12 New York City Boat Tours to Build a Day Around

1.Circle Line 2h Harbor Lights Cruise Skip-The-Box-Office

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 8,222 reviews · 2 hours · from $45Our pick

Spend two hours on Circle Line’s Harbor Lights Cruise, passing within 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty and beneath three major bridges. English-speaking guides such as Alexis, George, David, and Andy add humor and history, while indoor cabins, an outdoor deck, Wi-Fi, and a full bar keep the ride comfortable.

“Highly recommend! An amazing way to see New York City at night. Beautiful skyline views, great atmosphere, and well-organized. A must-do experience when visiting NYC.”

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2.Circle Line 2.5 Hour Best of NYC Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,268 reviews · from $39

Spend 2.5 hours circling Manhattan from Pier 83, with close Statue of Liberty views, Brooklyn Bridge photos, five boroughs, and 100-plus sights. English guides such as Alexis and Andrew add jokes and local detail, while indoor cabins, outdoor decks, Wi-Fi, and audio guides keep the ride comfortable.

“Excellent! Plentiful seats out on deck and inside, very interesting and fun narrative and long enough time to enjoy the sights.”

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3.Statue of Liberty Express Skip-the-Box-Office Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,873 reviews · 50 min · from $24Best value

Board at Pier 16 for a 50-minute round-trip cruise with live English commentary, indoor and outdoor seating, and several slow passes by the Statue of Liberty. Guides such as Debbie, Nathan, George, and Michael keep the ride lively while you photograph Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and downtown Manhattan.

“Very informative guide and great views of the Statue of Liberty”

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4.Circle Line 1.5-Hr Landmarks Skip-The-Box-Office Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,778 reviews · 1h 30m · from $34

Board Circle Line at Pier 83 for a 90-minute cruise past Lower Manhattan, Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, Midtown, and three major bridges. An English-speaking guide explains the city as you go, while an app offers commentary in eight additional languages. Arrive 45 minutes early for boarding.

“Fantastic excursion. David, the tour guide, was knowledgeable, informative and friendly. Well worth the money.”

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5.Starship Landmark 90 Minute Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,666 reviews · 1h 30m · from $34

Cruise from Pier 78 past Hudson Yards, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, and Lower Manhattan. English-speaking guides such as Molly, Darius, and Al mix city history with humor, while climate-controlled cabins, open decks, restrooms, and a snack bar keep the ride practical.

“Molly our guide was excellent. Highly recommend the cruise.”

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6.2.5hr – Complete Manhattan Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,488 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Circle Line’s 2.5-hour cruise circles Manhattan by way of the Hudson and East rivers, passing more than 130 landmarks. Expect live English commentary from guides such as Alexis, Postcard Tim, and Jerry, with outdoor decks, indoor seating, snacks for purchase, and a free multilingual app.

“Great way to learn about the City...Amazing views!!! Highly recommend. If you've never been to NYC and/or haven't had a chance to see all of the cities sights definitely take this Tour”

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7.Circle Line 1-Hr Statue of Liberty Skip-The-Line Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,342 reviews · from $27

Cruise from Pier 83 for one hour past the Empire State Building, High Line, One World Trade Center, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. A live English guide, outdoor deck, indoor cabins, Wi-Fi, and audio commentary in nine languages make this a practical first look at New York from the water.

“I had a wonderful experience it reliefs your stress. Seeing the Statue of Liberty was amazing.”

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8.2hr – New York City Harbor Lights Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,859 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $45

Sail from Pier 83 around Manhattan and New York Harbor for two hours, with live English narration, indoor and outdoor seating, Wi-Fi, and close views of Lady Liberty. Guides such as Andy, Dave, George, and Alex have added humor and history on recent sailings. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Beautiful experience! We truly enjoyed every minute. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. So happy that we did the night tour it was spectacular!”

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9.New York City Statue of Liberty Super Express Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,625 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Board at Pier 16 for a 50-minute Circle Line cruise past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and Lower Manhattan. Live guides such as Debbie and Tim add humor and history, while indoor seating, an outdoor deck, Wi-Fi, and onboard restrooms keep the ride practical.

“So much information about the bridges and Hudson River and just everything about lower manhattan and Brooklyn”

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10.Starship Landmark 90 Minute Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,073 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Cruise the Hudson River for 90 minutes aboard a temperature-controlled Starship boat, with views of Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, and the Empire State Building. Live guides such as Darius and Molly add history and humor. Expect first-come seating, an onboard snack bar, and possible VIP charges.

“Best way to see Lady Liberty. We’ve taken the tour to the island and this was much more efficient. Plus got to see New York City from a different vantage point. Great experience.”

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11.Bateaux Premier Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,371 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $180

Board Bateaux New York at Pier 61 for a three-hour evening cruise with a guaranteed table, freshly prepared dinner, live band, and views of the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, Brooklyn Bridge, and Manhattan Bridge. Semi-formal dress is required, and drinks cost extra.

“So much fun! What a great way to spend an evening . The service was absolutely amazing ! Swan made the experience top notch! Food was good & the views of the city, Brooklyn bridge and Statue of Liberty was amazing .”

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12.Signature Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,362 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $119

Board at Pier 61 for a 2.5-hour New York harbor dinner cruise with a buffet, assigned table, DJ, and indoor and outdoor decks. You’ll see Lady Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, Hudson Yards, and more. Arrive 30 minutes early because the boat will not wait.

“The vibe and the food was definitely a winner . I recommend this to Others . The sights and night life was awesome .”

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