Fleet Week is back in the Big Apple, folks! This week, New York Harbor will be buzzing with family-friendly activities and tours for all you city dwellers out there. And guess what? We’re kicking things off with the iconic Parade of Ships.
So, here’s the deal – the Parade of Ships is happening bright and early on Wednesday morning. The exact time? Well, it’s a bit up in the air, but historically, the parade tends to kick off after 7:30 a.m. and lasts a few hours. The ships will cruise from the Verrazano Bridge through New York Harbor and dock at Piers 86-90 in Hell’s Kitchen near the Intrepid Museum.
Not really sure why this matters, but you can keep up with all the action on the NBC New York app (in the player above) and streaming channel. The ships are expected to make their grand entrance around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. And hey, mark your calendars for Fleet Week in New York City 2025 – it’s all going down from May 21-27. Get ready to see two U.S. Navy ships, two Coast Guard Cutters, and five U.S. Navy Academy Yard Patrol boats in action. Oh, and this year’s theme is all about “Honoring the Past, Defending the Future: 250 Years of Sea Service Excellence” as the Navy and Marine Corps celebrate their 250th birthday.
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show – the USS New York. This bad boy was commissioned in 2009 and holds a special place in our hearts with steel from the World Trade Center. The annual Parade of Ships is a sight to see as the vessels make their way through New York Harbor and up the Hudson River past Manhattan and the Jersey waterfront.
And guess what? Fleet Week is not just a one-day affair. From Wednesday, May 21 to Tuesday, May 27, 2025, you can soak in all the maritime glory. Check out the schedule of tours and ship locations for Fleet Week New York:
– Manhattan, Pier 88 South: USS New York (LPD 21) from Norfolk, Virginia
– Manhattan, Pier 90 North: USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759) and HMCS Frédérick Rolette (AOPV 434)
– Manhattan, Intrepid Museum, Pier 86: Five U.S. Naval Academy YPs
– Homeport Pier, Staten Island: USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and USCGC Sturgeon Bay (WTGB 109)
The Intrepid Museum is the place to be during Fleet Week with activities running from May 23-26. Make sure you catch the free movie night on Friday, May 23 on the flight deck featuring Top Gun. Military competitions and challenges will also be happening on Saturday and Sunday, so don’t miss out on the action. Other fun activities and performances will be taking place throughout the weekend.
So, there you have it – Fleet Week in New York City is shaping up to be one for the books. Get ready to salute our armed forces and celebrate 250 years of sea service excellence in style!
