If you’re looking to enhance your New York City Cruise experience, a dinner cruise is a great option and ideal for Couples, special occasions, romantic evenings and celebrations. These cruises usually last about 3 hours and include a full meal and drinks.
Dinner cruises allow you to pass by New York’s most famous monuments, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or the Brooklyn Bridge, while enjoying a full course meal with drinks. You can also find dinner cruises that offer entertainment on board such as live music, DJs, dance floors and more.
The menu vary from company to company, but most cruises offer full 3, 4, or 5 course meals with many options. These typically include desserts and drinks, available through either full-service dining or buffet-style service. In most cases, you will also have Sky Deck access for a full panoramic view.
Regarding ticket prices, dinner cruise prices in New York generally range between $120-260 depending on the cruise type you choose.
New York dinner cruise routes vary from company to company, but they all pass by the Statue of Liberty. Some companies depart from Pier 61, heading south to the Statue of Liberty, then north to the Manhattan Bridge before looping back. Others begin at Pier 36 in East Manhattan, sail west to the Statue of Liberty, and then return to their departure point.
This are the main landmarks you will see during New York Dinner cruise:
| Experience Description | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Lower-priced dinner cruises typically include buffet-style dining, non-alcoholic beverages, and DJ entertainment. | $115-$125 |
| Mid-range cruises generally offer higher quality meals, better seating options, and live performances. | $135-$165 |
| Premium luxury cruises feature gourmet dining experiences, multi-course meals, VIP service, and premium views of the Manhattan skyline. | $200-$260 |
New York evening dinner cruises normally have meals in one of two ways: buffet or plated multi-course meal. The more upscale cruises will have a complete 5-6 course meal, while the budget ones will have buffet meals.
A typical buffet menu includes appetizers such as salads (e.g., Boston lettuce salad or roasted beet salad), soups (potato leek, mushroom cream, or broccoli cream), and roasted vegetables. Side dishes are usually mashed potatoes, roasted potato wedges, and roasted vegetables. Main courses usually are grilled salmon, braised short ribs, Brussels sprouts chicken, and pasta courses such as creamy broccoli linguini. Desserts such as New York cheesecake and tiramisu are common fare.
The 5-6 plated courses typically include an appetizer course with options such as roasted beet salad with walnuts, burrata with tomato and basil, or crab and potato fritters. Main courses could be beef bourguignon with mashed potatoes, lemon chicken with asparagus, pan-seared mahi with jasmine rice, or vegan mushroom gnocchi. Desserts are typically nicely plated, with a New York cheesecake being one of the favorites.
Free beverages typically include coffee, iced tea, hot tea, a few juices (orange, apple, cranberry, pineapple, lemonade), and water. Alcoholic beverages are typically available for purchase individually, although some high-end packages include one or multiple alcoholic beverages.
Here are the top and most popular Cruises Providers which offer Dinner Cruises in New York:
How do you book a place for a dinner cruise?
Advance on-line booking is commonly the practice for dinner cruises. Payment in most cases is not made until booking is final.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are typically accepted by most cruise operators.
Can you book a place and pay upon arrival?
No, payment in most cases is made at the time of booking to secure your reservation.
Is there a refund option?
The majority of dinner cruises are no-refund cruises. All sales are normally final.
Is there a dressing code on a New York dinner cruise?
There is usually smart casual dress for dinner cruises in New York.
Is seating reserved?
Seating is usually not reserved. Some cruises offer private tables for single groups based on ticket type, but others offer cruise-style seating where you may be seated at tables with other guests.
Can you bring your own food or drinks?
Outside food and drinks are not usually allowed on dinner cruises.
Are there parking facilities near departure points?
There are parking lots in the vicinity of departure terminals, but they typically operate privately.
When should you get there?
It’s best to get there at least 30 minutes before your departure time.
Are dinner cruises wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessibility varies from ship to ship. Some ships have some limited wheelchair accessibility on some decks, and others are not wheelchair accessible.
What happens in case of rain or bad weather?
Dinner cruises run rain or shine unless the weather is unsafe.
Is gratuity added to the ticket price?
Gratuity is not included but is appreciated for good service.
