Narrated NYC HarborSightseeing Cruises

During this architecture boat tour of NYC, you will explore new and enduring architecture, engineering marvels, and the revitalized waterfront from the teak decks of Classic Harbor Line’s elegant motor yachts. This fully narrated NYC architecture boat tour is in collaboration with the AIANY (American Institute of Architects New York). The story of NYC’s development is described as a broad overview for visitors but includes deeper insights to satisfy demanding locals. During this New York architecture tour you’ll catch new and alluring sites including Little Island at Pier 55, the Hudson Yards “mega-project”, the continuing ascent of “supertall” luxury residential towers, and join a discussion of how cities might adapt in the post-Covid era.

Continuing education credits available »

Our AIANY Architecture Boat Tour makes a great gift! Purchase a CHL gift card at the link below

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A fun activity in NYC to do right now! Experience sightseeing like never before on this NYC boat tour with Classic Harbor Line! Join us aboard our 1920s-inspired motor yacht, Manhattan or Manhattan II and take in the iconic sights and landmarks of NYC from the Hudson River! Start your morning off at Hudson Yards and then walk the High Line to Chelsea Piers and join us for this sightseeing tour from the water! This is a top-rated sightseeing NYC boat cruise to book now for your next trip to NYC or while hosting out-of-town guests. Great for small groups, friends and family with child and infant tickets available! Sit back and relax on this elegantly crafted boat as you cruise by Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Governors Island, for sweeping views of the NYC skyline from NY Harbor.

Looking for a fun Christmas experience in NYC in December? Join us on a holiday cruise in NYC aboard one of our classic, climate-controlled yachts, decked out in holiday decor and cruise the Hudson River and NY Harbor! On this holiday NYC boat tour, you’ll take in the most famous skyline in the world and get an up-close view of the Statue of Liberty and iconic NYC landmarks from the water. This cocoa cruise in NYC is one of New York’s best holiday sightseeing cruises during Christmas! On this Classic Harbor Line holiday cruise, guests are sure to have a cozy and memorable experience with comfortable seating in a heated grand salon as well as views from an open outer deck on this holiday cruise in NYC.

On this Hudson River fall foliage cruise aboard either the yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II, guests can admire the grand Palisades of the Hudson River through the skylights of the heated and glass-enclosed observatory, or while catching the crisp breeze on the open outer deck! This is a narrated tour, hosted by an Urban Naturalist. Enjoy an exciting narration of the geology and ecology of this epic waterway as we cruise. A Hudson River fall foliage cruise offers views of New York’s most dramatic natural wonders along with NYC fall foliage colors as the seasons change. This is a spectacular season for a tree-lined, scenic Hudson River fall foliage cruise, north of NYC, and will be a true delight for you and your guests.

This cruise often sells out. If it is not available on the date you are seeking, consider one of our other Fall Foliage Sails.

Join us aboard our cozy, elegant, 1920s-style yachts, Manhattan or Manhattan II, as we travel past abandoned islands rich with history and modern day wildlife on this NYC eco tour! Embark on a journey of discovery as we navigate the scenic New York Harbor waterways from Chelsea Piers to the hidden gems of Belmont Island, Roosevelt Island, Mill Rock, and North and South Brother Islands. This NYC eco tour is a captivating 3-hour cruise through the heart of our city, where history and nature converge in breathtaking harmony. Perfect for bird enthusiasts, this unique New York eco-friendly boat tour is available during the summer months!

Leave the noise of city life behind and experience New York like never before aboard our boat tour of NYC. Sit back and enjoy this intimate lightly narrated Manhattan boat tour of lower Manhattan from the open deck of our mini yacht Kingston! On this NYC boat tour, get up close views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and the NYC Skyline from the Hudson River. This NYC cruise is great for small groups, friends, or family looking for a top-rated sightseeing experience around NYC. The boat features an interior salon with openable windows and an open outer deck, along with a full bar.

So book now and join us aboard the yacht Kingston today for this boat cruise in NYC, and see New York as it was meant to be seen—from the water!

