Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise - The Best Night Cruise In NYC

Last Updated on 22nd November 2024

This post about the best Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise in NYC contains affiliate links and mentions of collaborative work with Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, please see my disclaimer for more.

There are so many ways to enjoy the magic of New York City’s skyline at night, including from an observation deck such as the Empire State Building or Summit One Vanderbilt, from the vantage point of a rooftop bar, and even from the bird’s eye view of a helicopter.

However, probably my personal favourite way to see New York at night is via the Harbor Lights Cruise which takes you all the way from Midtown Manhattan along the Hudson River, Lower Manhattan, East River, and back again.

My guide below includes everything you need to know about the best night boat tours in NYC, including the Circle Line tickets price, what you can expect from the cruise itself, and all the highlights and landmarks that you’ll see along the way!

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Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises Harbor Lights cruise

Seeing the New York City skyline lit up at night truly is one of the best things to do at night in NYC and it’s something that I recommend adding to every New York itinerary, regardless of whether it’s your first visit or tenth.

There’s something so magical about cruising along New York City’s waterways while the dazzling skyline lights up in front of you; seeing the towering skyscrapers, the glimmering bridges and the collective skyline as a whole really is a sight to behold.

With the Harbor Lights Cruise, not only do you get to enjoy the breathtaking sights of the skyline at night, you’ll also enjoy commentary from a professional tour guide over loud speakers throughout the boat who will impart epic facts and stories about The City That Never Sleeps!

If you still need some convincing when it comes to booking a Harbor Lights Cruise in NYC, I hope my guide below will help!

Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise schedule

There is only one Harbor Lights Cruise a day and it departs from Pier 83 at 7 PM daily (apart from Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve). The tour lasts approximately two hours, and you will arrive back at Pier 83 at around 9 PM.

NY Harbor Cruise highlights & route

The Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise departs from Pier 83 in Midtown Manhattan and cruises all the way down the Hudson River, past Lower Manhattan, and The Battery. It then sails up along the East River and underneath the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges to the bottom of Roosevelt Island.

The boat then turns around in front of the Pepsi Cola sign on Long Island City, and cruises back along the East River and past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, before concluding back at Pier 83.

As you depart from Pier 83, one of the first things you’ll see is the shimmering lights of the Empire State Building to your left; it really is one of the most beautiful sights to behold!

As you continue along the Hudson River, you’ll see the New Jersey skyline to your right and Hudson Yards, Edge and Vessel to your left, as well as more glimpses of the Empire State Building as it peaks out from behind other towering skyscrapers.

The World Trade Center is up next and the towering height of the One World Trade Center (the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere) cannot be missed as you cruise towards Lower Manhattan. You’ll also see The Battery and South Street Seaport, before sailing past DUMBO, and underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge.

The boat will journey along the East River so that the boat is parallel to Midtown Manhattan on one side and Long Island City on the other, before turning around and heading back down towards Lower Manhattan.

The boat will then head towards the Statue of Liberty where it comes to a complete stop just a few metres from Liberty Island so that you can take uninterrupted pictures of the iconic landmark, before heading back up the Hudson River to Pier 83, where the tour concludes.

Harbor Cruise New York City highlights summary

Edge/Hudson Yards/Vessel
New Jersey skyline
Empire State Building
Chrysler Building
Summit One Vanderbilt
Downtown Manhattan and World Trade Center
South Street Seaport
Brooklyn Bridge/Manhattan Bridge/Williamsburg Bridge
Long Island City
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

New York Circle Line Harbor Lights onboard amenitites

As part of your Harbor Lights Cruise ticket, you’ll also get to enjoy the onboard amenities such as the outdoor viewing deck, as well as the temperature-controlled indoor seating area if you’d prefer to shelter from the wind.

There’s also a café with a fully-stocked bar which serves everything from sandwiches to salads to hot dogs, pizzas, nachos, sweet treats, cocktails, wine, beer, hot drinks, soft drinks, and more. See the complete Harbor Lights Circle Line Cruise menu here.

Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise price and tickets

There are a few ways to purchase tickets for the Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise, including via the Circle Line website itself, via third party attraction websites/apps such as GetYourGuide, Viator and Tiqets, and by using a New York City attraction pass such as Go City.

Tickets are usually priced the same across all ticket providers (starting at $54), so it really doesn’t mater where you buy tickets from. I personally always prefer to check GetYourGuide first as they often have the cheapest tickets, but I would suggest checking all providers to see which offers the cheapest price for you.

Circleline.com – from $54
GetYourGuide – from $54 (for skip-the-line tickets)
Viator – from $54
Tiqets – from $54
Go City Pass – from $84 for 2 choice Explorer Pass / from $154 for 1 day All-Inclusive Pass

What are Premier tickets?

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises also offer Premier tickets for their Harbor Lights cruises, allowing you to upgrade to a “VIP experience” which includes early boarding, more comfortable seating, and an Official Circle Line Souvenir Tour book to take home with you!

Personally, I don’t think the Premier tickets are worth the extra $25-$30; as long as you arrive at the pier at least 30 minutes before departure, you should have a guaranteed seat with a good view, and therefore the VIP tickets aren’t really worth it.

Please note that during the winter months, Premier seating for all cruises is located indoors only.

Holiday Harbor Lights Cruise

From the 29th of November to the 5th of January, the NYC Harbor Lights Cruise transforms into a festive “Santa-approved” cruise, complete with holiday decorations, festive wreaths and garlands, twinkling lights, and Christmas trees.

The festive Harbor Lights Cruise also includes a make-your-own Santa hat workshop, as well as “Rockettes-inspired” cocktails including the “Rockette-tini” (salted caramel martini), “The Kick Line” (a festive twist on a classic rum punch), plus flavoured hot chocolates, hot toddies, Irish coffees and more.

Check out the Holiday Harbor Lights Cruise here!

Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise NYC – FAQs

Where does the Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise depart from?

The Circle Line Harbor Lights NYC Cruise departs from Pier 83, West 42nd Street and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036. If you search for “Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises” on Google Maps, it will bring up the exact address and directions for how to get there.

How long is the Circle Line Harbour Lights Cruise?

The Harbor Lights Circle Line Cruise NYC is approximately 2 hours long and departs at 7 PM daily, apart from Thanksgiving, Christmas Day (25th December), and New Year’s Eve (31st December).

How early should I get to Circle Line cruise?

You should aim to arrive 30-45 minutes before departure time, so around 6.15 to 6.30 PM.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

While it’s not entirely essential to purchase tickets in advance for the Harbor Cruise NYC, it is a good idea to do so as it guarantees you a seat on board and it allows you to skip the box office line and go straight through to security to board the boat.

Which side do you sit on the Circle Line cruise?

It really doesn’t matter where you sit on the NYC tour boat for the Harbor Lights Cruise, as the boat does a huge loop all the way from Pier 83 in Midtown Manhattan, up to Roosevelt Island in the East River, and back again, passing by all the city’s highlights along the way.

As the cruise does a huge loop, you will be able to see everything regardless of which side of the boat you sit on, but I would personally say the left-hand side would be my preference (as this is where we sat!). Also, I would definitely suggest sitting right at the edge of the boat, rather than in the middle seats, so that you can enjoy clear, unobstructed views of all the sights without anyone in front of you.

Can you take food on a Circle Line cruise?

No outside food or drinks are permitted on any of the New York Harbor cruises (although we did have a bottle of water with us!).

There are plenty of food and drink options onboard the boat if you’re hungry and/or thirsty.

What is the dress code for the Circle Line cruise?

There is no strict dress code for the NYC night cruise, but like most attractions in New York, it’s advisable to dress smart/casual. It’s also a good idea to bring layers, especially if you’re embarking on a cruise in the winter months as it gets remarkably cold out in the harbor!

We did the Habor Lights Cruise at the end of September and it was super chilly even then, and I’ve done different cruises in the winter months and it does get bitterly cold, so make sure you bring warm layers and ideally a waterproof/wind-resistant jacket!

How do I reserve my cruise ticket with the Go City Pass?

As I mentioned above, you can experience the Habor Lights Cruise for free if you have the Go City All-Inclusive or Explorer Pass. Unfortunately, you can’t pre-book a slot in advance using the Go City Pass, so you have to go to Pier 83 at least 45 minutes prior to departure time to exchange your pass for tickets for the next available cruise.

You can also visit the Box Office at Pier 83 up to 2 days before your desired cruise time to redeem your tickets.

Do Circle Line offer other sightseeing cruises?

As well as their incredible Harbor Lights cruise, Circle Line also offer the following New York City sightseeing cruises:

Conclusion – New York City night cruise

I really hope you found this guide to the best NYC Harbor cruises useful and I hope it’s inspired you to add an NYC night boat ride to your itinerary! If you want to see the New York City lights at night, then you should 100% consider a Circle Line New York City Harbor Lights cruise!

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Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise – The Best Night Cruise In NYC

Is a New York evening cruise with Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises on your NYC itinerary? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!

Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise – The Best Night Cruise In NYC