2/C Summer Cruise Travel Questions

[Lucky 8]

Moved to 'Miscellaneous' Forum under 'Extending Travel' Thread.

Just received orders with a few other middies from my NROTC command for a 2/c CVN cruise from Pearl Harbor. Needless to say we're ecstatic about the location and ship. Anyways, we are looking to stay a few days in Oahu after our orders are up, however the LT in charge of cruises at our unit told us we would have to pay for our own plane tickets home if we did so. I was under the impression that we could arrange for a later flight with our ship and it would make no difference to the Navy since we're traveling on vouchers. Am I correct in assuming this? Also, any advice on Oahu/Pearl?

 

[FlyBoyd]

I did that every time for my summer training circa 89-92....one time it was almost a month after I was done (stayed with dad). All I did was ask for a later RTB and they did it. The ticket will be paid for by the government so the date you fly shouldn't be an issue. The only potential problem I could see with all the automation today is accounting for the extra time and the fact you shouldn't get perdiem those days. There may not be a way to get around it but I don't know.

 

[helolumpy]

The Navy is responsible for paying to get you out there and back to fullfill your navy duties.
The Travel Regs allow you to take leave in conjuntion with official travel. The JTR states (section 511):A traveler who takes leave, permissive travel, or an administrative absence before or after a funded TDY is entitled to travel allowances from the PDS to the funded TDY location and return to PDS. (PDS = Permanant Duty Station)

If you flight home after taking some leave will cost more then you will not be paid the difference between the flight you would have taken without leave and the price you got after taking leave.
The Gov't will not be responsible for Per Diem costs (food, lodging, incidentals) for the days you are on leave.

Otherwise your LT is wrong. You can take leave, of course they can always deny the leave at which point, you're out of luck, but saying you'll have to foot the bill for the entire trip is false.

If you're using DTS, then you will put in the price of the plane tickets and the Per Diem charges while on duty. For the days you are on leave, make sure you zero out the Per Diem charges.

One other piece of advice is if you are staying in the same hotel for the entire stay is to pay your bill on your last duty day so you have a reciept for the exact amount you are claiming to the gov't. When you present a receipt with one number but claim another (even if it's less) people start getting confused.

 

[Lucky 8]

Thanks Gents! Hook'em!

 

[STARFlight145]

A couple fun places to go:

Waimea Falls Park

Snorkeling/Swimming @ Hanauma Bay

Dole Pineapple Plantation

Some obvious attractions for us Navy folk - Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri floating museum, the old Pearl Harbor Naval Base where you can see USS Utah sunk on her side, sticking out of the water. There are also strafing marks from Japanese fighters and/or bombers that you can find somewhere out there.

You'll have an amazing time, no doubt. Enjoy.

 

[Ducky]

Your LT is most likely wrong. Just be careful and go through the proper channels on cruise to get the return trip booked. I'm not sure of all of the ins and outs with Midn travel because when your orders terminate so does your active duty status as a ROTC Midn. The ship will most likely be booking your return trip so just coordinate it through them. Have fun!

 

[Yardstick]

last year we did the same thing in pearl. someone from the sub brought us to the travel office and we were all able to reschedule our flights. no sweat

 

[HUDcripple]

On the "things to do in Pearl" side:
Spend a morning on the Pearl Harbor military sites: Arizona Memorial (which is free), Bowfin (WWII sub), Missouri, Pacific Aviation Museum (free if you wear your uniform)
Take advantage of MWR www.greatlifehawaii.com programs. Best part of Hawaii is outdoor activities. Can rent snorkel gear or surfboards from the Outdoor Adventure Center. Can rent surfboards at White Plains Beach (old Barbers Point Air Station, 25 minutes from Pearl). Can sail (may need to take a class first) at the Pearl Harbor or Hickam AFB marinas.
In the summer, waves are up on the South Shore, the North Shore is calm and good for snorkeling.
If you don't have a rental car the city bus http://thebus.org/ will get you from Pearl to anywhere on the island. A cab from the base to Waikiki will be about $50.
Hike Diamond Head early in the morning to beat the heat & tourists.
If you're 21, many places to grab a drink in Waikiki. Good eye candy on the beaches there as well. The Hale Koa (military only hotel) is a good base of operations even if you don't have a room - can hang at the pool or on the beach, cheap (for Hawaii) food at the snack bar, cleaner bathrooms than the public ones.
This summer is the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, so their will probably be a chance to visit other nations' ships.

There are certainly worse places to have a summer cruise - enjoy.

 

[Seafort]

So many longhorns in this thread. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Too bad they're tearing down RAS. I will miss the old building.

Also, for those current middies at UT: your new XO is awesome. He seriously knows his crap, and is a straight talker. LISTEN TO HIM.

 

[sickboy]

Dang, they didn't let me do that when I was in Portugal.

 

[rondebmar]

Made many trips to Oahu during the early to mid 1970s...(as a civilian)...both business and personal. From the viewpoint of this former carrier based Naval Aviator, the single most awe-inspiring site on the island was the National Cemetery Of The Pacific (aka Punchbowl National Cemetery)...followed closely by USS Arizona, of course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Memorial_Cemetery_of_the_Pacific

Among my (former) military and civilian friends...hardly hear it mentioned anymore...

 

[Lucky 8]

HUDcripple,

Great link to the greatlifehawaii site, thanks. Any thoughts on lodging when we return? Obviously our situation is very fluid so we won't be able to reserve ahead of time. I've checked out the Hale Koa, the BOQ, and the cottages on Barbers Point. Guess my biggest concerns are availability, price, and proximity to bikinis.

 

[HUDcripple]

Lucky 8:

Availability will probably change right when you are getting off the ship - once RIMPAC ends all the TDY reservists will leave. There is also a chance availability for the back end will improve once folks check into the BOQs at the start of RIMPAC and adjust their rough departure date on their reservation to match plane tix. Bottom line: keep checking, and if you find availability that lets you make changes/cancel without a charge, I'd book and then adjust.
Cheap:
There are a lot of BOQs (at least 3 on Pearl, 1 on Hickam) http://dodlodging.net/
Navy Lodge on Ford Island
Air Force Lodge on Hickam
Marines have The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay
Army has something at Scofield, but it is farther from most places (but closer to N. Shore). All army lodging is here: http://www.mwrarmyhawaii.com/lodging/ihg-army-hotels

Oahu is small enough that, except at rush hour, the entire island is accessable from wherever you stay.

there are beach cabins at:
Barbers (USN)
Kaneohe Bay (Marines)
Bellows (USAF) http://bellowsafs.com/Default.asp
Pokai Bay (USA) http://www.mwrarmyhawaii.com/lodging/parc

Hale Koa is the best bet for Bikinis.
Other hotels in Waikiki offer military rates, but probably not at cheap as Hale Koa.
Some also extend the kama'aina (local) rate to military

HUDcripple,

Great link to the greatlifehawaii site, thanks. Any thoughts on lodging when we return? Obviously our situation is very fluid so we won't be able to reserve ahead of time. I've checked out the Hale Koa, the BOQ, and the cottages on Barbers Point. Guess my biggest concerns are availability, price, and proximity to bikinis.