Circle Line Statue Sunset Cruise NYC: 90 Minutes to Lady Liberty from $27
Quick answer
The Circle Line statue sunset cruise costs $27 per person for 90 minutes, and it holds 4.6/5 from 2,888+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
It leaves from Pier 16 at South Street Seaport with first-come seating, music instead of a live guide, and food sold on board.
The Circle Line statue sunset cruise is the shortest and cheapest way to see the Statue of Liberty from the water at dusk: 90 minutes from Pier 16 in lower Manhattan, from $27 per person.
The detail that changes the decision is the commentary. This sailing plays pop music and offers a downloadable audio guide, and GetYourGuide’s own review summary says some passengers expected a little spoken commentary and did not get it. If you want a live guide, the longer Circle Line harbor lights cruise costs $18 more.
It is one of the sunset trips in my sunset cruise guide, itself part of the New York boat tours comparison. Planning a longer trip? The Harbour Advisor home page lists all my cities.
| Operator | Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (sold on GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Boat type | Passenger vessel with temperature-controlled cabins and a large outdoor deck |
| Price | $27 per person (USD) |
| Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Departure | Listing gives no fixed time; pick the sailing in the booking calendar |
| Pier | Pier 16 box office, South Street Seaport (Pier 16 on Google Maps) |
| Route | South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, back to Pier 16 |
| Food and drinks | Sold on board; outside food is not allowed |
| Seats | First come, first served; sails rain or shine |
| Commentary | Pop music plus a downloadable audio guide in nine languages (own headphones) |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before departure, full refund |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 2,888+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Circle Line statue sunset cruise and what do you see?
It is a 90-minute out-and-back sail from the East River to the Statue of Liberty and home again, with the sunset as the headline. On the way out it shows the Brooklyn Bridge and the tower at One World Trade Center, and Ellis Island appears from the water.
- Statue of Liberty: the turn-around point, with time for photographs.
- Brooklyn Bridge: seen from the river at the start of the sail.
- Lower Manhattan skyline: One World Trade Center and the financial district.
- Music: a pop playlist rather than a spoken tour.
One line in the listing’s inclusions mentions an island visit. A 90-minute round trip cannot include a landing, so I read it as a sail-by; for a visit, use the Statue City Cruises ferry. Ask Circle Line if you are unsure.
Where does the cruise leave from?
It leaves from the Circle Line box office at Pier 16, South Street Seaport, shared with the New York Water Taxi counter. Pier 16 on Google Maps shows the pier, and Circle Line confirms that Pier 16 hosts its Statue at Sunset sailings.
| From | Walking time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton St station | 8 min (572 m) | walking route |
| Wall St (2, 3) station | 9 min (674 m) | walking route |
The times come from the OSRM foot-routing service and are rounded to the minute. A subway ride costs $3 per the MTA fares page, read on 2026-10-17.
What is the route, stop by stop?
The boat sails south down the East River, rounds the tip of Manhattan and crosses the harbour to the statue. The listing names six points.
| # | Stop | What happens | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pier 16, South Street Seaport | Departure and return | Map |
| 2 | South Street Seaport | Waterfront pass-by | Map |
| 3 | Brooklyn Bridge | Sail past on the East River | Map |
| 4 | One World Trade Center | Skyline pass-by | Map |
| 5 | Statue of Liberty | Turn-around point and photo time | Map |
| 6 | Ellis Island | Seen from the water | Map |
The listing gives no timings per stop. The tail of the route retraces the outward leg, so expect the skyline from the opposite side on the way back.
How long is it and when does it sail?
The sail lasts 90 minutes, and the listing publishes no timetable, so read the sunset sailings for your date in the booking calendar. Cruises run rain or shine.
| Month | Sunset on the 15th | Departure that fits (my arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|
| March | 7:04 PM | about 6:30 PM |
| June | 8:30 PM | about 7:45 PM |
| August | 7:55 PM | about 7:10 PM |
| October | 6:17 PM | about 5:30 PM |
| December | 4:31 PM | about 3:45 PM |
The third column is my arithmetic, not an operator schedule: I subtract about 45 minutes so the boat reaches the statue as the light softens. Sunset values come from the sunrise-sunset.org API for the 15th of each month in 2026.
What is on board and what is included?
