ship tour bremerton

USS Turner Joy

Review Highlights

“ We wanted to check out Bremerton, took the ferry here and this is one of the place we stopped by. ” in 6 reviews

“ I learned that she was one of the navy ships used in the Vietnam War , and all of the major parts were open to public access. ” in 5 reviews

“ Kids should be able to get up and down a ladder or else you are going to be pretty worn out by the end of the day. ” in 5 reviews

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300 Washington Beach Ave

Bremerton, WA 98337

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A living piece of history right here. I found her by accident, thanks to my little escape from the Blackberry Festival. I learned that she was one of the navy ships used in the Vietnam War, and all of the major parts were open to public access. It was so cool to see the inner workings of the ship; gosh, it really was a huge operation. Numbered signs were really helpful for guiding the way, and enthusiastic history enthusiasts/staff members were onboard to answer any questions. One thing to note- there are a lot of vertical ladders in the ship. To get the most of the experience, I recommend coming here if you are able to use them.

See all photos from Blessie V. for USS Turner Joy

Great experience for the entire family. You will have to climb multiple ladders both up and down to access the various areas of the ship. Some ladders are steeper than others and have smaller stair treads. They recommend about two hours for the tour and it will take you that long to hit all the areas open. There are also some very narrow passages and low ceiling sections. Good shoes and comfortable clothes are a must. Several areas have pre-recorded facts about that area, so slow down and read the signs. Understanding the vessel and its history are the main goal and we left more knowledgeable on Destroyers than we imagined. The boys (6 & 12), had a great time touching stuff and pretending to sail the ship.

My family was locked inside the USS Turner Joy by an employee. The last photo I took on the ship tells the whole story: the Exit is BOLTED and CHAINED SHUT. What you don't see is the panic our entire family experienced as we searched for another way out - in the DARK, because someone began turning off lights. We struggled to find other exits using our phones as flashlights. We searched the ship's multiple levels, squeezed through small dark corridors, tripped over steps and down stairs trying to find a way out. What we found were dead ends and two more Exits LOCKED and CHAINED. We tried calling the gift shop to alert them that people were still on the ship, but we didn't have a signal/service inside. The outside temp was in the high 80's and the air stopped circulating, so it felt like we were in an oven. Fear spread across our group. We shouted for help, but no one answered. The situation would frighten anyone, but several family members have claustrophobia and suffered panic attacks as a result. We lost sight of one another as we searched the ship's bowels for an unlocked exit. My partner found an open door and called for us to follow his voice in the dark. When he attempted to re-enter to help lead us out, an employee blocked him. The employee said that he had an errand to run and the ship was "closed." I thought we must've overstayed by quite a bit, but as I exited, I noted the time: 5:04PM. The time stamp on my photo of the locked door: 5:01PM. We purchased our tickets at 4:30PM. At no point did anyone tell us that the ship closed at 5PM; at no point did anyone use an intercom - or even shout out to us - that the ship was closing, doors were being locked and that we must exit. Why? The situation was unreal, beyond upsetting and extremely dangerous. Closing protocols for the USS Turner Joy must be changed. This must not happen to anyone else.

Chained and bolted exit of USS Turner Joy

Wow, this was so much fun! I took my visiting parents to Bremerton primarily for the extended ferry ride and we toured this on a lark. You get to access and touch *everything* in the ship and there is no guided tour to wisk you away from something interesting or slow you down with something boring. I had recently been on the Midway in San Diego harbor and as cool as that was, this was 5X better. Wanna crawl up into a gunner turret? Lay in a real bunk? Sit in the helm seat of the cockpit? Pick up a mortar shell? Operate a very early electro-mechanical computer radar station? It's all here to do as much as you want. Only catch is you just have to be physically able to climb and descend boat ladders. My step dad who has some mobility issues got so entranced he was up and down like he was 25 years younger. Pro-tip: My mom who has MS and is mobility limited was able to see by us face-timing some of the parts she could not access. VERY highly recommended. Also, be sure to grab a quick lunch at "the Shack" on the pier too.

