Factual error: When Norrington is "promoted" to Commodore (already addressed as an error in and of itself), the promotion ceremony held for him in Port Royal would have been meaningless. A commander-in-chief of a foreign station in the British Navy could indeed promote acting officers beneath him, but these commissions would be unofficial until confirmed by the Lords of the Admiralty in London. And as it appears that Norrington is the commander-in-chief at his station, there would be no one to promote him at all - a governor, such as Swann, did not have the authority to do so. The only actual, official ceremonies of promotion in the Royal Navy was for a captain to be given his commission, and to be "read in" aboard his ship, the formal act of taking command. There would be little cause for celebration until a commission was confirmed by the "Sea Lords," in any case.
Blackhawk003
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Suggested correction: How do we know that Norrington's promotion is not already confirmed? And even if the ceremony is 'meaningless', its taking place would still not be an error. The governor, the Navy, the bored people of Port Royal, or even Norrington himself could have organized this ceremony as a little flourish just for their entertainment and to honor an accomplished officer. Nothing in the ceremony shown in the film even looks like an official act; Norrington is just handed his sword, and that's basically it.
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