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Circle Line Harbor Lights (Night Time) Cruise Around New York City! [Review]

So many cities are breathtakingly beautiful at night — and New York City is no exception. But how can you enjoy the area’s brilliant lights in a short amount of time?

My late friend Richard Arnold and I took a daytime cruise around Manhattan about 11 years ago. I thought it was awesome then.

But how about nighttime?

Mrs. Carley and I decided to check it out a few weeks ago — and spent an evening on the Circle Line Harbor Lights tour at sunset.

Saving Money and Earning Points Buying Circle Line Harbor Cruise Tickets!

Our tickets cost $41 per person or $82 total. We bought them from Viator and paid with my Chase Sapphire Reserve® . The purchase coded as a “Travel,” so I received 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent. That came out to 246 points earned.

Plus, Viator is a DOSH participant! We earned $4.10 cashback because my Chase Sapphire Reserve® is linked to the account.

Where is the Circle Line Harbor Cruise?

You’ll find Circle Line at Pier 83 on the Hudson River. (This is the west “boundary” of Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.)

We walked from our hotel in Times Square. It took us about 20 minutes. You’re close when you see the famous USS Intrepid aircraft carrier (which is now a museum).

The Circle Line Harbor Cruise — On Board

Food and beverage.

Our tour departed at 7:00 PM. We originally planned to buy some cheese and meats from Murray’s Cheese shop in Greenwich Village that day. We figured that’d make for a light dinner during the cruise. (Because we needed to hit Joe’s Pizza later that night! 🙂 )

I contacted Circle Line ahead of time and was told, “No outside food or beverages allowed. We do have a concessions area with food and drinks available for purchase.”

Well, they do have a snack bar.

And a beverage bar. But the service — while friendly — was  very slow. Only one bartender worked that night. Plus, their credit card swipe/chip machine wasn’t working that night. So, he manually input card numbers into a POS machine (I mean that as point-of-sale and piece-of…well…) The line grew very long.

My wife had a bourbon and Coke. I opted for bourbon on the rocks. The drinks cost a total of $32. That was processed by Circle Line, not Viator — so, no cashback. But we did earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points for the “Dining” purchase.

My wife’s bag was not searched or screened. We easily could’ve brought a snack or drinks on board. No staff members patrolled our deck looking for guests bringing their own food and beverages aboard. Keep that in mind if you take the tour.

There are two decks. The lower deck is enclosed —

— and the upper is open air.

If you want a seat against the railing (trust me, you do), arrive early! Those are the first spots taken. I’d recommend being there about an hour prior to departure. You can also buy up for priority boarding.

There is plenty of legroom.

The Cruise Itself

The Harbor Lights cruise runs south down the Hudson River and winds around Lower Manhattan. Then it’s up the East River to just before Roosevelt Island. Then the boat turns around and traces the route in reverse. The Statue of Liberty was the grand finale before heading back to the pier.

Our tour guide, David, narrated the two-ish hour ride. He provided all sorts of interesting information about the city and Circle Line. For example, the company helped transport stranded airline passengers — after their “Miracle on the Hudson” flight splashed down. They also evacuated people during Superstorm Sandy and helped with transportation efforts after the September 11 terror attacks.

We pushed back and our captain took us a little up the Hudson before turning around.

The sun set over New Jersey.

Sunet glinted off buildings in Manhattan.

There truly were some spectacular views of the city as we made our way around Manhattan.

A Delta flight made a cameo appearance on its way to La Guardia!

David (our tour guide) took a quick and rather bizarre break. He decided to show off to the passengers.

David loved talking about New York. And himself. (He arrived in New York about 40 years ago. He studied performance in grad school. He worked at Ellis Island. He saw Al Pacino at a sandwich shop. He gave us his Al Pacino impression. He…)

New York started lighting up as dusk fell.

It was dark as we turned around — and more of the city’s lights were on display.

Then we paid a visit to Lady Liberty. Pictures do not do it justice.

See all those people blocking the shot? That’s why you want to sit along the railings.

We headed north up the Hudson. David brought up immigration — which was appropriate, given we passed by Ellis Island and the Statue. But then he discussed in great detail the  dark side of Ellis Island. Honestly, it was a depressing end to the ride.

While that history is important, I wish he would’ve maybe alluded to it and suggested where people could learn more. My wife and I were glad we didn’t have our daughter on the boat.

Most of our fellow passengers were friendly. It’s fun seeing each other’s reactions to various sites. There was a family behind us, though, who loudly insisted on FaceTiming the boat ride. That was obnoxious.

Would I take the Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise again? Yes! It’s not something I’d do, like, each year. But every couple of years, it’s absolutely something to enjoy.

Did You Take This Cruise — or a Similar One?

Have you taken this cruise? Are there any more you’d recommend? Please tell us in the below Comments section.

Music to Your Ears: See and Listen Now to the Delta Boarding Music Playlist!

Salt lake city to athens (greece) delta *premium select* weekend mileage run: 25,309 mqm at 5.2 cpm, chris carley.

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

I have never been on cruise but i would love to.. It looks like dream comes true.. Amazing views and breathtaking view of night life of New York. I am a Brisbane native. I love to travel around famous places. And, now this cruise trip will be in my bucket list for sure. Thank you for sharing wonderful experience!

Yes absolutely LOVED LOVED it

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Best Night Cruise NYC

Harbor Lights, City Nights Sailing through NYC’s Glittering Show

Enchanting night cruise with a city light show that outshines even the brightest Broadway performance. Discover the city from a new perspective on a private sailboat charter. Contrary to expectations, the city isn’t engulfed in darkness; rather, it transforms into a radiant tapestry of a million lights that dance and shimmer on the water’s surface. Each skyscraper and landmark is adorned with a dazzling display of lights. The Statue of Liberty, standing tall and proud in the harbor, is a beacon of light night, casting a radiant glow.

Trade in the bustling streets for the tranquility of the water, and let the New York night time cruise become your passport into an evening that few get to experience.

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Sailing is simply romantic! Private boat ride NYC for 2 with champagne, flowers, decorations, catering, concierge service, & breathtaking views. Fall in love all over again on a couples boat ride.

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Explore a Kaleidoscope of Light Harbour Lights Tour NYC

Add a sparkle to your evening with a city lights cruise NYC. This private Hudson River cruise is your own personal club floating on the water, reserved entirely for you and your guests, guaranteed to impress visitors, jet setters, and even native New Yorkers. Grab a glass of bubbly, cozy up together on deck, and lose yourselves under a million lights.

Best Seat in the House: Statue of Liberty Night Cruise

The New York evening cruise is your ticket to catch Lady Liberty’s last curtain call as she rises from the dark and takes center stage over the harbor, glowing from torch to foot. The statue could be good enough as a solo act, but the night show wouldn’t be complete without an ensemble of towering skyscrapers changing colors – Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, the spires above the Bank of America Tower, 4 Times Square. But what truly steels the show is the multitude of small white lights twinkling around you, reflecting off the water, each one shining bright and full of promise. This NYC boat ride at night is a magical experience in the city, a reminder that anything and everything is possible.

Night Boat Ride: Get Ready to Party in Style

With the stars overhead and the city lights twinkling, your small party boat rental NYC is a playground and oasis in the middle of the harbor. The onboard lighting is diffused, designed to illuminate but not obscure the views, perfect for a Manhattan evening cruise. Whether it’s an intimate celebration with a few close friends, a romantic evening with a loved one, or even a marriage proposal, this harbor lights tour will be an unforgettable experience.

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Sunset Cruise

Catch the Golden Hour on the water and discover magical colors and lights not seen on land.

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13 Best Sunset Boat Rides in NYC to Experience the Magic of the Manhattan Skyline

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Famous worldwide for its glorious skyline, New York City is the posterchild for the nation, and the best sunset boat rides in NYC show off that picture-perfect setting in the best way possible. With several options to choose from — from luxury yacht sails to jazz cruises and wine-and-dine romantic nights out — there’s something for everyone on the Big Apple’s waterways, making it one of the top things to do in NYC .

Whether you’re venturing down the Hudson, the East or the Harlem River, these boat tours, known as some of the best boat tours in NYC , combine premier sightseeing, dining, and entertainment. So why not take a break from the chaotic city streets and slow down for a magical twilight adventure?

Want to dive straight in? Browse our catalog now!

• sunset boat rides in NYC

1 – Sunset Yacht Cruise by Classic Harbor Line

Rating: ⭐️ 4.9/5 ( 223 reviews )

“It was a beautiful boat tour, with friendly staff. There was a free drink and the crew also offered to take photos. Breathtaking view, must be experienced.” Katharina, Getyourguide

Simple, elegant and presenting breathtaking views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, the Sunset Yacht Cruise by Classic Harbor Line  is the way to welcome the twilight hours in style.

Heading down the Hudson River from Chelsea, the relaxed-pace vessel will get you within arm’s reach of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before skirting back up the Harbor toward Governor’s Island and New York’s Financial District.

Along the way, you’ll be treated to a complimentary glass of champagne while hearing all about the city’s history and highlights. Even the boat itself — decked out in 1920s style décor — is a work of art.

• book this cruise

Affordable, romantic, and incredibly relaxing, this tour definitely gets our tick of approval. The friendly crew is on hand to take photos so that you’re not always in selfie mode, and the live narration throughout the tour provides an insightful touch. The sunset views, of course, are nothing short of magical. 10/10.

2 – Sunset Cocktail Cruise aboard Yacht Kingston by Classic Harbor Line

Rating: ⭐️ 4.9/5 (1806 reviews)

“Great tour today on the Kingston classic yacht! My husband and I took the hour and half tour to the statue and skyline. We were looking for a more private tour than the big cruises. This was perfect!!” Beth, Google review

Setting sail on the beautiful, intimate Kingston 1920s-style yacht, this Classic Harbor Line tour promises a sunset experience that feels far more luxurious than the run-of-the-mill big-boat sightseeing tours.

Focusing on the Lower Manhattan skyline and surroundings, the 1.5-hour cruise takes you on a scenic route through the New York Harbor, passing by postcard-worthy landmarks like Lady Liberty and the historic Brooklyn Bridge.

With only 49 passengers allowed aboard (maximum), this sunset cocktail cruise presents the perfect blend of intimate and affordable. And the complimentary signature cocktail (or beer, wine, or champagne) is simply the cherry on top.

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We highly recommend this sunset boat ride for anyone looking to take in the beautiful New York City skyline in a more opulent fashion! The tour is informative and relaxing, making it perfect for couples looking for a romantic evening activity before heading out. The crew are always friendly and the boat itself is so charming too!

3 – Sunset Sail Aboard Schooner America 2.0 by Classic Harbor Line

Rating: ⭐️ 4.9/5 ( 217 reviews )

“The tour was excellent!! Shanon the captain and the crew, Colin and Grant were great!! I would definitely do this tour again and recommend to others!!” Sarah, Getyourguide

Forget about the jam-packed tourist boats. This intimate, 2-hour sunset sail aboard the 1800s-style Schooner America 2.0 vessel is all about luxury, romance and relaxation.