Incredible piece of history for adults & kids! I had a 9 and 11 year old who thoroughly enjoyed exploring every inch of this incredible ship. So much to see and experience first hand. A wonderful piece of history. Highly recommend for adults and kids old enough to safely navigate stairs and hatches.

We toured the USS Turner Joy today, and it is a really cool ship. The self-guided tour is free, and you gain entrance by visiting the gift shop. The ship is very large but cold inside, and wearing warm clothing in the winter and a sweater in the summer will keep you comfortable. The ship has many narrow and steep stairs that my preschooler was able to climb, but if you have major mobility issues it may be difficult. It isn't wheelchair or stroller accessible due to the many levels and narrow doorways with ledges. The ship has a lot of signs to direct you the right way, along with easy to decipher maps on where you are and where to go. Interesting parts of the ship and objects also have detailed descriptions which is really great if you're into history. The ship is also fun for the younger ones because there are a lot of knobs and switches that are clearly labeled ("pull right to hear sonar"). I would recommend at least 1-2 hours on the ship and if you're a history buff, maybe 3 hours. There are also two restrooms on the ship and docents on the ship can also guide you to one if you are lost. The staff in the gift shop and all of the volunteers inside the ship were super friendly and kind with lots of smiles.

This ship was well named, because the staff here are very good at turning your joy into something else--namely, misery. I've been here numerous times. This spring and summer I brought my closest family and friends and their kids. Each time, I was hoping to share the excitement and fun of being aboard a real navy ship with fresh eyes, especially the kids. Frankly, my experiences are an embarrassment to the US Navy and what it represents. Rude, passive-aggressive volunteers harassed us. Not only that, but one of the docents (or whatever they call themselves) turned off all the lights and blocked exits while my family was lost in the middle of the ship! On top of that, when I asked the guy to turn the lights back on so I could find them, he not only refused--he physically blocked me from going to find my family. He ordered me to call them. When I explained that cell reception was poor, he said I should get a different carrier, and that he needs to go get his prescriptions and run errands. On top of that, we were only allowed 30 minutes on the boat. No one even mentioned closing time at the front desk or told us anything about the boat or any policies. This is beyond rude. These behaviors present a hazard to peoples' health and safety. Believe me, if anyone fell or got hurt because of it, we wouldn't hesitate to sue the guy, the museum and the US Navy, for placing an incompetent person in charge of others' lives. The boat has a PA system, but instead of using it to tell people they have 10 minutes left or something, they instead just switch off the lights without even bothering to check if people are still there?! One museum employees' laziness and decision to be a jerk wrecked the entire day for my family. On prior trips we were treated rudely as well, by their staff of resentful people who seem to hate their jobs--or at least the public. Not only was this a total waste of money, it's now a bad memory as well. Especially for my ten year old nephew, who is claustrophobic. If he ends up with any residual trauma from this, we will sue. Meantime, we will take our business and make better memories at places where decent, competent employees understand how to treat others with a modicum of respect and kindness--and that is definitely NOT at the USS Turner Joy.

I'm a history nut so I knew USS Turner wouldn't disappoint. During our visit, we were unable to find street parking so we ended up parking in the Harborside Garage. Rates were $4 for up to 3 hours of parking. Credit cards are accepted in the garage. Before touring the ship, we browsed through the gift shop. The gift shop is also where tickets are purchased. The tour is self-guided which allows one to investigate at their own leisure. Our party explored the ship for about 3 hours. The ship is cold so dress accordingly. The ship has narrow passageways and ladder-wells which doesn't make it ideal for the handicapped. There are seasoned veterans throughout the ship to show you how instruments were worked as well as to answer any questions. Complimentary coffee and hot chocolate is available in the cafeteria. Overall, we all had a fantastic day and left feeling humbled. I would recommend this tour to everyone.

