Circle Line: Best of NYC Cruise (2.5hrs)

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The Circle Line Best of NYC Cruise is the longest cruise available. For 2.5 leisurely hours, you’ll explore the entire Manhattan Island by boat. This is the most extensive Manhattan cruise available, as the boat goes all around Manhattan, both over the Hudson and East River. You’ll see many famous New York sites from the water. The Best of NYC cruise is available year-round.

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Eric's Index

1 Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan
2 FAQ

Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan

This complete Manhattan Island cruise starts on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan at the Circle Line terminal at Pier 83 (12th Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Street). After the boat leaves Pier 83, you’ll cruise over the Hudson River. See Midtown with its huge skyscrapers, the extremely expensive apartments of Greenwich Village, and the Financial District.

Throughout the boat tour, you will have live commentary from the guide, who will give you fun facts about all the places and buildings you pass. If you prefer an audio guide, a free, multi-language app is available with your headphones.

Manhattan Island boat tour

For example, in Greenwich Village, you’ll see the unused pier where the Titanic should have docked. In the Financial District, not only will you see the enormous Freedom Tower, the heart of the new World Trade Center, but also the glass Winter Garden, with its palm trees at the foot of the skyscraper: something you might not have noticed otherwise. The Circle Line Best of NYC Cruise will also take you past the Statue of Liberty, where you can view Lady Liberty in all her glory and take beautiful photos.

View the Brooklyn Bridge from the Water

From the Statue of Liberty, you’ll travel to the East side of Manhattan, passing Wall Street and heading under the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge. You’ll see the posh houses of the Upper East Side and even pass the Yankee Stadium, where the famous New York Yankees play their home games. It’s worth seeing how busy Northern Manhattan quickly changes into the peaceful Hudson River and its surrounding woods. You travel back to Pier 83 through the Upper West Side from the North.

You can order food and drinks at the bar downstairs during the cruise. There are also plenty of toilets on board. If you are taking the boat tour during the summer, make sure you bring sunscreen. Even though it may be cloudy, you burn quicker on the water.

Eric’s Tip: “If you want to see the whole of Manhattan, take this tour. It offers a peaceful moment during your trip when you can relax for 2.5 hours whilst enjoying the beautiful views. Because it goes much further than other boat tours, it is the only one where you can see Yankee Stadium from the water. The tour also takes you under many bridges, which you wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to see.”

Practical Information

After purchasing, you’ll receive a voucher that you can print out or show as your ticket on your phone. Be sure to arrive at least 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time to get the best seats.

Duration: 2.5 hours
Departure Point: Pier 83
Departure Times 2025:
- January 1st – March 6th: daily at 12:00
- March 7th – May 22nd: daily at 10:00 and 13:30
- May 23rd – September 1st: daily at 10:00, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:30
- September 2nd – December 31st: daily at 10:00 and 13:30
- Special schedule on the 4th of July
- Doesn’t run on Christmas Day
How to get there: You can reach Pier 83 on the west side of Midtown Manhattan by taking subway lines ACE to 42nd St/Port Authority Bus Terminal and walking from there.
Accessibility: The cruise is wheelchair accessible