Transportation, Shopping and Visitor Information
For those of us who live life on land, the purchase of a new pair of shoes, a bottle of vitamins, or a birthday gift for a loved one is something that doesn’t require a lot of advanced planning. However, for a seafarer coming into port a few weeks before his wife’s birthday, the task is considerably more complicated with only a few hours to find a store, pick out a present, and send it home in time for the special day.
USS staff members at our centers overseas are experienced in assisting visiting mariners with information about local shopping, the best locations to find a desired item, approximate costs, exchange rates, and whether or not the age old art of bargaining is an acceptable practice. At USS port locations renown for traffic, advice is also available on the shortest route to the shopping area and back to the port.
When it comes to seeing the local sites, a seafarer may expect the same assistance on hot spots and points of interest. And, just as importantly, USS staff can provide information on what areas to stay away from in order for a mariner to avoid any potential problem situations.
In many instances, a seafarer need look no further than the USS center gift shop for a beautiful gift or the health & comfort items he or she needs. Our network of international centers ship a variety of quality gift items between centers, and the USS headquarters also procures gift wares and sundries so that seafarers transiting a USS port with little time to spend may find the items they need without ever having to leave the center.
Also, many USS centers provide transportation for visiting seafarers from the pier to the USS facility. The shuttle van at USS Casablanca transports seafarers from their ships to the USS center and points beyond. USS Bremerhaven provides transport for seafarers between the center, their ships, and the local shopping district.
The goal of every USS staff member is to meet the needs of our seagoing patrons in every way we can. This may mean making their visit as relaxing as possible or as productive as they want to be during their short time in port.