See all photos from Trista H. for USS Turner Joy

4.5 stars! This museum is pretty neat! You get a chance to see and experience first hand what living in a ship on a military duty is like. The condition of the ship itself is still pretty well maintained (even though the ship was used back as far in time as the Vietnam War era. The ship is pretty walkable from the Bremerton ferry terminal, so it is something cool to explore for sure. The entrance fee itself is quite a bit (~$27pp) and AAA gets you a $1 discount (veteran/military people are free, and discount for child I believe), but because you can do a self-guided tour and spend as much time as you want, if you are a ship enthusiast, it is a perfect place for you to explore. You get to see where the crew of different ranks live, eat, and perform functions. It was also hard to navigate around inside the ship, given I went up and down the stairs to the different parts of the ship and was pretty much disoriented and no longer remember which part of the ship I was in most of the time I was in teh museum. What I can say after seeing this ship is that...I now know that I probably can't be serve in a navy at all, given how claustrophobic/physically demanding (climbing up/down the stairs) it was inside, so...a lot of respect to military people out there for sure.

See all photos from Joop V. for USS Turner Joy

Thanks to our daughter for giving me tickets to this historic ship, launched in 1958. The Turner Joy was one of the two US ships fired upon the Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin. On the basis of that action, LBJ escalated our involvement. Years later, the Turner Joy was the last Navy ship to fire upon Vietnam as our withdrawal took place. Regardless of one's opinion of the Vietnam war, this ship pays great respect to those who served upon her during those times. The docents are largely sailors who served on the same era of destroyer. Their knowledge of what it was like to serve on such a ship, in combat and peace, is wonderful. As one who likes military history, I only wish I had more time with them! One negative - parking. The ship is near the ferry terminal. There are lots of city parking garages nearby - all filled with ferry commuter's cars. We did find 2H parking on the street, but that did limit our time on the water front.

Radar Room near the bridge

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• Family Fun , Outdoor Activities in Seattle , Sightseeing & Tours

USS Turner Joy (DD-951)

Nw's only naval destroyer.

Maritime history and family fun adventure!   Welcome aboard the USS Turner Joy DD-951.

The USS Turner Joy DD-951 is a 418 foot historic U.S. Navy destroyer. She is located just an hour outside of Seattle in Bremerton, Washington. She is one of the most complete naval museum ships in the US offering a unique historical naval adventure taking visitors back to the Vietnam war.

The destroyer ship is most remembered for her participation with USS Maddox (DD-731) in the in the Gulf of Tonkin incident which occurred August 2, 1964, an action that led to the United States’ increased involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Gulf of Tonkin incident was the “match that lit the fire,” and remained a major turning point for the United States in terms of its involvement in the Vietnam War. The incident mobilized public opinion to the point that the Congress of the United States approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, thereby opening the door to and dramatically escalating the American combat presence in Vietnam.

The Turner Joy, named after Admiral Charles Turner Joy, had her keel laid in the fall of 1957 in Seattle, Washington, by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company. She was subsequently launched in the spring of 1958 and commissioned in mid-summer, 1959. Commander Ralph S. Wentworth was the first to command her bridge. The ship was the last of the Forrest Sherman Class destroyers built.

This fully restored U.S. Navy destroyer ship offers visitors a self guided tour including a Prisoner of War (POW) room in remembrance of the US military men held in captivity during the Vietnam War. She is moored in the Bremerton Marina offering amazing views for photos.

If you are taking the Seattle/Bremerton ferry we suggest that you leave your car in Seattle and enjoy the most scenic ride aboard a Washington State Ferry. Spend your day visiting the ship, local shops, museums, parks and restaurants all within walking distance.

We look forward to seeing you!

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USS Turner Joy Museum Ship

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USS Turner Joy Museum Ship - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Wed - Sun 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• (0.17 km) Hampton Inn & Suites Bremerton
• (0.19 km) Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Bremerton
• (0.61 km) Renovated condo in historical building, near Seattle-Bremerton ferry
• (2.43 km) Comfort Inn On the Bay
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• (0.17 km) The Curry
• (0.23 km) Anthonys at Sinclair Inlet
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USS Turner Joy/Bremerton Historic Ship Association

USS Turner Joy/Bremerton Historic Ship Association P.O. Box 336 Bremerton, Washington 98337

The destroyer "USS Turner Joy," was the last Forrest Sherman class destroyer built. While some of these ships were later converted to guided missile destroyers, "Turner Joy" remains close to her original 1959 configuration. The destroyer has been restored to reflect the appearance during her active years between 1960 and 1982.

