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Tiger Cruise
Views: 2277
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kathy (AOMom) on
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I have never been on one and looking forward to my first Tiger Cruise, but I know someone who took that same path as you state, Hawaii to SanDiego let me see if I can get her to answer your questions.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy (Proud mom of my Sailor!) on
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That would be fantastic! Thanks so much. I'm hearing that it is 5 days and 6 nights. Just want to make sure that I have enough vacation time!
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I did a Tiger Cruise on a carrier in 2007 from Pearl Harbor to SanDiego... transit time for the carrier was five days/six nights. Tiger Cruises are rigourous and definately not a luxury cruise buy oh so worth every minute. You will be berthing with your sailor (assuming from your photo that she's a female), and basically shadowing her around the ship. There are activities specifically for TCs and there will be a schedule of activities given to you when you "check-in" pierside. You will have a few choices of ship's tours. Now mind you, I was on a carrier and many of the activities were in the hangerbay... not quite sure what to tell you regarding a destroyer. You will have to pay your own airfare from home to Oahu and any hotel expenses if you elect to arrive a few days prior to TC. I would strongly suggest that you get there at least a couple of days ahead of the ship's arrival and see if you can find out when the ship will be arriving and if you can be dockside, or at the Arizona Memorial Park to watch the ship arrive. We checked with the Port Authority. PACK LIGHT!! You will have to carry your own bags and there is limited storage space in the berthing areas. Do not take hard sided luggage... if possible, get a duffle bag that you can collapse. No shorts, no sandals, no skirts... you will be climbing ladders and there are multiple objects that can damage your feet. Flip-flops for the shower... my daughter advised me to never let my bare feet touch the "deck"... and she was right... can be kindda unsanitary from time to time. Ours was a smooth ride, but then again a carrier is 92,000 tons... if you suffer from motion sickness, get something for that, as a destroyer will be more subject to the seas. Depending upon the time of the year you are going will determine what kind of clothing you take along. My TC was in August... the crossing was beautiful and warm... the berthing was cold as a freezer. The TC I did from Everett, WA to SanDiego was just the opposite... in July, cold weather on deck, berthings were a sauna. Let me know if you have any other questions!
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Thanks so much for the info! I'M SO EXCITED TO GO!!!!!!! I'm assuming that there are plenty of places to stay around the base area. It doesn't look like my husband is able to go, so I'll be going solo on this one. We were able to go on the Friends and Family cruise in July and had an amazing time. Were you able to get on base when you were waiting for your sailor? Did you do any sight-seeing before getting on the ship? Where I live, we just got dumped with snow :-(. The only thing that's keeping me going is knowing I'll be going to Hawaii "sometime" next year. Again, thank you for the info, I really appreciate it! And, if you think of any other little tidbits, just keep'em comin'!
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No Cindy, you will not be able to get on base without your sailor. Start now looking for hotels... the Navy will have a bus that will pick you up from the Hale Koa (military guests only) Hotel and take you to Pearl where you will meet your sailor and check-in. We stayed at a hotel right across the street from Waikiki Beach, but I wouldn't recommend it... it wasn't the nicest place, but it was one of the less expensive (you get what you pay for!). I had been to Oahu previously and there were places I wanted to revisit but the ship pulled in a day sooner than we expected and my daughter was allowed to stay out overnight since she was with family... so we didn't do much other than some shopping and spending time on the beach. I would definately give myself more time, especially since you are paying for the flight to Hawaii. We watched the ship come in from the Arizona Memorial Park which is across the channel from the actual memorial (you need to take a Navy launch from the park to the memorial). I would highly recommend visiting the Arizona Memorial and touring the Battleship Missouri. If you enjoy snorkling, go to Hanama Bay. It is a submerged extinct volcano that the seaside rim has fallen off into the ocean. It's like swimming in the biggest salt water fish tank you've ever seen. Go to a luau, there are several on Oahu... we went to Germaine's. Go to Hilo Hattie's for authenic Hawaiian merchandise. I didn't like the International Marketplace... you can barter for merchandise, but unless you know what an item is worth, the merchandise if overpriced. You can take a ride on a catamaran. Definately make the effort to hike to the top of Diamondhead. I would also suggest that you rent a car... something small and economical... you can't walk to alot of these places, although you can take a cab or van. Make sure you take all the over-the-counter meds you can think of... you can't get this stuff when you're on the ship unless you go to medical and that's only if you are really, really sick. My oldest daughter caught "boat crud" on the 2009 TC and spent a couple of days in her rack sicker than a dog.
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Thanks for all the good info and the photo posted-Paula! OMGoodness-- that bottom bunk looks so low-lol. I certainly have high regards to anyone who can sleep in those type of spaces. I'm sure I'd have a knot on my head by the end of the cruise. : )
Have a good time when you go Cindy!!!
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My sailor always made sure I had the bottom rack... you can just kindda roll in and roll out... as opposed to the top rack that you have to climb the other two racks to reach. Heaven help you if you need to get up in the middle of the night to use the "head" and forget where you are!
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