The U.S. Navy and HAL....

[sail7seas]

Isn't it fun seeing the U.S. Navy ships at Port Everglades for Fleet Week along with HAL ships?!!!

 

Love it!!!

Statendam and Maasdam should feel very safe with the Navy there to watch out for them today. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sail in and out of San Diego and you will constantly see Naval vessels.

[sail7seas]

Yes, of course. :)

 

[PathfinderEss]

Isn't it fun seeing the U.S. Navy ships at Port Everglades for Fleet Week along with HAL ships?!!!

 

Love it!!!

Statendam and Maasdam should feel very safe with the Navy there to watch out for them today. :)

I just like watching those navel ships. Trying to figure out which ship is what kind of vessel. Seeing the berthing together. It really is quite intesting and yes the Maasdam and Statendam ought to feel well protected.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Many times in San Diego we have gone to the Fish House for both lunch and dinner and watched the navy ships.

DH knows his ships and can identify them.

[sail7seas]

We had the chance to visit aboard an aircraft carrier in FLL about 11-12 years ago. (I know it was before 9-11.) What fun that was. DH, having served in Viet Nam, has familiarity with naval vessels and he was thrilled to tour that ship. We could see it docked at Port Everglades from our hotel room balcony and DH inquired if, per chance, tours were available. At first we were told no but he persisted and managed to get info how we could board.

 

Some pilots had set out tables with t-shirts of their 'squadron'..... is that the right word?

I went to every table and bought a t shirt from each of them. I asked where the proceeds went and they grinned and answered 'beer'. I laughed and wished them all well. We came home with a collection of t shirts to give away. :)

 

[Boytjie]

I just like watching those navel ships.

 

Those must be tiny ships! LOL

[sail7seas]

Those must be tiny ships! LOL

 

 

LOL.........

We all make typos. ;)

[arewethereyet]

I just like watching those navel ships.Trying to figure out which ship is what kind of vessel. Seeing the berthing together. It really is quite intesting and yes the Maasdam and Statendam ought to feel well protected.

I know that a navel destroyer is a hoola hoop with a nail in it.;) OTOH, a naval destroyer is a little different.

[Boytjie]

LOL.........

We all make typos. ;)

 

Oh, I know, I am one of the worst for that (I have heard it called "The Curse of Teh"). :D Some typos just crack me up, though.

[IRL_Joanie]

In 1978, while we were stationed outside of Athens, Greece, the USS Enterprise paid a visit to the city.

 

They had announced in the US STars and Stripes (Military newspaper) that the Air Craft Carrier would be open for visits in the port of Piraeus and where to go to get a tour.

 

Hubby, then 6 year old daughter and 5 month old son drove across the city to Piraeus, but got lost looking for the street we were supposed to go to. We parked the car at the end of a dock from where we could see a small US boat heading from the Enterprise towards us.

 

As the small boat came up alongside the dock, I asked the officer who stepped off of it how we could get to where the tours were. His response was to take us on board the launch he'd just gotten off of and escorted us back to the Enterprise where he gave us a tour of the ship himself:)

 

After the tour he took us to the Galley and left us with directions to one of the sailors to take care of us and to make sure that we got back to our car.

 

While we were eating the sailor asked us how we'd met the Captain:eek::eek: I was in shock!!! I thought he was lieutenant or something like that!!! To have the Captain take us on a personal tour has been one of my greatest memories ever:)

 

I later learned frorm the sailor that it was most likely because my hubby was a Chief Warrant Officer 4 at the time and the Navy has so few of them and they are highly respected by both the officers and the sailors.

 

It was an awesome experience!!

 

Joane

[Krazy Kruizers]

Those must be tiny ships! LOL

 

Glad you caught that Peter -- I didn't.

That is funny!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have toured the Midway in San Diego -- awesome.

And the Intrepid in New York -- also awesome.

I know that we have toured other such boats -- memory not working right now.