With the wind in your hair, you’ll feel like you have the whole boat to yourself as you sail along New York City’s iconic skyline, sipping a complimentary glass of champagne from the open-air deck.

Besides photo ops in front of landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline (punctuated by the Freedom Tower), you’ll also learn about the history of New York Harbor and its famous sites from the attentive Classic Harbor Line  crew.

The Schooner America 2.0 is a beautiful and elegant sailboat, making it the perfect setting for a romantic sunset cruise. If you can book a tour with the live jazz music upgrade, it’s even better. Thanks to a lovely and attentive crew, and fantastic views of New York City, this sunset boat ride gets a 10/10 recommendation from us.

4 – New York Sunset Cruise Aboard Schooner Adirondack by Classic Harbor Line

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 144 reviews )

“Fabulous Sunset and Night time views of the city and Statue of Liberty the whole experience was really very special and a great end to our first trip to NYC we are so glad we decided to book!” Sharon, Viator

By day, the Lower Manhattan skyline is world-famous. But as the sun begins to set, it transforms into a breathtaking display of colors and lights. And one of the best ways to experience this magical transformation is aboard the Schooner Adirondack – one of Classic Harbor Line ‘s most romantic excursions.

This stunning 2-masted wooden sailboat invites you on a luxurious and intimate sunset cruise with unobstructed views of the city’s skyscrapers. As you set sail past the likes of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, your insightful crew will make sure you learn all there is to know about the area’s history, culture, and landmarks.

Being an open-aired sailboat, the Schooner Adirondack dishes up truly unobstructed views. Not only will you have a front-row seat to see some of New York’s most iconic sights, but the atmosphere and ambiance on board are equal parts relaxing and enchanting.

Captain Kat and the crew are always warm and welcoming. We definitely recommend this one.

5 – New York City Holiday Sunset Sightseeing Cruise by Classic Harbor Line

Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5 ( 4 reviews )

“Brilliant!!! amazing boat trip, amazing staff on the boat, couldn’t recommend enough. A must do trip if you come to new york.” Matty, tripadvisor

The Big Apple oozes charm regardless of the season. But when the holidays roll around, when the city becomes engulfed in twinkling lights and Christmas cheer, few places can match the magic in the air.

Taking place on a classic 1920s-style yacht, Classic Harbor Line’s tour shines a spotlight on the enchanting atmosphere of New York City during the festive season. This 1.5-hour cruise whisks you out onto the Hudson River where you’ll be gifted stunning views of the city’s world-famous skyline (and the dazzling holiday decorations in between).

Don’t fret about the cold either — the interior cabin is heated and decked out in festive decor.

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At Christmas time, there’s arguably no place more magical than New York. And the city’s breathtaking skyline is even more spectacular when the sun starts to set. The captain and crew are helpful and informative, making you feel right at home on their beautiful vintage-style boat. Without sugar-coating it, it’s a holiday season must-do.

6 – Live Jazz Sunset Sail in NY Harbor by Classic Harbor Line

“The fabulous Jazz Sunset cruise was the best harbor tour I have done, and I have done several over the many years I have lived in New York.” Blanton, Google Review

Description: 100 words (include the official website link if we mention the company name)

Adding in an extra splash of culture compared to your standard sunset boat tour, the Live Jazz Sunset Sail by Classic Harbor Line  combines live music (at the hands of talented local musicians) with stunning views of the city’s major downtown landmarks.

Being an open-air 105-foot sailboat, you’ll get to soak up the warm summer breeze as you sail past the Statue of Liberty and under the Brooklyn Bridge.

The boat also boasts a full bar with a variety of drinks and snacks available for purchase, should the tunes put you in a thirsty mood.

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Any sunset cruise in New York is magical. Throw in a live jazz trio and things turn next-level! Classic Harbor Line’s Live Jazz Sunset Sail is an experience that truly captures the romantic essence of New York City; the elegant boat and the charming crew add that finishing touch. For couples, we couldn’t recommend this one any higher.

7 – Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise by New York Water Taxi

Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5 ( 184 reviews )

“Great ride for twilight photos of the Statue of Liberty, skyline and Brooklyn Bridge with cool music” Andreas, Getyourguide

An affordable way to see one of America’s most iconic landmarks at sunset, the New York Water Taxi Statue of Liberty sunset sail is a great option if you’re short of time.

Lasting only an hour, the cruise departs on the Eastern Side of Manhattan and takes you on a scenic tour of New York Harbor, providing a different perspective to the myriad tours that jet off from Chelsea on the opposite side of the island.

With the option to BYO drinks, it’s a great way to sit back and relax while soaking up the skyline. And since it finishes near the Brooklyn Bridge (one of the best places to visit in New York City ), you can check off some of the quintessential things to do in Brooklyn at night when you’re done!

If you’re looking for something cheap, quick, and still super scenic, this sunset boat ride is the perfect option. Even though it’s short and sharp, you still get plenty of time to soak up the views of the Statue of Liberty at golden hour. Make sure you arrive 30 minutes early to score the upper-deck seats!

Read more: Statue of Liberty last minute tickets

8 – Clipper City Tall Ship Sunset Cruise by Manhattan By Sail

Rating: ⭐️ 4.6/5 ( 135 reviews )

“My family and I had a great time. great professionalism from the crew. excellent images of great emotion. Really exciting!!!” Alessandra, Getyourguide

Like stepping back in time, this sunset boat ride on the Clipper City — resembling an old-school pirate ship — promises an evening of insights,  romance, and relaxation. The 158-foot-long Clipper City (operated by Manhattan By Sail ) towers 120 feet above the harbor surface; it’s a massive passenger sailboat so you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll be treated to a smooth ride across the Lower Manhattan waters.

As part of this 1.5-hour cruise, you’ll glide past all sorts of iconic landmarks such as Ellis Island, Governors Island, and One World Trade Center. You’ll also get to see the Statue of Liberty herself, right up close!

Take your pick from a sunset sail or a city light nighttime cruise — either way, you’re in for a treat.

Hot tip: Since this tour departs from close to the Brooklyn Bridge, consider checking off a few of the popular things to do on Long Island during the day beforehand.

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Far more than just a sunset sightseeing tour, the Clipper City adventure is an experience that immerses you in the beauty of New York City’s waterways. The crew are so friendly and helpful too! The views, of course, are breathtaking, especially as the sun begins to set. It’s a memorable way to see New York – we can’t recommend it enough.

9 – 1920’s Classic Schooner Sunset Sail by Manhattan By Sail

Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5 ( 40 reviews )

“We had a wonderful time! The clipper ship and the Jazz band were wonderful, and the view of Manhattan from the water was truly magical.” Felicia, Getyourguide

With the modern Freedom Tower contrasting the historic Woolworth Tower, and dozens of adjacent skyscrapers thrown into the mix, the Lower Manhattan skyline is undoubtedly stunning. There are so many things to do in Manhattan (and the Financial District, specifically) on foot, but to really appreciate its grandeur, you need to see it from the water.

Enter Manhattan By Sail and their classic 1920s schooners. As you glide down the Hudson River and then up the East, you’ll be treated to close-up views of Lady Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and so much more.

The sunset sail is the main event; but if you’re after something different, the Shearwater also hosts brunch cruises!

There’s something extra special about heading out on the water on board a traditional sailing ship. And when you add in the stunning backdrop of a New York City sunset, it becomes an unforgettable experience. That’s why we rate this Manhattan By Sail experience as one of the best!

10 – Sunset, Wine, and Jazz Sail by Manhattan By Sail

Rating: ⭐️ 4.2/5 ( 16 reviews )

“I really enjoyed it! It was just what I needed in NYC: something not hyper! It’s fantastically low-key and quiet.” Alison, Getyourguide

Tailored to couples looking for romantic things to do in New York City at night , this evening tour combines a scenic sunset sail with impressive live jazz music and a selection of fine wines (and other varied libations).

Departing from underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, you’ll set sail on the beautiful 152-foot Clipper City – the biggest capacity tall ship in the USA – and cruise along the East River, serenaded by talented jazz musicians with every turn.

As you watch the sun set behind the dramatic Manhattan skyline, you’ll hear all about the city’s fascinating history and landmarks from the Manhattan By Sail  crew. It’s a low-key, relaxing alternative to those big, crowded sightseeing ships.

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A quiet alternative to the bustling sightseeing cruises, this sunset boat ride promises a peaceful and relaxing way to experience the beauty of the Big Apple. The live jazz music is so lovely, the crew is very helpful, and the views — well, words simply can’t do them justice. We would certainly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a relaxing sunset sail.

11 – Sunset Boat Cruise by Statue Walks LLC

Rating: ⭐️ 3.9/5 ( 296 reviews )

“The view from the boat is spectacular, it passes near the Statue of Liberty and then shows Manhattan from afar.” Dario, Getyourguide

Hitting up a handful of the best tourist attractions in New York City — the Brooklyn Bridge, the  Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, among others — the Statue Walks sunset boat cruise is an affordable and short-and-sweet way to check out the Lower Manhattan landmarks.

Take your pick from the indoor or outdoor decks (if it’s warm out, go for outdoors), get your camera ready and enjoy unobstructed views of the city skyline as it transforms from day to twinkling night.

Along the way, the friendly crew will wax insights about Lady Liberty, American immigration, and the diverse architecture that makes up the cityscape.

If you don’t have too much time in New York but you still want to get out on the water, this quick but scenic sunset cruise is the perfect choice. With a knowledgeable crew, stunning views, and quintessential landmarks along the way, it checks all the boxes. And compared to most other options, it’s cheap!

12 – Sunset Sail by Ventura

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 (30 reviews)

“The views of the Statue of Liberty and the City at sunset were amazing. All in all – superb trip – exceeded expectations!” Jeff, Google Review

One of the more relaxed cruises that hit up the New York Harbor, Ventura invites you to bring your own snacks and drinks (wines, beers, whatever floats your boat) and enjoy the ride.

The intimate sunset sail aboard a beautiful, traditional schooner takes you on a 2.5-hour leisurely adventure around Ellis Island, Governors Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and of course, Lady Liberty herself.

As the colors change and the Financial District starts to twinkle, few sights are more breathtaking. And since the Ventura crew encourages travelers of all ages, it makes for one of the top family things to do in New York City with kids !

Great views, awesome crew, and 100% BYO – it doesn’t get much better than this! The Ventura team makes a conscious effort to make passengers feel at home on the boat, with comfortable seating and plenty of space to take in the sunset colors. We definitely give this tour our stamp of approval.

13 – Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island sunset cruise by Attractions4us

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 2 reviews )

“Great value for money and was just what we wanted. Great views of nyc back drop and the statue of liberty without taking too much time out of our day.” Claire, Musement

Fast, simple, and super friendly on the wallet, this Attractions4us sunset adventure sells itself as one of the best cheap things to do in New York City .

Besides getting to float up to landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island , you’ll also get to hear all about the history of how they came to be some of New York’s most celebrated sites.

