Going on a boat tour is always exciting, but going on one in NYC is truly a special event. No other city on earth offers the same mixture of compelling landmarks, impressive architecture, and history. Getting to explore these places from the water provides an entirely different perspective. In fact, going on a New York landmarks tour can give you a new appreciation for everything that went into making The Big Apple!  

Top Landmarks You Can See from Our New York City Boat Tour

Where else can you view iconic bridges, Lady Liberty, and structures such as the Empire State Building? Walking up to these landmarks is awesome, don’t get us wrong. However, relaxing on a landmark cruise of New York is definitely the way go! Grab your camera and prepare to take photographs of some of the world’s best-known places from unique angles! 

Ellis Island

Want to explore the history of this great nation? No single place in the U.S. has more history than Ellis Island. Almost 12 million immigrants were processed here between 1892 and 1954, which makes Ellis Island the symbol of our country’s melting pot. Since 1965, this venerated, former entry point has been available to the public via ferry only. 

Located in Jersey City, NJ – plus a small portion of New York City – you’ll receive an amazing, first-hand look at what immigrants used to see as part of our landmarks cruise of NYC.   

Want to learn more about Ellis Island’s history? Here are a few things that most people don’t know! 

• Before it was an immigration port, it was known as “Gibbet Island.” Many pirates were condemned to death there, which makes it an interesting piece of American history. 

• The very first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island was 17-year-old Annie Moore. 

• Well-known New York City mayor Fiorella LaGuardia – the namesake for LaGuardia Airport – worked here from 1907 to 1910. 

• Five years after Ellis Island began processing immigrants, it underwent a devastating fire. Everything that was stored here was lost. It reopened in 1900 with a new building made from fireproof materials. 

• Ellis Island took its name from former owner Samuel Ellis. Once the U.S. took over, they opted not to change the name.   

The Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty was erected in 1886. A gift from the people of France, it went on to become a National Monument in 1924. Most people are aware of these basic facts, but did you know the following? 

• Her crown’s seven spikes represent the world’s seven continents and seven oceans.

• Lady Liberty also represents Libertas, who was a Roman Goddess and the personification of freedom. 

• While Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi actually designed it and Edouard de Laboulaye came up with the idea, there was another famous visionary who helped bring it to life: Gustave Eiffel. That’s right, the man behind the famous Eiffel Tower!

• Some claim that lightning never strikes the same area twice, but Lady Liberty has proven this popular saying to be quite wrong. She gets struck by lightning a whopping 600 times per year! 

• When Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was tasked with designing the statute, he looked to his own mother for inspiration. That’s right—the statute that millions of people look to as a symbol of freedom features Bartholdi’s mom as Lady Liberty. 

• The statue’s torch doesn’t just serve as a beacon to the downtrodden. It also sways by approximately five inches in high winds! 

Empire State Building

Is there any other building in the world quite as regal as the Empire State Building? Sure, it might not be as fancy looking as a few modern buildings, but it has so much history on its side. Constructed between 1930 and 1931, this 102-story epic testament to humanity’s inventiveness stood as the tallest building in the world until it was eclipsed in 1970 by the original World Trade Center. 

As you get to see this glorious building during a landmark tour of New York City, you can think back on many of your favorite movies. From the original King Kong and An Affair to Remember to Sleepless in Seattle and Independence Day, it has been depicted in more than 250 films, TV shows, books, and video games. 

Want to know more? Check out the following facts! 

• It only took 20 months to build the Empire State Building. It took up to 3,400 men working daily to bring the building to fruition. 

• Although it has an iconic look, it was actually inspired by two other buildings: Carew Tower in Cincinnati and Reynolds Building Winston-Salem in North Carolina. 

• The upper tower was originally meant to provide a mooring mast for airships. Why? Because the owners believed that transatlantic airship travel would soon rule all. 

• Betty Lou Oliver, a 19-year-old elevator operator, survived a 75-story elevator plunge in 1945 when a B-25 bomber crashed into the building.  