Tour a Restored 1959 US Navy Destroyer in Bremerton WA

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Puget Sound Navy Museum

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Puget Sound Navy Museum, Bremerton

• Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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• (0.46 mi) Renovated condo in historical building, near Seattle-Bremerton ferry
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• (0.09 mi) Anthonys at Sinclair Inlet
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• (0.08 mi) Cold Stone Creamery
• (0.07 mi) Starbucks
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LIVE ABOARD PROGRAM

The Bremerton Historic Ships Association  takes exceptional pride in providing the Vietnam Era destroyer USS TURNER JOY for your appreciation. Visiting this historic vessel is one way to enjoy its past, but can’t compare to remaining on board overnight to fully appreciate the firepower and excellent shipboard construction that US Navy crews have experienced over the many years when this fine ship steamed in support of our nation’s defense.

Now you can go back in time and imagine yourself stationed on the bridge during combat or in Combat Information Center during one of the ship’s many missions on the line providing naval gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam. Perhaps you were standing watch during a night underway replenishment or while providing plane guard duties for one of the Navy’s aircraft carriers such as the USS HORNET.

Experience eating meals in the crew’s galley, and sleeping in the crew’s quarters. Your night aboard the USS TURNER JOY will be an adventure you will never forget.

While aboard Turner Joy you and your fellow crewmembers will be considered shipmates. The term shipmate comes with it the rich heritage of the United States Navy where each crewmember is expected to act and serve along with and side by side his or her friend both in duties assigned and on liberty. You can count on your shipmates to support you in all you do while on board the USS TURNER JOY.

We at the Bremerton Historic Ships Association have made a considerable effort to maintain this famous destroyer in a manner that anyone who served aboard would be proud to see. We hope you enjoy the enormous effort that has gone into the ship’s restoration. Please refer to, and read in its entirety, the information below so as to receive the maximum benefit from your stay aboard the USS TURNER JOY and experience what it was like to be “haze gray and underway!”

WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THE LIVE ABOARD PROGRAM DUE TO STAFFING CONCERNS.

"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us."

SOCRATES - ATHENS, GREECE

"My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake."

ARISTOTLE - SOMEWHERE ELSE IN GREECE

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

PLATO - ALSO ATHENS

"A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a sailor knows the open sea."

HONORE DE BALZAC

"As I've grown - dare I say it - older, I had hopes of indulging my dreams of being a sailor."

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Cruise line will be a more regular visitor to Bremerton's waterfront in 2023

Just five years after adding Kitsap County to its Puget Sound itinerary, American Cruise Lines will significantly increase its presence on the Bremerton waterfront this spring and summer.

Two ships will make 45 stops combined at the Harborside Marina, starting next Friday, April 14, through mid-November. One, the American Constellation, has been coming to Bremerton since 2018, when it made a one-night stop, and regularly since 2019, other than a year off in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. In 2022 the American Constellation made seven dockings. This spring the vessel is joined by the American Spirit, two of the Connecticut-based tour company's vessels that run trips around Puget Sound for a vacation that's tailored to non-Northwesterners, according to CEO Jim Rothlin from the Port of Bremerton, which announced the expansion.

"Hardly anybody was from the state of Washington," Rothlin said of the visitors American Cruise Lines brings to the region. "They came from outside the state, even outside the country... For the demographic they get, they like the activities we have here, they like things that are unique."

Rothlin pointed to the Navy Museum in downtown Bremerton, Port Orchard's Elandan Gardens, and the USS Turner Joy Naval Destroyer Museum, located just down the boardwalk from where the cruise ships will dock, as the most popular excursions offered on tour itineraries. This year the Port of Bremerton has purchased a golf carts to offer rides to cruise visitors up the hill from the marina into downtown Bremerton, and John Hansen of the Turner Joy said his organization has done the same. Hansen said the ships, which hold from 90 to 180 passengers, have been helpful to museum attendance and at times send as many as 70 visitors to the museum on a single stop and the Turner Joy has catered to the visitors by offering discounts or custom souvenirs.