[Typhoon1]

Had a chance to tour the USS North Carolina in Wilmington years ago. It is now a floating museum. Absolutely fascinating.

[sail7seas]

In 1978, while we were stationed outside of Athens, Greece, the USS Enterprise paid a visit to the city.

 

They had announced in the US STars and Stripes (Military newspaper) that the Air Craft Carrier would be open for visits in the port of Piraeus and where to go to get a tour.

 

Hubby, then 6 year old daughter and 5 month old son drove across the city to Piraeus, but got lost looking for the street we were supposed to go to. We parked the car at the end of a dock from where we could see a small US boat heading from the Enterprise towards us.

 

As the small boat came up alongside the dock, I asked the officer who stepped off of it how we could get to where the tours were. His response was to take us on board the launch he'd just gotten off of and escorted us back to the Enterprise where he gave us a tour of the ship himself:)

 

After the tour he took us to the Galley and left us with directions to one of the sailors to take care of us and to make sure that we got back to our car.

 

While we were eating the sailor asked us how we'd met the Captain:eek::eek: I was in shock!!! I thought he was lieutenant or something like that!!! To have the Captain take us on a personal tour has been one of my greatest memories ever:)

 

I later learned frorm the sailor that it was most likely because my hubby was a Chief Warrant Officer 4 at the time and the Navy has so few of them and they are highly respected by both the officers and the sailors.

 

It was an awesome experience!!

 

Joane

 

 

That's a great story, Joanie.

 

But didn't your DH know he was with the Captain? I can see the 'civilian' (you) may not have but for a Chief Warrant Officer 4 to not have recognized the Captain's rank? Funny. :)

 

[IRL_Joanie]

That's a great story, Joanie.

 

But didn't your DH know he was with the Captain? I can see the 'civilian' (you) may not have but for a Chief Warrant Officer 4 to not have recognized the Captain's rank? Funny. :)

 

Hubby knew what the rank was and was letting me make an idiot of myself. He laughed about it with the sailor and said he thought the Captain would have corrected me. BUT he did not realize it was THE CAPTAIN.

 

Hey what did I know, they looked like Lieutenant bars to me:) And I never pay attention to rank, I just talk... LOL

 

Joanie

[rajkr74]

Hubby knew what the rank was and was letting me make an idiot of myself. He laughed about it with the sailor and said he thought the Captain would have corrected me. BUT he did not realize it was THE CAPTAIN.

 

Hey what did I know, they looked like Lieutenant bars to me:) And I never pay attention to rank, I just talk... LOL

 

Joanie

 

Outstanding story! I remember in the late 50's while in the cub scouts, going thru the USS Ranger aircraft carrier in the bay area. Loved the mess where they served us lunch.

We have gone thru ships in Portland OR during the Rose Festival and really enjoyed talking to the sailors. Then of course in 2009 while on the Westerdam for the reposition cruise stopping in San Diego and going thru the Midway. But walking around the ship was tough on my head being 6' 9".

[Himself]

In 1978, while we were stationed outside of Athens, Greece, the USS Enterprise paid a visit to the city.

 

They had announced in the US STars and Stripes (Military newspaper) that the Air Craft Carrier would be open for visits in the port of Piraeus and where to go to get a tour.

 

Hubby, then 6 year old daughter and 5 month old son drove across the city to Piraeus, but got lost looking for the street we were supposed to go to. We parked the car at the end of a dock from where we could see a small US boat heading from the Enterprise towards us.

 

As the small boat came up alongside the dock, I asked the officer who stepped off of it how we could get to where the tours were. His response was to take us on board the launch he'd just gotten off of and escorted us back to the Enterprise where he gave us a tour of the ship himself:)

 

After the tour he took us to the Galley and left us with directions to one of the sailors to take care of us and to make sure that we got back to our car.

