the staten island ferry provides 20 million people a year (60,000 passengers a day not including weekend days) with ferry service between st. george on staten island and whitehall street in lower manhattan. the staten island ferry is run by the city of new york for one pragmatic reason: to transport staten islanders to and from manhattan. yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of new york harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! one guide book calls it "one of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages." |