Since it’s only an hour or so long, it gives you plenty of time to explore the famous South Street Seaport area and (if you’re feeling like stretching your legs) walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

• Statue of Liberty sunset cruise

This tour’s main selling point is that it’s great value for money. You can expect great views of Lower Manhattan and Lady Liberty, but it doesn’t have to take too much time out of your day. The crew is always friendly, willing to take photos, and also share insights into the area. It’s a great option, for sure.

How to book sunset boat rides in NYC?

Don’t get your tickets at the departure dock. The best way to book a sunset boat ride in NYC and to get the best price is to do so online. With the TourScanner search engine, you can see all the offers from reliable providers and compare prices and discounts.

Plus, you can read hundreds of reviews from past travelers, helping you make sure you’re making the right call.

• compare sunset boat rides in NYC

Statue of Liberty Night Cruise New York, 1 Hour

Cruise by the Statue of Liberty at Night

This Statue of Liberty night cruise moves along the famous New York Harbor after dark and takes you straight up to the illuminated, 305-foot beauty!

Description

Experience the enchanting allure of New York City like never before with the NYC Night Cruise to the Statue of Liberty . As the sun sets and the city's lights come to life, embark on a journey that takes you through the iconic New York Harbor, providing you with an up-close and awe-inspiring encounter with the illuminated 305-foot marvel that is the Statue of Liberty .

Statue of Liberty Cruise Complete Tour Inclusions:

• 60-minute night cruise of NYC along the East River
• The Brooklyn Bridge, the towering Empire State Building from just a few blocks inland
• The Manhattan skyline and Governor’s Island

In the realm of global wonders and urban romance, New York City stands unrivaled. Its sprawling cityscape, adorned with dazzling lights and a sense of grandeur, makes it the ultimate destination for those seeking a taste of metropolitan magic. Amidst this concrete jungle, the Statue of Liberty emerges as a beacon of hope, liberty, and fascination. The city's essence is encapsulated in her form, and the best time to witness this radiance is during the NYC night cruise .

Prepare to be captivated by the majestic panorama that unfolds before you. The Brooklyn Bridge , an architectural masterpiece, stretches gracefully across the water, while the Empire State Building stands tall, illuminated against the night sky.

Best tour of New York City you could have and avoid all the hustle & bustle.

Experience Details

Fitness and experience.

• Suitable for all ages
• Children pricing for those 3-12 years old

What to Bring/Wear

• Wear clothing suitable for the weather on the day

What is Supplied

• A night cruise of NYC along the East River
• 60 minutes on the water
• Spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, Governor's Island, Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty

More Information

• Tours depart daily at 7:00pm
• Please note boarding is based on a first come-first serve basis. We regularly sell-out so please arrive well in advance to secure a spot.

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Night Tours, Cruises, Rooftops, Clubs, Attractions

See the new york city skyline, best new york city hotel rooftops.

• Press Lounge @ Ink48 Hotel – my ALL time favorite rooftop
• Harbor Sunset Cruises (photo above)
• NYC Rooftop Lounge Tour – guaranteed access to exclusive nighttime hot spots as you sip cocktails under the sky

Sightsee from the Sky

• Empire State Building - (86 and 102 floors) Best for patient movie and history buffs who need to check it off their bucket list. Recently redone indoor 102nd Floor Observatory
• Top of the Rock - (67-70 floors) Best for sweeping 360° vista views, including of the Empire State Building and Central Park. Shorter lines and cheaper than the ESB.
• One World Observatory - (100-102 floors) Best for homage to the Twin Towers. Modern and high tech, with phenomenal views
• Edge - (100-101 floors) Highest outdoor observation deck, glass bottom floor, deck extends 80 feet away from building (photo)
• Summit One Vanderbilt - (91-93 floors) Opens Oct 2021, all glass elevator, indoor and outdoor decks and glass terraces off the side of the building

NYC Comedy Clubs

• Caroline’s on Broadway – one of the oldest and most popular clubs in NYC, located in Times Square. Likely where you will see the most famous names on the schedule in advance.
• Greenwich Village Comedy Club – down the block from the Comedy Cellar, and sister club to Broadway Comedy and New York Comedy. Small, basement space underneath an Indian Restaurant, hosting regulars from Saturday Night Live.
• Stand Up NY – this classic Upper West Side spot has hosted Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld.
• Broadway Comedy Club – one of the larger comedy clubs, located in Midtown West (right off Times Square) and often attracts talent who have been on Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, America’s Got Talent and Last Comic Standing.
• Comedy Cellar – a dark, tiny and cramped East Village institution, that consistently hosts top names in comedy and has a ton of surprise guests, like Louis C.K. and Aziz Ansari. You’ll also want to check out the Olive Tree Café upstairs, which has chalkboards for tables and silent films playing on walls.

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Nyc dinner cruises on the harbor.

• Spirit of New York Dinner Cruise – family-friendly buffet dinner with singing wait staff and an after dinner DJ
• Bateaux New York Dinner Cruise – all glass boat, live music from a vocalist backed by an acoustic trio, jackets for men, cocktail attire for women
• NYC Holiday Cruises – Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving – check out all our special holiday cruises.

New York City Night Cruises

Sunset sail aboard the schooner adirondack, nyc premiere dinner & skyline cruise, champagne city lights cruise on yacht manhattan, circle line harbor lights cruise, new york city lights dinner cruise, around manhattan architecture, nyc bus night tour.

• NYC Night Bus Tour - From Times Square to the Brooklyn Bridge, see our city wink and twinkle right at you.
• NY Night Bus Tour - 4 hrs, Tues/Thurs/Sat eves. Includes a short nighttime stroll on the High Line, then hop on a bus for a ride through Times Square, Rockefeller Center, SoHo, Chinatown and short walk through Grand Central.

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Using sightseeing passes at night.

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Newest NYC Experiences - Be The First!

• Ink48 Hotel - right next to the Intrepid Museum and my ALL time favorite rooftop!
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• The Empire Hotel - year-round indoor/outdoor rooftop with seasonal pool and cabana rentals
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Attractions & Sightseeing

Go high or go home.

• Summit One Vanderbilt - (91-93 floors) Opened Oct 2021, all glass elevator, indoor and outdoor decks and glass terraces off the side of the building. One of the hottest tickets in town

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• NYC Rooftop Lounge Tour - guaranteed access to exclusive nighttime hot spots as you sip cocktails under the sky
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New York City Skyline Sunset and Night Cruise

• Available for Purchase
• Cash Bar where you can purchase Alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• JAMOV12 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Scammed at the 60 minutes Statue of Liberty sightseeing cruise I got scammed I purchased the 60 minute statue of liberty with the observatory option. They only sent me tickets for the cruise an I couldn't get a refund. Stay away buy your tickets directly from the location. Stay away from 3 party vendors Read more Written April 21, 2024
• Allister H 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great value for money sight seeing cruise Great location to pick up boat and speedy transfer onto the boat. Great vibe by the crew on board with a full commentary on all the sights and buildings throughout the cruise. Great choice of food and drinks on board at very good prices. Great overall trip and well worth the money Read more Written April 16, 2024
• Glover Y 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Rip off! Don’t book! That is a rip off! Tourists trap. Excursions4u is honestly a scam. First of all the ticket at the booth costs $18 per person, they charged $49. And for what? The tour guide gave us brochures to read while we waited for others. Then on the way to ferry he talked a bit about of history but it was 5 min walk. All he did is walked us through the checkpoint and left us to go through security. I could’ve done it all by myself at $18 cost! Ridiculous!! Read more Written April 15, 2024
• vijessal 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 1 of the Best Our tour guide Nia was awesome. She was very knowledgeable & made the experience very interesting. Would definitely recommend Read more Written April 7, 2024
• LoveVirginiaBeach 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Security at ferry entrance Plan time to go through “airport-like” security before boarding the ferry. Reservations to walk up the interior of the Statue of Liberty can be filled five months in advance, so plan ahead. Take a quarter if you plan to use the lockers at the statue to store your belongings. The machine to make change was broken today. Read more Written April 3, 2024
• miandrac 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour guide, knowledgeable and a Time saver The tour guide Fabrice was very knowledgeable and friendly. Also had connections to cut the long lines which saved a lot of time. Would book again through TripAdvisor. Also very timely. Read more Written March 29, 2024
• J6710ZWsusanl 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles BUYER BEWARE.....If you think you're dealing with Tripadvisor think again!!!! Our experience with Captain Pips was beyond exceptional. Our experience with Attractions4us was awful. We received a confirmation email from Attractions4us at 1:00pm the day before our excursion but when we showed up the day of our snorkeling trip Attractions4us had cancelled our reservation without our knowledge or permission. If it weren't for the outstanding efforts of the Captain Pips staff to get us on a boat we would of missed out on this experience. Buyer be ware when you're using Tripadvisor, your're not dealing with who you think. BTW I would have given zero stars but the site wouldn't let me. Read more Written March 24, 2024
• Curious58921243696 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must if never been or first trip to New york It's hard to put into word how moving, sad,emotional but also story's of people helping other people in their hour of need was just as emotional. The staff there where so friendly and really good especially the retired fireman who was near firetruck talking about the day and the lady walking around making sure people knew there was a film on about the boat rescue. So much to see that I was having to rush towards the end so give yourself plenty of time Read more Written March 21, 2024
• ge0rgiaaa 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Scam Scam!i booked for 90 min skyline cruise in miami i paid and i when i went to the bayside market the kiosk didn't have my name however after a long conversation they let me in and instead of boat was taxi boat totally diffident than the pictures and instead of 90 min it was 60 max.The only good thing was that the tour was funny. Read more Written March 20, 2024
• vivianepI3065JV 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Choose another cruise operator or another attraction We took the BiscayneBay cruise in Miami and after paying 15 usd for being late I was disrespected in front of many people just because I’ve asked for some help from the staff regarding seats availability! I’ve never experienced such a thing in my life! Ricky is his name and he is the tour guide. I do not recommend the company located at the Bayside marketplace. Most unpleasant attraction I’ve ever attended. Read more Written March 5, 2024
• mariamY963FH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour with Alex in MET Really recommend to have Alex as a tour guide as he so passionate about museum- he lives and breathes MET so knows so much about art, history and museum it self! Left museum with excellent amount of knowledge! Thank you. Read more Written February 25, 2024
• Jadenthayer 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Calm Tour Went on the Miami Skyline 90 min Cruise of South Beach Millionaire Homes & Venetian Islands on Wednesday 21. February 2024. Starting off: - they made clear instructions on where to find the docks but it was confusing on where you need to go to check in and to which line you need to get in for your specific tour. - boat was a nice size. Limited seating but to really enjoy the views its better to stand anyways. They have a front viewing area and a whole upper deck. You are also able to stand on the sides and back of the boat for seeing. - they had a bar on the boat. Pretty standard price for Miami. - it was a nice tour. I went for more of the island watching and enjoying the evening with a nice boat ride. It was interesting to hear about a couple of famous people that live around there. - the tour person was very friendly and lively. She spoke in english and then in spanish when giving the tour. She cracked some jokes and played music that complimented specific houses nicely. - really wished they offered the picture they take of you for cheaper but not a huge loss if you just dont buy it. (They try to sell it to you for $20) - bring cash for tips for the tour guide after the tour! *will you have the best time of your life? No. Should you still do it? Go for it. Its not that expensive and even if you arent curious about the homes, its a nice little tour of the area. We were able to see the sunset. Was a nice calming activity to do before dinner. Read more Written February 22, 2024
• anatU7608PB 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recomemded! Vivian was our tour guide she was amazing 😊, she knows alot! Answer many questions! My family and I did 3 different tours in our stay in NYC and this one was our absolute favorite! Thank you Vivian! Read more Written February 21, 2024
• luxuryinfacts 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must see Christmas event for family ! They are adorable, amazing, awesome. I'm sure they do so much training and rehearsals to be so organized and precise in their choreographies. Not one moment it gets boring. I was looking forward to see them for many years, and i would definitely watch it again! Loved them all! Read more Written February 16, 2024
• dardh2024 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Potential Scam I booked “Islamorada: Whale Harbor Sandbar Trip w/ Swimming” but when I showed up to the meeting point we were told that the trip was never scheduled and would not be happening. I have requested a refund through GetYourGuide. It seems that this company is a third party that charters through another company. Better to book through the actual boat charter here “Clearly Unique Charters”. Read more Written February 14, 2024

More to explore in New York

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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11 best dinner cruises in NYC for spectacular views of the Big Apple

All aboard! These elegant skyline dinner cruises in NYC turn yachts and steamboats into floating restaurants.

