The company is called NY Water Taxi(www.nywatertaxi.com). It doesn't list the $5 price online, but as far as I know, that is the standard one-way ticket price. You can take other hop-on/hop-off routes that are a little more expensive, but we just wanted to go to Brooklyn. It's a little yellow ticket booth right on the pier. You can't miss it. It goes pretty fast across the harbor, but I still got some great pics and it was MUCH faster than walking across the bridge.
Someone posted this, saying tourists would get "eye-rolls":
"don't read maps, if you need help, ask someone, I honestly get lost in my own city ALL the time lol, just ask for directions"
I find this untrue. I use a credit-card-sized subway map every time I go to the City. You can get them in most hotels and in the times square visitors center. I've even seen New Yorkers use them. Also, I found that if I was looking at my map, someone would inevitably ask me if they could help. I'm sure there ARE new yorkers who would roll their eyes, but I don't care. I've also never used a big super-sized fold-out map. That I would NOT do, but a good subway map is useful for anyone.
Updated On: 10/20/07 at 05:45 PM