City Cruises Buffet Cruise: Brunch, Lunch or Dinner on the Spirit of New York, $115
Quick answer
The City Cruises Buffet Cruise is a 2 to 3 hour brunch, lunch or dinner buffet from Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, from $115 per person.
Coffee and tea are included, cocktails and wine cost extra, and GetYourGuide rates it 4.2/5 from 567+ reviews.
City Cruises
NYC: City Cruises Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Buffet Cruise
4.2 (567) · from $115
The City Cruises Buffet Cruise is a meal on a large, enclosed ship rather than a small-boat sail, and the 4.2 out of 5 average from 567 reviews reflects that. City Cruises sails it from Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers on the Spirit of New York, with a DJ, a dance floor and open observation decks.
The detail that changes the decision is the meal you choose. Brunch, lunch and dinner share one listing, but the light, the length and the extras differ: bottomless mimosas are listed on brunch, and the dinner sailing crosses sunset only in some months. At $115, about $46 an hour on a 2.5-hour midpoint, it sits near the $43 median.
My New York dinner cruise guide compares the meal boats, the boat tours hub lists every cruise, and the home page covers other cities.
| Operator | City Cruises (sold through GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Ship | Spirit of New York, with enclosed climate-controlled decks and open-air observation decks; capacity not stated |
| Price | From $115 per person; the listing says the final price varies with date, participants and availability |
| Duration | 2 to 3 hours depending on the meal; City Cruises states 2 hours for its brunch cruise at Pier 61 |
| Departure times | Not stated on the listing; the slot shows at checkout |
| Pier | Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, West 23rd Street |
| Route | Hudson and East Rivers: Midtown towers, One World Trade Center, the Statue, then the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges |
| Food and drinks | Buffet brunch, lunch or dinner; unlimited coffee plus hot and iced tea; bar drinks for sale |
| Entertainment | Onboard DJ, giant Jenga and Connect Four |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before, full refund |
| Rating | 4.2/5 from 567+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What does the City Cruises Buffet Cruise include for brunch, lunch and dinner?
It includes a buffet meal, unlimited coffee and tea, a DJ and the sail; the bar and any upgrades cost extra.
| Option | Meal | Drinks | Light |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunch | Hot entrees, salads and desserts, self-serve | Bottomless mimosas listed on the brunch cruise; coffee and tea included | Daylight |
| Lunch | Buffet lunch | Coffee and tea included; bar for sale | Daylight |
| Dinner | Buffet dinner | Coffee and tea included; bar for sale | Dusk or dark, by month |
City Cruises adds that its brunch buffet has "freshly prepared entrees, salads, and desserts", and that cocktails, wine and beer are cash-bar upgrades. Menus can change, and the listing asks you to tell your server about allergies before ordering.
Where does the City Cruises Buffet Cruise leave from?
It leaves from Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers, off West 23rd Street on the Hudson River.
From the 23 St subway station on the C and E lines the walk is 15 minutes (1.1 km) by the OpenStreetMap foot router, and the subway fare is $3 per ride, per the MTA fares page. Classic Harbor Line boards at Pier 62, 3 minutes along the promenade, so check the pier number on your voucher.
| From | To | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| 23 St (C/E) subway station | Pier 61 | 15 min (1,137 m) · route |
| Chelsea Piers Pier 62 | Pier 61 | 3 min (189 m) · route |
| Pier 61 | Overview | City Cruises Pier 61 on Google Maps |
What is the route, stop by stop?
The route covers both rivers, with Midtown and Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and three East River bridges.
| Stop | What you see | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Pier 61 | Start and finish, Chelsea Piers | Pier 61 |
| The Vessel | Hudson Yards, from the river | The Vessel |
| Empire State and Chrysler Buildings | Midtown skyline | Empire State Building |
| One World Trade Center | Lower Manhattan | One World Trade Center |
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island | The harbor pass | Statue of Liberty |
| Battery Park City and Governors Island | The west shore and the harbor island | Governors Island |
| Brooklyn Bridge | The first of three East River bridges | Brooklyn Bridge |
| Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges | Upriver turn | Williamsburg Bridge |
The ship passes the Statue but does not land. According to the National Park Service, Statue City Cruises is the only ferry service that brings visitors to Liberty and Ellis Islands.