There can’t be many better ways to enjoy dinner with a view than to hop aboard a dinner cruise in NYC. And you know what? That’s why we’ve rounded up the best of the dinner cruise bunch in New York to make that experience even easier. The city sparkles the brightest in the summer (it’s still here, right?) so it’s time to take advantage of the many floating restaurants that sail up and down our two rivers. Rooftop bars  and  beaches  are musts, but a dinner cruise is something special to do with your loved ones. Even the best restaurants in NYC can’t compare to the experience of eating out on the water, and most of these dinner cruises offer prix-fixe menus or buffet meals on enormous three-level ships, sailing taverns and ritzy yachts. Whichever you choose, the ambience just can’t be beaten. Bon voyage – and bon appetit, too!

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Best dinner cruises in NYC

1.  New York Dinner Cruise

Patrons flock to Hornblower’s climate-controlled sun deck for the decadent three-course meal and artisan cocktails. With entrée options like honey sesame chicken, oven-roasted flounder and braised beef short ribs, we can’t blame them. It’s hard to not want to get up and dance as you cruise past iconic New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Brooklyn Bridge to complimentary live jazz.

Where is it? 111, 11th Avenue, New York.    Budget range? A pricy one, but well spent for an evening cruise through New York's harbour accompanied by some keys.   Time Out Tip: There aren't many seats on the top deck, so it's worth getting there a little earlier to skip the queue. 

2.  Alive After Five

Gather your clocked-out coworkers and friends and board the Alive After Five cruise, which makes the most of happy hour—it actually lasts  two hours —along the Hudson River in City Cruises’ Sensation yacht. You’ll have two climate-controlled decks to choose from, plus a covered roof deck, multiple dance floors if and a DJ to get the party moving. This isn't just a cocktail cruise, there's pasta, Tex-Mex and other food options depending on the admission level you choose.

Where is it? The yacht departs from Pier 15 at 78 South st.  Budget range? Live it up on this classic yatcht without needing to break the bank.   Time Out Tip: Drinks aboard this vessel are a little dearer than usual (even for New York), so you might have to sweet talk the bartender a little.

3.  New York Dinner Cruise

Cruise both the Hudson and East Rivers on this two-and-a-half-hour venture set to music from a quality pianist playing classic jazz, blues and Broadway hits. While aboard you'll be served a lavish three-course dinner as you marvel at Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower and the Empire State Building. You'll set a course from Pier 61 and be able to dance and eat the night away with some of the best views of the city going.

Where is it?  Board at Pier 61 Chelsea Piers, West 23rd St . Budget range? Unobstructed panoramic views of New York's most iconic landmarks for less than 100 bucks. Steal.  Time Out Tip: Think smart casual when it comes to the vibe of this cruise ship - the perfect excuse to grab the buds and set sail. Just be sure to book together to avoid a seating mishap. 

4.  Bateaux New York Dinner Cruises

Departing from Chelsea Piers, Bateaux offers frazzled New Yorkers a relaxing three-hour, three-course getaway cruise along the Hudson. Pair a romantic view of the Manhattan skyline from a glass-enclosed deck with a veritable feast: Entrées include dishes like miso-glazed cod with oyster mushrooms and sugar snap peas and jumbo lump crab cakes with corn succotash. Sip on cocktails, wine and beer from a fully loaded cash bar while live jazz musicians provide the soundtrack for a twinkly evening aboard this dinner cruise.

Where is it?   Head to   Pier 61 Chelsea Piers. Budget range?   A pretty decent price to see this dazzling city lit up as you float along it, especially when you cash in on the unlimited mimosa brunchtime special. Time Out Tip:   There's a semi-formal dress code for this floating shindig, so skip the sandals and bring a tie. 

5.  Gourmet Dinner Cruise

This 3-hour cruise down the Hudson River combines delicious food with dazzling sights. Sail past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island while sipping on premium drinks and snacking on a decadent  charcuterie board packed with cheese, meat delicacies, nuts, jam and olives. Once you‘ve admired the view and the plush boat interior, which features  rare wood finishes and collectables, it’s time to sit down to dinner and tuck into gourmet salads and special desserts, while you’re serenaded by a live jazz band. 

Where is it?   Head to   Pier 76 Hudson River Park. Budget range?   A good price for top-notch food, views and live music.  Time Out Tip:   Gratuities aren’t included, so make sure you bring cash. 

6.  Luxury VIP Cruise

Waterfront dining is elevated to a whole new level of luxury on this three-hour dinner cruise with refined decor, beautiful views of  Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge at night and an evening of live music performances. Among all this, guests will also get the chance to sit down to a carefully curated six-course dinner prepared by accomplished chefs and sip on fine wines and premium spirits.

Where is it?   Head to   Pier 76 Hudson River Park. Budget range?   At the higher end of the scale.  Time Out Tip:   The boat will only wait 10 minutes for latecomers, so get there on time. 

7.  Skyline Cruises

Spend four hours sailing the NYC harbor, gazing out over landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. In the height of comfort, no less, as the decks are climate controlled. There's also a DJ onboard, a dancefloor and an American buffet offering three courses, from short ribs and grilled bruschetta chicken to lemon sole stuffed with crabmeat–stuffed lemon and pasta. It's worth knowing that Skyline caters for brunch and lunch too.

Where is it? Board at World's Fair Marina. Budget range? A spot aboard this stellar cruise is a little pricier, but who could resist twirling around a rooftop dancefloor? Time Out Tip: Planning on popping the question? Skyline can customize your booking to make it a night to remember.   

8.  North River Lobster Company

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Seriously. What could beat tucking into a buttery lobster roll while enjoying peaking sunsets over the Hudson? If this sounds like your vibe, then get ready to kick back at this floating three-deck lobster shack, spanning 9,000 square feet between the outdoor top deck and bi-level interior dining space and lounge. Set off on a two-hour cruise headed to the Statue of Liberty, while enjoying a menu featuring a raw bar and fresh New England seafood like Maine lobster, fish tacos and clam chowder. Pair your meal with red and white wine selections, bottled beers and summery signature cocktails served by the glass or pitcher.

Where is it? Over at Pier 81. Budget range? A cheap and cheerful option ft cold buckets of beer  Time Out Tip:  Happy hour is 4-7 pm (Monday - Wednesday), so if you want to keep em' coming, head to the boat before then. 

9.  La Barca

Not into lobster? Head next door to get your hands on the banging street tacos aboard this one-of-a-kind three-level floating Mexican restaurant made for good times. Situated on a luxury yacht, La Barca boasts a large outdoor deck area, and two temperature-controlled indoor decks, accompanied by three bars that serve a selection of agave-based spirits, tequila and more. The boat takes several cruise trips a day, meaning you and the gang can enjoy swaying to a mix of Latin pop, salsa and dance hits — taking in the city's skyline as you float along the Hudson River. 

Where is it? La fiesta begins at Pier 81 .  Budget range? An affordable dining experience for those who like to party.  Time Out Tip: After Darka on Sunday night is where the real fun is  -  Free tequila and mezcal tastings and a live DJ guaranteed to make you 'get off your ass' and onto the dancefloor. 

10.  World Yacht

Okay, we're heading back into lobster territory to tell you about this fun New England spin on a Manhattan cruise. Select the Rollin' Down the River package and you'll be in seafood heaven aboard this original Lobster Boat that sets sail from Pier 81, offering fantastic views of Manhattan's Skyline  –  iconic spots like Hudson Yards, One World Observatory and SOL  – as  you bite into one of Connecticut's famous Lobster rolls. Wash it down with a signature cocktail or frozen drink of your choice. The cruise lasts approximately two hours and sets sail at 7 pm. 

Where is it? Meet by Pier 81.  Budget range? A decently-prized casual cruise. Time Out Tip:  Want to catch the Sunset? Set off at 5 pm for an hour-long cruise for views of Manhattan's Upper West Side. Whatever floats your boat. 

Looking for more of a party atmosphere?

The best boat parties in NYC

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The best place to get trashed this summer in NYC is obvious: On a booze cruise!

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10 Best Boat Tours In NYC To Book Right Now

Checking out New York City via the water is the best way to see skyline views, and here's the best tours to book!

With spring officially here and summer looming soon, it’s almost time to get out on NYC waters and explore the city! New York’s two main rivers, the Hudson River and East River are chalk full of incredible boat tours that are simply amazing. The cruises allow you to check out the skyline from every angle, and some even have live entertainment, special meals, and one-of-a-kind events.

If you’re looking for your next adventure to explore NYC the best way—via boat—here’s the best NYC boat tours to book right now.

1. Circle Line’s “Best of NYC” Cruise

This Circle Line boat tour separates itself in a class of it’s own…and there’s a reason it’s number 1 on our list! The 2 hour and 30 minute cruise goes completely around   the island of Manhattan , offering unobstructed views of over 130 of the city’s most iconic landmarks including the  Manhattan skyline ,  Little Island ,  Hudson Yards ,  One World Trade Center ,  Brooklyn Bridge ,  Yankee Stadium , and more! Their boats are state-of-the-art and climate controlled, and they have some of the most knowledgable tour guides in the whole city!

🛥️ Book your tickets to this boat tour here!

2. City Cruises’ Bateaux New York Premier Brunch Cruise

How about a cruise of NYC and a delicious brunch ?! This 2.5 hour cruise (brought to you by City Cruises) includes a chef-prepared 3-course plated brunch on the water with bottomless mimosas , panoramic views of the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty , a live DJ , and so much more! It’s truly an experience that will impress a date, your family, or even your work crew!

