San Diego Travel Forum

Do you know how to find a Navy ship open for tours or any contact information with a schedule of available ships in San Diego. I am a 30 year navy Vet and would like to show my daughter what a War Ship is all about.

Try this site: http://www.midway.org/site/pp.asp?c=eeIGLLOrGpF&b=3038957

they use to have ships open for tours most saturdays - don't know if they still do it. contact the navy.

I second the vote for USS Midway. I think in the same location is the former presidental yachet Patomic and a sub. I don't believe you can get tours of active duty Navy ships unless you have a connection.

But take a drive out to Coronado Island and with a retired ID you should be able to get on base. If not you can drive real close on the public street to the active duty ships tied up there. Also take a harbor cruise and it should take you down to the sub pens and past what is moored along North Island.

If you can work it out take the crusie near dusk as you might see the fighter jets taking off from North Island. We were lucky enough to be leaving on a cruise as a couple took off and kicked in their after burners, to awesome!

Hi Bob. My vote goes for the Midway as well. In the vicinity you'll also see historic ships, the ship used in the movie Master and Commander as well as a decommissioned Russian sub. A retired ID gets you and base but even for AD Military, tours of commissioned ships are subject to the skipper's discretion -- I'm sure a 30 year vet won't have a problem though. I have some info on the aforementioned exhibits.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/fdd26/4fd/4/

The weekend "good will tours" of a working ship, offered by the U.S. Navy has been suspended since 9/11.

However, there is an exception to this and it is that tours of a working ship are being offered during Fleet Week. This year it will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28, 2008. If you will be here during that time, you and your daughter might really enjoy a tour as well as some of the other displays offered.

If you have the reqired ID to get on one of the bases in town, it may be possible to get permission for a tour on a working ship.


Short of that, it would be, as everyone has suggested, the U.S.S.Midway. Not too shabby an alternative, as it is a real, historical ship.

As far as enjoying aircraft with after burners flying over head, if you can't qualify to enter NAS North Island, you can experience that almost as well at the northern end of Coronado Beach.