I can't imagine it would be any more attractive to get a call from "Bishop & Belcher" for that matter.

Now, I've always been surprised at the move to market the Rochester-Toronto vessels as "Fast-Ferry"s, considering the amount of troubles that ferries with the same moniker caused in British Columbia. A new surprise to me, however, is the fact that this Fast Ferry will arrive "10-15 minutes from downtown Rochester".

While my exposure to Rochester is, admittedly, limited to the public events calendar of the NBC, CBS and ABC affiliate stations that were carried in the Ottawa area of my youth, I can't imagine that it's a bigger tourist draw than say New York City or even Albany. I'm guessing that the CATS folks were specifically lobbied by Rochester to not offer package deals on a ferry ride and bus service to NYC in order to bolster local tourism. Shame, really, as I'm willing to bet that most people are seeing this ferry as a new way to connect Toronto and New York.

I don't know much about the new ferry, but the site seems to be advertising it as a way for people from upstate New York to visit Toronto for the day. All the trips originate on the US side, with the Toronto departures being later and, as a result, not nearly as convenient for a day trip. It's almost like the Toronto-Rochester trip is an afterthought, introduced because it's better for the ferry to get some added business rather than sitting at the ferry dock in Toronto all day. Am I way off here?

I agree that for most Torontonians the ferry may just wind up taking a few hours off drives to New York or Boston, and Rochester for the sake of Rochester itself probably isn't that big a draw. But that said, even small, burned-out shells of American cities have good outlet shopping, not to mention all those stores we just don't have up here like J.Crew, Victoria's Secret, and Target. :) That's actually one of the package tours they're offering -- hotel stay and discounts for the malls.

Plus, even if most of the tourists are coming from Rochester to Toronto, it's still a good thing for both cities. Brings money in for us, and makes Rochester a more livable place if it's within easy distance of major museums, galleries, theatre, concerts, and sporting events.

And personally, it's been ages since I was on a big boat -- I hope I get to go over at some point this summer!

Putting on my Shameless Rochester Boosterism hat for a moment (I had to make one -- they're not easily available), I'm kind of looking forward to a day trip or two. I agree that the bulk of the traffic will be upstate New Yorkers visiting Toronto (apparently, many already do -- it'll just be easier now), but putting what was once an important city that still has many interesting buildings within easy day-trip range is a great opportunity for Torontonians, too. Not to mention the fun of a trip on a big boat.

This project also adds infrastructure to the portlands. The new terminal, once the permanent building is actually in place, should be able to serve other lines as well... at one point there was talk of establishing a ferry to Niagara-on-the-Lake and/or to St. Catharines. Also, I was reading an article about ways to get ferry passengers downtown from the port; there'll be the bus, but it looks like some of the water-taxi operators (mostly doing the mainland-islands run) are going to get in on this too. This all makes for a more interesting, vibrant waterfront.

Given how much attention the ferry is getting in Rochester, and how little in Toronto, I'd say it's a fair guess that this is more for Rochester's benefit than ours. But I'd still take it just for fun. I mean, I did grow up watching Rochester local news. I need to see where all those shootings and chemical spills took place...

In the Saturday, May 8th edition of the National Post, there were three pages of the "Toronto" section dedicated to travel destinations worth visiting in Rochester.

I feel quite corrected.

By the by, are we going to this pleasant day of drunkeness in Yorkville? 'Cause I'm totally in.