BY Terese Loeb Kreuzer
On New Year’s Eve, when one year segues into the next, there is no finer place to celebrate than on a boat threading its way among New York City’s islands. The ever-changing tides and currents express transition like nothing else. The city’s lights are even more brilliant reflected in the water. If it’s a fair night, the moon and stars will hover in the sky above the ships’ decks. Inside, revelers will find food, drink, music, dancing and warmth. At midnight, there will be fireworks and champagne.
There are harbor cruises for all ages and most pocketbooks. This year, for the first time, New York Water Taxi is offering a Family New Year’s Eve Cruise with an open bar serving beer and wine for adults. For the kids, there will be mock cocktails, sparkling cider and soft drinks. Everyone can dig into the hors d’oeuvres, wraps, sandwiches and snacks. So the adults can have a few moments to themselves, the cruise director will entertain the children with Nintendo Wii competitions and dancing. At midnight, hearty souls can watch the South Street Seaport fireworks from an open deck. Others may prefer to see the Times Square ball drop on the boat’s plasma TVs. New York Water Taxi will have two Family New Year’s Eve Cruise boats this year. Each can accommodate 80 people. They will depart from Pier 17, South Street Seaport, with boarding at 9 p.m. and sailing from 9:15 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. The cost is $90 for adults, $45 for children, or a package price of $250 for two adults and two children. For reservations go to www.nywatertaxi.com/HarborTours/famNYE/.
New York Water Taxi will be putting two more boats on the water on New Year’s Eve for adults-only cruises. These are for anyone 21 years old or older, with a valid ID. The cruises will start with a “Welcome Aboard Cocktail” and include an open bar, serving beer and wine. In addition, there will be hors d’oeuvres, music and champagne at midnight. The boats will board at 10 a.m. and leave Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport at 10:15 p.m, returning at 1:15 a.m. The cost is $120 per person. For reservations, go to www.nywatertaxi.com/HarborTours/newyearseve/.
Circle Line Downtown’s luxury yacht Zephyr has room for 200 people who will enjoy an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, a live DJ and dancing amid festive decorations. Plasma TVs will show the Times Square ball drop to those who do not care to go out on deck for the fireworks at midnight. The Zephyr leaves Pier 16 in the South Street Seaport at 10 p.m. and returns at 1 a.m. The cost is $209 per person. For reservations, go to https://www.circlelinedowntown.com/se-new-years.asp
Statue Cruises puts on a fine New Year’s Eve party aboard its three-deck ferry, the “John Jay Audubon.” The ticket price is $195 per person and includes an open bar, champagne toast at midnight, live DJ, dancing and party favors. The ample menu features vegetable crudités, cheese, fruit, pasta, shrimp cocktails, mini hamburgers, chicken kebobs, sweets and more. The boat boards at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, N.J. at 8:30 p.m. and at Manhattan’s Battery Park at 9 p.m., returning at 1 a.m. For information, call 877-523-9849 or go to www.statuecruises.com.
The most intimate and luxurious New Year’s Eve cruise is aboard Classic Harbor Line’s beautiful little yacht, Manhattan. The boat has a glass observatory and open decks, and can accommodate 40 people on New Year’s Eve. Passengers will be greeted with a short champagne/sparkling wine tasting class with wine expert Wendy Crispell. Throughout the evening, a live jazz trio will entertain the guests, who are invited to dress formally, if they wish. Food aboard the Manhattan is always superb and will include hors d’oeuvres and desserts. In addition, there will be an open bar serving beer, wine, soda and water, with Moet Champagne available for purchase. The yacht departs from Chelsea Piers at 22nd Street and the Hudson River at 9 p.m. and returns at 1 a.m. Tickets are $350 per person. For reservations, go to https://tinyurl.com/2gxcc7m.
On New Year’s Day, the Manhattan will go out again, this time for brunch as the boat circumnavigates Manhattan. The buffet will include freshly baked bagels and pastries, fresh fruit, glazed ham, salad, quiches, waffles, smoked salmon and turkey sausages. The trip is just under three hours and costs $85 per person. The boat leaves at 10:30 a.m.
The brunch cruise will be repeated on Sunday, January 2, also at 10:30 a.m., followed by an afternoon tea cruise at 2:15 p.m. ($75 per person), and that’s it for the winter. The Manhattan will not be back in New York harbor until April.
