New York City Boat Tours

As much as New York City is famed for its bustling streetscapes, dense neighborhoods, and soaring skyscrapers, it remains a place that has a very deep connection to water. Much of the city’s early history was the byproduct of its suitability as a shipping port, while its explosive growth during the late 19th and early 20th Century was a result of the millions of immigrants whose first stop in America after their ocean voyages was New York City. And, of course, the borough of Manhattan is an island. Accordingly, many visitors decide that one of the best ways to experience New York City is by going on a boat tour.

If you’re interested in taking a boat tour of New York City, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from, so it’s important to have a sense of what you’re hoping to get out of your excursion. Traditional New York City boat tours typically last a couple hours and provide stunning views of the New York City skyline from the water. If you’re in the market for a sightseeing cruise, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is a perennial favorite of visitors. Circle Line’s Best of NYC Cruise is the only sightseeing cruise available on the market today that ferries guests all the way around the entire island of Manhattan.

If you’d like a boat tour with a bit more flexibility, you might want to consider taking a Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise. This style of informative boat tour allows you to board and disembark the tour at various locations of your choosing, while still providing an enjoyable guided narration along the way. There’s also a whole host of boat tours that cater to special occasions and events, including elegant evening dinner cruises. On this type of boat tour you’ll enjoy a fabulous meal as the bright lights of the city set the night sky above you aglow. Happy-hour boat tours are another fun way to see the city from a spectacular perspective while having a great time socializing.

Intrigued by the idea of a New York City boat tour, but in the mood for something even more unique? Then you might want to think about going on a speed boat tour or sailing tour. Speed boat tours will see you racing through scenic New York Harbor at speeds approaching 50 mph, while a sailing tour is a more relaxing, easygoing way of experiencing New York City’s waterfront.

Of course, no New York Harbor experience is complete without taking in the wonders of the world-famous Statue of Liberty, and there are cruises specifically for that excursion, too. And don’t worry if you need to watch the bottom line when it comes to selecting a suitable New York City boat tour: there are plenty of affordable tours out there, as well as the famous Staten Island Ferry, which runs for free!

Here is some more background information on New York City’s most popular boat tour operators.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises operates several popular guided boat tours, including the New York City Landmarks Cruise and the Best of NYC Cruise—the only sightseeing cruise with a route that takes visitors all the way around the entire island of Manhattan.

Hownblower City Cruises

Hornblower City Cruises operates dozens of distinctive cruises catering to any number of interests at several different price points. Their most popular cruises include the Alive After Five cruise and the classic Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise.