Hi Bob,
I just watched a very interesting 1 hour doco on Sky last night, called Big, Bigger, Biggest. It showed a lot of day-to-day life on the Nimitz. All very interesting - I like the bit about only bunkering once every 20 years. Bunkering can sometimes be a pain.
The only carrier I have ever been on was HMS Ark Royal, about 1970, when she visited NZ (I was RNZNVR, so we managed to get into everything except the magazines). What got me was that every aircraft launch cost the British taxpayer another ESFSTWR sling, whereas the US built it's aircraft with nose gear links and a breakaway bar - no cost at all!
6,000 POB's and no PAX (I bet there were a few at times).
Cheers,
Skilly