 

While we were eating the sailor asked us how we'd met the Captain:eek::eek: I was in shock!!! I thought he was lieutenant or something like that!!! To have the Captain take us on a personal tour has been one of my greatest memories ever:)

 

I later learned frorm the sailor that it was most likely because my hubby was a Chief Warrant Officer 4 at the time and the Navy has so few of them and they are highly respected by both the officers and the sailors.

 

It was an awesome experience!!

 

Joane

 

Great Story Joanie

[Boytjie]

I did national service in the South African Navy many moons ago. So when I came to New York it was exciting to tour the USS Intrepid (Air an Space Museum) - we didn't have any ships remotely that big! With Fleet Week every Memorial Day weekend in New York I should have visited more naval ships but alas I haven't. I have toured the USS Wasp one year but the highlight was in 1996 when the SAS Drakensberg was in for Fleet Week, the first South African naval ship to visit the USA since 196. I made sure to tour that one. :D

[bob brown]

I usually make it over to tour at least one ship during fleet week. I also toured the USS Wasp, (LHD1), as well as the now retired USS John F Kennedy, (CV67).

I purchased ship logo caps from the crew. As mentioned earlier, the proceeds go toward their recreation fund.

I enjoy wearing these, and sometimes will get stopped on the street by veterans's of them wanting to know if I served aboard. After telling how I did acquire them, I will usually get rewarded by hearing some interesting "war stories".:cool:

[sail7seas]

I checked with DH and he says he thinks it was the Eisenhower we toured.

It was a wonderful experience. :)

[Randy H]

The US Navy has a program, called a “Tiger Cruise” whereby sailors can invite a family member or friend aboard when traveling between US ports, generally when returning from a foreign deployment. My son invited me aboard the destroyer he was serving on , the DDG 86, the Shoup, A destroyer, 5 years ago, for a cruise from Hawaii to Everett Washington.

 

 

We sailed from Pearl Harbor, spent 8 days at sea…

 

 

I slept in a “rack” 24” wide, 24” high about 7’ long, 3 high with 50 or so of my best friends… I thought I might get bored… but that didn’t happen… we had almost universal access to the ship… only the electronic warfare room, the engine rooms and “shaft alley” were off limits, and by the second day we were welcome in the engine rooms when dressed appropriately.

 

 

 

I spent hours on the bridge, once while they did a man over board drill (Oscar) another time while approaching Everett. I only left the bridge that time when the pilot came aboard. They fired all the guns, they had a barbeque on the fan tail, They did a boarding drill, they held a movie night on the fan tail, they held a “damage control Olympics,” there were tours of everyplace, there was Bingo…

 

 

There were Dads, Moms, sisters, brothers, children... one sailor brought his 70+ year old neighbor, his extra grandpa...

 

 

 

I came away with an incredible respect for the Navy, its sailors and officers.

It was probably the best cruise I have ever been on…

 

 

 

By the way, we did have to pay for our food and such… less than $20.00 a day, to offset the costs of having civilians on board.

[Indycal]

The US Navy has a program, called a “Tiger Cruise” whereby sailors can invite a family member or friend aboard when traveling between US ports, generally when returning from a foreign deployment. My son invited me aboard the destroyer he was serving on , the DDG 86, the Shoup, A destroyer, 5 years ago, for a cruise from Hawaii to Everett Washington.

 

 

We sailed from Pearl Harbor, spent 8 days at sea…

 

 

I slept in a “rack” 24” wide, 24” high about 7’ long, 3 high with 50 or so of my best friends… I thought I might get bored… but that didn’t happen… we had almost universal access to the ship… only the electronic warfare room, the engine rooms and “shaft alley” were off limits, and by the second day we were welcome in the engine rooms when dressed appropriately.

 

 

 

I spent hours on the bridge, once while they did a man over board drill (Oscar) another time while approaching Everett. I only left the bridge that time when the pilot came aboard. They fired all the guns, they had a barbeque on the fan tail, They did a boarding drill, they held a movie night on the fan tail, they held a “damage control Olympics,” there were tours of everyplace, there was Bingo…

 

 

There were Dads, Moms, sisters, brothers, children... one sailor brought his 70+ year old neighbor, his extra grandpa...

