Yes, the ferry needs more life! Merchants selling fishing bait or the odd item. The passenger room could be a wonderful den of activity, Triple Triad, a casino, betting on which monster will spawn next on deck (for that matter, wave after wave of frenzied monsters racing across the deck, attacking anything in sight), giant sea monsters, rescuing stranded ships, pirate ships, ghost ships, or any number of interesting things they could add.

They should pack so much goodness onto the ferry that players will not want to get off, riding it back and forth just to experience and enjoy it all.