The Statue of Liberty cruise is without a doubt the most popular cruise among tourists here in New York. It is important to note that this is not a ferry to the Statue of Liberty that also includes access to Liberty Island. Instead, this is a sightseeing cruise that departs from Manhattan, gets as close as possible to the statue, stops for a few minutes so you can take great photos, and then continues sailing around Manhattan.
Many cruise companies in New York offer this type of cruise, and competition between them is very intense. To make it easier for you to choose the cruise that suits you best, we selected the 6 most popular options and compared them side by side. This way, you can easily see all the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each one and decide which cruise is right for you.
The 6 most popular Statue of Liberty cruises are:
Statue of Liberty cruise by Attractions4Us - A 1 hour sightseeing cruise around the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, with a live guide, indoor and outdoor seating, and close-up views up to 100 feet.
Statue of Liberty cruise by Manhattan By Sail - A unique 1.5 hour sailing experience in front of the Statue of Liberty, limited to small groups of up to 15 participants, aboard a sailing yacht with a professional crew, a relaxed atmosphere, and a bar on board.
Statue of Liberty cruise by Circle Line - A 50 minute express cruise departing from Pier 16 in Lower Manhattan, with a live guide, indoor and outdoor seating, and a close photo stop near the Statue of Liberty.
Statue of Liberty cruise by N.Y.C Skyline Tours & Cruises - A 1 hour cruise around the Statue of Liberty with live commentary and audio, close-up views up to 100 feet, skyline views, Brooklyn Bridge and Ellis Island, and indoor or outdoor seating.
Statue of Liberty cruise by Big City Tourism - A 1.5 hour express cruise along the Hudson River, with a live guide, an open deck for photography, an indoor bar, and close views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan’s main landmarks, including a free shuttle to selected attractions in the city.
Statue of Liberty cruise by Hop-On Hop-Off Water Taxi NY - A 1.5 hour sunset cruise from Pier 16, offering stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan, and the Brooklyn Bridge, with a relaxed evening atmosphere and sunset colors over New York Harbor.
Compare prices, boarding logistics, duration, seating, guides, accessibility, and key onboard features.
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Attractions4Us Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Cruise (60 min) |
Manhattan By Sail Statue of Liberty Sailing Tour (1.5 h) |
Circle Line Liberty Super Express (50 min) |
N.Y.C Skyline Tours 1 Hour Statue of Liberty Boat Tour |
Big City Tourism Statue of Liberty Express Cruise (Freedom Liberty Tour) |
Hop-On Hop-Off Water Taxi NY Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise (1.5 h) |
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| Price (rounded) | $36 | $61 | $29 | $25 | $25 | $29 |
| Duration | 1 hour | 1.5 hours | 50 minutes | 1 hour | 75 minutes (listed) | 1.5 hours |
| When to arrive | Arrive 20 minutes early (check-in ends 10 minutes before) | Arrive 45 minutes early (check-in required before departure) | Recommended 45 to 60 minutes early (boarding starts 30 minutes before) | Arrive 15 minutes early | Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in and boarding | Not specified |
| Departure pier and address | Pier 36, Slip 4, 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002 | 89 South Street, New York, NY 10038 (South Street Seaport) | Pier 16, 89 South Street, New York, NY 10038 (South Street Seaport) | Pier 36, Slip 4, 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002 | Pier 78, 455 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10018 | 167 John Street, New York, NY 10038 (boards at Pier 16, South Street Seaport) |
| Guide and languages | Live guide in English and Spanish | No guided tour listed (captain and crew onboard) | Live guide in English (translation app available in multiple languages, bring your own headphones) | Live guide in English, plus audio guide in English | Live guide in English (native New Yorker style narration) | Not specified |
| Group size | Not specified | Max 15 | Not specified | Max 250 | Not specified | Not specified |
| Seating | Indoor and outdoor seating | Open deck seating on a sailing vessel (bar onboard) | Indoor and outdoor seating | Indoor or outdoor seating | Open-air rooftop deck plus indoor lounge (climate-controlled vessel) | Not specified |
| How close you get and photo moment | Sails within 100 ft of the Statue of Liberty and passes near Ellis Island, with a pause for photos | Sails through the harbor with views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (photo friendly sailing pace) | Fast route to the Statue of Liberty with a slowed down section for photos | Sails within 100 ft of the Statue of Liberty | Designed for selfie style views from open decks with a dedicated photo opportunity near the statue | Evening cruise focused on sunset views with Lady Liberty as the backdrop |
| Route and skyline views | Cruises past Lower Manhattan highlights and bridges with skyline views, then circles by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty | Harbor sail with the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty along the way | Direct Downtown route that focuses on getting you to Lady Liberty quickly and back | East River sailing with views that typically include Lower Manhattan, bridges, Governors Island, Ellis Island, and Lady Liberty | Hudson River sightseeing with city landmarks and bridges before reaching Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty | Shorter evening loop from Downtown that highlights Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, New York Harbor, and Lady Liberty at sunset |
| Food and drinks | Food and drinks available for purchase (bar and concession stand) | Full bar onboard (beer, wine, cocktails, light snacks available for purchase) | Food and drinks available for purchase | Not specified | Full-service bar and concession area (food and drinks available for purchase) | Not specified |
| Accessibility notes | Wheelchair accessible for push wheelchairs (not electric) | Wheelchairs welcome (as stated), strollers welcome | Wheelchair accessible | Wheelchair accessible, but motorized wheelchairs are not permitted | Wheelchair accessible | Not specified |
| Disembarkation | No stop on Liberty Island | Not specified | Not specified | No stop on Liberty Island | No stop on Liberty Island or Ellis Island | Not specified |
| Weather and comfort | Runs rain or shine (bring a light jacket) | Dress warmer on the water (about 10° cooler), severe conditions may cancel or reschedule | Not specified | Not specified | Climate-controlled vessel for year-round comfort | Not specified |
| Extra notes and restrictions | 21+ for alcohol (ID required) | Bring photo ID, bring sunglasses/hat/sunscreen and light layers | No smoking on regular sightseeing cruises, translation app requires your own headphones | Please scan your mobile voucher, motorized wheelchairs not allowed | No smoking, no public parking lot directly at the pier, free shuttle to major NYC attractions after the cruise | Priority boarding included |
| Cancellation | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Refundable option varies (cancel by 23:59 the day before if refundable ticket is selected) | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Free cancellation up to 48 hours before | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | Not specified | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Go to cruise page | Go to cruise page | Go to cruise page | Go to cruise page | Go to cruise page | Go to cruise page |
* Prices, schedules, inclusions, and other details may change from time to time by the cruise operators.
