Planning a cruise in New York? You’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about booking tickets for all types of boat tours in New York - What are the average ticket prices? What are the differences between the types of tickets? Where is the best place to buy them? How do you compare prices? And must-know details before booking your tickets. Let’s get started.
The most important thing to know, of course, is the price range for these popular excursions. Since there are many types of cruises and several sightseeing companies operating in New York, it is necessary to list the different options and present average prices for each type of them.
Let’s start by exploring the different types of New York cruise experiences available and their respective prices:
The cheapest (and most popular) cruises in New York are the sightseeing cruises. These boat tours last from about 50 minutes to two and a half hours (depending on the type of cruise) and all pass by New York’s famous landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and more.
The price range for this type of cruise starts at around $25 for a short cruise that focuses mainly on sailing around the Statue of Liberty and goes up to around $50 for a long cruise of about two and a half hours that encompasses all of Manhattan.
More expensive cruises in New York are those that include a meal on the boat. This can be a brunch cruise, lunch cruise or dinner cruise. Although ticket prices vary from company to company, in general, the price range for a dinner cruise ranges from $80 to $250 per person. The price will vary mainly depending on the menu and food included on the cruise.
Many cruise companies in New York also offer special cruises. These are cruises with a special theme, such as whale watching cruises, 4th of July cruises, holiday cruises, night cruises with a DJ party, Live jazz cruise and more. As expected, the range of ticket prices for special cruises is very wide and ranges from $30 to $350.
Of all the types of cruises in New York, private cruise ticket prices are the most expensive. The range of ticket prices for private cruises in New York ranges from $200 to $1,000 per person, varying from company to company and depending on the length of the cruise and the extras it includes.
| Cruise Type | Price Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Sightseeing Cruises | $25 - $55 |
| Dinner, Brunch or Lunch Cruises | $80 - $250 |
| Special Cruises (Theme-based) | $30 - $350 |
| Private Cruises | $200 - $1,000 |
There are 2 options for purchasing tickets for a cruise in New York - purchasing at the ticket offices located at Departure Points or in advance online. We really do not recommend purchasing in person. During peak season, there are long lines and you will have to wait a long time or even find out that the tickets are sold out.
Therefore, the best option is to pre-order the tickets online, so you can guarantee and reserve tickets at a date and time convenient for you and immediately get on the boat without queues. You can make the reservation through the websites of the cruise companies or through popular and reliable ticket providers such as Tiqets, GetYourGuide, and others.
A well-known and popular way to buy cheap cruise tickets in New York is by purchasing the New York CityPASS. This card allows you to enter 5 famous tourist attractions in New York at a 43 percent discount, including the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Another popular option is the Go City Pass, which gives you significant discounts on cruises and attractions in NYC.
Here are some examples of ticket prices for cruises in New York offered by the major companies. These prices provide a general idea of what you can expect to pay for different types of harbor cruises around Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty (Note that these are average prices and subject to change):
Sightseeing and Statue of liberty cruises - $20-$80
Dinner, Lunch or Brunch Cruises - $80-$450
Holiday Cruises - $100-$180
Sightseeing and Statue of liberty cruises - 58$-68$
Dinner, Lunch or Brunch Cruises - $96-$154
Special Cruises - $78-$124
