Full Manhattan Island Sightseeing Cruise with Statue of Liberty New York

Circling Manhattan Island by boat

Manhattan is an island, and a full circumnavigation is the best way to understand the city. The route follows the Hudson River on the west, the Harlem River on the north and the East River on the east, and it shows the changing character of the shoreline: glass towers in Midtown and Lower Manhattan, green parks in the north and old industrial docks and piers along the way.

Travellers who ask whether a Manhattan boat tour is worth it usually find that this is the option that gives the fullest picture of the city in one outing. Rare high tides can change the route slightly, and your guide will explain any adjustment.

The Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan

Early in the cruise you pass Lady Liberty and Ellis Island in the harbour, with the skyline of Lower Manhattan behind them. The statue was unveiled in 1886 as a gift from France, and photos from the deck are the highlight of the first stretch for most passengers.

Then the boat turns towards the East River and the towers of the financial district, including One World Trade Center, the South Street Seaport and Battery Park. If you are wondering how to see the Statue of Liberty from the water without visiting the island, this cruise does it in a sightseeing loop that also covers the rest of Manhattan.

The East River: bridges, the United Nations and Midtown

Along the East River the boat passes under the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge, then continues past the United Nations Headquarters, the Chrysler Building and Gracie Mansion, the residence of New York's mayors. Seen from the water, the bridges and skyline appear far bigger than at street level.

The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, is the best-known crossing, and the narrated commentary explains how it was built and how the East River bridges changed the city. It is worth choosing a seat on the open deck for this part of the trip.

Harlem, Yankee Stadium and the George Washington Bridge

The north of the island is the quietest part of the cruise. The boat follows the Harlem River past Yankee Stadium, the campus of Columbia University and Harlem, then rounds the top of Manhattan to reach the Hudson again near the George Washington Bridge and the Little Red Lighthouse beneath it.

On the west side the route runs beside the green cliffs of Riverside Park and Fort Tryon, with the Cloisters museum above the trees, before returning down the Hudson to the pier. The full cruise takes about 2.5 hours, so bring a jacket and plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure.