NORFOLK

The Spirit of Norfolk got a $350,000 face lift to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the concept's first harbor cruise.

Its new look, which resembles the original blue and white color scheme, will be unveiled Thursday with a dockside re-christening ceremony at Otter Berth next to Town Point Park.

Not only is the exterior sparkling, but ceilings, carpets, bars, sound systems and furniture were replaced inside the ship.

"We've tried to make ourselves look a little bit hip," said Tina Swan, marketing director.

The Spirit boats have been a dining and entertainment attraction for both locals and tourists. It began in 1978 by locally owned Cruise International on a former World War II infantry landing craft.

Michael Higgins, CEO of Entertaiment Cruises, which has owned the ship for nearly two years, said the Spirit was the first of its kind.

"We are very proud that the concept of harbor cruising was born in Norfolk," he said.

It ceased operating in 1981 because of financial woes but returned in 1983 with a new boat: the New Spirit.

Since then, there have been two more vessels and a name change back to the Spirit of Norfolk. The current ship was built in 1992 at a cost of more than $4 million. At 187 feet, the vessel accommodates 410 passengers.

Today the Spirit of Norfolk hosts about 130,000 passengers a year and generates about $6 million in revenue annually for Entertainment Cruises, said general manager Jolene Price-Thompson, who started working on the ship as a waitress 23 years ago.

Based in Chicago, Entertainment Cruises operates 24 ships in eight cities.

At about 52 percent, t he Spirit of Norfolk has one of the highest rates of repeat business in Entertainment Cruises' fleet, the general manager said.

"The majority of our business is local business," she said.

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com