Sailors from USS Abraham Lincoln enjoy pedicures and socks at lively Pattaya resort

Pattaya's Colour Nail salon was packed on Thursday morning, with no empty burgundy lounger in sight. Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln, both male and female, filled the chairs for pedicures to unwind after a demanding deployment.

Arisa Suekkanya, a salon employee, said she was pleased the US military had selected Thailand as their first port stop following a record 286 uninterrupted days at sea.

The aircraft carrier has drawn international attention due to reports of declining living conditions and mental health struggles among the crew, including attempted suicides, drawing criticism of Donald Trump's war against Iran.

The ship's captain acknowledged a shortage of fresh fruit and vegetables but described reports about the conditions as largely exaggerated. Several crew members shared their experiences while on leave.

Adam, on his first deployment, compared the living situation to "being stuck in your bedroom with all your family" but said building relationships with fellow sailors and finding his own circle made the challenges bearable. CuriosityNews has changed the names of the sailors because they were instructed not to speak to the media about conditions onboard.

For Adam, the food was the biggest challenge. He described nearly choking on "uncooked beef" and sliced raw potato.

He attributed the drop in living standards to the battle conditions imposed during Operation Epic Fury rather than the record length of the deployment.

Another crew member, Marco, agreed, saying there was an unavoidable decline during this "battle rhythm" period when restocking would have put them at risk.

Trent admitted the toughest part was "pushing through, keeping the mentality" despite the hardships.

Dane said "a load came off my shoulders" when he stepped on dry land after his first deployment. Lester acknowledged it was "tough but we had a job to do," adding that on the previous evening, "I ate to my heart's content. Me and Thai food might be best friends after this."

Another serviceman, who did not give his name, hinted at the toll of the long deployment: "Some people adapt to it but not everyone."

Pattaya is known for its red light district and lively nightlife, but for many visitors the priorities were simpler.

Tim was shopping at the Vans store in the mall. "It's the simple stuff like new socks," he said, holding the pair he was about to buy.

David purchased a Hello Kitty soft toy from H&M for his wife. On his fourth deployment, he agreed this length would have been difficult for sailors on their first.

Adam, now on shore, ordered two burgers at Burger King and planned to order a tailored suit and explore Thailand's east coast.

Many local businesses displayed signs welcoming the American visitors. Tailor Tito Fashion advertised "specially for US Navy ready in 24 hours," while Thai restaurant Imm-Oon Na offered 10% off with a valid military ID.

American brands also drew strong interest. Nike, Victoria's Secret and Starbucks all reported a spike in sales inside the mall.

The town hoped the Lincoln's crew would provide an economic lift. The Middle East conflict has caused a downturn in Thai tourism, and the rainy season has slowed activity further.

Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said if each American spent $100-150 per day, the visit could generate about 100m Thai baht ($3m).

However, not all businesses benefited. Emma Moontee, who runs a gift stall at a night market, said she sold only one fridge magnet souvenir to a sailor but hoped for more business.

The crew was advised to avoid the beer bars along Soi 6 after sunset, one of the most notorious sections of the red light district where bar girls line the street and sometimes physically pull in male tourists.

The main strip, known as Walking Street, remained accessible. It is filled with clubs and go go bars featuring pole dancing, largely hidden from outside view.

Wittaya Phoobantad, who works at Poker Bar on the beachfront, said: "You can see [sailors] walking around but because Soi 6 is banned most of them don't come in, just go direct to Walking Street."

A massive neon sign at the entrance of Walking Street reads: "Pattaya City is pleased to welcome USS Abraham Lincoln carrier and its personnel." Venues like the Sapphire Club offered 10% off to US service members.

Pattana Prasomsup, who works at M's Mojito, said the 10 crew who visited on Wednesday night provided a "good boost" but appeared cautious about interacting with bar girls.

Pattaya has a long history with the US military, widely credited as the dominant influence in creating the sex tourism industry and the modern city that grew around it.

The once quiet fishing village was transformed in 15 years after becoming an official R&R destination for US soldiers during the Vietnam war, leading to a boom in hotels, massage parlours and bars where heavy drinking and paid female companionship became common.

Most workers in the sex tourism industry have migrated to Pattaya, typically from Isan in Thailand's poorest north-eastern region, as well as from Laos, Myanmar and further afield.

Back in the mall, Puangbubpha Duangsri, who works at American Eagle, said they would normally make 70,000 Thai baht in a day during the off-season, but on Wednesday made over 200,000 baht after the sailors arrived. By Thursday lunchtime, they had already exceeded $100,000.

"Can they stay an extra week?" she asked.