Looking for a fun way to see the NYC skyline right now? Book your tickets now for a NYC boat ride aboard our classic mini yacht, Full Moon! After a day exploring the Chelsea neighborhood in NYC (known for its arts and culture), leave the city street life behind and join us in NY Harbor for a sightseeing NYC boat tour. Sit back, soak in the sun, enjoy a beverage from our full onboard bar, and enjoy the luxurious view of the NYC skyline from the comfort of the covered back deck or open outer deck of our classic boat. This Manhattan boat tour is one of the top things to do during spring in NYC!

The best way to understand the many facets of climate change in New York City is by traveling along its waterways on an architecture boat tour. Join us aboard Yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II for the AIANY Climate Change Tour: Resiliency, Sustainable Architecture, and the Future of NYC! Learn about how climate change is affecting our city and people, and the actions NYC is taking to mitigate pending threats and reduce its carbon footprint. This fully narrated NYC climate change boat tour will address the pressing need for sustainable design and greater resiliency. We’ll delve into how New York City is reducing fossil fuel consumption, strengthening its natural habitats, and reimagining its transportation infrastructure. This is an NYC architecture tour that focuses on climate change in NYC and will also explore the importance of the environmental justice movement in New York City.

On this NYC climate change boat tour, hear compelling and comprehensive steps that interdisciplinary teams of urban planners, architects, landscape architects, developers, and community groups are taking to address storm surges, intense rains, and hotter temperatures.

While we cruise, our AIANY tour guide will talk about NYC climate change as we pass by many up-close examples of green buildings and sustainable designs that reduce energy consumption, water usage, and pollution.

See firsthand the importance of the environmental justice movement in New York City. People of color and low-income families have often been pushed into low-lying neighborhoods that are most prone to flooding, have the highest levels of pollution, and suffer most from the urban heat island effect.

Continuing education credits available »

Looking for a fun weekend activity in NYC right now? Check out our NYC sightseeing cruise available weekend mornings with one mimosa included! Experience the city like you never have before on a morning Mimosa boat tour of NYC aboard the classic mini yacht Kingston. After a morning of coffee and walking the High Line in NYC, head over to the Chelsea Piers complex for a relaxing sightseeing NYC boat tour with Classic Harbor Line. Sip a mimosa and start your midafternoon with a cruise to the Statue of Liberty! Sit back and enjoy this intimate Manhattan boat tour from the comfortable interior salon or open outer deck of yacht Kingston! This is truly one of the best places to enjoy a mimosa in NYC! Book your tickets now aboard the yacht Kingston for an unforgettable boat tour of NYC!

On this 3.25-hour fully narrated AIANY Freshkills Park tour, cruise the active, vibrant waterway of the Kill Van Kull and into the heart of Freshkills Park of Staten Island on one of our luxury yachts. The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY) and planners of Freshkills Park co-host this special NYC Freshkills Park tour alongside Classic Harbor Line. This is the only public Freshkills Park water tour available into the Fresh Kills waterway. Officially closed in 2001, Fresh Kills has embarked on a 30-year project to be transformed into the largest city park in NYC! Officially closed in 2001, Freshkills Park is the largest landfill to park transformation project in the world and when complete will be one of the largest parks in NYC. This Freshkills Park cruise shows off how its rolling grasslands, wetlands, and waterways are already home to an abundance of birds, fish, and wildlife.

In honor of the National Holiday Weekend and Fleet Week in NYC, Classic Harbor Line and Turnstile Tours have teamed up to offer this special tour of Naval New York Harbor History! Join us for NYC Fleet Week on Memorial Day Weekend for a special, in-depth New York City harbor tour of our rich harbor-related war history. This is a fun activity in NYC for Memorial Day! Our boat tour in NYC is a special 2.5-hour cruise that will explore the military history of New York Harbor from the Revolutionary War to today, with special emphasis on the role of the port in World War II. On this NYC Memorial Day cruise, we will visit historic military sites, monuments, and fortifications and see historic and modern fighting Navy ships up close! A Fleet Week cruise in NYC is the perfect way to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in NYC!