3. Liberty Cruise’s Statue of Liberty Tour

The Statue of Liberty is undoubtedly one of our favorite attractions in NYC, and this boat tour will bring you up close and personal with Lady Liberty! With both standard and premium tour options, the 75 minute adventure departs from Pier 36 multiple times per day. If you’re looking for a boat tour with the best view of the Statue of Liberty , go for this option.

4. Manhattan by Sail’s Clipper City Ride

Fancy riding on a boat cruise around NYC in… a sailboat ?! The Clipper City is the largest tall ship in New York City at 158 feet long and has the capacity to bring 134 passengers on a ride! The nostalgic-feeling ride departs from Pier 17 downtown, and takes passengers all around the New York Harbor. They also have special cruises too like sunset jazz cruises, golden hour cocktail sails, wine tasting cruises, and more .

5. Circle Line’s The Beast Speedboat Ride

This Circle Line cruise is for the adrenaline junkies…and it’s a 30 minute speedboat ride through NYC waters like never before. Starting at Pier 83 on the Upper West Side, “The Beast” rips through NYC waters with all kinds of twists, turns, and splashes along the way . The jet-powered thrill ride can get up to 45 mph, and will take you on a whipping and winding tour all the way out to the Statue of Liberty! “The Beast” opens for the 2024 season on May 4th !

6. Circle Line’s Landmarks Cruise

Check off all the landmarks from your bucketlist with this no frills boat tour that starts and ends at Pier 83 in midtown Manhattan. The 90 minute cruise will bring you down the west side, with peeks of Hudson Yards  and  Little Island before wrapping around downtown and heading up the East River. Amenities include an incredible outdoor viewing deck, an onboard café, free Wifi, and more!

7. New York Media Boat’s Private Boat Tour

Live out your luxury dreams with a private boat tour of NYC with New York Media Boat! Their private boat charters come at a steep price, but there’s nothing quite like taking in the 360° NYC views with a hand-selected crew. Rides are typically 60 minutes long and group sizes can range upwards to 12 passengers. Prices for private boat tours range from $550-$1100/ hour based on group size.

8. New York Water Taxi Cruises

New York Water Taxi provides a “hop on, hop off”-type of service that makes it easy for you to sightsee all different parts of NYC as efficiently as possible! Their daily ferry service connects Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Jersey City all together, making it the perfect way to explore the city…and also catch some waterfront views too!

9. Staten Island Ferry

We’re going to let you on our secret little FREE boat tour of NYC …the Staten Island Ferry! The fare-less journey is operated by the New York City Department of Transportation, and runs a 5.2 mile route through the New York Harbor between Manhattan and Staten Island in about 25 minutes . Whether you’re looking to explore a different borough for a day, or want to ride for free on the water, it’s our favorite hidden gem!

10. NYC Ferry

Similarly to the Staten Island Ferry, the NYC Ferry acts almost as subway system via the water! There are 6 routes, as well as one seasonal route, connecting 25 ferry piers across all five boroughs . The fare is $4 per ride and it’s the perfect way to have a do-your-own-boat-tour, especially during the summer! They have an open air deck, a bar on deck, and ports all over the city!

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Cruises from New York

Begin your cruise leaving from new york in an empire state of mind.

From the lights of Times Square to the shops of SoHo, experience the city that never sleeps when you cruise from New York with Princess®. Wave goodbye to the Statue of Liberty as you set sail to Canada & New England or the Caribbean. Our Transatlantic cruises can even take you to the Mediterranean, the British Isles and beyond. Let the allure of the Empire State set the tone for your cruise adventure.

Find the Best Cruises from New York

Canada & New England Cruises

Travel through time as you sail to Canada & New England on a cruise from New York. Walk in the footsteps of Paul Revere, hike through Acadia National Park and indulge in crab cakes and fresh-caught lobster along the way. Bask in the coastal beauty of Prince Edward Island, and spend two days exploring the French influences of Quebec City. With Princess, chronicles of the Northern seaboard await.

Transatlantic Cruises

Relive the golden age of ocean travel on a Transatlantic cruise from New York. Unwind at sea and jump into adventure at each destination. Choose from voyages that take you through the British Isles and the Mediterranean Sea to the Land of Fire and Ice. Or stop by Spain and France on a cruise from New York. Indulge in the best of land and sea with a Transatlantic cruise from Princess.

What to Know About Cruises from NYC

Between the iconic landmarks and the allure of city life, a trip to the Big Apple is a dream in and of itself. Here’s everything to know about cruises from New York.

New York at a glance

• Language:  English
• Currency:  U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Time Zone:  Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Docking:  Your cruise from NYC will depart from Brooklyn. Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Pier 12 (72 Bowne Street, Brooklyn).
• Attire:  We suggest dressing in layers as temperatures fluctuate throughout the year and even throughout the day. This includes a light shirt, sweater and jacket.
• Transportation:  While taxis are available throughout the city, you can also navigate the Big Apple by bus, subway, train, ferry or pedicab. Much of the city can also be seen on foot, or you can rent a Citi bike.

Things to do in NYC

Learn more about the nation’s history at the 9/11 Museum & Memorial or during a visit to Ellis Island. Indulge in international flavors as you travel from Little Italy to Chinatown in just a matter of minutes. Or spend the day shopping in South Street Seaport with the Brooklyn Bridge as your backdrop. Whether you arrive hungry for dinner or adventure, there’s no shortage of choices on a cruise from New York.

Ships that Cruise from New York

Our Princess fleet includes some of the best cruises from New York. Find the comforts of home along with the luxuries you deserve on board any of our ships. Discover what makes our fleet so unique.

Enchanted Princess®

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Travel, Airfare, & Hotels: Let Princess Get You There

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Stress-free airfare

Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled.

EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages.

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We get you where you need to go

Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

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Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative.

Need help planning?

Princess Cruise Vacation Planners are a dedicated resource to help you every step of the way through the planning process of your cruise vacation. And the best part is, they are absolutely FREE!

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Norwegian Brings the New to New York

New ships. New experiences. Cruise from the city that never sleeps and wake up to sandy beaches down south. Treat yourself to some tropical hustle and bustle on a cruise from New York on board a variety of our ships including Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, or Norwegian Epic. Enjoy some sun in The Caribbean , Bahamas & Florida , and Bermuda . Or re-discover the picturesque coast of Canada and New England . Holiday on your timetable with no set dining times. Bid the Big Apple adieu on your way to the next big thing with Norwegian Cruise Line.

New ships. New experiences. Cruise from the city that never sleeps and wake up to sandy beaches down south. Treat yourself to some tropical hustle and bustle on a cruise from New York on board our newest ships, Norwegian Encore or Norwegian Bliss, named one of the World’s Greatest Places by TIME ® . Enjoy some sun in The Caribbean , Bahamas & Florida , and Bermuda . Or re-discover the picturesque coast of Canada and New England . Vacation on your schedule with no set dining times. Bid the Big Apple adieu on your way to the next big thing with Norwegian Cruise Line.

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Explore Our New York CRUISE ITINERARIES

Learn to love your commute when you cruise from New York to some of the top warm weather destinations on board the fleet built for freestyle cruising. Sail to The Caribbean, Bermuda, the Bahamas & Florida on some of our newest and most innovative ships.

The 9 best Bahamas cruises for every type of traveler

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.

The best Bahamas cru ises take you away from the daily grind, transporting you to theme park-like private islands and beach-lined paradises. Cruise choices include new and jazzed-up ships sailing an array of short and weeklong Bahamas itineraries. Cruising to the Bahamas is so easy you may even be able to go without a passport .

Family-friendly lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, offer cruises focused on the Bahamas all year. So do newcomers Virgin Voyages, with its adults-only sailings, and Margaritaville at Sea, offering short two-night hops and longer cruise-and-stay packages. The winter and early spring seasons bring a handful of itineraries on premium lines like Celebrity Cruises and Holland America.

The only cruise lines that don’t regularly offer Bahamas cruises are the luxury lines. But don’t worry, luxe lovers: Many of the ships we included on our list of the best Bahamas cruises offer suites that come with concierge services, private enclaves or special spa privileges. If a luxury cruise to the Bahamas is your goal, look at the top suite options on a mainstream or premium line.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Whether you’re looking for a quick and cheap getaway or a week at the beach, here are the best Bahamas cruise itineraries to start your search, in order from shortest to longest.

2-night cruises on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise from Palm Beach, Florida

Though cruising is relatively new to the Margaritaville travel and hospitality franchise, cruise line Margaritaville at Sea is essentially a rebranding of the old Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Its refurbished ship, Paradise, originally debuted in the 1990s for Costa Cruises.

One Jimmy Buffett-themed makeover later, the ship is a perfect fit for the laid-back vibe of the Bahamas. Grab a drink or a bite to eat from the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, try your luck at the Par-A-Dice Casino and enjoy plenty of entertainment, including the musical production, “Tales from Margaritaville: Jimmy’s Ship Show.” There’s a kids club, a teen club, a spa and two pools stocked with beach balls and inflatable parrots.

The two-night cruise itinerary includes one day in Freeport, where you can shop, hit the casino, enjoy water sports or chill on the beach. The ship offers shore excursions, or you can explore independently. Margaritaville at Sea also offers cruise-and-stay itineraries of either four or six nights (including the two nights onboard the ship). These packages let you choose between two partner hotels in Freeport, where you’ll stay two or four nights on land, then hop back on the ship for your return night at sea.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise carries around 1,300 passengers in an assortment of inside and ocean-view cabins, all around 176 square feet, which is larger than the average for those categories on most mainstream ships. Ten suites with balconies are also available, with 524 square feet of space.

Who should go? Obviously, Parrotheads are gonna want to try this ship, with all its Jimmy Buffett-inspired themes and decor, but it’s also a good trial run for anyone on the fence about cruising. Pricing makes this a great cruise to enjoy an escape without spending a fortune. We found weekday sailings that begin at $99 per person based on double occupancy for an inside cabin.

Related: Best Bahamas cruise tips for first-timers and repeat visitors alike

3- or 4-night cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas from Miami

This itinerary may be the best overall short Bahamas cruise. Both the three- and four-night cruises have stops at Nassau and Royal Caribbean ‘s massive private island — Perfect Day at CocoCay . Those two stops combined give cruisers the opportunity to enjoy water sports, spend some time at the beach and experience a bit of Bahamian culture.

Freedom of the Seas has plenty of onboard fun to occupy travelers of all ages on sea days. It’s loaded with top-deck slides and water features, specialty restaurant choices and more entertainment options than you can take in on a short cruise. Carrying around 4,000 cruise guests, Freedom of the Seas is big enough to impress without being overwhelming.

Plus, logistics for cruising out of Miami are simple enough for even first-time cruisers. From flight choices to pre- or post-cruise hotels, it’s a city that caters to tourists, especially the cruising ones.

Who should go? From first-timers to veteran cruisers, anyone looking for a short but fun-filled hop to the Bahamas should give Freedom of the Seas a look. Families looking for a quick escape will find entertainment and activities for toddlers to teens. The ship is also ideal for family reunions, bachelorette parties and birthday cruises. Couples will love the adults-only Solarium with its extra-large hot tubs looking out over the sea.

