We have no problem with video of tours... unless they bring a super Panavision camera and interrupt the tour flow... I always considered anyone video taping any part of the boat to be a compliment. There are many photographers who are trying to sell their photos of COD and her interior on the internet. Good luck to them... most are just snapshots, we can't stop them without being mean. Again, as long as they don't harm the boat or jamb up the tour flow...
Just before Christmas my wife and I toured New York's Tenenment Musuem... basically an 1863-vintage tenement that was partially restored to various focus dates. The tourguide was a bit of a nudnik spouting the official musuem policy of "No Photography of any kind because our restoration is copywritten!" Now I not a lawyer, but I don't think that would hold water... what did it mean to us? When the tour was over and they passed out brochures asking us to join as benefactors (something that I really think my wife would have jumped for -- she is very generous that way -- my wife handed the brochure back and said "Your museum is nice, but you made a poor impression on me with the way you handle visitors and photos!" It was more that I might have done, but she was right on, IMHO.
I have been to historical villages and seen the blacksmith and candlemaker make total asses of themselves by stopping their "tour" and bitching at people who pull out a camera! I am both a museum tourguide--tour writer-curator- and a professional photographer... so I can see the issue from ALL SIDES -- and there is really no defense for that attitude... beyond cramping the rights of other tourists. Non-flash photography or video with a tiny hand-held camerai is not going to ruin anyone's day.
