Buses transporting sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in the coastal city of Pattaya, Thailand, on Thursday for a scheduled port call following an extensive deployment in the Middle East. The carrier had been involved in operations supporting the U.S. efforts against Iran, setting a new record for continuous days at sea exceeding 260 days, raising concerns about crew mental health and food shortages onboard.

Despite reports of issues, the U.S. Navy downplayed any significant problems, with President Donald Trump expressing that the deployment duration was insufficient. The USS Abraham Lincoln had been deployed for a total of 286 days, with an uninterrupted period at sea of 264 days before docking in Chonburi province.

Following their arrival in Thailand, service members expressed their excitement about being in the country. Vendors and travel agents gathered near the Hard Rock Hotel, the designated meeting point for the sailors, offering souvenirs and services as the crew members prepared to depart for the U.S.

Additional ships from the Lincoln’s strike group were also stationed in Thailand, with the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. destroyer in Chonburi’s Sriracha port and the USS Robert Smalls cruiser in Rayong province. Local vendors, like A-ngoon Sombat, traveled significant distances to sell their goods to the visiting crew.

The sailors were seen exploring Pattaya’s Terminal 21 mall and enjoying their time ashore. One young navigator aboard the Petersen, on his first deployment, expressed relief at being closer to home. Despite declining to comment on reports about conditions onboard the Lincoln, the crew member highlighted the high morale among his colleagues.

As people gathered outside Laem Chabang Port to catch a glimpse of the USS Abraham Lincoln, visitors like Keith Eldridge marveled at the technological marvel of the massive aircraft carrier. With the ship expected to return home soon, the commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, hinted at potential supply stops but refrained from disclosing the exact return date to the U.S.