Related: Bahamas cruise packing list: What to pack for the islands

3- or 4-night cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida

When Royal Caribbean’ s giant Utopia of the Seas debuts in July 2024, it will offer a bevy of short sailings, including three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida. The 236,860-ton, 5,669-passenger vessel will be the second-largest cruise ship in the world and offer more exciting amenities than any other cruise ship sailing short itineraries in North America.

Why? The newest, biggest ships in the world typically sail longer cruises. Offering short cruises on its humongous Oasis Class ships is new for Royal Caribbean; sister ship Allure of the Seas will test out the concept before Utopia launches.

Families with kids will definitely go bananas over the choices on board the new ship. The top deck alone will feature three separate pool areas, a surfing simulator, a kiddie splash zone, a basketball court, two rock walls, a miniature golf course and even a zip line.

The ship will also boast an extensive selection of restaurants, bars, lounges and shops. Additionally, there will be an indoor skating rink, a spa and a showroom with Broadway-style shows.

Utopia of the Seas’ inaugural voyage is set for July 22, 2024, and will be a four-night cruise to Nassau and the line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. The second sailing will be a three-night cruise to the Bahamas that departs on July 26, 2024.

Who should go?  Short sailings on this new ship will appeal to all sorts of cruisers. Historically, new ships are reserved for longer itineraries, so this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a snack-size sampling of a brand-new ship without spending the money on a longer sailing.

Families craving a quick getaway where the entire brood is satisfied will not be disappointed. In addition to seemingly endless kid-friendly amenities and top-notch children’s programming, Utopia of the Seas will feature a casino and adults-only spaces.

Related: These 2 cruise lines are building new private destinations in the Bahamas

3- or 4-night cruises on Disney Wish from Port Canaveral, Florida

Disney waited a decade to build its next new ship, but Disney dreamers had their wish granted in 2022. Even better, the new Disney Wish cruises to the Bahamas. Designed to be the perfect complement to a visit to Orlando’s Disney theme parks, these short cruises visit Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The four-night itinerary adds a sea day to enjoy the ship.

Disney Wish is designed to immerse cruisers in the various Disney worlds through technology. An onboard augmented reality game turns the Disney Cruise Line Navigator smartphone app into a virtual spyglass that lets cruisers participate in a fantasy adventure with Disney and Pixar characters. The AquaMouse waterslide combines a splashy tube ride in a two-seater raft with a pre-adventure tale told through screens at the beginning of the ride. Diners at the Worlds of Marvel restaurant take part in an interactive Avengers-themed experience through videos and special effects.

Wish carries 4,000 passengers in cabins and suites designed to simplify cruising with kids. But never fear, adult Disney fans; you’ll also find your spot on board. From the “Star Wars”-themed Hyperspace Lounge to the Quiet Cove adults-only sun deck, Disney manages to cater to grownups as well as kids.

Who should go ? This is obviously the best Bahamas cruise for lovers of all things Disney, including “Star Wars” and Marvel fans.

Related: Best shore excursions for Bahamas cruises

3- or 4-night cruises on Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Beginning in April 2024, Celebrity Cruises will sail three- and four-night voyages round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, year-round.

The 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection will offer a consistent rotation of three-night weekend cruises (departing each Friday and returning each Monday morning) and four-night weekday sailings (departing each Monday and returning each Friday morning).

Itineraries will include stops at Key West in Florida and Nassau and Bimini in the Bahamas.

Celebrity appeals mostly to the 40-plus set sans small children. It’s light on the kid-centric attractions (such as waterslides, go-karts and laser tag) that other big-ship lines include. The line offers instead lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas. (If you do have kids in tow, you can take advantage of the extensive children’s program, Camp at Sea. It provides supervised activities daily for children ages 3-12 in dedicated spaces.)

Celebrity Reflection is the line’s last and largest Solstice Class cruise ship. The Solstice C lass ships feature some of the most stylish outdoor pool decks at sea, with indoor, adults-only pool areas that, notably, are topped with glass panels embedded with solar panels that contribute to the ship’s power grid. You’ll also find large spas, casinos, showrooms and a nice selection of restaurants on board.

This ship also boasts one of the most spectacular suites in the cruising world — the 1,646-square-foot Reflection Suite. It was the first two-bedroom suite on a Celebrity Cruises vessel.

Who should go? This an ideal cruise for older travelers who are new to cruising and want to sample one or frequent cruisers who might prefer a shorter time at sea. Although Celebrity doesn’t draw many families with young children, the shorter Bahamas itineraries are also perfect for multigenerational family groups seeking an affordable cruise that appeals to all ages.

4-night cruises on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady from Miami

Virgin Voyages aimed to be a disrupter in the cruise market from the beginning — creating a product designed to please even those who claim they would never set foot on a cruise ship. Yet the itinerary for this four-night Bahamas cruise on Scarlet Lady is fairly ordinary. Ports of call include Key West and a private beach club on the Bahamian island of Bimini.

It’s the ship itself that sets this cruise apart from the pack. You’ll find unique cabins (with balcony hammocks), brash red livery and one-of-a-kind onboard activities, such as tattoo parlors, drag shows and ‘80s-themed fitness classes, to keep its 2,700 sailors (as Virgin calls its passengers) entertained.

Who should go ? This is the best Bahamas cruise for the non-cruiser who is either young at heart or young and eager to party aboard this glitzy ship. If you’re easily offended by loud music, round-the-clock partying or sexual innuendo, this is not your Bahamas cruise.

4-day cruises on Norwegian Jade from Miami

Norwegian Cruise Line offers four-day sailings from Miami aboard Norwegian Jade. Ports of call include Key West and Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s private island.

Port diversions consist of touring the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum and the Key West Aquarium, shopping along Nassau’s Bay Street and exploring the white-sand beaches and pristine waters on Great Stirrup Cay.

The 2,402-passenger vessel is part of the line’s Jewel class of ships. Though the ship launched in 2006, it received a substantial refurbishment in 2017 that included a cabin remodel, new and expanded dining and a design overhaul.

Norwegian Jewel might not have the extensive top-deck attractions of newer ships, like Norwegian Prima, or as many restaurants and bars. However, passengers will find plenty to occupy their time onboard with scheduled activities, a casino, spa and pool areas.

Who should go? Families, couples and friend groups will appreciate the unstructured nature of a Norwegian cruise. The line’s “freestyle cruising” mantra — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — is perfectly suited for short sailings. With a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times, passengers have lots of flexibility for their limited time at sea.

Related: Best time to cruise to the Bahamas

5-night cruises on Carnival Sunshine from South Carolina

I am a huge lover of five-night sailings. They are long enough to scratch the cruise itch and short enough to account for travel time to and from the port without adding any extra vacation days. Plus, the slightly longer itineraries are less popular with hard partiers who can be disruptive on shorter Bahamas cruises.

Carnival Cruise Line offers 10 different five-night sailings from Charleston, South Carolina, aboard the 3,002-passenger Carnival Sunshine. It’s currently Carnival’s oldest ship (it debuted in 1996 under the name Carnival Destiny). However, in 2013, the line gave it a $200 million bow-to-stern glow-up and renamed it Carnival Sunshine. The overhaul produced a new top-deck WaterWorks water park, a comedy club and several bars, lounges and restaurants.

Depending on which itinerary you choose, you can chill out on the beaches of Bimini, shop Nassau’s iconic straw market or go horseback riding by the shore of Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay. Consider a pre- or post-cruise stay in Charleston to take in the city’s historic landmarks, epic dining and charming cobblestone streets.

Who should go? These cruises are the best Bahamas sailings for those who prefer the intimacy of an older ship and don’t care about flashy amenities and onboard attractions on newer vessels. Plus, they’re ideal for travelers who live north of Florida and are looking for a more convenient drive-to departure port.

8-night cruises on Carnival Venezia from New York City

The 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia is a bit of an outlier in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. Originally built for Italy-based Costa Cruises and launched in 2019, it joined the Carnival family in May 2023. (Carnival Corporation is the parent company of both Costa and Carnival.)

The ship was renovated to add many of Carnival’s signature venues. However, many of its Costa-aligned, Italian-themed designs remain, including a real gondola “sailing” down the middle of its main dining room and a pool deck built to look like a Venetian boulevard.

Guests might feel like they’ve been whisked away to Italy thanks to regional touches like the handmade Italian gelato at JavaBlue Cafe and the Italian liqueur-infused concoctions found at many bars.

Two eight-night voyages out of New York City include stops at Freeport, Nassau and Half Moon Cay.

Who should go? This Bahamas cruise is ideal for anyone looking for a different Carnival experience during a weeklong cruise. It’s almost like traveling to Italy and the Bahamas in one trip.

Bottom line

The best Bahamas cruises offer something cruisers can’t quite get enough of — whether it’s beach time or party time. While short sailings are still the most popular Bahamas itineraries, you can find options for almost every cruising style. The key is identifying the cruise that fits your style, preferred activities and vacation budget.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Israel Reports Light Damage After Iran Launches Large Strike

Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel overnight. The U.S. military shot dozens of them down, but most were intercepted by Israel’s military.

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Aaron Boxerman ,  Ronen Bergman ,  Farnaz Fassihi and Eric Schmitt

Here are the latest developments.

Iran mounted an immense aerial attack on Israel on Saturday night, launching more than 300 drones and missiles in retaliation for a deadly Israeli airstrike in Syria two weeks ago, and marking a significant escalation in hostilities between the two regional foes.

The strikes caused only minor damage to one Israeli military base, and most of the airborne threats were intercepted, Israeli military officials said. The United States said it had helped to shoot dozens of drones and missiles .

But the large-scale attack, aimed at targets inside Israel and the territory it controls, opened a volatile new chapter in the long-running shadow war between Iran and Israel.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said in a statement broadcast on state television that it had launched “dozens of drones and missiles” toward Israel from Iran “in reaction to the Zionist regime’s crimes.” It later said on social media that it had hit military targets in Israel, warned the United States against getting involved, and threatened more strikes if Iran or its interests were hit.

Here’s what we know:

A total of 12 people were brought in to the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel overnight, according to a hospital spokeswoman, Inbar Gutter.

One of the areas targeted was the Golan Heights, a strategic area bordering Syria that Israel annexed nearly 60 years ago. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia backed by Iran, said it had fired dozens of rockets at an Israeli barracks there. But it was not immediately clear if that bombardment was part of the wider Iranian attack.

In the hours after the attacks, as Iranians gathered in Tehran to celebrate them, more air-raid sirens sounded across vast swaths of southern Israel, the West Bank and Golan Heights. The Israeli government also sent out warnings about possible missiles arriving in the Negev Desert, where there are several military bases. And the airspaces of Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon were closed .

President Biden cut short a weekend at his vacation home in Delaware to huddle with his national security team. He also spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting at 4 p.m. on Sunday to discuss Iran’s attacks on Israel, the council’s president said. Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, had requested the meeting.

