Why get on a boat at all
Manhattan is an island, and while you are walking on it you would never know. Buildings line both sides of every street and your sightline stops after a block or two.
Push off from the shore and that changes completely. The shape of the island, the way the buildings rise and fall, the distances between the bridges — it all becomes legible at once. Plenty of visitors who have already spent three days in Manhattan tell us this is when they first properly saw it.
Which side to stand on
Outbound, the Statue of Liberty is to starboard; on the way back, the downtown skyline is to starboard. We explain this before boarding and tell you when to move. There is enough room on deck that you do not need to guard a spot for the whole trip.
- The open deck has the best view and a serious amount of wind — hats go overboard.
- Indoors there are seats and large windows; watch for reflections when photographing.
- Evening sailings have the softest light and you get the skyline lit up afterwards.
- In winter the wind chill on the water is far below what it is ashore. Dress for it.
How this differs from a Liberty Island trip
This is a circling cruise; it does not land. If you want to step onto Liberty Island and Ellis Island — or go up into the pedestal or the crown — that is a different trip requiring earlier booking and four to five hours. We can help arrange it, but it is a separate day.
Seasickness
The harbor is normally calm and it rarely comes up. If you are particularly sensitive, take a morning sailing and stay in the middle of the vessel indoors.
