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Open in NYC: 9-11 Memorial, The Highline, Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, The Bronx Zoo, Liberty Island, in-person Sample Sales. MoMA (Aug 27), The Met (Aug 29), Natural History (Sept 9), Personal care (spa, nails), tennis, volleyball, basketball, places of worship (@ 25 % capacity). There is currently no open date for indoor dining, theaters and shopping malls. Gyms should open late August, early September.
Top NYC Things to Do
Sightsee, Dinner, Night Skyline, Romantic
NYC Boat tours cruises are one of my FAVORITE things to do in NYC. There are no better views of our skyline than from the water, and we have dozens of styles of cruises. Brunch, champagne, general sightseeing, dinner, booze, jazz, sailboat, speedboat, holiday, romantic and more. Boat cruises fall in every price range, for all ages and groups and sail all year-round.
NYC Sightseeing Cruises - NYC Insider Guide Favorites!
Top Picks NYC Boat Tours Cruises
- Romantic: Sunset Sail aboard the Schooner Adirondack
- Family Dinner: Spirit of New York Dinner Cruise
- General Sightseeing: Circle Line
- Brunch: Around Manhattan Brunch Cruise
- Most Fun: Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols (winter), Beast or Shark Speedboat (summer)
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Beast Speedboat Ride
May 9 – Sept 30, 2019
10:00 am–6:00 pm, every hour on the hour
We absolutely LOVED the Beast Speedboat ride (seasonal May to September). It was our favorite activity on a day that included the Intrepid Museum, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock and more. You can read more about our day at: NYC One Day Boys Itinerary
Tickets Beast Speedboat or Beast Speedboat Ride Tickets
We got on line at 11:30, which was the perfect time for the 12pm cruise. We were third on line, meaning we got to sit at the front of the boat, and about 40 more people lined up within 3 minutes right after us.
The tour was great and we got up close views of the financial district, Empire State Building, World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport and more, without ever leaving the water. The guides were lively, funny and kept all us adults and kids laughing the whole time, including some fierce and fast spins in the water.
The guides come around with a surprise for everyone (no..I won’t tell you what it is, but let’s just say, don’t bring anything that can’t get wet!) and they will also take pics with your own device with the Statue of Liberty as a back drop. Don’t forget to tip these guys – they are so worth it!
Tickets: Beast Speedboat Ride Tickets
Downtown Speedboat – If you find yourself near the Financial District, Wall Steet, 9-11 Memorial or Brooklyn Bridge, then you’ll want to take their Shark Speedboat Ride, which leaves from the South Street Seaport. The cruises are nearly identical, just in different locations.
May 2 – May 31: Saturdays and Sundays only, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM, hourly
June 1 – September 1: Daily, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM, hourly
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NYC Dinner Cruises on the Harbor
A dinner harbor cruise is an excellent way to combine a lovely dinner and sightseeing. Most of the cruises depart at 7pm and run about 3 hours.
The price points are all pretty similar ($100-$150 pp) and it’s up to you to choose based on your preferences: family friendly, dress code, menu and music type.
All the dinner cruises are high quality and these are listed from most casual to elegant.
- Spirit of New York Dinner Cruise – family-friendly with the wait staff singing popular tunes and an after dinner DJ
- Manhattan Hornblower Dinner Cruise – three course meal, DJ and dance floor, dressy casual attire
- Bateaux New York Dinner Cruise – all glass boat, live music from a vocalist backed by an acoustic trio, jackets for men, cocktail attire for women
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Circle Line Cruises
Circle Line is likely the most popular of all the boat cruises around NYC, is family-friendly and a great way to sightsee.
Circle Line Liberty Cruise – see most of New York City’s major tourist attractions in one comfortable expedition. (1.25 hrs)
Circle Line Landmark Cruise – sails in a “U” around the island of Manhattan, giving passengers a fantastic view of nearly all that New York City has to offer. (2 hrs)
Circle Line Premier Cruise – this "Best of NYC Cruise" circles all of Manhattan: equal parts leisure activity, fun history lesson, and incredible photo opportunity. (3 hrs)
Circle Line Cruises
Pier 83, West 42nd Street (at 12th Avenue)
New York, NY 10036
If traveling during the warmer months, you’ll definitely want to check out Circle Line’s Beast Speedboat Ride!
