07/24/08

Fun for locals and visitors

by SonjaBegonia

I grew up in NYC and don't usually do "tourist" activities, but the Circle Line Downtown is really awesome. I took some friends from out of town to the Thursday Happy Hour Cruise and we all had a great time. If you want a guided tour, then the Circle Line from 42nd street has the full island circle tour which is quite comprehensive. However, if you want to just have a great time on the water, snap some pictures and take in the view, the downtown Circle Line is way better. Plus going down to the South Street Seaport is alot cooler than going to Times Square if you ask me!

• Pros: Fun, inexpensive, great lor locals and visitors, bring a camera

07/12/08

Circle Line Zephyr Cruise

by tripping1

I used to live in NYC, but now reside in NJ. I thought a great way to show NYC to visiting relatives might be a Circle Line cruise. The cruise that ends at sunset was the perfect time to show off the city, but beware: don't bother showing up early to stand in line in the hopes of snagging the perfect seat. You WILL get the perfect seat, only to have latecomers stand at the rails and completely obstruct your views. It was incredibly frustrating for all the seated passengers. The management should have standing room only in special areas (as they do on smaller cruise boats) or perhaps not allow more people than seats per deck. Also, the commentary over the loudspeaker was not that enlightening and mostly destroyed the peacefulness of the trip. When my next set of relatives arrives next month, we will NOT be going on a Circle Line cruise.

A variety of water tours entertain and educate both locals and Big Apple visitors.

by Contributor

In Short
This long-established sightseeing line boasts a fleet of 10 boats and a wide choice of tours--most offered year-round--on New York's waterways. For would-be thrill-seekers, there's a high-speed boat called the Shark, and the Zephyr is a 143-foot luxury sightseeing yacht. Those who prefer to relax while exploring in a nautical fashion can take the classic three-hour cruise around Manhattan.