Living in a city surrounded by two rivers means there are a lot of opportunities to get out on the water. As a local, I’ve enjoyed my fair share of boat rides and encourage you to do the same.
Seeing the city from this perspective makes for a lovely outing and offers plenty of great photo-ops.
This post compares New York City boat tours, including cruises around Manhattan and night cruises, ferries, speedboats, and sailboats.
- Biggest Variety of Boat Tours
- Most Thrilling Speedboat Tour
- Most Relaxing Sailboat Tour
- Most Affordable Boat Tour
- Best Night Cruise
When writing this post I relied on my experience and that of my fellow local tour guides. I also looked at what members of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group had to say.
Our group of over 270,000 members consists of locals, frequent visitors to NYC and newcomers to the city.
You don't need to join the group to search for and read the posts, comments, and suggestions.
Check out the group once you are finished reading this post. A link can be found at the bottom of the page.
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
BIGGEST VARIETY OF BOAT TOURS (CIRCLE LINE)
Probably the most popular, and most well-known cruise company is the Circle Line.
They offer 3 different sightseeing boat tours, as well as themed tours, such as a sunset tour. Below the details of each are provided.
All Circle Line cruises run daily and last between 1 to 3 hours.
Sightseeing commentary is provided throughout the tours and paid bars are onboard.
Where do Circle Line tours depart from?
All Circle Line boats leave from the west side of Midtown Manhattan, at West 42nd Street on the Hudson River.
The cost of the trip varies depending on which cruise you select.
Since Circle Line Cruises are included for free in the New York Pass, Explorer Pass, and New York Sightseeing Pass, you can save money by taking advantage of one of the tourist passes!
Read our guide about these tourist discount passes to find out if one is a good fit for you.
Does Circle Line go around Manhattan?
Yes, they currently have two different cruises that will take you around Manhattan (more or less).
This company currently has a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide.
Although there are some negative reviews, a majority of customers felt that the views and commentary provided on their cruise were excellent.
I've taken both day and night Circle Line tours over the years and have always been satisfied with the quality and experience.
TIP: Many of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group members suggest that it's worth purchasing premium seating.
Liberty Cruise
This 1-hour cruise (also referred to as the Statue of Liberty Express) covers the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and One World Trade Center.
This cruise gets very positive reviews.
- Departs several times daily
- Adult - $31 | Child - $26
Included for free with the purchase of many of the tourist discount passes.
This cruise is sometimes included in a combo package with a Big Bus hop-on-hop-off bus ticket.
If you're interested in visiting Liberty Island, read our post on Statue of Liberty cruises for more details.
Landmark Cruise
This 90-minute cruise focuses on Lower and Midtown Manhattan, with the highlights being views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and other notable architecture.
This cruise also gets very positive reviews.
- Departs 2-3 times daily.
- Adult - $37 | Child - $31 | Senior - $34
Included for free with the purchase of any of the tourist discount passes.
Best of NYC Cruise
This 2.5-hour NYC sightseeing cruise circles around the entire island of Manhattan and includes commentary on the Lady Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Harlem, and Yankee Stadium, among other things.
This is their flagship tour and it offers excellent views of the Manhattan skyline.
This cruise also gets very positive reviews.
- Adult - $44 | Child - $37
- Departs 2 - 3 times per day
This cruise is included for free with the New York Pass and the NYC Explorer Pass, both tourist discount cards.
MOST THRILLING SPEEDBOAT TOUR (THE BEAST)
The Beast is exactly that! It's fast, furious and a fun way to enjoy New York City's water!
I've taken my nieces and nephews on this ride and though I was a bit nervous, they had a blast!
Needless to say, if you are traveling with kids, take them on The Beast.
Operated by the Circle Line company mentioned above, the Beast travels at 45 mph (73 kph) and gets within 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty.
The Beast Speedboat Ride has earned a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide.
Very few people have left negative reviews, indicating that this speedboat tour is a pretty fun experience.
How much does the Beast NYC cost?
- $30 - Adult | $25 - Child
- Departs every hour on the hour 11 am – 6 pm from Pier 81 (map).
- Available Wednesday - Sunday.
