Sightseeing cruises in New York
With the widest selection of sightseeing cruises in the New York/New Jersey area, NY Waterway Tours is holding the line on prices for most cruises this year as budget-conscious visitors enjoy the world-famous skyline day or night, and special cruises that focus on history – all in just 60-90 New York minutes.
All tours are on specially designed boats which allow visitors to experience the exhilaration of being outside on the water or inside in a climate-controlled cabin which is comfortable 12 months a year. Because NY Waterway Tours boats are faster, there’s more time spent at points of interest and less time spent getting from point to point.
Among the NY Waterway Tours sightseeing cruises for 2010 are:
• 90 Minute Skyline Cruise
• 90 Minute Twilight Cruise
• Yankee Clipper
• Gateway to America
• New York Historical Society History Cruise
• Shades of Autumn River Cruise
Most tours depart from the NY Waterway Tours Terminal at West 38th Street and the Hudson River Park, with free bus service between points throughout Manhattan and the NY Waterway Ferry Terminal, next door at West 39th Street.
For New Jersey visitors, the cruise starts with a free round-trip commuter ferry ticket from the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken to the West 39th Street Terminal.
NY Waterway Tours has developed two combo packages offering the world-famous Skyline Cruise and a choice of unforgettable New York City visitor experiences such as the Empire State Building, or the Top of the Rock, all at one low price and including free bus transportation.
Snacks and drinks are available for sale at the Tours Terminal and onboard all sightseeing boats. Box lunches also can be reserved.
Combo tickets are available at the West 38th Street Tours Terminal at West 38th Street and 12th Avenue or the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken, NJ, or at nywaterway.com. Children age three or younger always ride free. For schedules, prices and additional information visit nywaterway.com.
NY Waterway Tours offer the follow sightseeing cruises for 2010:
Skyline Cruise - Offers views of more attractions than any other cruise in the harbor and now includes an inside look at the unforgettable ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ where 143 US Airways Flight 1549 passengers were rescued from the Hudson River by NY Waterway ferries. An 8-minute video on large, flat-screen TVs highlights the courageous rescue with comments from the NY Waterway crew members who bravely and selflessly participated in the rescue. An entertaining and informative tour guide provides interesting facts about the sights that make New York City so special, including the location of the miracle rescue, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, United Nations, the South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge. The Ultimate Harbor Cruise offers frequent departures and operates seven days a week, year-round.
NY Waterway offers two combo packages with the 90-minute Skyline Cruise: The first includes the choice of tickets to the Empire State Building Observatory, or the Top of the Rock Observatory. The price is $30 per adult and $20 per child – a savings of $16 per person. The second package includes entrance to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum or Ripley's Believe It or Not at $35 per adult and $25 per child – a savings of $20 per person.
Twilight Cruise - Glides past the spectacular New York City skyline as it comes to life at sundown. As the sun sets and the dazzling reflections on the buildings become darkened, the city transforms into a vibrant and unforgettable visual experience featuring thousands upon thousands of lights dancing across the Manhattan skyline. The Twilight Cruise begins May 29th and departs every evening at 6:30 until July 1st and then departures begin at 7:30 and is a wonderful opportunity to throw a little romance into your sightseeing agenda.
Yankee Clipper - Baseball cruises make getting to the new Yankee Stadium a hassle-free, traffic-free sailgate party. Serving all New York Yankees home games, this sightseeing cruise offers hot dogs, soft drinks, beer and mixed drinks as it glides past the skyline – and the traffic – arriving at the new stadium 30 minutes before game time, and leaving 30 minutes after the last out. Yankee Clipper baseball cruises depart several points in New Jersey and Manhattan on a schedule linked to game time.
Gateway to America Cruise - Offered in partnership with the National Park Service and the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy, this 60-minute sightseeing cruise presents a glimpse of the New York that first attracted settlers to the new world and illustrates why America begins in New York and on its harbor.
The lively narration explains points from the time of Henry Hudson to successive waves of immigrants and shipmasters, offering a rich and layered perspective on harbor ecology, commerce, immigration, and defense. Gateway to America Cruises depart daily at 11AM, 12:30 PM and 2 PM from slip 5 of the Battery Maritime Building next to the Staten Island ferry.
New York Historical Society History Cruise - A unique opportunity to view New York City’s famous historical sites, accompanied by a certified tour guide who provides entertaining and informative facts. The cruise also highlights New York’s various waterways, its waterfront development and other important areas and neighborhoods that can be observed from the boat. This fun and educational cruise operates on by group request only.
Shades of Autumn River Cruise - A non-stop, four-hour cruise offering views of the exquisite fall foliage along the Hudson River that has inspired writers and artists for 200 years. While passengers enjoy spectacular views of one of the nation’s most scenic foliage routes, an experienced tour guide will point out historical sites along the route and share local folklore about one of the nation’s most picturesque regions.
Beginning in October and running every Saturday and Sunday through November, Shades of Autumn cruises will depart Manhattan from West 38th Street and from Port Imperial in Weehawken, NJ.