When you’re walking around Manhattan, with all of its buildings and crowded landmarks, it can be hard to fathom how big the city is. What is the solution? An outing on the water. An easygoing sail in New York Harbor can include anything from a fancy dinner to tacos and tequila. For the best evening trips, according to travel experts and recent reviews, keep reading.
If you want to see a lot of sights instead of eating three courses, take the Circle Line’s Harbor Lights tour from Pier 83. As you sail by famous sites like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, and more, you’ll get a close look at the lights of Manhattan coming on. A real-life guide tells you about what you’re seeing and how it fits into history. As the sun goes down behind New Jersey, look at how it shines through the windows of tall buildings.
People can buy food from the cafeteria, like soups, sandwiches, and snacks, and drinks at the bar, like beer, wine, and cocktails. This is perfect for groups where people are hungry and thirsty at different levels. You can choose to sit outside in the breeze or inside in the climate-controlled house.
Local tip: Guests who don’t speak English can download the Circle Line app to listen to instructions in several languages. Just remember to bring your headset.
- Price: From $43
- Duration: 2 hours
- Standout perk: This no-fuss, excellent-value cruise option has drinks and snacks available for purchase on board.
2. Classic Harbor Line NYC Evening Jazz Cruise
Embark on a fun sightseeing trip from Pier 62 in Chelsea Piers on a yacht that looks like it was built in the 1920s and listen to jazz standards. A climate-controlled cabin or an open-air deck are both options for this evening cruise, which includes views of famous New York City sites like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Depending on the season and the boat (Manhattan or Manhattan II), live music is played on the deck or in the lounge.
Although dinner isn’t included on this trip, there is a cash bar where you can get more drinks and snacks. Although you are sailing past the bright lights of Manhattan, you can listen to music by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and other artists.
Local tip: For groups of 4 to 16, tickets are slightly cheaper at $94; for one to three friends, they cost $108.
- Price: From $94
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Standout perk: A jazz trio typically featuring a sax, keyboard, and drums plays live on board.
3. La Barca All-Inclusive Mexican Dinner Cruise
One criticism of New York dinner cruises is that they don’t offer good value for money, but this all-inclusive Mexican dinner cruise package offered through GetYourGuide and Viator challenges that critique with tacos, churros, cocktails, and skyline views for an affordable price. Climb aboard a yacht at Pier 81 to experience a youthful, modern interpretation of a dinner cruise – think low lighting, couches for lounging, and three bars, complete with Latin pop, salsa, and dance music playing in the background.
With the all-inclusive El Plato Perfecto package, this sightseeing cruise features a hearty dinner with three tacos (with options like skirt steak or dos mushrooms) and a margarita; for dessert, enjoy churros with chocolate dipping sauce. If you would prefer to sample other food and beverage options on board, you can book your cruise through La Barca Cantina’s website for an a la carte experience. Raise a glass while the yacht sails south on the Hudson River to check out world-famous Manhattan skyline views.
Local tip: La Barca Cantina also offers a bottomless brunch cruise with a DJ.
- Price: From $75
- Duration: 2 hours
- Standout perk: You’ll find an extensive tequila and mezcal list on board to accompany the Mexican fare.
4. City Cruises New York Signature Dinner Cruise
Want to have a relaxed night of dancing and eating with a view of the city? It’s possible to do that on this dinner trip. With a climate-controlled boat, you can leave from Chelsea Piers and cruise along the Hudson and East Rivers, taking in sights of New York City sites like the World Trade Center and the Empire State Building. There is a chef-prepared spread for dinner with a lot of different dishes, such as Greek salad, oven-roasted salmon with miso, and Caribbean jerk braised pork. Check out the dessert area if you’re bringing someone with a sweet tooth.
Once you’re done taking pictures on the open-air deck, you can go back to the cabin for drinks from the cash bar, fun games, and upbeat music from the DJ. Get on the dance floor to finish off this NYC dinner trip.
Local tip: Little ones younger than 3 ride for free, so feel free to bring them along to enjoy the ride with you.
- Price: From $109
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Standout perk: A live DJ gives this dinner cruise an extra dose of atmosphere.
5. City Cruises New York Bateaux Premier Dinner Cruise
The Bateaux is made of glass and has views of the water in every direction, so getting on board feels like going into a greenhouse. This boat doesn’t have any bad places, but if you want the best views of the Hudson River, the East River, and New York Harbor, you can pick a table by the window. Anyone who wants to feel elegant will love this cruise: Wine and drinks are served in sparkling glasses, and the tables are covered in clean white cloths. The three-course à la carte dinner is served slowly; there is no buffet here.
For the Bateaux trip, you should dress up because the dress code is semi-formal and there will be live music during dinner. You can take great pictures of the sunset, and don’t forget to take a picture of the Statue of Liberty. This ship doesn’t allow kids younger than 6, so you can expect a fancy, adult-only vibe with creative cocktails and dancing under the stars.
Local tip: The Bateaux has a great reputation for its fresh food, and this three-course, plated menu has a lot of tempting à la carte choices, like osso bucco with cauliflower polenta or ravioli with crispy pancetta for starters.
- Price: From $144
- Duration: 3 hours
- Standout perk: This all-glass boat delivers panoramic skyline views.
FAQ’s
Q1. What sets these NYC dinner cruises apart from regular dining experiences?
With their delicious food and stunning views, these dinner cruises offer a memorable experience that goes beyond eating in a restaurant. A tasty meal can be enjoyed while viewing famous New York City sites from the water.
Q2. Which dinner cruises are included in the top 5 list for food and views in NYC?
On the list are well-known dinner trips like Bateaux New York, Spirit of New York, Hornblower trips, World Yacht Duchess, and Classic Harbor Line. Each of these is famous for its delicious food and beautiful views.
Q3. What type of cuisine can guests expect on these dinner cruises?
There are usually a lot of different gourmet food choices on these dinner cruises, from themed buffets to carefully prepared three-course meals. The food is usually a mix of tastes from around the world, which makes for a delicious meal.