How does the meal change with the light through the year?
A dinner sailing is in daylight in June and in the dark in December, so the month decides what you see during the buffet.
| Month | Sunset | Dinner view |
|---|---|---|
| June | 8:30 PM | Daylight through most of the meal |
| September | 7:06 PM | Dusk during the main course |
| October | 6:17 PM | Dark for the later courses |
| November | 4:39 PM | Dark all evening |
| December | 4:31 PM | Dark all evening, lights on the skyline |
The listing gives no dinner departure time, so I cannot say when the sail starts relative to sunset. If the view of the Statue in daylight matters, pick brunch or lunch; if you want lit towers, pick dinner in the autumn and winter months.
What is on board and what do you pay extra for?
The ship has reserved tables, a dance floor, enclosed climate-controlled decks and open observation decks, with a DJ and lawn-style games.
- Seating: reserved dining tables; guests who want to sit together must be on the same booking.
- Decks: fully enclosed climate-controlled areas plus large open-air observation decks.
- Entertainment: an onboard DJ, giant Jenga and Connect Four.
- Smoking: only on the outdoor observation decks.
- Infants: free, but you must select the free infant ticket option to board.
The listing recommends casual, stylish clothes and flat, closed-toe shoes, and City Cruises says casual attire suits the brunch cruise. The bar sells seasonal cocktails, wine pairings and beer. Window tables are an upgrade on the operator's page, not on this listing.
How does the City Cruises Buffet Cruise compare with other New York meal cruises?
It is priced like the other City Cruises meal boat, and it costs $41 less than the NYC Water Cruises dinner.
| Cruise | Price | Length | Rating | Pick it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Cruises Buffet Cruise | $115 | 2 to 3 h | 4.2 (567) | Buffet, DJ, three meal choices |
| City Cruises luxury brunch, lunch or dinner | $115 | 2 to 2.5 h | 4.5 (1,058) | The same ship line, higher rating |
| NYC Water Cruises gourmet dinner | $156 | 3 h | 4.2 (1,716) | Live music, longer sail |
| Classic Harbor sunset yacht | $113 | 1.5 to 3 h | 4.9 (502) | A small yacht and a drink |
| NY Waterway Golden Hour | $38 | 2 h | 4.9 (565) | The cheapest sail, no meal |
The sister listing has a higher rating, 4.5 from 1,058 reviews, for the same price, so read both before choosing. The dinner cruise page ranks the meal boats, and the hub covers sightseeing sails with no food.
Is the City Cruises Buffet Cruise worth $115 against other New York boats?
It is worth it as a group meal with a skyline view, but not as the best value in food or the highest-rated sail.
- For it: a full buffet, a DJ, a dance floor and both rivers in one trip.
- Against it: the 4.2 average is among the lowest in the New York data, and late diners find desserts and refills in short supply.
- Value: a $38 Golden Hour sail plus a $77 dinner on land costs the same and gives you more choice of food.
I'd book it for a birthday or a group that wants one booking for food, music and the skyline. If the Statue is the only goal, the Classic Harbor Statue yacht is $55 cheaper.
When is the best time to go?
The enclosed decks make the ship usable year-round, so choose the month for the light and the weather you want on the observation decks.
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Rain days | Harbor water | Sunset (15th) | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34 °F | 6 | 38.6 °F | 4:54 PM | Enclosed climate-controlled decks; outdoor deck is cold |
| Feb | 40 °F | 11 | 37.2 °F | 5:32 PM | Enclosed decks; coldest water |
| Mar | 55 °F | 9 | 41.7 °F | 7:04 PM | Layers for the observation deck |
| Apr | 63 °F | 10 | 48.2 °F | 7:36 PM | Cool on the open deck |
| May | 70 °F | 16 | 58.1 °F | 8:07 PM | Good deck weather, 16 rain days in 2025 |
| Jun | 84 °F | 12 | 65.4 °F | 8:30 PM | Dinner is still in daylight |
| Jul | 89 °F | 15 | 74.5 °F | 8:27 PM | Hot outside; enclosed decks are cooled |
| Aug | 83 °F | 6 | 75.2 °F | 7:55 PM | Warm, only 6 rain days in 2025 |
| Sep | 78 °F | 9 | 71.9 °F | 7:06 PM | Dinner crosses sunset |
| Oct | 65 °F | 7 | 65.3 °F | 6:17 PM | Dinner crosses sunset |
| Nov | 52 °F | 9 | 53.4 °F | 4:39 PM | Dinner is in the dark |
| Dec | 38 °F | 9 | 42.9 °F | 4:31 PM | Winter Wonderland season; dinner is in the dark |
- Winter Wonderland: the listing says City Cruises runs a holiday season from 3 December to 1 January, with decorated yachts, themed cocktails and live entertainment; it gives no year, so confirm the 2026 dates.
