15 New York City Yacht Cruises Worth Flying For

1.Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,395 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $113 a seat Our pick

Board a classic 1920s-style yacht at Chelsea Piers for a narrated 2-hour-45-minute cruise around Manhattan. An AIA New York guide points out landmarks from the Financial District to the George Washington Bridge. You get indoor and outdoor viewing areas, assigned tables, and one complimentary beer, wine, or soft drink.

“Excellent trip around Manhattan, great views of landmarks, wonderful guide and staff! Vintage boat is lovely and made the trip special!”

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2.Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 568 reviews · 1h 30m · from $134 a seat

Spend 90 minutes aboard Yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II, sailing from Chelsea Piers past Battery Park, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. You’ll sit in a heated salon, enjoy live jazz and carols, receive cocoa, cookies, and one beer, wine, or champagne, and take in New York by night from the harbor.

“We got a great view of the city and the Statue of Liberty! Highly recommend!”

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3.Manhattan: Statue and Skyline Cruise Aboard a Luxury Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 540 reviews · 1h 30m · from $60 a seat Best value

Spend 90 minutes aboard a classic yacht from Chelsea Piers, with an assigned table, one included drink, and wide views of Manhattan, Ellis Island, Battery Park, and the Statue of Liberty. Captain Levi and crew members such as Jesse, Devon, Sean, and Conor have added warm service and light commentary on past departures.

“This was part of my birthday celebration. Employees were wonderful and volunteer to take pictures once in deck. Wonderful time.”

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4.New York City: Sunset Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 461 reviews · 90 minutes - 3 hours · from $113 a seat

Board a classic yacht for a 90-minute to 3-hour sunset cruise past Lower Manhattan, Governor’s Island, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. You’ll have an assigned table, one included drink, indoor seating, and access to an open deck. Crew members such as Jacob, Uri, and Yuri are known for friendly service and help with photos.

“Everything was amazing with this tour. Professional service and very awesome atmosphere.”

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5.New York City Sunset Cruise on a Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 331 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $113 a seat

Board Classic Harbor Line’s yacht at Pier 62 for a 90-minute evening cruise around Manhattan. You’ll have an assigned table, one complimentary beverage, indoor and outdoor viewing areas, and close views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the skyline. The cruise returns to Pier 62.

“Loved this. Our kids are in their teens and we’re not wanting to do this but loved it. It was quite magical. We wanted to do this tour before we did statue it liberty and it was magical seeing the statue this way for the first time.”

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6.Evening Jazz Cruise on the Yacht Manhattan

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 285 reviews · 1h 30m · from $134 a seat

Spend 90 minutes aboard the 1920s-style yacht Manhattan, with live jazz, an included drink, and views of Battery Park, the Financial District, Governor’s Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. Sit at an assigned table in the climate-controlled salon, or step onto the open decks for city lights and harbor air.

“Great music, nice ambiance. Exactly what we were expecting and then some :)”

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7.City Lights Yacht Cruise with Drink Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 241 reviews · 75 - 90 minutes · from $78 a seat

Cruise New York Harbor for 75 to 90 minutes aboard a 1920s-inspired yacht from Chelsea Piers. Your reserved table is in a climate-controlled salon, while open decks and a glassed-in observatory provide 360-degree views. Expect Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governor’s Island, and one included drink.

“Beautiful boat and lovely crew. We loved it so much.”

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8.New York City Bright Lights Skyline Cruise on Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $78 a seat

Board Classic Harbor Line at Pier 62 for a 75-minute evening cruise around lower Manhattan and New York Harbor. You get indoor and outdoor seating, an assigned table, and one complimentary drink, including beer, wine, Champagne, rosé, or a soft drink. The route passes One World Trade Center and brings you close to the Statue of Liberty for night photographs.

“Crew was great. Sights were amazing. Seeing Lady Liberty up close at night was magical. We will do this trip again.”

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9.Sunset Cruise on a Small Yacht with a Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 85 reviews · 1h 30m · from $85 a seat

Board Classic Harbor Line’s small yacht at Chelsea Piers for a 90-minute sunset cruise past Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and possibly Brooklyn Bridge. Choose the open bow or glassed-in cabin, enjoy one drink and light tapas, and listen to commentary from the captain and crew. Departure times change with the season.

“This was an amazing boat trip and I’m so pleased I booked this one. There were just 20 passengers on this so we had a great view of everything and the staff were great at taking photos for us as well. Would recommend this to everyone!”

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10.New York City Sunset Cocktail Cruise on Small Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85 a seat

Set out from Chelsea Piers for a 90-minute sunset cruise on a small yacht limited to 28 people. Enjoy one cocktail, beer, wine, Champagne, or nonalcoholic drink, plus light charcuterie, while viewing the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty from the cabin or open bow.

“It was a beautiful night. Great picture moments. On the way back it was dark enough for the skyline to light up. Our captain and guide did a great job!!!”

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11.Hudson River Fall Foliage Yacht Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 47 reviews · 2h 30m · from $110 a seat

Cruise north from Chelsea Piers aboard Yacht Kingston, a small classic mini yacht with wrap-around seating, open-air decks, and a covered rear observatory. You will see the Palisades, Upper West Side, George Washington Bridge, and autumn leaves with an English-speaking guide. One drink is included, and you may bring a compact picnic.

“Captain and First Mate were wonderful, very helpful and knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the cruise. Definitely recommend it! Cheers”

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12.Grand Palisades Fall Foliage Yacht Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 46 reviews · 2 hours - 135 minutes · from $110 a seat

Board the elegant 1920s yacht Manhattan at Chelsea Piers for a 2 to 2.25-hour northbound Hudson River cruise. An Urban Naturalist explains the river’s geology and ecology as you pass the Upper West Side, George Washington Bridge, and Palisades. Assigned indoor seating, outdoor viewing areas, and one included drink make this a polished fall outing.

“The food, boat and crew was amazing. We had a fabulous time and have already recommended it to many others”

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13.New York City: Holiday Jazz Classic Motor Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 1h 30m · from $134 a seat

Spend 90 minutes aboard the classic Manhattan or Manhattan II, a heated, holiday-decorated yacht sailing from Chelsea Piers. You’ll hear a live jazz trio, enjoy homemade cookies and one included drink, and see the Financial District, Governors Island, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty after dark.

“Amazing experience. The jazz music what great and the staff were lovely. Amazing views of the Statue of Liberty”

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14.New York City Day Cruise by Statue of Liberty on Small Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60 a seat

Spend 90 minutes on a small yacht from Chelsea Piers, taking in the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and Manhattan skyline. One drink is included, with indoor and outdoor seating. Captain Fletcher and Sarah have been praised for warm, attentive service, but food is not available and weather can affect departures.

“Even though it was raining, we had a great time and luckily we stayed dry. We saw the Statue of Liberty up close and you could see the NY skyline with all the main buildings!”

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15.Statue of Liberty Private Yacht Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · whole boat $1,000, up to 6

Board the private Motor Vessel KARLA at Pier 59 for a two-hour cruise with up to six people. Your US Coast Guard captain follows a tide-aware route past Ellis Island, Governors Island, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. Enjoy indoor and outdoor lounges, a retractable canopy, Bluetooth audio, bottled water, and optional catering.

“Overall was a 5* but as a value, I give a 4. Anyway, worth all money the skyline.”

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