Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

This may not exactly apply to homecoming but it's good for you and your sailors to know about!  

MWR at Little Creek and  Oceana/Dam Neck rents campers from 16' (sleeps four) to 31' (sleeps eight), kayaks, and more for very reasonable rates -http://www.discovermwr.com/thingstodo/equipmentrental.html 

also recreational lodging:  vacation rentals from cabins to cottages to town homes; RV spots and tent camping sites - http://www.discovermwr.com/thingstodo/navygetaways.html

MarianneKT's Mom  I friend requested you about possibly helping you out tomorrow with a ride.  Sorry so late but just saw this.

Cindy D, FWIW . . . here's where we stayed a couple of years ago for my son's homecoming. It was December so the pool wasn't open and we didn't spend a lot of time at the beach but it looked nice.

Thank you Donna Lassiter Collins for asking your son Stephen to help us out with a ride. It was so nice to finally meet him after he and Katie were in BootCamp together 5+ years ago!

I don't have to worry about this for awhile, but since homecomings are being discussed, how do we get notification of date changes? If they change a date with short notice and mail takes several weeks, how do you know since nothing can be discussed via email or phone? This is my son's first deployment, so I'm yet to figure it all out.

Thanks for all of the good tips on where to stay. I will check them out. Tracy, I would suggest to be sure to be in contact with your ship FRG or Ombudsman..

We are on those lists. However, they said the only information will be face to face at FRG meetings in Norfolk (which are impossible for us to attend). My question is if there would happen to be a change in the date, how do we get that information from my son when mail takes several weeks?

Tracy, are you in touch with your Ombudsman?  Email them and explain your concerns, they'll explain how you'll be updated.  I live in AZ and attended a Norfolk homecoming, and the Ombudsman Team was great about everything.

I have a question for those who have been through a deployment. I know it's quite aways off but the family was talking today about who all plans to drive out there and the question came up. Is there a limit to the number of people who can get on the pier for the homecoming?

I did not go out for the leaving but did for homecoming. My son gave a list to the ombudsman for the ship and we got one gate pass to get to the pier. We had three but there were whole families there. 

Calirose, when I went to Norfolk for the USS Iwo Jima homecoming they came in about an hour earlier than they'd estimated (10 rather than 11) so yes, it's good to be early!  The FB page at https://www.facebook.com/UssBulkeleyddg84/timeline says several ships are coming in the same day, so I'd err on the early side and be there at least two hours earlier than the estimated arrival time.  There's a McDonald's near the piers so you can get a coffee or whatever  :)  It's pretty cool mingling with the other families and checking out the creative banners so you won't be bored!  Have you made a banner or bringing a pre-made one?

Most people I saw just made theirs from poster board and markers and they were the most fun :)  I have always wondered what happened to the marriage proposal!  

Heads up, Moms.  Please tell your sailor that when (NOT IF) their car is towed in Norfolk, to please make sure they check their bank account.  My sailor's roomie had car towed and two days later had fraudulent charges on bank account.  Last week, my sailor had car towed and guess what.....fraudulent charges.   Just sharing this to remind our sailors to watch their accounts.  Navy Federal is good about calling for suspicious activity.

I can't go into any details.  But if anyone one could put out prayers for my sailor and his wife I would appreciate the support.

Prayers for your sailor and his wife.

May all of you have a Blessed Easter!!!

   "I Love My Jesus--today, tomorrow, forever!!!

BReady thanks for the support

To the USS Truman folks here - Norfolk photographer Laura Enright is trying to locate this family so she can share with them this wonderful family portrait she caught during homecoming on April 18.  Here's her heartwarming blog post about it:  http://www.lauraenrightphotography.com/truman-homecoming-help-me-fi...

And here's the photo - hopefully someone here recognizes them!  Thanks :)

HELP - Can anyone recommend or suggest roads / routes to take or avoid going east to Norfolk from Michigan / Ohio area? My son flew home and will be driving his truck back for the first time. This Navy mom is a bit nervous... Thanks

Singingbird - thank you so much for all this detailed info on the route! I also posted this question on my FB page and several have suggested this route but the detail if very helpful. Have a great day!

For those who are in Norfolk or familiar with the area, how close is the Portsmouth area to base? I've been looking at hotels for homecoming time (even though it's quite awhile from now), and there seems to be hotels in so many different areas when you do a search. And of course every travel site gives different mileage from each hotel to base. What would be the best area to stay in without having to drive so far every time we go to the base?

NonnaB That is awesome, I had no idea. I am an artist myself and that would be a fainting nitch.

Tracy, my son has been based in both Portsmouth and Norfolk.  For homecoming, you really can't beat the Navy Lodge for location, plus it's the most reasonably priced around and it's very nice!  I've stayed at the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk and I went back to the Navy Lodge.  Handy to have the kitchenette too, whether just the microwave and fridge in the smallest rooms, or full kitchen as you go up in size.

If you stay in Portsmouth (and I like Olde Towne!), you have a choice of two routes to the base that can get quite clogged with commuter traffic:  one route is a tunnel and surface streets through a part of Norfolk, the other involves a drawbridge, a tunnel and freeways.  My recommendation:  do take the paddlewheel ferry from Norfolk' Waterside to visit Olde Towne, but stay at Navy Lodge :)   Link - Navy Lodge Norfolk info, photos

So how does that work as far as it being a homecoming so obviously our sailor would not be there at check-in to show ID?

How far is Portsmouth from the base?

Thanks for all your info. It's just so overwhelming.

Hello, I've seen that a few of you have stayed at the Navy Lodge near the Norfolk base. Would anyone be able to tell me if they have laundry facilities onsite? I checked the website but wasn't able to find any information regarding laundry. Thank you!

abuon18, Yes, the Navy Lodge does have laundry facilities on site.  I don't remember what the cost was for the washer or dryer.

You're welcome :)

I am looking forward to being part of this group. Everyone was really helpful when I was part of the boot camp group and I am looking forward to sharing stories. My son has been there in Norfolk for about 2 weeks and is so happy to be there.