A ferry (or ferryboat) is a boat or ship (a merchant vessel) used to carry (or ferry) primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi but not to be mistaken with the Vaxholm Taxi boats, which are real taxis.
Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities and islands (including mine), allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels.
