Explore More of New York City By Ferry and Boat
Circle Manhattan, Escape to Staten Island, or Hop Over to Brooklyn
Feb 17, 2009
New York City is coastal and all its boroughs are on islands except the Bronx, so why not travel the waters surrounding it? Here are some of the not-to-miss rides:
Round trip rides with some of the best water views are absolutely free. Depart from Whitehall at the foot of Manhattan every 20 or 30 minutes. A fleet of eight orange ferries now ply the white capped waters separating Manhattan and Staten Island. The Guy Molinari, the most luxurious vessel, is 310 feet long carrying 4,400 passengers and 42 vehicles. Rushing across the wide expanse of Upper Bay at more than 16 knots (18 miles per hour); it takes just under 25 minutes. Out on deck, sight begin with empty barracks and forts of Governors Island to the left, next Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty brush by to the right, then Bay Ridge and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge loom nearby on the left.
New York Waterway Ferry
Operating a flotilla of ferries between Manhattan and many Jersey points within view across the Hudson, boats on these routes tend to be smaller and prone rocking and rolling with the waves and stiff currents making the ride adventuresome. One excursion begins at the Battery Park City pier arriving at Jersey City's Paulus Hook historic district populated with brick row houses, Victory Hall, and The Sugar House. Grove St., just a few blocks to the west and north of the pier, hosts Jersey City's ornate rococo City Hall. Also great views of Manhattan from the far left bank!
Circle Line Ferry
Take your pick: A fully-guided circumnavigation of Manhattan with scholarly anecdotes along the way or a full-throttle 30 minute thrill ride from Pier 83 at 42nd Street on the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty and back.
The New York Circle Line's 3-Hour Cruise digs deep into the Citys past and present. See all 3 rivers, 7 major bridges, and 5 boroughs where guides point out over 25 world renowned landmarks including a close-up of the Statue of Liberty as well as some historic disaster sites along the way.
The Beast, the Circle Line's monstrous speed boat piloted by Captains with names like "Mad Dog", "Wild Thing," and "Hurricane Heidi", whisks past Manhattan's skyscraper-walled waterfront at a heart-pounding 45 miles-per-hour. With a toothy sneer painted on the side, the hull continually pounds the turbulent waters throughout most of the journey. Hang on for dear life!
