How offensive is it to call the ship a boat?

[BklynBoy8]

31 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I have heard many people on cruises referring to a ship as a boat and never heard anyone take exception.

 

Beg to differ with their reference..........

[bbwex]

According to Merriam Webster, a ship is "a large seagoing vessel."  The generally used saying, which has already been stated, is that a "ship carries a boat."  According to Chapman's "Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handing,"  in defining a "boat" says, "What is a boat? The term has no really precise definition. It is a water-borne vehicle smaller than a ship, which is usually thought of as being used for ocean travel. Indeed, one definition of a boat is a small craft carried aboard a ship, such as a lifeboat."

 

There is no reason in the world to get too upset when someone uses the wrong term here, and I cannot imagine saying something to a stranger with whom I was not speaking.  At the same time, it does show the person using the wrong term to perhaps be out of their depth!

[jasbo49]

Obviously, ship is the correct term. But how can people so bent on correctness refer to cruising the Caribbean on a 3,000-passenger vessel as "sailing"?

 

Jim

[mom says]

Because saying 'that ship has cruised' just sounds wrong.

[chengkp75]

11 hours ago, jasbo49 said:

Obviously, ship is the correct term. But how can people so bent on correctness refer to cruising the Caribbean on a 3,000-passenger vessel as "sailing"?

 

Jim

If you look up the definition of "sailing" in any number of dictionaries, one definition is "the departure of a ship from port" (no mention of sails).  A "sailing" is also defined as being a "voyage by a ferry or cruise ship, especially on a fixed schedule" (Oxford dictionary).  I sailed the oceans for 46 years on ships, none of which had sails.

[bbwex]

And like chenkp75, I too have sailed from many ports, and I have been on two "cruises" to WestPac (Western Pacific), though I would not call those cruises anything like "cruises" on a cruise ship.  Lots of terms get thrown around, many have multiple meanings, etc.  Sometimes the ships are big, colorful and have things like water slides.  Sometimes they are big, gray and on more serious business.  Sometimes they are rusty and look like they could sink any minute, and sometimes they carry what seems like a zillion containers.  Some boats are small and go out for a day's fishing, some boats are big and gray, go underwater, and have ICBMs on them.  They all go for a cruise or go sailing.  Even sailboats do that!!

[Aquahound]

I've sailed a couple cruise ships that I referred to as tubs or barges.  I can only imagine how triggered some people got over that.  🙄

 

I wonder if folks sailing the QM2 get bent out of shape when people call her a ship and not a liner.  

[chengkp75]

27 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

I've sailed a couple cruise ships that I referred to as tubs or barges.  I can only imagine how triggered some people got over that.  🙄

 

I wonder if folks sailing the QM2 get bent out of shape when people call her a ship and not a liner.  

About as bent out of shape as when you say that AP Moller, Evergreen, CMA CGM, OOCL, and COSCO operate "ocean liners".  Container ships are referred to as "liners" since they operate on regular schedules.

[aborgman]

On 9/6/2023 at 11:33 AM, BklynBoy8 said:

But a large vessel is a ship...

 

Not if it's a submarine.

[NoBoozeCruise]

On 9/21/2023 at 11:35 PM, jasbo49 said:

Obviously, ship is the correct term. But how can people so bent on correctness refer to cruising the Caribbean on a 3,000-passenger vessel as "sailing"?

 

Jim

3000 deck hands and not one sail in sight 

[navybankerteacher]

On 9/22/2023 at 6:05 AM, chengkp75 said:

If you look up the definition of "sailing" in any number of dictionaries, one definition is "the departure of a ship from port" (no mention of sails).  A "sailing" is also defined as being a "voyage by a ferry or cruise ship, especially on a fixed schedule" (Oxford dictionary).  I sailed the oceans for 46 years on ships, none of which had sails.

And there are many who serve on ships (and boats) which are not wind-driven - who are still referred to as sailors.

[navybankerteacher]

20 hours ago, aborgman said:

 

Not if it's a submarine.

Nor if it a ferry boat.

[CoW mAn]

Inaccurate? Yes

Inexact? Yes

Offensive? Please 🙄

[bg2310]

Personally, I wouldn't call it that but couldn't imagine getting all upset if someone did lol

 

It's getting the same message across even if it isn't exactly accurate.

[john watson]

On 9/6/2023 at 3:23 PM, NewCruiser256 said:

I referred to the ship I’m sailing on as a “boat” and someone went ballistic on me. Is it really that big of a deal? I want thoughts from people who cruise often.

One could have just replied  "Sorry old love, I am new to this. Do you know if their is a specialist term for the pointy part"

 

Regards John

[ldubs]

I would never intentionally want to ruffle feathers, but I'm kinda thinking of calling them cruise boats from now on.  Well, except for river cruises.  Those will be river ships.   🙂