Well at least you got to get to look around the boat, Danny, which was more than three of us did when invited for a cruise up the Rajang on the Grey Funnel line. As soon as we were onboard, following a mutual invite the night before (we get the cruise, they get a re-supply flight in exchange), we were invited to the wardroom for a welcoming drink. We never left it until the ship (a minesweeper of minute dimensions) had tied up (or is it made fast?) at the refuelling jetty which was its destination. Somehow we staggered down the gangway without falling in, and clambered into a prearranged taxi which had mercifully turned up to take us back to Kuching.
Next day there was no sign of our previous day's hosts. Some mention of urgent operational reasons, but I strongly suspect that they thought we would similarly ply them with booze (presumably between DZs).
Of course in these more enlightened days of jointery such misunderstandings are a thing of the past...