[Bela Berty]

How is it that the US Coast Guard refers to passengers and some companies refer to guests? In my fifty years in America, I understand that guests come to my house upon my invitation and leave upon my pleasure and do NOT pay for anything. However, passengers pay for the privilege of boarding a vessel and stay for as long as they have paid in advance. Some passengers do some things they would not do in a private home as guests. Therefore, boat owners suggesting that the crew treat passengers as guests does not make sense. For example, can you imagine a crewmember ejecting a passenger for smoking or littering? Where is the logic in this misnaming of passengers as guests? Let's treat passengers for what they are and label them as such--passengers! Then the highest standards of behavior can be available.