It's not a cosmetic change honestly, it's actually a system change overall.
Things to do on FFXI's Ferry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iIRH32lIag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4v_T...eature=related
(Along with fishing)
Things that are done with FFXI's Airships:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUsEPakmsvA
(aside just taking in scenery from city to city)
XIV's airship won't have..anything (confirmed) at initial implementation, so there are indeed important things to do first, but it's not a mere cosmetic change, the ferry is pretty...underutilized and done all around.
