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Weddings

About

City Cruises - Norfolk is a boat wedding venue located in Norfolk, Virginia. On the Elizabeth River, their vessels are surrounded by Norfolk’s local gems, including the Nauticus, the USS Wisconsin BB-64, Town Point Park, the Chrysler Museum of Art, and more. Luxury hotels are within half a mile, and the Norfolk International Airport is only seven miles away. This venue gives you the unique opportunity to bring your wedding vision to life on the water.

Facilities and Capacity

City Cruises - Norfolk's flagship vessel Spirit, is a fun and festive yacht with three private decks, an open-air rooftop lounge, and a capacity for up to 320 guests. In 2017, City Cruises - Norfolk welcomed their premium private yacht the Elite, the perfect blank canvas for a customizable wedding. This vessel hosts exclusively private events and can welcome up to 62 guests aboard their two private decks and outdoor lounge. Any ceremony, reception, or wedding-related event with City Cruises promises breathtaking views and a unique and memorable experience for couples and their loved ones. For dining, City Cruises presents buffet-style meals with freshly prepared entrees, sides, and desserts. If desired, couples can also have hors d'oeuvres or stations for their delicious reception dinner. Servers are stationed on-board to ensure every passenger receives quality service. With the Elite, the staff will work with you to craft a perfect menu with a personal touch.

Services Offered

Whether you are looking for an intimate gathering or a lavish reception, the City Cruises - Norfolk team of wedding specialists will assist you from concept to delivery. They offer various all-inclusive packages ensuring that couples receive all they want for their picture-perfect day. Packages include everything from setup and cleanup to lighting and sound. The Spirit is the perfect “something blue” for couples, and it hosts engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, and post-wedding brunches as well as ceremonies and receptions. Additional services include:

  • Onboard entertainment
  • In-house catering
  • In-house bar
  • Wireless Internet
  • Barware, flatware, glassware, china, and linens
  • Parking and wheelchair access
  • Day-of-Coordinator

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$5,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$1,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Limited Bar

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

2

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Boat/Yacht
Restaurant
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Server(s)
Stations

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
Open Bar

What event items are available?

Aisle Runners
Centerpieces
Chairs
Dance Floor
Photo booth
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November

Reviews of City Cruises - Norfolk

Karlee
Karlee Sent on 09/29/2024
5 out of 5 rating

A venue to remember

We got a million comments about how fun and cool it was to be on the boat for our wedding, the ceremony views were amazing, and our day of coordinator Lauren (with assists from Daniel) were top notch! It was such a fun night, everyone raves about the food, and the crew took great care of everyone
Lisa
Lisa Sent on 07/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding was incredible!!

We had a small wedding. 38 people.
Lauren made sure that I never once stressed out for anything. Our guests were raving about the food. The servers made sure every glass & plate stayed full, the bartender ensured the drinks stayed perfect. We blinked and all the clutter and tables were bussed.
Jaye was our DJ and one of my biggest fears that no one would dance. The floor stayed busy 99% of the time. He went above and beyond what our vision was!

All I can say is INCREDIBLE! Worth every penny! We had a blast! Even with the rain: it was PERFECT. We had a perfect sunset as everyone was leaving (pic)
Raelita
Raelita Sent on 10/24/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect wedding celebration

I booked a wedding cruise for my son's wedding. He is the youngest of 8 and the last to be married. City Cruise Norfolk staff promptly responded to and offered solutions to all of my questions and concerns. They accommodated and made all of my decorations happen beautifully. During the cruise, the staff responded positively and quickly to all of my requests. They corrected every glitch so fast it was as if they never happened. The food was delicious and plentiful.
Our guests and I had a great time. Guests from 12 to 80 years old danced the night away. Many of the guests said it was the best wedding they have ever attended. My son and daughter-in-law are still thanking me.
Tamara
Tamara Sent on 09/29/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent Service!

Working with City Cruises was perfect from beginning to end. Matthew was amazing in making certain everything was handled flawlessly.
David
David Sent on 10/29/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent all around

It was a incredible experience. A big thank to our wedding coordinator Katie for everything she did for us. She made sure our big wedding day was the best. We also thank the kitchen staff for the good food, and to our waiter and waitress Chris and Mehgan for being so helpful. Our day turned out excellent.
K
Kathryn Sent on 05/28/2019
5 out of 5 rating

It was wonderful and the wedding coordinators were awesome to work with!

The wedding coordinators really made me feel at ease. They were always quick to respond to any questions or concerns I had. They also helped with changes and I had a lot of changes haha! They were always so nice every time. It was. Beautiful wedding and they truly care about making everything perfect.
S
Sarah Sent on 04/16/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Virginia elite

Had our wedding on the Virginia elite and it was absolutely perfect!! Staff and wedding coordinator were amazing!
staceysmith1229
Gayon Sent on 02/28/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Spectacular

Katharine was amazing and the best! She made my wedding day memorable. It rained a little bit that day, I was allowed to have my ceremony on the Spirit of Norfolk and then my reception on the Elite. Everything ran smoothly and seamless. Katharine was on point with everything! She made sure that the timing of everything was on point. I did a dinner cruise on the Elite back in October where Matt was the DJ. We requested him for our ceremony. My guest absolutely loved the menu. My favorites were the beef and salmon, the best!! Thank you Katharine, Matt, and staff! I recommend that my friend do her vow renewal here so I can come back for the food.
D
Donna Sent on 10/31/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Dream Come True!

Jen and Katharine were the best! They made our wedding perfect! We are so grateful to have found them! They made wedding planning easy and enjoyable! Our day was on task and on time and flawless thanks to their attention to detail! Thank you so much!
William
William Sent on 10/18/2018
5 out of 5 rating

We thought it would be good, it was AMAZING!

We cannot express how glad we are that we chose the Spirit of Norfolk as our wedding venue. Our coordinator, Katherine, guided us through the entire process and was a life saver on the day of the event, as we ran into challenges in our attempts to make everything perfect. Our ceremony at dusk on the Sky Deck is the stuff dreams are made of. The venue inside the ship for the reception was first class. And the food, our friends and family are still raving about. And being a DJ myself, I must give a shout out to DJ Jerritt. He executed the music for the ceremony & reception perfectly. Our waitstaff was top notch, too. The Spirit of Norfolk is the venue for a wedding superior to any other. And the pricing is excellent.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

44
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Blessings From Above - Rev. Patrick Byrd Blessings From Above - Rev. Patrick Byrd Wedding Officiants

The Spirit of Norfolk and her employees are amazing! I officiate weddings on the Spirit of Norfolk every year, and am never disappointed in the level of service they provide to my couples. When a bride asks me for a unique venue recommendation, I often suggest the Spirit, especially when they want a " no-hassle" experience. They provide the ceremony location, the reception venue, entertainment, and great food. The coordinators are always "on point" and attentive to the couple's every need. The staff makes sure all events start promptly on schedule so the couple can maximize their party's private time before the other passengers are boarded for the cruise. If you are looking for a unique venue, The Spirit of Norfolk is definitely a great choice!

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Map

City Cruises - Norfolk frequently asked questions

City Cruises - Norfolk includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
City Cruises - Norfolk includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at City Cruises - Norfolk includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Limited Bar
The space offered by City Cruises - Norfolk for wedding events is known for:
  • Boat/Yacht
  • Restaurant
  • Waterfront
City Cruises - Norfolk offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
City Cruises - Norfolk offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
City Cruises - Norfolk offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Wifi
City Cruises - Norfolk offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Runners
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
City Cruises - Norfolk is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.9 in value, 4.8 in average response time and 4.8 in flexibility.

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