And now, there's potential for that nearly every weekend of the next eight months. According to an itinerary from American Cruise Lines, the majority of dockings will take place on Friday mornings, with occasional arrivals on a Saturday or Sunday, in April (4 visits), May (8), June (5), July (4), August (4), September (7), October (7), and November (6).

Alexa Paolella of American Cruise Lines said the vessels will no longer dock in Liberty Bay for a Poulsbo stop, which had been part of the company's two Puget Sound tours in the past. But Poulsbo remains a destination on the advertised itinerary, and during the longer dockings in Bremerton passengers will be bused from the Harborside Marina to North Kitsap attractions like Front Street or the Suquamish Museum.

The two tours in Puget Sound range from a seven-night visit, with prices that start at around $4,000, to a 11-night trip that starts at about $5,700, according to American Cruise Lines. Paolella said the majority of visitors are not from the Northwest, and often chose to explore the area as repeat customers who've taken a trip to Alaska or another of American Cruise Lines' domestic trips on waterways like the Mississippi River or Columbia River, or harbors along the New England coast.

"We're thrilled the cruise ships are substantially increasing their port visits to Bremerton," Hansen said. "The economic impact to downtown businesses is exciting."

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2022 Cruise Ships Return to Port of Bremerton Marina

The Port of Bremerton’s staff are excited to have American Cruise Lines' cruise ships return to the Bremerton Marina this year. Their ships visited multiple times in 2019 and 2021 on their Puget Sound cruises.

The American Constellation will be visiting Bremerton six times in 2022: April 16, May 4, May 6, September 21, September 23, and October 11. It will arrive in the afternoons and stay docked for about 24 hours to allow passengers to explore the waterfront and city. Fitting 175 guests, the American Constellation was inaugurated in 2017 and was uniquely designed to navigate the inland waterways of the Pacific Northwest. Bremerton is just one of the stops on their 11-day Grand Puget Sound cruise.

“We look forward every year to the return of the American Constellation to our Bremerton Marina,” Port CEO Jim Rothlin said. “It’s a delight to share the unique beauty of the Puget Sound and the Kitsap Community to visitors from all over the world.”

Marina staff will be greeting the guests dockside as the cruise ship arrives.

More information on American Cruise Lines: https://www.americancruiselines.com/cruises/puget-sound-cruises

Cruise ship arrival dates are subject to change.

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See the stunning tour beneath the Battleship New Jersey fans are paying $225 to experience

• Updated: Apr. 22, 2024, 2:23 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 20, 2024, 8:01 a.m.

• Nyah Marshall | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Tours of the Battleship New Jersey as it sits in dry dock began this month, giving visitors a rare chance to see the hull of a fully exposed battleship and an opportunity to walk beneath a massive piece of American history.

The USS New Jersey , the most decorated battleship in U.S. Navy history, left its home pier on the Camden waterfront and was towed to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for major repairs on March 27.

Public tours are being offered on weekends through the end of May while the battleship undergoes restoration at the shipyard.

Tickets and can be purchased through the Battleship New Jersey museum’s website for $225. The tours are limited to people ages 16 or older. Veterans who served on the battleship can get discounted tickets for $170.

As of Thursday, more than 70% of tickets have been sold, according to officials.

For Libby Jones, who has been the Battleship New Jersey museum’s director of eduction for six years, the guided dry dock tours are a big change of pace.

The first weekend of tours, which began on April 6, completely sold out. People from around the country and the world have come to see the 887-feet long decommissioned warship out of water, said Jones, who serves as a tour guide.

“We’ve seen people from all over,” Jones said. “We saw folks from Switzerland ... somebody came from the Philippines just for a tour.”