The Beast is included for free in at least one of the NYC tourist attraction passes, such as the Go City Explorer Pass.
RUNNER-UP:
RIB New York
A RIB (rigid-hulled inflatable Boat) is safe, exciting, and perfect for sightseeing.
With speeds of up to 50 mph, there’s a good chance that you’ll get splashed while seeing such popular sites as the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, The World Trade Center, and more.
Tickets start at $39 per person
- Not currently available.
MOST RELAXING SAILBOAT TOUR (MANHATTAN BY SAIL)
This isn't the kind of boating adventure you probably had in mind when you planned your trip to New York City.
But when you think about it, sailboats were once the only way to travel the city's waterways.
As a history lover who likes to get out on the water, I loved sailing around New York City. I could imagine what it was like during the colonial era!
Ticket prices are a bit higher than some other options on our list, but you can also enjoy some of these services for free with various attraction passes.
Manhattan by Sail
Manhattan by Sail has 2 types of boats, the Shearwater and Clipper City, each offering a variety of tours.
Sailing adventures include trips near the Statue of Liberty, NYC Skyline sightseeing, and sunset outings around the city.
Manhattan by Sail is a good option for those using a tourist pass, as some of these passes typically include this service.
Currently, Manhattan by Sail offers at least one of their cruises on the New York Sightseeing Pass.
- Adult Tickets: $45 and up
- Child Tickets: $25 and up
Much like their competitors, Manhattan by Sail has received respectable reviews with an overall score of at least 4½ out of 5 stars.
Guests note that the prices are very reasonable and they provide excellent service. Customers also report that it’s easy to move around on the boat despite the boats being crowded sometimes.
RUNNER UP:
Classic Harbor Line
There are 3 types of boats available, the Luxury Yacht Manhattan, the Schooner Adirondack, and the Schooner America 2.0.
Each offers different tours of surrounding sites, as well as a brunch option. You can expect sails at sunset, around the Statue of Liberty and tours that provide views of the NYC skyline.
- Adults: $60 and up
- Children: $28 and up
Reviews for this service are pretty good, with most people giving Classic Harbor Line at least 4 ½ out of 5 stars.
The only complaint anyone had was that the boats may be crowded at times.
Aside from those issues, most people report that the views are spectacular and the service is excellent.
MOST AFFORDABLE BOAT TOUR (FERRIES)
One of the best things you can do in NYC without spending a lot of money is to take a ride on the NYC Ferry.
Though it's a commuter service, it can be used like a traditional boat tour. It costs just $4.50 per person and comes with one free transfer between routes.
You'll see a lot of the city and the views are amazing. Take a look at our self-guided tour using the NYC Ferry.
You can get off the ferry and explore the area, though to get back on a ferry, you will have to pay for a new ride.
Still, at such a low cost, it's worth using the ferry like a hop-on, hop-off tour!
If you’re looking for transportation that will allow you to enjoy a self-guided tour of NYC, this is one of the most affordable options.
Though it isn't a cruise company, the NYC Ferry has a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor.
My fellow tour guides and I take these ferries all the time as a way to get around the city quickly.
Plus the view is a whole lot better than looking out of a subway car window!
Learn more about this ferry line and others from our visitor's guide to riding NYC ferries.
RUNNER UP:
New York Water Taxi
*Currently running private charters only. No public service available.
Like its competitors, New York Water Taxi offers a hop-on-hop-off boat service that takes 90 minutes to complete.
However, you are free to jump off and explore the city at your own pace, hopping back on whenever you wish at several stops throughout the city.
NYWT offers 6 piers to explore compared to the 4 offered by City Sightseeing.
Although this isn’t technically a boat tour, they do provide recorded narration describing some of the sights you’ll see on the cruise.
This company runs about as frequently as similar services.
With a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide, New York Water Taxi might be more popular than its competition.
RUNNER-UP:
City Sightseeing Cruise
This is a hop-on, hop-off service with several terminals.
This boat makes stops at South Street, DUMBO, the World Financial Center, and Midtown. City Sightseeing also offers twilight and night tours.
They also offer a rainy day guarantee, which allows you to use your boat ticket at several popular indoor attractions.
The entire route takes 90 minutes if you do not get off.
