TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

If you're going to be in Norfolk, Virginia, a must-see event is to take a cruise aboard the Victory Rover. It's a two-hour cruise throughout Norfolk Harbor with a ship's-eye view of the Norfolk Naval Base.

The Victory Rover has comfortable seating both indoors and out (the cruises take place rain or shine), and of course there's a ship store with souvenirs and snacks. The cruise is narrated throughout.

The Victory Rover will cruise by cargo terminals, Old Fort Norfolk, Norfolk Southern Coal Piers, the Naval Hospital, downtown Norfolk's skyline, the Battleship Wisconsin, the shipyard and drydocks, the Monitor-Virginia (Merrimac) battle site, and the ships of the Atlantic Naval Fleet - destroyers, frigates, cruisers, submarines, amphibious assault ships and carriers.

You'll board the ship at Nauticus. There's plenty of parking there, by the way.

For more info, their website is:
http://navalbasecruises.com

The Victory Rover is a modern-day cruise ship that takes visitors to Norfolk on a cruise around the Naval Station, but there are other cruises on offer, aboard the American Rover.

Like the Victory Rover, the American Rover sails daily. Indeed, it sails twice a day, rain or shine.

The cruises are seasonal, though, from mid-April to late October.

The American Rover is a "tall ship," with five huge sails to catch the wind...talk about exhiliarating! (Of course, it has engines if the wind doesn't cooperate.)

The American Rover has a spacious topside deck, a climate-controlled below decks during times of inclement weather, as wel as for serving cocktails, and spaekling clean restrooms.

At 11:30 begins the 1 1/2 hour Harbor Cruise (Wednesdays through Saturdays). Narrated, so you'll be educated about all the sights you sail past. You can also help set sails or take a hand at the helm. Lots of kids are typically on these cruises.

At 3 pm, every day during the season, is the 2 hour Harbor Cruise. No getting to help with the sails on this cruise, you just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

For couples, the Sunset Cruise can be special. Times vary depending on the month (check their website at http://americanrover.com). It's the most expensive cruise, also, but that's because in lieu of a narrated cruise, you get to see and hear live entertainment.

The street address for the cruise is 333 Waterside Drive in Norfolk.