Battleship New Jersey

The only reason this ship gets 1 star is because the boat is cool. The bar line was ridiculous. Only 2 bartenders with WAY too many people. We couldn’t even tour the boat because of packing too many people on the ship. The fireworks sucked the most. If you’re under 6 feet tall, you can’t see them. No countdown to New Years and no warning of cannons shooting off so you just miss out on everything. Never recommending this to anyone, not even my worst enemy.

Awesome.
1) Take the Fire Power tour, it is awesome. Will take 2hrs to finish.
2) It is somewhat pricy for a museum, over 20 bucks. However, worth every penny.
3) Beautiful views of the Delaware River from the ship.

I was here recently and it is definitely worth a trip if you are a fan of history. It’s right next to the aquarium and the children’s garden so there is plenty of activities to fill up a day. The USS New Jersey is a battleship that served from WW2 through the Gulf War. That kind of time gives it a lot of history. You are able to walk through most of it on a self guided tour but if you want to see the whole ship you will need the guided tour because it will take you into the lower portion of the ship. Also, if you want something really interesting for the kids to do they have sleep overs at the ship in the summer

What a ship!!! My family and I had some family visiting from England and this was one thing on their list that they REALLY wanted to do. I was definitely interested also due to the fact that I love history and my husband served 6 years in the Navy. This place did not disappoint. We did the self guided tour and it was worth every minute. This ship really is amazing. All the employees were very nice and helpful. It was very educational and everyone enjoyed them self. I’d definitely go back given the chance.

It is always a wonder to experience a part of history, first hand. If you have never been on a battleship, you have to experience the size and even then, it is pretty unbelievable. I am so glad we are keeping important parts of our history for all to see.

The tour is very educational, however it is physically demanding. Kudos to the sailors who risk their lives protecting an oftentimes undeserving nation. I don’t know how they can function in such cramped quarters, especially the older ships like the USS NEW JERSEY, but I am thankful for their devotion and service.

First time I have ever been here and it was a worthwhile trip. On Friday, I went on this trip with the camp I work with. The tour guide who lead my group of campers was Ken. He was knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.
The battleship New Jersey was commissioned and reconmisioned a total of 4 times (this included the Korean War and the Vietnam War, etc.) Just like an branch of the military, the Navy was fast paced. So in the Navy you had to find quick ways to move. Ken told all of us that one of the ways that they got around was they learned to slide down the ladders (they are actually stairs, very tiny stairs.)
Ken helped to make sure that what he said was kid friendly and that our youngest camper (6 years old) could understand what was being said. Ken also made sure to tell our kids that the best way for them to go down the stairs was backwards.
If you love the Navy, boats, or maybe you are a big history buff, you need to see this gem of a museum.
If you don’t like walking, climbing tiny stairs, mannequins (yes mannequins), or aren’t a fan of history… this gem is not for you.

This ship’s weapon systems and guns are intricate and massive. I marveled at the designs and engineering of such killing machines. I enjoyed the self-​guided tour. I served in the U.S. Navy myself having stationed aboard a destroyer during the Vietnam War. I was ready to engage the guide in the radar control room since my battle station during general quarter was the combat information center tracking the communications. I saw the guide enthusiastically greeted the folks in front of me, asking where they are from, etc., however, when I walked up, he looked past me and proceeded to greet the folks behind me instead. Since I am an Asian-​American, in his mind he probably was still fighting the war with the Japanese and totally ignored me. It is a shame that this happened but this kind of discriminatory attitude is not uncommon. Hence I gave it two stars.

