Miami welcomes Fleet Week for the first time, with more than 3,000 service members descending on PortMiami for a spectacle of naval might and community engagement. After a longstanding tradition in Broward County, the event has set its sights on Miami-Dade, bringing with it an array of warships, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. Kicking off from May 5 through May 12, this year's festivities offer a blend of pomp and public service, with environmental initiatives like beach cleanups thrown into the mix.
Running the show, U.S. Navy veteran and WPTV anchor Mike Trim will offer a glimpse into Navy life. Across the expanse of ocean where the USS Harry S. Truman settles miles offshore, he will show the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast’s links to the naval world, from the Navy Reserve Center in West Palm Beach to a Navy mom in Loxahatchee with a son on active duty, as reported by WPTV.
Among the vessels, the headline-stealer is the nuclear-powered USS Harry S. Truman, though it will tease spectators from several miles out to sea and won’t be open for tours. Nevertheless, four other military ships will dock at PortMiami and welcome the public aboard—namely the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship; the USS Normandy and USS Leyte Gulf, both guided missile cruisers; and the USCGS Seneca, a sturdy Coast Guard cutter. To catch these rare insights into naval life, visitors can book tours ranging from Monday to Saturday, according to NBC Miami.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava beamed with pride during a press conference, emphasizing the range of activities — from Navy Band concerts, Beach Olympics to social dances themed "Dancing with the Stars and Stripes." “Truly, there is an activity for everyone. It’s bringing the Navy closer to the people that it serves," Levine Cava told NBC Miami. With activities broad as they are wide, the event aims to foster appreciation and provide an intimate look at military operations.
The tours, held from May 6–11, require tickets that are being sold at a rate of zero dollars but must be claimed 48 hours in advance. Slots are outlined as weekday afternoons and evenings, with a special morning-to-afternoon window on Saturday. While safety measures bar open-toed footwear and photography is limited to certain areas, visitors are encouraged to carve out time to explore multiple ships, each requiring its own reservation, as advised by WPTV.
Navy and Marine Corps bands will serenade crowds, school visits will inspire youth, and flyovers by military aircraft will punctuate the South Florida skies. Beyond the ship tours, exhibits of naval history and technology, along with information on Navy environmental efforts, will keep visitors in awe as they await their shipboard adventures. With such an array of events, Fleet Week promises to unite service members with the community they serve in an unprecedented weeklong tribute to sea services.