Before joining the dry dock tour, visitors are reminded to dress appropriately and wear steel-toed shoes and sturdy pants because it’s an active worksite. Complimentary commemorative branded hats and protective eyewear are provided, along with steel toe covers for those who need them, officials said.

The tours, conducted in groups of about 10, begin at the top of the dock with museum directors delving into the history and ongoing work being done on the battleship.

Then, visitors descend into the dock, approximately 50 feet deep, to get an up-close look at the hull and the ship’s 18-foot tall propellers. And those taking the tour can touch the vessel.

Tour guides then switch on the lights on their hard hats to lead the group underneath the 45,000-ton ship for an experience that has never been offered before. The ship is currently elevated on about 360 blocks, a few feet above the ground, so those attending need to crouch down beneath the ship during the tour.

While there have been no injuries reported, children under 16 are not allowed on tours because it is an active worksite, musuem officials said. And, because climbing steep flights of stairs to get into and out of the site is required, the tour is not wheelchair or walker accessible.

Towards the end of the tour, as the group makes its way to the front tip of the vessel, visitors will find some of the best views for photos, guides said. When you look up at the ship from the front, you get a feel for just how massive the battleship is, Jones said.

Depending on the day the tour is booked, the public can get to see various stages of the battleship’s restoration.

Workers are repainting the ship’s hull, repairing the anti-corrosion system underneath the ship, and inspecting the through-hull openings. Also, the ship’s zinc anodes, used to prevent corrosion, will be replaced with aluminum, a better choice for the ship’s freshwater environment in the Delaware River.

Earlier this month, workers were power washing the hull to remove mud, old paint and any leftover debris, before it gets coated with fresh paint.

About 5,200 gallons of paint will be used to repaint the ship’s hull a traditional red color, said museum curator Ryan Szimanski.

Dry dock tour tickets are still available but nearly sold out, officials said.

“We’ve got slots left, but they’re selling quick,” Jones said.

Mandy Trunzo, of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, first became a Battleship New Jersey supporter about 18 years ago when she brought a group of Girl Scouts on an overnight tour of the ship in Camden. She was among the first set of people to secure a ticket for the first week of sold-out tours.

“This was an amazing once in a lifetime experience for my fiancé, Vincent, and I,” Trunzo said. “To be able to go underneath a 45,000-ton battleship is an amazing experience.”

Battleship New Jersey Director of Education Libby Jones leads the way under the ship at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Philadelphia. Each block holding up the ship supports 155 tons. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

The entire dry dock repair process, which will cost about $10 million, is expected to take about two months. Afterwards, the ship will return home to Camden, where it has served as a museum for 25 years.

Funding for the project came from various sources, including $5 million from the 2024 state budget, a $750,000 grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust and a $3.25 million bond issued with backing from Camden County. The museum is working to cover the rest of the repair costs through its private fundraisers, officials said.

The Battleship New Jersey, also known as “Big J,” is the adorned with 19 battle stars. As an Iowa-class ship, it holds the distinction of being among the last American battleships to serve in World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War.

The Philadelphia Navy Yard dock, where the battleship is being repaired, is significant because it’s where the ship was originally built and launched in 1942, a year after the Pearl Harbor attack. The last time it entered to dry dock was in 1967 when it was reactivated for the Vietnam War, Szimanski said.

Decommissioned museum ships must undergo dry docking for maintenance every 20 years, according to Navy regulations. However, this is the first time in decades the Battleship New Jersey has undergone a major maintenance project, officials said.

When the vessel was first tugged away last month to make its way to Paulsboro for the first step of its repair journey, the sendoff was witnessed by hundreds on the Camden waterfront. The event may have been the the last opportunity for veterans who had served on the decorated ship to see it move again. Many watched again a few days later when the ship was towed from Paulsboro to Philadelphia to enter dry dock.

Judging by the response the museum has had from the dry dock tours, the excitement won’t be dying down anytime soon, said Jones.

“I don’t think it’ll die down until we’re very comfortably back in Camden,” she said.

The Battleship New Jersey sits in dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The mist is from workers pressure washing the ships hull in preparation for paint. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

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