Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises - Midtown — Attraction in New York

To be honest, most of the crews was really wonderful. It was a well narrated trip down the Hudson, with an above average house band playing polka and German songs, as well as some usual crowd-pleasing favorites on brass. The trip was to Bear Mountain and it was a nod to Octoberfest, so the views were spectacular. Even though the weather was a little bit drab when we started out, the few times the Sun peaked through it lit up the full foliage in full bloom. When we reached Bear Mountain, the sky was mostly blue and a hike around the mountain was quite pleasant. So one problem we encountered was the path from the boat to Bear Mountain State Park was flooded. The only way around that was to climb over a very low fence and to walk across active train tracks. When the train came through it was very noticeable, they would blow the horn well before getting near the park, so there was little danger that anyone would be struck. Plus it was a freight train so it was moving rather slowly. The problem was not everyone was physically able to take the alternate route over the fence, so many who had planned on enjoying the trip were stuck. Someone on the crew said they had been there the day before and it formed the tour guide that it would be necessary to climb over the train tracks, he wasn't even informed of that. Nor did he make it clear what someone wishing to tour around the mountains was in for. I understand that circle line cannot control mother nature, but there are many ways to ameliorate the flooding, a small portable pump that was gas powered would have done it in less than 5 minutes. Even a clear explanation of the problem would have allowed people who didn't want to deal with it to stay on the boat and enjoy the scenery from there. The other problem I found more insidious and inexcusable. They offered for $39 a so-called bottomless Stein of beer. This was a plastic pint glass, maybe a little more than a pint, and the point was that you could get refills for the whole trip. $40 to me plus tax and tip seems a little high, you'd have to have at least four beers to break even. But that's not the problem. As soon as the boat left the dock to return to Manhattan, I was informed that the beer keg was empty. After only one refill, I was done. I had planned on enjoying the trip back with at least one or two more steins which is why I purchased the refill option. Not having a sufficient amount of beer on the way back on a cruise that wasn't even completely filled up to me is cheating. You say unlimited refills with a little asterix and then you say while supplies last and then you say and they won't last very long, nobody would pick that option obviously. But many did pick it, and there were many people waving their steins around and getting no refills. They did have one other less desirable beer still available, but it was a dark and very strong beer and certainly not something I would have wanted to fill my beer mug with. I don't know if they did this on purpose to save money, or this was purely an accident, but I would have expected them to offer refunds to people who wanted more beer and...

Initially, we were really upset. We paid for premier tickets and showed up two minutes after "opening" (43 minutes before our 7pm boat departure) only to find that the majority of seats were already taken. (We did find a person in a "red shirt" and they handed us beautiful full color collector books and bypassed the line to get us onboard quickly). However, there weren't even seats in the same row for our family of 4. We ended up on the aisle with our kids in front of us. I was just baffled how our tickets stated to arrive no more than 45 minutes early but all of these people had boarded before us. It didn't make any sense until the boat left at 6:40pm and I saw another one sitting next to us. I am wondering if there were 6:30 and 7pm departures and the staff put us on the wrong boat? So in the first 20 minutes, I was seething. While we could see everything, there was no way to get a decent picture without someone's head in the way. I convinced myself to just enjoy it and not worry about the pictures. Alexis did an amazing job as our guide and the people next to us by the windows ended up leaving to go outside, so I got my amazing pictures after all! They do a great job allowing both sides equal viewing so you don't have people running back and forth. The premier seats were comfortable and not packed as tightly as the regular seats outside. Luckily, we ended up in the back by the open window, so our pictures were as good as if we had been outside. It ended up being an amazing experience, but if the people hadn't moved that were sitting by the window, I would have been asking the staff if they put us on the wrong boat since we arrived early with the intention of getting good seats. (Or maybe the line starts forming way before 45 minutes and we were actually late to the party?...if that's the case, somehow everyone knew that except us and I should have researched more). Either way, premier is worth it if you arrive early enough to pick your seat or if you're just there for the experience and don't need the pictures, it is easy to see everything. Recommend the Harbor Lights tour it was both beautiful and...

Embarking on the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise in New York City promised a delightful experience, showcasing the city's iconic landmarks while cruising along its majestic waterways. While the tour itself offered breathtaking views and engaging insights into the city's history and architecture, there was one aspect that detracted from an otherwise fantastic experience.

The Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise provided an amazing opportunity to explore the city's skyline and famous landmarks, all while enjoying the gentle breeze and panoramic views from the comfort of the boat. It was particularly enjoyable for families with small children, offering a unique perspective of the city's bustling waterfront and iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and One World Trade Center.

However, what dampened the experience was the occasional insertion of unnecessary political opinions by the tour guide. While the guide's knowledge of the city's history and landmarks was commendable, veering into political commentary detracted from the overall enjoyment of the tour, especially for families with young children who may not have been expecting or interested in such discussions.

Despite this drawback, the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise remains a top-notch option for city sightseeing, especially for families with small kids. The convenience of seeing multiple attractions from the water, coupled with informative narration about New York City's rich history, makes it a memorable experience for visitors of all ages.

In conclusion, while the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise offers an amazing opportunity to explore New York City's iconic landmarks and waterfront, potential visitors should be aware of the possibility of unnecessary political commentary during the tour. Nonetheless, for families looking for a unique and scenic way to experience the city, this cruise remains a...