- $35 - Adult | $25 - Child
- Schedule posted below
- Not currently available.
The cruise service is also usually included for free with the purchase of the Sightseeing Pass and in their multi-day bus passes.
BEST NIGHT CRUISE (CIRCLE LINE)
Interested in hearing some great live music while drifting along the water or are you looking to wine and dine that someone special? Night cruises offer both these experiences.
You can read about the many options from our complete post on the best dinner cruises in NYC in which we provide a list of the best dining cruises in the city based on 5 criteria: lowest price, best dinner, best music, most romantic, and best specialty cruise.
We also include information about saving money on these services with tourist passes and offer sites, so you can get a good deal on your dinner cruise.
Circle Line
If you're looking for a sunset cruise, consider one of these below outings.
This company offers a 60-minute Statue by Night Tour. See the Statue of Liberty after dark!
Cruises depart at 7:30 pm (19:30) from Pier 16/South Street Seaport (map).
Harbor Lights Tour
There is also a 90-minute Harbor Lights Tour which departs just before sunset so you can enjoy the skyline while the sun goes down!
Departs at 7 pm (19:00) from Pier 81 (map).
This cruise is well-reviewed.
- Adults/$41 | Children/$34
Included for free with the purchase of the New York Pass and the Explorer Pass.
Statue by Night Cruise
- $31 – Adult | $19 – Child
- Departs at 7:30 pm (19:30) from Pier 16/South Street Seaport (map)
What Boat Ride in NYC is Free?
This section summarizes the various free, and almost free, options for you to get out on the water of NYC.
Though none of these options are official boat tours, each offers guests incredible views of the New York skyline, Statue of Liberty, Governors Island, and more.
Budget Tip: If you are planning on purchasing the one of the New York City tourist passes, most have boat tours included in the price.
Read our post to see if one of the New York tourist passes are right for you.
1. Staten Island Ferry
This may be the best-known "secret" in the Big Apple. This is a free commuter ferry.
It just so happens that this ferry offers one of the best views of the New York skyline including a pretty close look at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The ferry departs Lower Manhattan and takes approximately 25 minutes to reach Staten Island, where you could get off and explore or just get back on and return to Manhattan. The ferry departs from Whitehall Terminal.
The Staten Island Ferry operates 24 hours a day, so consider making this also a fantastic thing to do at night for a sparkling view of the city.
Riding the ferry before or after our Lower Manhattan Tour is a great way to spend half a day without spending half your budget!
We also offer this tour as a GPS-enabled audio tour.
2. NYC Ferry
This is the cheapest boat ride in NYC, after the free Staten Island Ferry.
This is a commuter ferry and costs just $4.50 one way with one free transfer.
There are several routes, many of which offer fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline.
In the summer, the ferry also goes to Governors Island, located just near the tip of Manhattan.
Some of the routes offer views of Lower Manhattan, the One World Observatory, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge and more.
Read our NYC Ferry post for all the details, schedules, stops and how to buy your ticket.
3. IKEA Shuttle Ferry
This ferry service runs from Wall Street Terminal to Red Hook in Brooklyn.
It's free on weekends and $5 on weekdays. If you make at least a $10 purchase at IKEA, then your weekday ride is free.
It's a great way to get to the cool NYC neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn and back without taking the subway.
4. Free Kayaking
The Downtown Boathouse, one of the organizations that run the kayak rides is an all-volunteer organization. Donations are accepted.
They have four locations: Pier 26, Governors Island, Pier 40 and Pier 96.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse also offers free kayaking, where you can kayak underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.
5. Village Community Boathouse
Perfect for a more adventurous soul, Village Community Boathouse offers guests the chance to participate in completely free community rowing sessions after dusk from April - November.
On Sundays, they also have an additional rowing session at noon, as well as a variety of other activities intermittently throughout the year.
During the winter, guests can join in for a free boat-building lesson.
Is the Statue of Liberty ferry free?
No. Although there are many ways to save money on this activity, it is not free to visit the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty ferry is the only way to reach this island. If you only want to see the landmark from a short distance, consider taking a Statue of Liberty cruise instead.
For more details, read our post covering how to visit the Statue of Liberty.
