Seastreak, New Bedford

Detours. Construction crews. An unwavering gridlock of honking horns. None of these affect the team at Seastreak. They ease work commutes and transportation woes by taking a different road: the water. Seastreak's captains have five high-speed ferries at their disposal, four of which can transport more than 500 passengers at a time. Multiple ships means multiple destinations, and the captains regularly go between Manhattan, New Jersey, Sandy Hook Bay, and Martha's Vineyard, among many other routes.

Each of the double-hulled catamarans has indoor and outdoor decks, which look out on panoramic views of the NYC skyline. The ships also go on formal sightseeing expeditions, cruising towards wonders such as the Hudson River's fall foliage, fireworks over the harbor, and buoys that look like rearing sea serpents if you squint.