Gabby Sobelman

In Israel this morning, the domestic news media is airing footage of operations at Ben Gurion Airport, outside Tel Aviv, and of jets returning to an air base in the Negev Desert that the Israeli military says suffered light damage in the Iranian attack. Television anchors are suggesting the footage is a sign that the country is returning to normal.

Airspace closures that went into effect in Israel and Lebanon on Saturday have now expired, and commercial flights have resumed from Tel Aviv, according to Flightradar24, a flight-tracking site. The airspaces of Iraq and Jordan are scheduled to reopen later this morning.

Cassandra Vinograd

A total of 12 people were brought in to the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel overnight, according to a hospital spokeswoman, Inbar Gutter. One — a 7-year-old girl — was seriously injured by missile fragments, taken to the operating room, and is currently in intensive care. Eight other people were treated for minor injuries from shrapnel or running for shelter, while three people were brought in for anxiety.

Isabel Kershner

In his first public response to the overnight Iranian assault, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X on Sunday morning: “We intercepted. We blocked. Together we will win.”

Nearly 99 percent of the aerial threats launched at Israel on Saturday were intercepted, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman for the military, said during televised remarks. He added that the Nevatim air force base in the Negev desert in southern Israel suffered only light damage and was functioning. “Iran thought it would paralyze the base,” Rear Admiral Hagari said. “It failed.”

Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, warned in a televised statement early Sunday that the confrontation with Iran “is not over yet.” He praised the militaries of Israel and the United States for blocking the Iranian attack, said the defense against the Iranian assault was “a most impressive achievement.”

Israel’s military said its fighter jets struck a number of targets early Sunday in a complex belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces in southern Lebanon. Israeli warplanes struck additional Hezbollah structures during the night, the military said, after Hezbollah sent two explosive drones into Israeli territory on Saturday.

Eric Schmitt

The U.S. defense secretary, a former top Army general, condemned the “reckless and unprecedented attacks” by Iran and its proxies in nearby countries, and he called on Tehran to halt any further strikes. “We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel,” he said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said late Saturday that U.S. forces had intercepted “dozens” of missiles and attack drones launched at Israel from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The U.S. military is ready to protect U.S. troops and Israel, he said.

Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the attack on Israel was a “defensive measure” that shows its “responsible approach toward regional and international peace and security.” The aerial assault has drawn condemnation from Israel’s allies and warnings that it risked further escalation in the Middle East.

The Israeli military said in a statement before dawn that its chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, was conducting a situational assessment at military headquarters in Tel Aviv with commanders of the air force as well as the military’s operations and intelligence directorates to discuss the events of the last few hours “as well as plans for the continuation.” No more details were provided.

As dawn broke at about 5:30 a.m., Israeli war planes could be heard in the skies above Jerusalem.

Michael D. Shear

President Biden said he will convene a meeting of the G7 leaders on Sunday to develop what he called “a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.”

President Biden said American military forces helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles during the attacks Saturday, and said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that the United States will continue to help defend their ally .

Jin Yu Young

The U.N. Security Council will meet on Sunday at 4 p.m. to discuss the situation in the Middle East, said Vanessa Frazier, the president of the Security Council.

Following a letter received from @IsraelinUN ,the Maltese Presidency of the #UNSC has scheduled an open emergency meeting of the Council tomorrow at 4pm under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East” to consider the drone & missile attack by #Iran on #Israel @MFETMalta — Vanessa Frazier 🧡 (@_VanessaFrazier) April 14, 2024

Yara Bayoumy

Two Israeli officials say Iran launched 185 drones and 36 cruise missiles. Most of the launches were from Iran, though a small portion came from Iraq and Yemen. Iran also launched 110 surface-to-surface missiles.

Gaya Gupta and Emma Bubola

The U.S. intercepts dozens of Iranian drones and missiles, a show of commitment to Israel.

The U.S. military said that it had shot down dozens of the drones and missiles that Iran fired at Israel on Saturday, a strong demonstration that despite recent criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, Washington was firmly committed to protecting a key ally from Iran, a mutual adversary.

President Biden said that the United States had “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” in part thanks to aircraft and military ships the Pentagon had moved to the region in the past week.

While Mr. Biden has grown increasingly vocal in his frustration with Israel’s military offensive in Gaza — calling its bombardment there “indiscriminate” and saying that Israel has not done enough to protect Palestinian civilians — he has maintained that when it comes to Iran, the United States’ commitment to Israel is “ironclad.”

“We will support Israel and help defend Israel,” he said, “and Iran will not succeed.”

The United States has consistently affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, and it has also directly intervened militarily against attacks from Iran’s proxy forces, including the Houthi militia based in Yemen .

This year, the U.S. military carried out strikes against Iranian forces and allied militias in Syria and Iraq in response to a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. And in 2020, the United States killed a top Iranian commander , Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, with a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that Britain had helped defend Israel against the Iranian attack, saying that Britain’s air force had shot down “a number of Iranian attack drones” and would now work with allies to de-escalate tensions. “What we now need is for calm heads to prevail,” Mr. Sunak told the BBC on Sunday.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, said that Israel had intercepted most of the 200 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles launched by Iran with “some assistance” from its allies. “Over the past six months, we have been operating in close coordination with our partners,” he said, adding, “This partnership has always been robust, but last night it was exceptionally evident.”

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, also condemned Iran’s attack and affirmed support for Israel, writing in a post on X that France was committed “to the security of Israel, our partners, and regional stability.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, a country that last week had to defend itself against accusations that its arms sales to Israel were abetting genocide in Gaza , called Iran’s attacks “unjustifiable and highly irresponsible.”

“Germany stands by Israel and we will discuss the situation with our allies,” he said in a statement on social media.

The cabinet of Jordan, a staunch critic of Israel’s war effort in Gaza, said on Sunday that its military had shot down aircraft and missiles that entered its airspace during the Iranian attack.

Eric Schmitt , Patrick Kingsley and Farnaz Fassihi contributed reporting.

“If Iran’s objective was to punish and isolate Israel, it appears to have fallen well short of that objective,” said Dana Stroul, formerly the Pentagon’s top Middle East policy official who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The U.S. and Israeli militaries were able to defend against a complex attack, Stroul said. “Given how significant this attack was, it is difficult to see how Israel cannot respond.”

Christiaan Triebert and Hiba Yazbek

The Times verified the authenticity of several photos and videos showing debris, likely from a missile, in a residential area of Amman, the Jordanian capital. The Times has not been able to identify whether the debris is part of an Iranian missile or an Israeli or Jordanian interceptor missile. Several missiles appear to have been intercepted in the skies above Jordan, according to earlier footage .

Two senior U.S. officials say the preliminary assessment is that the damage to Israel was relatively limited given the scale of the attack.

Farnaz Fassihi

In Tehran, several hundred supporters of the Iranian government gathered in the middle of the night at Palestine Square and in front of Tehran University to celebrate the attacks on Israel, according to witnesses and state media. The crowd chanted “death to Israel” as fireworks went off and praised the commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps for carrying out the attacks.

Alissa J. Rubin

What is the Golan Heights?

One of the areas targeted in Israel during Saturday’s attacks was the Golan Heights, a strategic area bordering Syria that Israel annexed nearly 60 years ago.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia backed by Iran, said in a statement just after midnight that it had fired dozens of rockets at an Israeli barracks in the Golan Heights. It was not immediately clear if that bombardment was part of the wider Iranian attack on Israel.

The Golan Heights has routinely seen conflict since Israel seized it during the 1967 six-day war, occupied it and then annexed much of it in 1981 .

The annexed portion, encompassing nearly 500 square miles, was and remains a militarily strategic perch for Israeli forces, giving them a vantage point and proximity to two of Jerusalem’s chief adversaries: Syria and Lebanon, and especially the armed group Hezbollah, which has forces along the nearby southern and southeastern Lebanese border.

Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights has never been recognized internationally by the United Nations, which condemned i t at the time. When President Donald J. Trump was in power, he said that the United States should recognize the land as Israel’s, but the move was condemned internationally and carried primarily symbolic weight.

Both Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, and armed groups in Syria that are similarly Iranian backed have used the areas along the Lebanese and Syrian borders with the Golan Heights to fire rockets and missiles at Israel.

Iranian officials have signaled that they are looking for a way to deter Israel from another strike like the April 1 bombing in Damascus that killed seven officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and precipitated Iran’s efforts to avenge those deaths by striking Israel.

However, Iranian leaders in private and more obliquely in public have signaled that they do not want to escalate the war, according to Iranian advisers in Tehran and senior security officials in Iraq who are closely allied with Tehran.

That is one reason why Iran might choose to target the Golan Heights. While Israel considers it to be within its borders, internationally it is viewed as Syrian land occupied by Israel. That allows Iran to claim that they are not striking Israel directly — something Israeli leaders have warned them would provoke damaging strikes inside Iran.

A strike on the Golan Heights could also seen by Tehran as a commensurate way to avenge Israel’s strike in Damascus in the same place — or at least the same country.

Israel evacuated Israelis from the Golan Heights area closest to the Lebanese border soon after the war in Gaza began because of cross-border attacks and counterattacks involving Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

The largely desert area now has several Israeli military bases and elsewhere it is relatively thinly populated, with more people in the southern areas, which are better for farming. Once Israel occupied it, the Arab farmers mostly fled and Israel has created a number of settlements there.

Of the more than 50,000 people who live there, barely half are Syrian Druze; almost all the rest are Israeli Jews, who have settled in the area with the government’s support, much as they have in the West Bank.

Euan Ward contributed reporting.

Michael D. Shear ,  Aaron Boxerman and Eric Schmitt

Biden returns to White House as Israel braces for Iranian aerial strikes.

The spokeswoman for the National Security Council at the White House confirmed Saturday evening that Iran had launched what she called “an airborne attack” against Israel and vowed that the United States would help Israel defend itself.

“President Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House,” Adrienne Watson, the spokeswoman, said in a statement.

“This attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours,” she added. “President Biden has been clear: Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”

The statement came as Mr. Biden headed back to the White House Saturday afternoon, cutting short a weekend trip to his vacation home in Rehoboth, Del.

Officials said the president would convene a meeting of his top national security aides in the Situation Room at the White House amid reports from the Middle East that Iran had deployed dozens of drones headed toward Israel.

Earlier in the day, Iranian forces had seized a container ship with links to Israel in the Persian Gulf, as leaders in the Middle East and beyond watched for a sign that Iran had begun an anticipated attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s airstrike in Damascus on April 1 that killed several Iranian military officers.

In Washington, Ms. Watson called on Iran to release the vessel and its crew immediately.

“Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” she said in an earlier statement. “It must be condemned unequivocally, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions.”

At the same time, the U.S. secretary of defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, spoke with Israel’s minister of defense, Yoav Gallant, to discuss urgent regional threats and reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel’s defense, the Pentagon’s spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said.

Mr. Austin made clear that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend itself against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies.