• Three daredevils parachuted from the observation deck to the ground. First, in 1986, Alastair Boyd and Michael McCarthy parachuted more than 1,000 feet. Then, in 1998, Thor Alex “The Human Fly” Kappfjell did the same thing. The three men were arrested, although “The Human Fly” stunt was later satirized by The Simpsons. 

The United Nations Building

The United Nations Building represents everything good that happens when several nations unite under a cause. One of four U.N. buildings worldwide – the others are in Switzerland, Austria, and Kenya – New York has become the world headquarters for this important group. 

One of the most beautiful parts of this building is the array of flags from the member nations that flank it. Again, this represents the collective good, although some issues can get bogged down in politics. At its core, though, the United Nations Building works to make life better for every citizen of the earth.

Just like the Empire State Building, the U.N. Building has been featured in a wide array of popular culture. Despite the fact that official permission to film here wasn’t granted until 2005, it still played a role in The Glass Wall (1953), North by Northwest (1959), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). 

Here are a couple other intriguing facts: 

• Despite being located in New York City, this building is extraterritorial. As a result, it has its own post office, fire department, and security force. 

• There are six official UN languages used within the building: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. 

The Freedom Tower 

The Freedom Tower, better known as One World Trade Center, was literally built on top of the destroyed Twin Towers. It symbolizes America’s resilient spirit and is intended to show that our nation still stands tall, despite the trauma of 9/11. Built to be the tallest building in NYC, it also currently holds the distinction of being the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. 

Construction of One World Trade Center began in 2006, and the building finally opened in 2014. There are several interesting factoids about this building, including: 

• It has 73 different elevators. 

• The observation deck was built to be the same height as the original Twin Towers. 

• One World Trade Center is also an art museum. There are more than 100 different pieces inside, including the colorful mural. 

• The construction crew that worked on it left a permanent mark – literally. Graffiti is beneath the walls, and it includes everyone’s signature. 

• It is one of NYC’s most sustainable buildings. Approximately 80% of the building’s waste products are recycled. 

Overall, this building depicts the ‘never say die’ spirit of the US. There are even a few remnants from the Twin Towers that remain, including the slurry wall that held back the Hudson River, the aptly named Survivor Tree, the Koeing Sphere, Liberty Street Pedestrian Bridge, and the Twin Tower tridents. 

The Brooklyn Bridge

The venerable Brooklyn Bridge was opened on May 24, 1883. It became the first ever fixed crossing point over the East River. A technological marvel, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge when it first opened, but it has since fallen to 11th place. Still, its 1,595.5-foot span is truly a sight to behold. Even better, you don’t need a car to cross this bridge. Instead, you can use the pedestrian-only lane to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, which is a walk of approximately 0.3 miles. 

Approximately 116,000 vehicles cross over the bridge every single day. Additionally, there are 3,000 cyclists and 30,000 pedestrians who make a trek over the bridge daily. That’s a lot of people who encounter the Brooklyn Bridge, but only landmark boat tours of NYC can show you the bridge from the water! 

Several noteworthy stunts have been performed on or near the bridge such as: 

• Giorgia Pessi flew one of the world’s largest airplanes beneath the bridge in 1919. 

• Thierry Devaux performed eight illegal acrobatic bungee jumps. These took place above the East River right next to the bridge. 

• Artist Jack Bashkow ascended one of the towers in 1977, along with six others, to bring Bridging to life. As a mass-media sculpture, their intent was to “replace violence and fear in mass media for one day.” 

The Brooklyn Bridge is iconic, and as such, it has been featured in an untold number of movies and TV shows. It’s usually depicted as a character drives in or out of the city. One look at the bridge instantly tells you where the movie is located, which makes the bridge itself into a character. 

The Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building entered history when it opened in 1930 as the world’s tallest building. It lost this noteworthy title in 1931 to the Empire State Building, but this was enough to cement its place in NYC’s history. However, this Art Deco skyscraper still holds the record for the tallest brick building with a steel framework in the world. 

Originally owned by the Chrysler Corporation, this building changed hands in 1953. By then, though, the name had stuck permanently. Oddly, it was never used as the headquarters for Chrysler, although it did provide satellite offices to the company. The building has a long history of attracting new owners, and it’s currently turning old retail space into luxury stores. Some current tenants include Creative Artists Agency and the YES Network. 

