The closure of a Hampton boat tour company this spring left the city without a waterfront sightseeing option. But the Manhattan Elite has made landfall as the Peninsula’s newest waterfront tour option.
Operator City Cruises Norfolk, which has run a sightseeing vessel out of Norfolk for years, brought the Manhattan to the Docks at Downtown Hampton three months ago. Over the past six weeks, the company began offering an assortment of sightseeing, dinner and brunch tours to gauge the local demand, according to General Manager Damion Madison.
The cruise replaces the Hampton Queen after Hampton Roads Harbor Tours announced it would cease operations in April. The company said it was struggling to stay afloat after dealing with maintenance issues for three years. Madison said he wanted to ensure Hampton residents didn’t have to drive to Norfolk for an opportunity to see the city from the water.
“All of us on the waterway, we tend to take care of each other and support each other,” Madison said. “With the Hampton Queen leaving, we wanted to pick up those pieces and support the Hampton side of the water.”
Several guests gather at the stern of the Manhattan Elite during Thursday, August 27, 2026, evening’s sunset cruise. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot)
Roughly 40 people climbed aboard the ship Thursday evening for an 1 ½-hour sightseeing cruise along the James River between the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads. The ship can carry up to 75 people and has two decks with formal and casual seating, viewing decks, a bar, DJ and dance floor.
The ship swayed under a cloudy sky as it passed Point Comfort at Fort Monroe, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Naval Station Norfolk.
Hampton resident Karen Porter swayed with the waves as “Play That Funky Music” blared over the speakers. She and husband Jim were celebrating his 81st birthday while they shared a seafood dip.
Porter said the pair have always loved being on the water and immediately took the opportunity to get back out as a birthday present when she came across the new cruise. She added it was an extra bonus to not have to cross the water to get to Norfolk for a cruise.
“What’s not to love about being on the water?” Porter said. “But we try to avoid going across the bridge tunnel as much as possible, because there’s just no good time to go across.”
John and Tina Baptiste didn’t want to cross the water, either. They’ve lived in Hampton for four years, but haven’t had the time to get to a cruise leaving out of Norfolk when they have a 2 year old at home.
As a pink and orange sunset creeped from behind a wall of clouds and reflected light on to the water’s surface, John said it’s nice to see those opportunities become more accessible to Peninsula residents.
“We’ve been having a good time just being able to relax, talk, connect a little bit more, and just take advantage of being on the ship,” Baptiste said. “There aren’t many opportunities on the Peninsula for stuff like this.”
Steven and Tina Baptiste enjoy date night aboard the Manhattan Elite on Thursday, August 27, 2026. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot)
Captain Kevin Burkard normally pilots ships running out of Norfolk, but filled in to steer this cruise. He said any waterfront community across the country will have an appetite for cruises, and he’s seen that interest become stronger in Hampton.
Burkard said he hopes this cruise is just the beginning for the region and would like to see opportunities for folks to get on the water moving forward, such as nightlife cruises, casino boats or even a ferry between the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads.
“I’d like to see it expand,” Burkard said. “We’ve got plenty of water for it.”
Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com
If you go
Where: 710 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton
When: Sunset cruises board on either Thursdays or Fridays at 6 p.m. Brunch cruises are Sundays, and lunch and dinner cruises are on either Thursdays or Fridays.
Price: $37 for a sunset cruise, plus food and alcoholic beverage costs. Other cruises vary in price.
Website: cityexperiences.com