George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 GW’s first-ever Tiger Cruise is a rousing success Nearly 800 fortunate GW friends and family members got the opportunity to meet with their loved ones two days prior to Homecoming Day when the “Spirit of Freedom” held its first-ever “Tiger Cruise” July 21. “Tiger” is a term meaning a friend or relative (other than a spouse) who embarks a ship at the tail end of an underway period. GW's Tigers flew out to Bermuda, where the ship met them while en route to Norfolk. While on board, the Tigers developed a keener understanding of what their Sailors do for a living and got a general overview of life aboard an aircraft carrier. They toured work spaces, slept in berthing compartments, observed flight operations, and interacted with many crew members, who were more than happy to show off the ship and proud to explain the duties and importance of their various ratings. During the Tiger Cruise, the ship’s SEAL Team gave demonstrations of some of their unique abilities, and Carrier Air Wing 7 held its flyoff, which signified the end of the deployment. The final aircraft to depart GW was Blaster 500. This was significant because it would be the last A-6 Intruder to launch from the ship. Making the event even more memorable was the fact that Virginia Governor George Allen (above) launched the last aircraft. Governor Allen and his wife were the first to welcome the men and women of GW CVW 7 back to Virginia. Pictured at left, Governor and Mrs. Allen converse with Admiral Wiliam J. Flanigan, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, on the bridge. Tiger Cruise 229