One of the best ways to see Manhattan is from the deck of one of the many cruises offered by the Circle Line folks. Located just down from Times Square, off 42nd Street at Pier 83, you will find their offices. They are located right next to the Intrepid. You can also purchase tickets for that here. They offer several cruises, including full- and half-island cruises, New Years and 4th of July cruises, and in the fall, Bear Mountain cruises. They also offer combination cruises. Go to their website at
for more information or to purchase advanced tickets.
One of their most popular cruises is the 2-hour Harbor Lights Cruise. The cruise starts out just before dusk. Here you will see the NYC skyline as the lights twinkle in sky. Manhattan is her most beautiful at night when she is lit up. You will see the Statue of Liberty lit up at night. She is aglow with the soft floodlight beaming on her. The boat will stop for a few minutes, offering some amazing photo opportunities. You pass under several bridges, and then come back in.
It is cold on the water, so bring something warm, even in summer months. They do have a concession stand downstairs, and they do offer hot drinks to warm you up. Bathrooms are also onboard. Before you board the boat, they will have you stop and take pictures. You can purchase them when you return. You get a 5"x7" picture and two smaller framed pictures. It is a nice memory to take home. Try to get here early and get a seat on the right side of the ship. Even though this is a semicircle cruise and comes back the same way it went out, it does get you closer to everything from the right side. When they go up to the Statue of Liberty, she will be on the right side. They do not take a second up-close on the return. If you do get seats on the left, please be considerate to those on the right. When we got up to the statue, hordes of people came running over, stepping on our toes and blocking our view. This is part of the city pass, if you have one. I would recommend reservations in advance, especially in the summer.