“In recent days we have strengthened our defensive and offensive array and we are determined to take any measures required to defend the citizens of the State of Israel,” Mr. Gallant said in a statement.

In Israel, there were signs the country was girding for the expected Iranian assault; the Israeli government barred educational activities, including schools and the youth-movement hiking trips patronized by Israeli teenagers during the Passover holiday. Gatherings were limited to fewer than 1,000 people in most of the country for at least the next two days, the Israeli military’s Home Front Command announced.

Hiba Yazbek and Abu Bakr Bashir

The Israeli military shifts its focus to the central Gaza Strip.

Less than a week after withdrawing ground troops from southern Gaza, the Israeli military has shifted its focus to the central Gaza Strip, where its forces were operating for the third day on Saturday and residents and Palestinian media reported heavy bombardments and intense fighting.

The Israeli military announced on Thursda y that it had begun a “precise operation” in the central Gaza Strip, saying it had carried out airstrikes ahead of its ground troops raiding the area. It added that the Israeli navy had conducted several strikes along the coastline to assist the ground troops.

Residents and Palestinian media said that the Israeli attack seemed to center on the Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir al-Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip near a narrow Israeli-controlled corridor that splits northern Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the territory.

Though Nuseirat began as a refugee camp for displaced Palestinians in the 1940s, it has been built up over the decades into an urban community.

Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, reported intense Israeli air raids on Nuseirat for a third consecutive day on Saturday. The Israeli military said in a statement that its troops were continuing their operation in central Gaza and that they had destroyed Hamas “infrastructure” in the area over the last day.

Khalil Farid, 57, who lives in the Nuseirat refugee camp, said in a text-message exchange on Friday that bombing and shelling had not stopped since the Israeli attack began Thursday afternoon. “The army gave no warning of this operation,” he said, adding that “no leaflets were dropped, and no one was told where to go or what to do.”

Mr. Farid said that the fighting appeared to be mostly in the northern part of the New Camp, one of the neighborhoods of Nuseirat where he is staying with nine other family members at his brother’s apartment. “We are all sitting in the living room praying and waiting for our fate,” he said.

Mr. Farid said that after fleeing to the city of Rafah in the south, he and his family had returned to central Gaza because it seemed that the situation in Rafah was not much safer. “Where will we and the others go? There are too many people here,” he said.

The United Nations office for humanitarian affairs said on Friday that three Palestinians were reportedly killed and others were injured when a U.N. school housing displaced people in Nuseirat camp was hit.

The Palestinian civil defense in Gaza said that its rescue crews had received “dozens of distress calls” after an Israeli strike on the school killed and wounded several people, adding that it was unable to evacuate the casualties because it was too dangerous to enter the area.

TRT, the national public broadcaster of Turkey, said on Friday that a cameraman and correspondent were wounded when a group of journalists reporting from Nuseirat were hit by Israeli tank fire. CNN also said that a freelance reporter working for the network was lightly injured in the same attack.

Hamas said in a statement on Friday that the Nuseirat camp, which was “crowded with displaced people from various regions of the strip,” was under “a barbaric attack” that resulted “in dozens of martyrs and wounded.”

Christopher F. Schuetze

Iran seizes a commercial ship linked to Israel.

Iranian forces seized a container ship with links to Israel in the Persian Gulf on Saturday, as leaders in the Middle East and beyond watched for a retaliatory strike by Iran against Israel.

MSC, a major shipping company, said on Saturday that the MSC Aries, which is registered in Portugal, had been boarded by “Iranian authorities” via helicopter as it passed the Strait of Hormuz.

A video shared by Iranian state media showed a military helicopter hovering above what appeared to be the stern of the ship, with at least two soldiers descending a rope onto the deck.

The soldiers were part of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, according to IRNA, the state news agency.

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, called on Iran to release the vessel and its crew immediately.

“Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” she said in a statement. “It must be condemned unequivocally, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions.”

Though it is operated by MSC, the 1,200-foot cargo vessel belongs to an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, which is part of the Zodiac Group, owned by the Israel-born billionaire Eyal Ofer, making it a possible target for Iranian retaliation. Tehran has vowed a retaliatory strike after blaming Israel for an attack on an Iranian embassy building in Syria that killed 12 people, among them top military generals.

Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign affairs minister, confirmed the seizure on social media and said Iran’s leadership was “a criminal regime that supports Hamas’ crimes and is now conducting a pirate operation in violation of international law.”

Six months after the Hamas attack on Israel that started the war in Gaza, the seizure comes amid fears of a wider conflict involving Iran directly. Iran is a backer of Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, but has so far stayed clear of direct involvement. On Friday, President Biden said that he expected Iran to launch a retaliatory attack “sooner than later,” and reiterated that the United States remained committed to the defense of Israel.

It was not immediately clear if the seizure of the ship was part of Iran’s promised response to the attack in Syria, but it was not the first time Iran had directly seized a commercial vessel. In January, Iran’s navy seized a tanker loaded with oil off the coast of Oman. In that seizure, soldiers also descended from a hovering helicopter.

Before the war in Gaza, the United States said that Iran had “harassed, attacked or interfered” with more than a dozen internationally flagged merchant ships in recent years.

For their part, the Houthis have disrupted a significant part of the world’s shipping by attacking dozens of vessels heading to or from the Suez Canal.

The MSC Aries had 25 crew members on board, according to its operator.

Aaron Boxerman

reporting from Jerusalem

The death of a 14-year-old further inflames tensions in the West Bank.

An Israeli teenager whose disappearance had led to riots by Israeli settlers in the West Bank was found dead on Saturday, the Israeli authorities said, threatening to further inflame tensions in the Israeli-occupied territory.

Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians were wounded during clashes at several locations across the West Bank later on Saturday, the Israeli military said in a statement. Israeli extremists stormed at least two villages in the territory, attempting to burn Palestinian property and clashing with residents, according to Palestinian witnesses.

Binyamin Achimair, 14, had left a farming settlement in the West Bank to herd sheep on Friday morning, but never returned, according to the Israeli police. The Israeli forces later found his corpse, and the military said, without providing evidence, that he had been “murdered in a terrorist attack.”

After Binyamin’s disappearance on Friday, armed Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village near Ramallah, torching several buildings and cars, according to Palestinian officials and Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group. One Palestinian man — Jihad Abu Aliya — was killed during the clashes and at least 25 others wounded, according to the village mayor, Amin Abu Aliya.

Binyamin’s death and the possibility of further Israeli reprisals could ratchet up violence in the West Bank, where roughly 500,000 Israeli settlers live alongside about 2.7 million Palestinians. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 sparked Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to the United Nations.

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it would bolster its forces in the West Bank with additional companies and police.

The Israeli mob assaults returned on Saturday in both Al Mughayir and Duma, a nearby Palestinian village, according to an Israeli security official and Palestinian witnesses. Israeli settlers, some of them armed, entered the villages, the official added, and there were reports that they had opened fire.

In Duma, the attackers “covered the entire village,” some of them armed, said Naser Dawabsheh, a village resident. They set several buildings and cars ablaze, sending a cloud of dense smoke overhead, he added. Israeli soldiers “didn’t disperse the settlers, they protected them and fired tear gas at anyone who approached,” he said.

The clashes on Saturday in Al Mughayir left at least three Palestinians wounded, one critically, the Palestinian health ministry said.

“There’s no order, there’s no safety,” said Na’asan Na’asan, 28, a resident of Al Mughayir. “They’re shooting at us — why isn’t there anyone to protect us?”

A veteran Israeli photojournalist, Shaul Golan, 74, said in an interview that Israeli settlers also caught and beat him, before destroying his equipment, after he tried to film them in Al Mughayir. Some of them were masked, while others were wearing Israeli military uniforms, he added.

“I begged the soldiers there to help me, to save me,” said Mr. Golan. “But then I realized that they weren’t really soldiers — they were working with them.”

The Biden administration has said Israel must do more to clamp down on violence by extremist Israeli settlers, and it has imposed sanctions on several whom it said were involved in attacks on Palestinians. Israeli leaders denounced that move as interference in the country’s internal affairs.

As Israeli troops and police officers searched for Binyamin on Friday afternoon, armed Israeli settlers burst into Al Mughayir, setting buildings and cars on fire, said Mr. Abu Aliya. In video circulated by Yesh Din, smoke can be seen billowing from some burning cars and buildings.

In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel decried Binyamin’s “heinous murder” and vowed that Israel would “close accounts” with whoever killed him. He did not explicitly mention the settler rampages, instead telling the Israeli public to “allow the security forces to conduct their work unmolested” as they investigate the killing.

Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition, similarly condemned the teenager’s murder. But he also denounced the settler attacks, saying “the violent riots by settlers are a dangerous violation of the law, and they are hampering the forces operating on the ground.”

The Israeli military confirmed that multiple “violent riots” had taken place in the area during the search efforts on Friday. At one point, “rocks were hurled” at Israeli soldiers, leading them to open fire in response, the Israeli military said. The Israeli police and soldiers had also removed Israeli settlers who had entered Al Mughayir, the military said.

Israeli soldiers were in the area “even before the settlers arrived,” Mr. Na’asan said, but did not block them from entering the village and torching buildings and cars. It was not immediately clear how Jihad Abu Aliya, the village resident, was killed.

Human rights groups have long charged that the Israeli authorities do not do enough to prevent violent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, and that the perpetrators are rarely arrested. An Israeli police spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment as to whether any Israelis had been arrested during the incident.

Last February, an attack by Israeli settlers devastated the Palestinian town of Huwara in the northern West Bank. At least one Palestinian was killed and 390 were wounded in the riot, according to Palestinian officials, in which Israelis burned a number of buildings and cars while terrified Palestinians fled burning homes.

President Biden vows to stand by Israel despite recent disagreements.

President Biden told reporters on Friday that he expected Iran to launch an attack on Israel “sooner than later” as a response to Israel’s killing of several top Iranian generals in a bombing in Syria two weeks ago.

Mr. Biden said he needed to be careful not to reveal classified information being collected by intelligence and military officials as they braced for an attack they believed was imminent. And he had a blunt, succinct answer when he was asked what his message to Iran was.

“Don’t,” he said.

Officials in the United States and other nations are engaged in a furious diplomatic effort to try to prevent a response from Iran that could spiral into a wider war. But Mr. Biden and his top aides have made it clear that their disagreement with Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip would not prevent the United States from defending Israel against attacks from other adversaries.

“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House after a speech to the National Action Network. “We will support Israel and help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”

He did not specify what actions the United States might take.

John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said earlier on Friday that the administration was taking the threat of an attack seriously.

“We are certainly mindful of a very public — and what we consider to be a very credible — threat made by Iran in terms of potential attacks on Israel,” he said. “We are in constant communication with our Israeli counterparts about making sure that they can defend themselves against those kinds of attacks.”

Mr. Kirby said the U.S. military was making adjustments to its force deployments in the Middle East to be ready in case an attack occurred, but he declined to be specific about those changes.

“We’re also clearly — it would be imprudent if we didn’t — taking a look at our own posture in the region, to make sure that we’re more properly prepared as well,” he said.

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