Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: Voyaging NYC With Grand Views
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is a highly acclaimed boat-based tour company in NYC. It provides holistic cruise line tours with guided sightseeing, onboard entertainment, events, and sumptuous food/beverages. Since 1945, they have ferried over 80 million locals and tourists across New York waters, with mesmerizing views of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and so on. Their boats are also available for private parties, field trips, and group activities.
Background on Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
New York Cruise Lines owns Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. The 79-year-old company also owns the New York Water Taxi, La Barca Cantina, a floating Mexican restaurant, and the Beast Speedboat Ride. Circle Line’s current fleet includes state-of-the-art vessels named after NYC’s five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) and one named after Lady Liberty.
The New York Historical Society has developed tour guide narrations for all Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Furthermore, all their guides are certified professionals with extensive experience. The company has developed a tour translation app in Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, and Mandarin for tourists to enjoy audio tours in their native language.
Where is Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and how do you get there?
Except for the two cruises mentioned below, all Circle Line Sightseeing boat tours depart from Pier 83, West 42nd Street, and 12th Avenue in Midtown West, Manhattan.
- The nearest subway stations are Times Square 42nd Street, 5th Avenue 42nd Street, and 42nd Street Grand Central.
- Pier 83 is 1 mile away from 42nd Street. You can walk or take the M42 bus directly to the pier.
The departure points for the ‘Liberty Super Express’ and ‘Statue at Sunset’ tours are from Pier 16, South Street Seaport. The nearest train station and bus stops are at Fulton Street, both within 10 minutes walking of Pier 16.
What can you expect when you visit Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises?
Always double-check since two cruises depart from Pier 16 and all others from Pier 83. Reach the correct departure point at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. E-tickets on your mobile are accepted. Purchasing tickets online will allow you to skip the box office line and head to security directly.
Smoking is prohibited on all regular Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. On seasonal/festive cruises, there can be designated smoking zones that you can enquire about at the box office. Pets are strictly not allowed on these tours. Also, food and beverages from outside are not allowed. You can purchase beer, cocktails, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, ice cream, snacks, and light meals onboard.
Apart from the temperature-controlled indoor seats, there are comfortable outdoor seats and plenty of deck space for photo ops. With free Wi-Fi, you can stay connected and live-stream your experience. The 2.5 hours-long ‘Best of NYC Cruise’ is the only guided boat tour in NYC that completely circles Manhattan. Cruising under 20 bridges and viewing over 130 iconic NYC landmarks is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you are short on time, take the ‘Landmarks- Half Island’ boat tour for 1.5 hours.
Don’t miss the splendid sunset cruises like ‘The Beast Speedboat Ride’ and , ‘New York City Landmarks Circle Line Cruise,’ and more!
What else can you do when you visit Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises?
- Watch out for their DJ Events Calendar to attend fabulous boat parties.
- Book a private boat for a party or event. The package is for groups of 75+ and includes in-house catering and drinks.
- Before boarding from Pier 84, visit the Dive Bar and Cantina’s Rooftop in Hell’s Kitchen. If you have time, explore fascinating venues across Midtown Manhattan.
- If you are boarding from Pier 16, don’t forget to explore the historic South Street Seaport neighborhood and museum.
FAQs
Does Circle Line provide discounts?
Yes, there are discounts for college students, military veterans, and group bookings. Tourists can get the NYC City Pass to club sightseeing venues with Circle Line boat tours. NYC residents can avail of discounts on Tuesdays.
Do I need to buy children’s tickets for Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises?
Children under three don’t require a ticket. For ages 3 to 12, discounted tickets are available.
What is Circle Line’s ticket cancellation policy?
Once purchased, tickets cannot be canceled or refunded. However, you can change your ticket for a different cruise and pay the difference if applicable.
What happens if I miss the boat?
For daily cruises, the company allows you a one-time opportunity to reschedule within 90 days of the missed journey. This is not applicable for seasonal or holiday tours.
This award-winning boat tour company has been an intrinsic part of NYC tourism, culture, and maritime entertainment for over 79 years. In 1985 and 2008, NYC mayors proclaimed ‘Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises Day’ to commemorate occasions.
From the unparalleled ‘Best of NYC’ full island tour around Manhattan to the picturesque ‘Statue at Sunset’ cruise and adventurous high-speed boat rides, their offerings are diverse and exceptional.
Bask in the sun, soak up the misty air, and gaze at the wondrous views as you assimilate the informative commentary. With ample comfort, convenience, and top-notch photography opportunities, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is one of the best ways to explore and experience NYC.
The post Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: Voyaging NYC With Grand Views appeared first on Secret NYC.