But few New Yorkers have their own boat to test the waters. Only small excursion boats with limited services make seasonal runs on the river for a few people at a time. This great natural highway lies fallow in the public mind for lack of access. Service was cut back after WWII when foreign visitors were few and residents were eager for cars and jet travel. Now the roads and airports are jammed and the millions of visitors who come to New York City only see the Hudson aboard a bare ferry or as a glimpse from a bridge.
Most visitors then fly out and away from the many attractions of New York State.
The Hudson is today the only major river in the world without any passenger ship line. Not for long, perhaps. The classic styled 304-foot long side paddlewheel liners, the Catskill and the Adirondack, have been designed with fine dining, cabins and elegant salons to become the flagships of the river. Market research has surveyed the broad latent demand for the service, especially among national and international travelers that would sustain the business on a 9-month daily schedule. Local residents could use the Line as transportation with the pleasure of a cruise to get to 14 river towns without driving.