J
Great experience. Very...
Great experience. Very knowledgeable narrator, extremely clean and comfortable boat. Found it very interesting. Great way to spend a few hours in NYC learning about this amazing city. Highly recommend.
Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise
+12 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2h 45min
- Price from
- $86 / person
- Location
- New York City
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 1,559 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 80
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Within 24h
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Classic Harbor Line NYC
- Meeting point
- The boat departs from Chelsea Piers, at Pier 62, which is located at the northern end of the Chelsea Piers Complex. Our ticket booth is located on the water just steps from our dock. Please check in at the Classic Harbor Line ticket booth upon arrival.
Description
Step aboard the teak decks of elegant 1920s style yachts, Manhattan or Manhattan II, and enjoy a 2.75 hour cruise while learning about NYC's architectural landmarks from the water. The "Around Manhattan" tour narration, provided by members of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) NYC chapter, is general enough for visitors yet detailed enough for the locals. Experience a comfortable and unique tour through the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers from a glassed-in observatory cabin, which has sliding windows for a fresh breeze, or wander to an open bow for more unobstructed views of the surrounding sites. On this cruise, guests will circumnavigate the island of Manhattan, passing under all 18 bridges, while taking in monuments, architecture, parks and infrastructure with narration throughout the cruise. Important note: select departures on Friday afternoons will focus on Climate Change in and around New York City. Please call the operator directly for questions on the tour theme.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 103 times a day, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult (ages 12+)
- $86
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 3:25 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:09 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 3052 of the next 3090 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One World Observatory
Learn about the buildings that make up Manhattan's Financial District as the boat cruises around Manhattan. Enjoy live commentary about many famous buildings from the guide throughout the cruise.
Woolworth Tours NYC
Spot the Woolworth Building as the boat cruises around Manhattan and enjoy live commentary about many famous buildings from the guide.
Statue of Liberty
Great up-close views of the Statue of Liberty can be seen from the boats observation cabin or open bow. A nice photo opportunity!
Brooklyn Bridge
Cruise under all 18 bridges that connect Manhattan to the outer boroughs, New York and New Jersey on this 2.75-hour cruise, including the historic Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges!
Lower East Side
Learn about the buildings that make up Manhattan's Lower East Side as the boat cruises around Manhattan. Enjoy live commentary about many famous buildings from the guide throughout the cruise.
Empire State Building
See this historic landmark from the water
Chrysler Building
Spot the Chrysler Building as the boat cruises up the East River and enjoy live commentary about many famous buildings from the guide.
Upper West Side
Cruise along the Upper West Side, see some historic sites and learn about new buildings and the waterfront along the way
George Washington Bridge
As the boat cruises the northern part of Manhattan, enjoy a pass under the GW Bridge that connects Manhattan to New Jersey.
Roosevelt Island
Up-close views of this historic island can be seen as the boat cruises along the East River.
Four Freedoms Park
Just one of the many points of interest you'll see up-close from the comfort of the boats observation cabin or open bow.
What's included
Included
One complimentary beverage included
Narration by a member of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter
Elegant tables assigned. Choose between private section seating or communal seating at check out
Not included
Gratuity is not included in the price of your cruise, but recommended.
Food selections available for purchase. If bringing food please keep to a light snack
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
1,559 reviews
How it compares in New York City
- No. 44 by number of reviews among 2,442 tours in New York City
- Starting price $86 is 43% above the typical $60 for tours of similar length in New York City
Excurgo comparison of 2,442 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guarantee of a full circumnavigation of Manhattan is not included. On rare occasions, the Spuyten Duyvil train bridge is inoperable and cannot open for us to pass through. This is often times not known until our tour is underway. River closures may also occur for a number of reasons. There are no refunds for tours that cannot fully circumnavigate. We will accommodate such cases with a tour that features a double backing of the route and further detail of the waterfront sites.
- Service animals are permitted; Emotional Support animals and pets are not permitted
- Please coordinate with the operator in advance if assistance is required for boarding or if you have any questions about general accessibility. Accessibility varies by boat
- Not for children under 12 years due to this cruise being a heavily-narrated tour experience. We recommend families to join us on Statue & Skyline tours, day sails or any other minimally narrated day time event
- This cruise is a heavily-narrated tour experience. It's for those seeking an informative, exciting, and content-rich trip. We require guest conversations to be kept to a reasonable level so that narration can be heard by all
- Large group bookings are not permitted. Multiple bookings are subject to added fees or cancellation by operator
- Important note for Friday departures: the narration on this tour on select Friday departures will focus on Climate Change: Resiliency, Sustainable Architecture and the Future of NYC. Please reach out to the operator for questions on specific tour theme details
- A 2-hour version of this cruise is available on select Tuesday & Wednesday departures. Option will show at check-out if available
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise take?
Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise lasts about 2h 45min. The itinerary has 11 stops.
How much does Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise cost?
Prices start at $86 per person for this New York City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 103 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
Does Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise sell out?
It can: 3052 of the next 3090 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is The boat departs from Chelsea Piers, at Pier 62, which is located at the northern end of the Chelsea Piers Complex. Our ticket booth is located on the water just steps from our dock. Please check in at the Classic Harbor Line ticket booth upon arrival. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 80 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Not for children under 12 years due to this cruise being a heavily-narrated tour experience. We recommend families to join us on Statue & Skyline tours, day sails or any other minimally narrated day time event
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Please coordinate with the operator in advance if assistance is required for boarding or if you have any questions about general accessibility. Accessibility varies by boat
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Reviews(1,559)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
L
Fantastic tour
Full of great information. Lovely boat and atmosphere. Learned so much. Highly recommend this tour to all.
M
Polite and professional...
Polite and professional staff, comfortable boat, not crowded at all, with nice snacks and drinks. We loved it.
J
helpful staff,...
helpful staff, knowledgeable speaker, Interesting view of all of Manhatten. Very clean vessel. Well worth it
D
Educational Water Tour
Excellent cruise - guide was terrific ( forget his name) Sept 22, Manhattan II
J
The tour guide was...
The tour guide was interesting and informative. The food and drink service was excellent. I would recommend this tour.
M
Relaxing boat ride with...
Relaxing boat ride with lots of architecture history from a professional. Boat staff offered great service and there is a bathroom on the boat.
G
An interesting and enjoyable boat tour.
The tour takes a bit under 3 hours. The boat is fairly new (I believe the guide indicated that it was built in the last couple of years), and is very comfortable. The ticket provided comfortable inside seating at tables, there is also an outside viewing area at the front of the boat. The tour went up the Hudson River, across the top of Manhattan, and then down along the East River. We passed by parts of the Bronx, Roosevelt, Randall, and Wards Islands, and got great views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our guide, who is a trained architect, provided ongoing commentary during the majority of the trip, pointing out buildings of interest and describing their attributes, history, etc. If you are interested in the architecture and sites of New York, I highly recommend this tour.
D
Great tour even in the rain!
This was a very fun and insightful tour around Manhatten. We had really rainy weather, but still really enjoyed the beautiful boat, great service and the wonderful architecture information we received from our guide. He was really educated on Manhatten information and told some great stories. Thank you,
B
Best tour in nyc
Guide and staff were so, so good. Guide had unbelievable knowledge and was very entertaining!
Operator response
Bob, thank you for booking a tour with us and taking some time to provide your valuable feedback and recommendation. We are elated to hear that our guide's knowledge and entertaining style made such an impression! We hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again soon! - Classic Harbor Line
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from$86
4.8(1,559) Free cancellation