He was in no way a jerk.......he was a Maritime Officer and he was totally correct.........a boat is something that can be carried on a ship (although with todays many types of floating craft and thier uses, its not near as black and white as it use to be.)
There is a specail love affair between a sailors and thier craft/ships boats, etc...and using correct terms does nothing more then aid a passinger to understand and enjoy their trip.
Now if your going to use the wrong terms even if you know the right ones..........thats pretty silly IMO.
PS... If he had just smiled.the smile and joke would have been on the person using the wrong terms........personally I would much rather be advised I was wrong, then be walking around continuing to make the same mistake and proving to everyone I was not educated about the vessel (or anything else I was on or using) I was onboard.
PSS just because your paying a a fare.........doesnt means you are a know it all and look smart proving your not know it all.
AKK
..maybe on the USS Reagan but on a family centric fun excursion "boat" it would have been a better decision to smile and walk bye IMO. There is no need to humiliate any "guest" just because you "know" the correct terms and a land lubber does not. Look at all these years the poor poster still tells this story and I would infer had an impact on her cruise. Pick your battles is what I would say and boat vs. ship would not be one I would have chosen in this case.