James Sanders once joked that the Chrysler Building should win an award for the “Best Supporting Skyscraper,” due to how Hollywood has utilized it. Although it has been featured in several noteworthy movies – among them are Independence Day, Armageddon, Spider-Man, and The Avengers – it usually fills a background role. However, it was given a chance to shine in the video game Parasite Eve, where it served as the setting for content shown post-game.  

Here are a few other facts that help set the Chrysler Building apart: 

• The completion of the building coincided with The Great Depression. Fortunately, it was able to weather this storm of economic viability. 

• The 61st floor is home to eagle gargoyles. They were meant to symbolize freedom, ambition, and the dauntless American spirit. 

• Extensive retrofitting has helped enhance the building’s energy efficiency. 

See Each Landmark from a New Viewpoint 

New York City is well-known for having amazing architecture, but it can be difficult to get a good view when you’re on the ground level. Instead, going on one of the NYC sightseeing cruises will allow you to really get a good look at places such as The Statue of Liberty, The Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, and The United Nations Building. 

Want to know the absolute best way to enjoy all the sights of NYC? Aboard a hot tub cruise! Bring yourself and up to 19 of your closest friends and family members (20 people total) to soak in our crystal-clear hot tubs as the boat takes you from landmark to landmark! You’ll get to combine the best aspects of sightseeing, cruising, and relaxing into a single two-hour boat ride. 
Book your cruise today with New York Harbor Tours! Our unique hot tub boats are waiting to take you and your friends to each of the landmarks listed above!

Pricing

Daily departure: 6:00 p.m.

Private Charter Price:

• $525 for 1-3 people

• $660 for 4-6 people

What You Can Do On The Tour

We’ve had customers bring dinner tables and enjoy a nice meal on the water. People have thrown birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and celebrated anniversaries to enjoy a truly novel New York City experience. The Sunset Cruise, just like all our other cruises, is yours to enjoy in any way you want.

If you are having a special occasion on one of our tours, give our captain a heads up when you’re booking. We’re here to help with whatever you need, and we always figure something out! 

Join a Tour or Rent The Boat!

Our boat holds a total of six passengers, and you can have an exclusive experience or make new friends!

The Private Charter option allows you to rent the entire boat for your purposes. If you’re throwing a party or having a special occasion, this would be the best option for you and your tourmates. 

Safety Is Our First Mission

You can rest assured that we will never embark on dangerous waters. Though weather cancellations are rare, our USCG-licensed captain uses his best judgment for every trip.

And, you’ll never have to worry about safety aboard because our captain sails with a clean record and thousands of hours at sea. Between the captain and our experienced deckhand, you and your loved ones can be assured of a safe and enjoyable trip. 

Book Now!

If you’re ready to have the most amazing sightseeing cruise past the Chelsea Piers, Ellis Island as the immigrants at the turn of the century saw them, and the New York City sunset, contact us today!

FAQ

What Sunset Cruises in New York City are taking additional safety precautions?

At New York Harbor Tours, we wash down the boat with bleach and soap every evening, and wipe down and disinfecting all surfaces between trips. Masks must be worn when entering the cabin to use the bathroom or galley, but masks are not required for parties when they are outside in the open cockpit. We also have masks available for passengers who may not have one. We have hand sanitizer readily available for use throughout the boat. Our captain will wear a mask at all times when he or she cannot effectively social distance. Our passenger’s safety and comfort are paramount to us, and we will continue to adhere to these strict guidelines for the foreseeable future.

What Sunset Cruises in New York City are good for avoiding crowds?

Joining a New York Harbor Tours cruise is a great way to avoid crowds. It is much less crowded out in the harbor than it is in the city and all of our tours are private and entirely crowd free.

What are the best Sunset Cruises in New York City?

• The Statue of Liberty with the sunset behind it is always among the most popular

• Ellis Island

• New York City skyline and city lights

• Brooklyn Bridge