Dinner cruises along the Elizabeth River will return Friday — two months after the Spirit of Norfolk went up in flames and City Cruises Norfolk paused operations.
The Spirit of Mount Vernon will set sail alongside Norfolk’s Freedom Elite in place of the landmark dinner cruise ship, which caught fire on June 7, the company announced Wednesday.
City Cruises Norfolk, whose parent company is City Experiences, suspended reservations following the fire, as the company worked to secure a boat from another location to accommodate summer bookings. The Spirit of Mount Vernon joins the Norfolk fleet from Washington, D.C.
The Spirit of Norfolk fire burned for five days before crews were able to extinguish the blaze. Early in the investigation, Naval Station Norfolk Fire Chief Tony Sickell said it was believed the fire started in the engine room.
The cause of the fire, which is being investigated by the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board, has not been released. But investigators have said that the boat passed a safety inspection four weeks before the fire and no deficiencies were found.
The 187-foot ship, built in 1992, was woven into the fabric of the Norfolk community. It has hosted weddings, graduation parties, proms, birthdays, school field trips, even Easter egg hunts and visits from Santa Claus — and has been the chosen setting of countless marriage proposals.
“The Spirit of Norfolk will always hold a personal connection in the hearts of the Norfolk community as her legacy lives on,” a City Experiences spokesperson said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing to once again creating memorable experiences alongside our remarkable crew as we collectively build back the traditions our guests have come to love with their family and friends.”
After the fire, people with cruise reservations were contacted to reschedule or cancel and refund bookings. It’s unclear how many events were affected by the demise of the Spirit.
City Cruises Norfolk has operated in Norfolk for more than 40 years and offers dining cruises and private events on the Elizabeth River.
Caitlyn Burchett, 727-267-6059, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
