Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) hosted a historic Tiger Cruise for friends, family, and members of the community prior to returning to homeport, Aug. 14, 2026.
Essex deployed two landing craft, air cushion (LCAC), attached to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, to Red Beach on U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where 122 family and friends (Tigers) were eagerly awaiting to embark the ship and be reunited with their loved ones at last.
“I’m happy we were able to bring Sailors together with their families and show them what we do on a daily basis for this country,” U.S. Navy Capt. Russell Everitt, commanding officer of Essex, said. “I definitely hope we can do this type of thing again of the future.”
A Tiger Cruise allows friends and family of U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines to board a naval ship and experience daily life of a Sailor or Marine stationed aboard Essex. More importantly, it provides a warm welcome home reception for servicemembers and their families after long periods away at sea.
“I’ve done a lot of operations, but I haven’t done anything like this,” said Chief Electrician’s Mate Christopher Wyatt, assigned to ACU 5. “It was a truly rewarding feeling knowing I was bringing people’s families to them.”
This marks the first time the ship has embarked Tiger Cruise guests via LCAC, making this not only a heartwarming reception, but a historic endeavor for Essex.
“Being back on a ship was a very surreal experience for me,” said Michael Sweeney, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and father of U.S. Marine 1st Lt. John Sweeney, assigned to 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. “I definitely remember transiting the ship being a lot easier when I was younger.”
Once aboard, guests went through a ship safety brief, ensuring everyone had a fulfilling experience while staying safe on the active warship. Afterward, they followed their service members for personalized touring experiences of Essex.
“The excitement I have cannot be put into words,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Megan Smith, assigned to Essex. “My father was a former service member; I like that we were able compare and contrast our experiences in the Navy while we were both onboard.”
The culminating event of the evening was a steel beach picnic, a time-honored Navy tradition for ships at sea, hosted by Essex Supply Department. Sailors, Marines, and Tigers joined together on the flight deck and shared food, drinks, games, and memories as the sun slowly set over the Pacific Ocean.
“Coordinating this event took a lot of time, but it was very satisfying,” said Chief Logistics Specialist Maria Estrada, assigned to Essex. “We were able to showcase different aspects of the ship's operations as well as some of its capabilities.”
Essex returned to Naval Base San Diego the following day. Service members and guests stood on the flight deck and took in the downtown skyline, marking the end of the two and a half month underway in support of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and reunifying the ship with its southern California home.
“I was just happy to be onboard,” said Hollis Cantrellmusson, mother of Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Bailey Cantrellmusson, assigned to Essex. “The Sailors onboard were very courteous, nice and gracious.”
Essex is currently underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. An integral part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the region and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation and overflight, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the region.