Ds9 did a similar Baltimore Boat thing last May, he really enjoyed it. He has since then been sharing a few facts about the old navy, etc. He went with Dh, however so I don't have the been-there first hand knowledge. I think they went on two different boats and got to steer it and checked out plankton and daily life for boys on board a ship like that. It had both social studies and science components.
He wants to try an archeology class if we do it again, so I think that's got to be a good sign.