- Rain: May 2025 had 16 rain days against 6 in August.
- Water: January harbor water averaged 38.6 °F, so the open deck is for short visits.
64.3 million travelers were expected to visit New York City by the end of 2024, 97 percent of the 2019 record.
That many visitors make Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch the first slots to sell out, so I'd book them first and keep the 24-hour free cancellation as a safety net.
What do passengers say?
Passengers praise the views and the staff, and the repeated complaint is thin trays late in service.
- Views: the skyline and the Statue of Liberty are the top theme.
- Staff: friendly and attentive, according to the AI summary of 59 verified reviews.
- Food: late diners report thin trays, desserts above all, and slow refills.
- Timing: a July reviewer reported docking 45 minutes before the stated time.
The sample I read is mostly five-star, so it leans positive, and the 4.2 average is the better signal. If food matters, go to the buffet early in the service window.
Who should skip the City Cruises Buffet Cruise?
Skip it if you want a quiet small-boat sail, a gourmet menu, or the highest-rated view for the price.
- Quiet: a DJ and a dance floor are part of the ship; choose a small yacht instead.
- Gourmet: a buffet is not a plated menu; compare the gourmet dinner cruise.
- Landing: the ship does not stop at Liberty Island.
- Shared bookings: parties on separate bookings may not be seated together.
The hub lists the remaining New York options.
How do you book the City Cruises Buffet Cruise?
Choose brunch, lunch or dinner on GetYourGuide, pick the date, and book every guest on the same reservation.
From $115 per person buys a buffet meal, coffee and tea, a DJ and a sail past the Statue of Liberty.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
- Select the meal option and the date.
- Add all guests to one booking; add the free infant ticket if you bring a baby.
- Note any allergies for your server.
- Bring ID and arrive at Pier 61 well before the sailing time on your voucher.
City Cruises Buffet Cruise FAQ
What is the best boat tour in NYC?
For a meal, this buffet cruise at $115 is one choice; for the best rating, the NY Waterway Golden Hour sail and the Classic Harbor sunset yacht both score 4.9.
Are NYC boat tours worth it?
Yes for a first visit, because the Statue of Liberty and the bridges are easiest to see from the water, and a meal cruise adds the dinner to the trip.
Are there any free boat rides in NYC?
The Staten Island Ferry is free and takes about 25 minutes, per its schedule page, but it has no meal, bar or DJ.
Which ferry ride in New York City is the most scenic?
For scenery alone, the free Staten Island Ferry or a paid sunset sail; this buffet cruise adds food and music on a larger ship.
Are drinks included?
Unlimited coffee plus hot and iced tea are included; bottomless mimosas are listed on the brunch option, and cocktails, wine and beer are sold at the bar.
How long is the City Cruises Buffet Cruise?
The listing says 2 to 3 hours depending on the meal, and City Cruises states 2 hours for its brunch cruise at Pier 61.
Where does it leave from?
From Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers, off West 23rd Street, about a 15-minute walk from the 23 St C/E subway station.
What should I wear?
The listing suggests casual, stylish clothes and flat, closed-toe shoes for safety.
Can I bring a baby?
Infants are free, but you must select the free infant ticket option when booking or you may be refused boarding.
Does it run at Christmas?
The listing mentions a Winter Wonderland season from 3 December to 1 January with decorated yachts; it gives no year, so check availability for your date.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 278092 (read 2026-10-17); City Cruises brunch cruise at Pier 61; National Park Service, Statue of Liberty; MTA fares; Staten Island Ferry schedule; NOAA CO-OPS The Battery; Open-Meteo, sunrise-sunset.org and Nager.Date APIs; NYC Tourism + Conventions.
