Another interesting idea, but mostly would need to be some sort of standard:
For cargo, you build a long, this ship with the ability to load containers in so that when you reach another system, you can dock with the high port or a transport shuttle and just roll all the modules off destined for the planet. No moving of actual cargo items individually.
For passengers, your liner has a module called the embarkcation/debarcation module. It contains batteries, life support, etc. for a short period (say a day). During embarkcation, your passengers stroll into a windowed 'building' sitting on the tarmac. They can be delivered there by bus or limo. A transfer steward gets everyone buckled in. A transfer shuttle drops down, picks up the module with underbelly clamps, and lifts gently off to climb to orbit. Once in orbit, the module can be put on a pad at the high port and emptied or it could be directly transferred to another vessel in orbit.
This might be a good way to quickly load large passenger volumes from surface to awaiting non-streamlined liner.
Probably not directly feasible for a subsidized liner due to size limits, but maybe useful for larger liners.
TomB