Pier 16 — Local services in New York

The whole day was a chaos, from the boat being late and having to wait for more than 3 and a half hours with a year and a half old, who bless her heart I think actually handled it better than we did, only to get on finally our boat without an explanation that no one could order drinks yet do to your Wi-Fi not being set up and turned on yet and without being offered even water, right down to being told she couldn't have a plate of food or even just an empty plate to share my food (May I inform you that we paid for the upgraded ticket more than a general admission ticket under the disguise of a buffet only to be sadly disappointed that it was not and the food burnt and hard... The whole kicker of the night was that we spent over $500 to spend our first Fourth of July as a family together on the water to watch the fireworks to find out we couldn't even leave the pier until they were already done. Now almost a month later and empire Cruise will not answer our phone calls reimbursement for purchasing a what should have been a once in a lifetime memorable moment for the ages and sadly we were robbed out of and forced to live our worst nightmare instead. Again the baby was the best part of the whole day and she had more fun than I think any of the adults on the boat, but the pure itself was absolutely beautiful...

We took the 50-minute Liberty Super Express Cruise from Pier 16 at South Street Seaport on a cloudy Thursday evening. Despite the light drizzle, the weather added a cozy, moody vibe to the trip. The boat ride was smooth and exciting, with the waves making it feel like a fun motorboat adventure. 

Our guide was engaging and informative, pointing out landmarks like the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. The views were stunning, and the overcast sky gave the city a unique charm. We considered the 90-minute sunset cruise but felt the 50-minute tour was perfect—concise yet comprehensive.

Tickets were $28 per person, totaling $135 for our group of five, including taxes. The experience was well worth it, offering a memorable perspective of New York’s iconic sights. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to see the city’s landmarks...

We were lied to by the guy that sold us our tickets to go to the statue of liberty. He was wearing a red jacket and selling tickets by the line where you would buy your ticket to go on the boat to Ellis island. He told us it would be a 3 hour wait and with him it would be instant. A little bit of advice, don't fall for it. He told us we would be able to get off the boat, walk on Ellis island, then we would go to the immigration museum, then we would head back... all lies. Purchase your tickets ahead of time online and read!! We didn't do any planning when we went and we got got. Don't let this happen to you. Do NOT buy tickets from those people selling them with the jackets/ vests, they are a rip off. The pier itself was not bad, there are vendors there, hot dog stands, and a building you can go into with cool places...