 

 

 

I came away with an incredible respect for the Navy, its sailors and officers.

It was probably the best cruise I have ever been on…

 

 

 

By the way, we did have to pay for our food and such… less than $20.00 a day, to offset the costs of having civilians on board.

 

Thanks for the Tiger Cruise review! I may get to go on one on my son's ship soon from Hawaii to San Diego. Reading your review makes me want to go even more!

[sail7seas]

The US Navy has a program, called a “Tiger Cruise” whereby sailors can invite a family member or friend aboard when traveling between US ports, generally when returning from a foreign deployment. My son invited me aboard the destroyer he was serving on , the DDG 86, the Shoup, A destroyer, 5 years ago, for a cruise from Hawaii to Everett Washington.

 

 

We sailed from Pearl Harbor, spent 8 days at sea…

 

 

I slept in a “rack” 24” wide, 24” high about 7’ long, 3 high with 50 or so of my best friends… I thought I might get bored… but that didn’t happen… we had almost universal access to the ship… only the electronic warfare room, the engine rooms and “shaft alley” were off limits, and by the second day we were welcome in the engine rooms when dressed appropriately.

 

 

 

I spent hours on the bridge, once while they did a man over board drill (Oscar) another time while approaching Everett. I only left the bridge that time when the pilot came aboard. They fired all the guns, they had a barbeque on the fan tail, They did a boarding drill, they held a movie night on the fan tail, they held a “damage control Olympics,” there were tours of everyplace, there was Bingo…

 

 

There were Dads, Moms, sisters, brothers, children... one sailor brought his 70+ year old neighbor, his extra grandpa...

 

 

 

I came away with an incredible respect for the Navy, its sailors and officers.

It was probably the best cruise I have ever been on…

 

 

 

By the way, we did have to pay for our food and such… less than $20.00 a day, to offset the costs of having civilians on board.

 

 

What a great experience.

Thanks so much for sharing. :)

 

[bob brown]

The US Navy has a program, called a “Tiger Cruise” whereby sailors can invite a family member or friend aboard when traveling between US ports, generally when returning from a foreign deployment. My son invited me aboard the destroyer he was serving on , the DDG 86, the Shoup, A destroyer, 5 years ago, for a cruise from Hawaii to Everett Washington.

 

 

We sailed from Pearl Harbor, spent 8 days at sea…

 

 

I slept in a “rack” 24” wide, 24” high about 7’ long, 3 high with 50 or so of my best friends… I thought I might get bored… but that didn’t happen… we had almost universal access to the ship… only the electronic warfare room, the engine rooms and “shaft alley” were off limits, and by the second day we were welcome in the engine rooms when dressed appropriately.

 

 

 

I spent hours on the bridge, once while they did a man over board drill (Oscar) another time while approaching Everett. I only left the bridge that time when the pilot came aboard. They fired all the guns, they had a barbeque on the fan tail, They did a boarding drill, they held a movie night on the fan tail, they held a “damage control Olympics,” there were tours of everyplace, there was Bingo…

 

 

There were Dads, Moms, sisters, brothers, children... one sailor brought his 70+ year old neighbor, his extra grandpa...

 

 

 

I came away with an incredible respect for the Navy, its sailors and officers.

It was probably the best cruise I have ever been on…

 

 

 

By the way, we did have to pay for our food and such… less than $20.00 a day, to offset the costs of having civilians on board.

Thanks so much for relating your fascinating experience. You were fortunate indeed to have it. I have never heard of this before, and somewhat surprised that it exists. Welcoming family on board at ports for events like 'fleet week' is one thing, but a long voyage from Hawaii to Washington with all those families?

What if some national emergency required a sudden deployment to some war zone? They would lose precious time having to divert to some port to disembark the visitors first....:confused: