By:Daniel Brooks
A night cruise in New York is a unique experience and very different from a daytime cruise. The Manhattan skyline and the city’s famous landmarks are illuminated and sparkling, presenting a different version of Manhattan.
In fact, at least half of the cruises in New York take place in the evening and at night, and this is undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions among tourists in the city.
There are several different types of night cruises in New York - some of them are sunset sightseeing cruises that depart at sunset and continue into the heart of the New York night, another type is the dinner cruise that offers a night tour along with a full dinner, and there are also night cruises that offer parties with a DJ on the boat.
On the next page, we will present you with all the different options for a night cruise in New York with a full breakdown of all types of cruises, prices, tickets, departure points, and also some recommendations for the most popular night cruises among tourists. So let’s get going:
Here are some of the most popular evening and night cruises you will find in New York:
Circle Line is one of the most well-known cruise companies in New York and its Harbor Lights cruise is one of the most popular night cruises you will find in the city. This cruise departs every evening at 7:00 PM from Pier 83 in midtown Manhattan and lasts about two hours.
The cruise goes south down the Hudson River towards the Statue of Liberty, passing by some of New York’s most famous landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and One World Trade Center.
After reaching the Statue of Liberty (about 100 feet from the statue), the cruise stops for a while so you can take close-up photos of the statue. The cruise then continues north on the East River until it reaches the Williamsburg Bridge, where it turns around and returns to the departure point at Pier 83. Cruise tickets start from $47 and you can order it here.
The Evening Sightseeing Cruise by ‘Attractions4us’, is another very popular cruise among travelers in New York. It is a shorter cruise than Circle Line, lasting only about an hour and a half.
The cruise departs at 16:30 or 18:00 from Pier 36 on the East River and reaches the Statue of Liberty, where it stops for photos and then returns to the departure point.
The landmarks you can see during this cruise include New York Harbor, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, Ellis Island and of course the Statue of Liberty.
The price of this cruise is cheaper than that of the Circle Line and is $39-49 per person. The price includes a live guide, live music and indoor and outdoor seating.
Bateaux Dinner Cruise by ‘city cruises‘ is a cruise that includes dinner on the boat and consider one of the most popular among travelers looking for a dinner cruise in New York.
The cruise lasts about 3 hours, departing every evening from Pier 61 at 7:00 PM and returning at 10:00 PM. The cruise goes by the Hudson and East Rivers, so you could see up close the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and One World Trade Center
This luxurious cruise is ideal for a romantic vacation and special occasions and includes a full meal with a varied menu and a performance by a live band with a singer. The meal includes Freshly prepared entrees, salads, and desserts and Unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and water.
Sip ‘N Groove Cruise is another great and very popular cruise from ‘Circle Line’. This cruise is perfect for those who want their sightseeing cruise to include a party, music, and dancing, and it attracts young locals and tourists alike.
The cruise departs every evening at 8:00 PM from Pier 83, passing all of New York’s famous landmarks and reaching the Williamsburg Bridge, where it turns around and returns to Pier 83.
The cruise includes a party with up-to-date music performed by a DJ and a full bar with cocktails and light snacks. The cruise costs $45 per person.
The Statue at Sunset Cruise by Circle Line is another popular option, perfect for those mainly interested in seeing the Statue of Liberty during sunset and evening hours.
This cruise lasts only about an hour and a half, departing every evening at 6:30 PM from Pier 16 to the Statue of Liberty and after stopping to take a photo of the statue, turns around and returns back to the departure point at Pier 16. Along the way, you can also enjoy the Brooklyn Bridge and the One World Trade Center tower up close.
Tickets for the cruise are only $32. Boarding begins up to 15 minutes before departure.
As you can see, the prices of New York City evening cruise tickets vary mainly depending on the type of cruise you choose. Sightseeing cruises are the cheapest, ranging from $35 to $55 per person. The most expensive cruises are dinner cruises, which cost between $120 and $250 per person.
You can purchase cruise tickets directly at the departure points, but the recommended and safest way is to book tickets online through the cruise provider’s websites or through well-known and large ticket providers such as “Tiqets” or “GetYourGuide“.
Every cruise provider has a different route for an evening cruise, but all of them pass by the Statue of Liberty. You can find a route which includes only cruises in the Hudson River or only in the East River.
Some companies like Circle Line depart from Pier 83 or Pier 16, while others depart from Pier 61 (City Cruises) or Pier 36 (Attractions4us). So basically, the departure points vary depending on the cruise company.
As these are evening cruises, the average departure time is between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