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Holiday NYC Boat Cruises
There are special cruises for almost every holiday in NYC, and they are the first holiday activity to sell out every year and always NYC Insider favorites!
Some holiday cruises include:
- Valentine’s Day
- Mother's Day Dining Cruise
- July 4th
- Thanksgiving Dinner
- NYC Holiday Dining Cruise
- Christmas Eve
- New Years Eve
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Classic Harbor Line Boat Cruises
Sail Manhattan on one of three classic yachts — the Schooner Adirondack and the Schooner America 2.0 (sailboats), and the Luxury Yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II (motorized yacht) on an amazing variety of cruises.
Leaving from Chelsea Piers, all year round, Classic Harbor Line offers holiday and regular cruises: Family-Friendly, July 4th, NYE, Sunday Brunch, Jazz, Sushi, Valentine’s Day, Pride, Architecture and dozens more.
Check their wide selection of cruises: Classic Harbor Cruises and read our reviews: Classic Harbor Line
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Champagne Brunch or Wine Tasting Sail
Who wouldn’t love a champagne brunch cruise aboard the majestic 82-foot schooner Shearwater? You’ll see spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and other iconic Manhattan sights as you sail through the world-famous New York Harbor. Feast on a plentiful buffet of fine pastries and breads, meats and cheeses and more, as well as all-you-can-drink Prosecco, while taking in New York’s legendary skyline. For lovers of sunsets and wine, try the Wine Tasting sail
- Around Manhattan Brunch Cruise (Sat/Sun @ 10:00am, March to Oct)
- Shearwater Wine Tasting Sail (Saturdays @ 4:30pm)
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NYC Discount Boat Tours Cruises
The New York City Discount Passes all include some of the boat tours and cruises.NYC Insider Guide has done much of the analysis for you so you can determine the right pass for you, based on which Boat Tours and Cruises are on your list of things to do and see.
NY Explorer Pass
Choose Your Tours
- Hop-on/off Sightseeing Ferry
- Beast Speedboat Cruise
- SHARK Speedboat Ride
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry
- Clipper City Tall Ship Sail
- Shearwater Schooner Sails
New York Pass
Includes over 20 NYC Tours
- Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Ferry
- New York Water Taxi
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- Clipper City Tall Ship Sail
- Shearwater Schooner Sails
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More New York City Cruises
With so many sailing, jazz, champagne, romantic, family-friendly and other cruises, browse the full selection of 60+ NYC cruises.
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How are You going to Tour New York City?
- All New York City Tours
- NYC Boat Tour Cruises
- Bus Tours
- Helicopter Tours
- Walking Tours
- NYC One Day Tours
- Shopping Tours
- Movie and Television Tours
- NYC Nightlife Tours
- Bike Tours
- 9-11 Memorial Museum Tours
- Statue of Liberty Tours
- Food Tours
- NYC Lights Tours
- Holiday Lights Tours
Best NYC Attractions Pass for Tours
Sightseeing Pass
| New York Pass
| Go New York Explorer
| CityPASS
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOHO Bus | ✔ Unlimited | ✔ 1 Day ✔ The RIDE | ✔ 1 Day ✔ Night Tour ✔ The RIDE | |
| Cruises | ✔ Circle Line ✔ 5+ Cruises | ✔ Circle Line ✔ Clipper City | ✔ Circle Line ✔ 5+ Cruises | ✔Circle Line or Statue of Liberty |
| Food Tours | ✔ 10+ Food on Foot | ✔ 10+ Food on Foot | ✔ 10+ Food on Foot | |
| Movie & TV | ✔ 3+ On Location | ✔ East Village, Central Park ✔ Marvel & DC Superheroes ✔ Seinfeld | ✔ Marvel & DC Superheroes ✔ When Harry Met Seinfeld | |
| Walking Tours | ✔20+ Choices | ✔10+ Choices | ✔10+ Choices | |
| Shopping Tours | ✔Fashion Windows ✔Macy's Historical ✔Woodbury Common Outlets Bus | ✔Fashion Windows ✔Holiday Markets & Lights ✔Woodbury Common Outlets Bus | ✔Fashion Windows ✔Woodbury Common Outlets Bus |
