Since I started to commute by ferry between Mainland China and Hong Kong in the mid-90s the China Ferry Terminal has gone from a sad urine-ish-smelling port that someone established as an afterthought to a gleaming multi-tiered shopping complex that houses an Espirit *Outlet* (the term to be used loosely here), a massive SaSa, and now countless high end jewelry and leather goods shop. Quite a stretch from the days where Watson was the anchor store and you could have a quiet Cafe Mocha and free internet at the Pacific Coffee Company.
With the influx of tourists from the Mainland, there is now a Starbucks, paid day lockers for your luggage, as well as an impressive line of ticket kiosks selling tickets to Macau and various points on the Mainland.
You can purchase from the ticket kiosks (recommended) or the scalpers (questionable). Don't purchase First Class or "Special room" on any sailing (only naive foreigners might do this, thinking they'll remove themselves from the riff-raff and will be the first ones off the ferry during an at-sea accident of James Cameron Titanic proportions).
First Class on the Chu Kong ferry (points to Mainland) means hauling your ass and luggage upstairs, which constitute a nice 10-15 steps without any assistance or ramp. It's like a cruel communist joke for being rich and elite enough to purchase the tickets in the first place. Being up top also means you're more prone to feel the lovely ocean swells and be buffeted into barf oblivion. (NB: The many times I've taken the ferry service has only stopped when there was a typhoon (ie. Hurricane of massive proportions). Even if the winds are high, the waves crashing and there's pelting rain outside - the ferry will continue to roll, which means you're most likely to roll along with it).
The Terminal now also has free wifi and internet kiosks, as well as nice dining options. The biggest drawback might be Customs and Immigration upon arrival. If you're not a local, expect to insert yourselves into massive lines of mainly Mainland tourists yelling and arguing with each other about which line is faster and why their friends should be in this line and not that one, etc., etc. There are a lot of people in China/Hong Kong. And patience is a virtue. Especially at the China Ferry Terminal. read more