Very cool tour. Personally I’ve wanted to tour a battleship for a very long time and on a recent family visit to Pennsylvania I told everyone straight up that we were gonna be going here first and stay here until dad was done.
We were able to visit it on a Friday morning so I can’t comment on how busy it might get during peak season weekends. Mostly school kids in tours when we were there.
One note — The magazine/​turret tour is only available on the weekends. Don’t let that keep you from checking this amazing ship out.
Took the ferry across, skipped the audio tour and headed out.
There are quite a few veterans on board that are more than willing to tell you everything you want to know about the ship.
Since the ship has been in continuous use until it was finally retired its showing its 1980s face — phalanx systems around the ship, the harpoon launchers, etc. The AA guns that used to ring the ship are long gone though.
Like others have said this ship is massive and the armor that it carries on the bridge and turrets you get to see first hand.
They do warn you that you will be moving up and down 5+ decks and the ladders are steep. Kids complained some about it and a couple of times went down backwards instead of walking forwards.
While it would be cool to see into every part of the ship (you don’t get to see the engine room or CNC unfortunately) You get to see enough of the ship that will make any one happy.

very cool self-​guided tour. had the ship to ourselves minus employees and two geese that decided to call it home on a gloomy Monday. we opted for the audio devices that gave us more details on certain aspects of the tour (no additional cost), and got some insight from employees across the ship. There’s a lot of ladders with narrow steps, and the ship takes a few hours to fully explore so wear comfortable shoes. I’d like to come back sometime for a guided tour and to check out the simulator and fireworks =)

Pack #179 stayed overnight on the Battleship NJ. We were wowed! The organization level was really high and our docent (Mr. Larry H) was especially knowledgeable, never hesitated with a great answer to our questions. We also liked that BB-​62 was kept as original as possible and not overdone with comforts that would obscure the real purpose.
…this ship is way bigger than you might think…
We will be back for another sleep-​over. Thanks!

We boarded the Battleship New Jersey on a combo tour/​fireworks ticket for the early New Years Eve fireworks show over the Delaware River. We have been viewing the New Years Eve fireworks show for the past 5 years from Penn’s Landing on the PA side and were looking for something different.
To be honest with you, viewing the fireworks from the ship is only worth three stars … maybe even two stars. This ship is so cool, however, that I did not think it was fair to give it two stars over something they have no control over. The barge the fireworks were launched from was directly in front of the bow near the Ben Franklin Bridge. Since the front of the ship arcs upward, the lower fireworks were not visible and the flag/​hardware at the front of the ship blocked view of the higher fireworks. However, it was nice to have refreshments, bathrooms, and heated areas available if you have small kids. Also, getting out after the fireworks was much easier than Penn’s Landing.
The ship itself was amazing though. We were on a self guided tour. The tour route was well marked, the graphics were well designed, and you got to see lots of different parts of the ship. We breezed through very quickly, but could have easily spent twice as much time meandering about.
Parking costs $ 10, but is convenient with ez in and out. Lots of special programs like overnight encampments for youth groups are available. Do be aware that there is ALOT of climbing up and down very narrow ladders, so you need to be fairly mobile to enjoy your tour.
This is an underappreciated gem of a museum right here in the Philadelphia area. Check it out!

This was an option B Plan but as it turned out to be a great decision. the ship is amazing to tour. ive read about this ship in history books and have seen photos but to actually be onboard and crawl around inside this ship is eye opening.

For my 200^th review, a battleship! Technically my 4^th and final Iowa-​class battleship. When I visited the Iowa last fall I knew I needed to see the New Jersey, but when the heck was I going to go to the Garden State? As it turns out, work sent me there not 6 months later. Directions based on their address was a tad confusing, we actually ended up at the back gate. A helpful security guard re-​routed to the tourist parking lot. Free admission with a military id, what a deal! We got there a few minutes too late for the turret tour, I wish we got to go on that. The New Jersey has been a museum the longest out of the 4 Iowa-​class battleships, and it shows. It has the most areas open for touring. We got to see the deck, point defense/​chaff stations, 5″ stations, Tomahawk stations, navigation, tactical operations, command & flag bridges, enlisted quarters, officer quarters, command/​flag quarters, the galleys, laundry/​brig, & their displays. It took about 2 – 3 hours at a leisurely pace. It was a cool and sunny spring day, perfect picture taking weather. And we went for a Philly cheesesteak afterwards across the river! A wonderful visit and definitely someplace to recommend for its military history. Might have to take another trip to check out the turret!

