Bay cruise. Passengers embark from a catamaran commuters opting for a more leisurely ride.

A DAILY ferry service between Mall of Asia in Pasay City and Cavite City, provides a cheaper and faster alternative to commuters.

Metrostar Ferry Inc., in a statement, said the trips were introduced last July, using Filipino-designed catamarans made by shipbuilders in the cities of N avotas and Malabon.

The twin-hull, twin-engine vessels are fully air-conditioned, boasting toilet facilities. Depending on the size of the ferryboat, it can accommodate 130 to 550 passengers per trip.

The ferryboats have eqtlipment complying with specifications in the rules and regulations set by the Maritime Industry Authority.

The standard navigational system for each vessel includes radar, sonar, GPS and radio transceivers.

There are four daily trips from Cavite City to the mall and vice versa. Passenger fares are pegged at P75 per person. Students and senior citizens have a special rate at P60 per person.

Besides a scenic bay cruise on value for money, officials say, commuters can look forward to a leisurely form of travel as Metrostar Ferry cuts the usual two-hour land commute down to 45 minutes.

The Metrostar Cavite terminal is at the back of the city hall while the Mall of Asia terminal is in the vicinity of the Shrine of Jesus church.

Metrostar officials said they have plans to increase the number of its fleet to 15 ferryboats.

Other routes are under feasibility study to make bay commuting popular and accessible.

The north bay run from Mall of Asia to Orion, Bataan is clocked at 1 hour and 20 minutes against land travel that takes 4 hours; to Navotas, 45 minutes; Hagonoy, Bulacan, 1 hour 45 minutes; Guagua, Pampanga, 1 hour 40 minutes.

Metroferry is backed by the Philippine Export Import Credit Agency  and the Philippine Veteran’s Bank.