New York Circle Line Cruises

New York Circle Line Cruises offer multiple great options for sightseeing by boat. If you want to see a lot of the city while relaxing, then this is something I can definitely recommend. Almost all Circle Line boat tours start at Pier 83, close to the Intrepid Museum, at 42nd Street and 12th Avenue. You can easily buy tickets online before going to New York.

The different New York Sightseeing Circle Line Cruises

All of the cruises will take you past the Manhattan Skyline, One World Observatory, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, so make sure to snap photos! The longer the cruise, the more you’ll see. I’ve listed the different cruise options below:

1. Circle Line: Best of NYC Cruise

   The Circle Line Best of NYC Cruise is 2.5 hours and is great if you want to see all of Manhattan. This cruise goes around Manhattan Island, and you will see the skyline, Yankee Stadium, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and much more. You’ll also cruise under all of the bridges, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge, which connect Manhattan with the rest of New York.

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: the complete Manhattan island experience

2. Circle Line: Landmarks Cruise

   If you’re interested in seeing only the highlights, then the Circle Line Landmarks Cruise is for you. In a leisurely 1.5 hours, you’ll cruise under the Brooklyn Bridge and past highlights like the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline.

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: all the iconic sights in 90 minutes

3. Circle Line: Harbour Lights Cruise

   Nothing beats the New York skyline, except the New York skyline at night! Take the Circle Line Harbour Lights Cruise and enjoy the twinkling lights on a 2-hour sightseeing cruise.

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: views of the illuminated city

4. Circle Line: Liberty Cruise

   On a tight schedule? The Circle Line Liberty Cruise is a great option. This 1-hour cruise will take you past the main attraction: Lady Liberty. Enjoy the Manhattan skyline too, as an added bonus. This cruise does NOT stop at Liberty Island.

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: a short trip to see the Statue of Liberty

5. Circle Line: Liberty Super Express Cruise

   Are you visiting Downtown Manhattan and want to get a closer look at the Statue of Liberty? The Circle Line Liberty Super Express Cruise departs from both Pier 16 in South Street Seaport and Battery Park. Sail to Lady Liberty and back in only 50 minutes! This sightseeing cruise does NOT stop at Liberty Island.

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: a view of the Statue of Liberty from Downtown

6. Circle Line: Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise

   You can also take an evening cruise from the same Pier 16 in Downtown Manhattan. This one-hour Circle Line Statue Sunset Cruise takes you to admire Lady Liberty up close from the water. You’ll also see New York’s iconic skyline at sunset and how thousands of lights begin to illuminate the city. Note: this boat tour is seasonal.

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: golden hour views of Lady Liberty from Downtown

7. Circle Line: The Beast Speedboat Ride

   Sightseeing with a thrill – that’s the 30 min. Circle Line The Beast Speedboat Ride alright! You’ll travel at 45 mph towards the Statue of Liberty. Be prepared to get wet!

   ⛴️ I’d take this cruise for: high-speed thrills with a side of sightseeing

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

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Eric’s Tip: “If you’re wondering about which cruise to take, go for the Landmarks Cruise. With this one, you really can’t go wrong. It’s a semi-circle cruise of Lower Manhattan and takes you past the most important sights. If you want to see more of the entire island and relax, then opt for the longer cruise.”

Comparison of the Circle Line Cruises in New York

To make the comparison even clearer, I have summarised the main differences between the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises for you in the table below.