Great tour of a historic ship. A lot of fun climbing up and down the stairs visiting different parts of the ship. Just as good as the other battleship tours I have been on– Missouri, Wisconsin and now the NJ! Definetely worth the experience while on a side trip in Philadelphia. A little hard to find once your cross over from PA.

The best way to experience the Battleship New Jersey is to arrange an overnight stay on the ship. You sleep in a seaman’s coffin-​sized bunk in the bowels of the leviathan, eat in the original mess halls, climb and descend the steep stairs, and tour almost every aspect of the operations from the huge 16″ gun turrets to the bridge where its captains directed naval warfare against enemies from World War II through Vietnam and Lebanon.
My son and I had this privilege when he was a cub scout a few years ago. While he and his mates had no idea what this warship accomplished in its gloried history, and they were just having fun in an amazingly different reality, we dads who came along looked long and hard at the steel blue gray surrounding us. We knew where this battle wagon had been since 1942; we listened to the number of engagements in which it had participated, the Presidents who had come aboard, and the death dealing it had dished out and absorbed in the cause of our freedom. It was humbling and at the same time, prideful.
When they talk of, «Jersey Strong,» this is what they really mean. «Don’t Tread on Me?» That used to mean something. «Don’t F**k With New Jersey,» now, that still means exactly that. Asleep on the Camden Waterfront is the beast that helped turn the War in the Pacific into one of our greatest triumphs.
Visit this hero with your family and say, «Thank You!»

I expected the walls of the battleship to clang when I knocked on them but they’re silent as if stone. From an era when decks of ships were still a mix of metal and wood, the tour provides a glimpse of technology past. I appreciated the unfettered access to the guns, allowing me to crawl back into places other museums would not.
The only negative is that we were there for a conference banquet. They were slow to serve, mixed up orders, and served small portions. Good for tours but bad for banquets.

The volunteers do a pretty spectacular job of keeping this ship in ready condition and our guide was knowledgeable enough about the naval commander to pack a lot of information about the mechanics of the ship into the two hour tour. It was interesting to see a lot of artifacts preserved in their original place and see such history as the 19 portraits of the ship captains that led this classic boat during its over 50 year tenure. Also interesting was seeing the 3 high bunks, and trying to imagine twice as many stacks during the height of service.
The renovations done to the boat in the 80s showed how the original more expensive wood has held up better for the course of twice as many years as the «new» boards, due to their magnificent construction.
Minor point: We bought a «$ 19 value tour» for «half price» from living social, then had the option to keep the downgraded «self guided admission» or to pay $ 2.50 to «re-​upgrade» it back to what everyone else pays $ 19.50 for. Despite the misprint on the part of the livingsocial voucher, the supervised tour is very worthwhile and I would recommend it at any cost.

I was surprised by how cool it was to tour the ship. I took the general quarter’s tour and has a nice hour or so walking around the ship, climbing into compartments, looking at guns, and dashing across the poop deck. You can even look through the parascope!
There’s a good bit of information, and you get great views of the city. Towards the end, the ship has more museum-​like exhibits that are a little boring, but it’s worth a glacé.
Overall, the tour of the ship is overpriced, but it’s still worth checking out, espeically if you’re an enthusiast.

I simple adore boats and ships, be they of any type or of any variety. The Battleship New Jersey (USS New Jersey BB-​62) is one of the largest battleships (an Iowa Class) every built, from where Admiral Halsey commanded the 3^rd Fleet and the most decorated of all U.S. Navy ships. Commissioned in 1943 the New Jersey served during World War II, in the Korean War, in Vietnam, the Lebanese Civil War and saw action in the Persian Gulf, not being decommissioned until 1991.
When you board her, you pretty much have a free run of the ship. The setup and the displays are both impressive and inspiring. Just being aboard such a historic ship is a moment that will indelibly etch its way into your memory.