There is a Christmas song built around the theme (and hence title) “I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In” Presumably to visit the stable in Bethlehem, kinda like the 3 Kings (of Orient are …). How did these ships get from either the Mediterranean or the Sea of Galilee to Bethlehem? It isn’t on the water.
Mirage?
How about “The Camel is the Ship of the Desert”
Well, if it was rowboats, they would have a tough time, but they might be able to make it…
There was a thread in GQ about this song just yesterday. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=51740
Thanks bibliophage. Two mea culpas, first, I should have been in GQ to submit this, but since my mind is going… Second, I did a SEARCH on this, but I guess something went awry. Anyway, the neither thread has definitively put this to bed yet.