SF Fleet Week: How To Tour The Massive Navy Ships
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The Parade of Navy Ships made its way under the Golden Gate Bridge for a special event Friday morning.
Hundreds of people gathered along the San Francisco waterfront to watch the parade.
"We took the girls out of school because we thought this was more educational than what they would learn in school today," said Susan Galli, who drove with her kids from their hometown of Tracy to watch the show.
The USS Chosin, a navy cruiser commissioned in 1991, led the parade. The ship served in Pearl Harbor and several tours in the Middle East and on Friday passed under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
As did aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers and even local police and fire boats carrying members of the US Marines, Navy and Coast Guard leaving spectators in awe.
Perhaps the most celebrated boat of Fleet Week festivities is the USS America. It's the Navy's new big deck amphibious assault ship, which will be officially commissioned on the Bay Saturday.
MORE: Complete Schedule Of Fleet Week Events
All of these ships will spend the weekend docked along the Embarcadero, where visitors get a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the sailors.
"I told my recruiter 'yeah I want to work on planes,'" said Osprey Crew Chief Corporal Michael Bowden. "He was a crew chief as well and he was like 'Hey man, you can work on planes and you can shoot the guns too. It's a good deal.' So I was like 'Yeah man, sign me up.' It's a lot of fun. I enjoy it a lot."
On Friday afternoon, the Blue Angels will once again take to the skies above the Bay.
Ship Tours are free on a first come first served basis. The public is encouraged to attend tours and interact with Sailors. The minimum age for tours is 8 years old. When touring the ships, visitors are encouraged to bring as few items as possible when arriving for their tour and are required to wear flat-heeled, closed-toe shoes.
SHIP TOUR SCHEDULE:
Saturday October 11th 9:00am - 4:00pm
USS Chosin, and USS Kidd: Pier 35 South
USCGC Active Pier 35 North
HMCS Calgary: Pier 15/17
HMCS Brandon and HMCS Yellowknife : Pier 19
MV Cape Horn(AKR-5068) Pier 50 (10:30am-4:00pm)
Sunday October 12th 9:00am - 4:00pm
USS America: Piers 30-32 (10am-4pm)
USS Chosin, and USS Kidd: Pier 35 South
USCGC Active Pier 35 North
HMCS Calgary: Piers 15-17 (9am-noon)
HMCS Brandon and HMCS Yellowknife: Pier 19
Monday October 13th 9:00am - 4:00pm
Ship Tours USS America: Piers 30-32
USS Chosin (9:00-12:00 Monday), and USS Kidd: Pier 35 South
USCGC Active Pier 35 North
HMCS Calgary: Piers 15-17
HMCS Brandon and HMCS Yellowknife : Pier 19
