There's barely a cloud in the sky in the Arabian Gulf. The blazing heat from the sun meshes with the heat rising from the sizzling meat on a grill the flight deck of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59).

One might say it's just another day at the beach -- steel beach that is.

"It's been four months since our last steel beach [picnic]," said Chief Operations Specialist Richard English, from Mobile, Alabama. "We knew our crew needed a little break with good food and a sunset."

The chief petty officers aboard Princeton hosted the event Oct. 15, during which Sailors got the chance to relax and sample an assortment of foods including grilled chicken, hamburgers and brisket.

"My favorite was the scrumptious grilled chicken," said Ensign Robert De Cort, from San Diego. "It's the kind of food that I bring to the beach."

Along with the spread of food, Sailors also listened to music and played games.

"I played a couple of games of cornhole and it was a lot of fun," said Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Dustin Robinson, from Marquette, Michigan. "I haven't played since Thanksgiving last year."

Princeton Sailors ended their day relaxing in beach chairs, taking in the last bit of sunlight of the day.

"It's just nice to be outside in this wonderful weather and enjoying everyone's company," said Ensign Kelsey Ingalls, from St. George, Utah.

Princeton is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners, and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.

For more information about Princeton, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cg59/Pages/default.aspx

For more information about Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, visit http://www.nimitz.navy.mil/csg_11.html

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