino eateries, here’s where to go in this southeastern Virginia treasure. This story is part of our July Explore Virginia by Train issue. Check back as we share additional weekend trips in Virginia that are just a train ride away.

What to Do  

Norfolk is home to the largest naval base in the world and the North American headquarters for NATO. Begin your trip by visiting Nauticus, a maritime discovery center appropriate for all ages, with interactive exhibitions illuminating Norfolk’s naval legacy. Located within the museum, the Nautical Neighborhood Aquarium explores animals found in the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay. Included in Nauticus admission is the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest and last battleships built by the U.S. Navy. Take a self-guided or guided tour of the behemoth WWII vessel. Adventurous families can even opt to stay overnight on the ship for as little as $120 a person, sleeping in the original berthing that military members did.  

Ten years ago, the city designated its first arts district, the NEON District (“New Energy of Norfolk”) to revitalize a historically commercial corridor. It’s bloomed into a vibrant hub for arts and culture, with more than 60 large murals, along with galleries and public art installations. The district is anchored by the Chrysler Museum of Art, a renowned regional art museum with more than 30,000 works of art, most notably a glass collection that features more than 10,000 objects, from ancient Roman vessels to modern glass art. Adjacent to the museum, the Perry Glass Studio hosts live glassblowing demonstrations and workshops. 

Take a break from urban charms to explore the natural attractions of the area, such as the Norfolk Botanical Garden, the largest botanical garden in Virginia. At Hermitage Museum & Gardens, rotating indoor and outdoor exhibitions often include large-scale sculptures thoughtfully placed in the 12 acres of gardens. Through October 12, you can see the work of New Orleans artist Walker Babington in the exhibition Burden of the Beast, including a 30-foot sculpture constructed from salvaged materials like hurricane debris and Mardi Gras floats.  

Where to Dine  

Start the day with a fried chicken and sweet potato biscuit at Handsome Biscuit, a casual comfort-food spot that was a finalist in _Garden & Gun’_s Best Biscuit in the South contest. The Norfolk area has one of the largest Filipino American populations in the country, and its dining scene reflects that. Head to Maymar Norfolk for authentic adobo or Lumpia House for the veggie-packed spring rolls. For a taste of history, stop for ice cream at Doumar’s, where waffle cones are still rolled on the original machines from 1905. Owner Abe invented the world’s first waffle cone. Freemason Abbey boasts upscale dining and Southern staples in a converted church circa 1873. Or dine on Moroccan specialties in a cozy bistro atmosphere at Omar’s Carriage House.  

Where to Stay  

Stay on the downtown waterfront at the sleek, upscale Hilton Norfolk The Main to be close to cultural attractions. It’s also where you’ll find some of the best food and nightlife in town. Take in views of the city and the Elizabeth River at its rooftop beer garden, Grain, where live music plays most nights, and feast on some of the best seafood in town (including a raw bar) and sip Virginia wine on the menu at Saltine. Also downtown, the Glass Light Hotel & Gallery showcases works from artists like Dale Chihuly and has a stylish French-inspired restaurant.