The ticket covers the sail, restrooms, a large outdoor deck, cabins and the audio guide; food and drinks are paid extras. The listing also lists tips and a landing visit among inclusions, which I treat as unconfirmed.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| 90-minute sunset sail | Included |
| Audio guide, nine languages | Included; bring headphones |
| Cabins, deck, restrooms | Included |
| Food and drinks | Bought on board; outside food not allowed |
| Tips | In the inclusion list, but unverified: ask Circle Line |
| Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island landing | Not possible on a 90-minute sail-by |
Circle Line describes heated indoor lounges and outdoor decks on its boats, plus a full bar and snack stand, on its own site.
How does it compare with other New York sunset cruises?
This is the cheapest sunset ticket in my data and the one with the least talking. The table sets it against the alternatives, using GetYourGuide prices and ratings checked on 2026-10-17.
| Cruise | Price | Length | Rating (reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Line (this page) | $27 | 1.5 hours | 4.6 (2,888) |
| NYC Sunset & Harbor Lights Cruise with Statue of Liberty | $45 | 2 hours | 4.6 (9,008) |
| NYC Golden Hour Cruise (2hr) | $38 | 2 hours | 4.9 (565) |
| Sunset Yacht Cruise | $113 | 1.5 - 3 hours | 4.9 (502) |
| Statue and Skyline Cruise Aboard a Luxury Yacht | $60 | 1.5 hours | 4.8 (651) |
For more light and more time, the 2-hour golden hour cruise is $11 more. For a drink on a small boat, the champagne sunset yacht costs $113.
Is the Circle Line statue sunset cruise worth it?
Yes for a budget-minded first-timer who wants the statue at dusk without a guide; no if narration matters. At $18 per hour it sits below the city median, and 2,888 reviews average 4.6.
The sub-scores are transport 4.6 and value 4.5, the best value mark of the Circle Line pair. My pick for anyone watching the budget is this one.
When is the best time to sail?
The best months are May to October, when sunset falls between 6:17 PM and 8:30 PM and the deck is comfortable. In winter the sunset is before 5 PM and the deck is cold.
64.3 million travelers were expected to visit New York City by the end of 2024, 97 percent of the 2019 record.
| Month | Avg high (2025) | Rain days | Sunset, 15th | On the deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 6 | 4:54 PM | Heavy coat, gloves; the deck is bitter after dark |
| Feb | 40°F | 11 | 5:32 PM | Heavy coat, hat; stay in the cabin for most of the sail |
| Mar | 55°F | 9 | 7:04 PM | Coat and scarf; deck is bearable at dusk only briefly |
| Apr | 63°F | 10 | 7:36 PM | Jacket; the deck is fine at midday, cool at dusk |
| May | 70°F | 16 | 8:07 PM | Light jacket for the evening wind off the water |
| Jun | 84°F | 12 | 8:30 PM | T-shirt by day; bring a layer for the dusk breeze |
| Jul | 89°F | 15 | 8:27 PM | Hot ashore, sun cream for daytime decks |
| Aug | 83°F | 6 | 7:55 PM | Warm; evenings are the comfortable time on deck |
| Sep | 78°F | 9 | 7:06 PM | Pleasant; a light layer for after sunset |
| Oct | 65°F | 7 | 6:17 PM | Jacket for the deck after sunset |
| Nov | 52°F | 9 | 4:39 PM | Coat and hat; sunset is before 5 PM |
| Dec | 38°F | 9 | 4:31 PM | Heavy coat; the cabin is the sensible seat |
Climate values are 2025 monthly averages from the Open-Meteo archive API. Check the National Weather Service New York office forecast before you go.
What do passengers say?
Reviewers praise the views of the statue, the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline, and some warn about the queue. The visible sample is small and positive-only.
- Views: the statue, the bridge and the skyline from many angles.
- Queue: one reviewer says it gets long quickly.
- Commentary: the summary says passengers would have liked a warning that none is spoken.
I treat the complaints as real because the sample is filtered to 5-star reviews and the sub-scores are below 4.7.
What does the cruise cost for a group, and what should you bring?
For two people the tickets cost $54, for four $108, before any drinks, and the price per head does not fall with group size. The listing asks for a passport or ID card, and you also need headphones if you want the audio guide.
| Group | Tickets | Per hour of sailing, whole group |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $27 | $18.00 |
| 2 adults | $54 | $36.00 |
| 4 adults | $108 | $72.00 |
- ID: the listing says to bring a passport or ID card.
- Headphones: required for the audio guide, and the Circle Line app needs downloading first.
- A layer: the deck is breezy after dark; the October average high is 65°F and the sun is down by 6:17 PM.
- Phone battery: photos of the statue and the skyline at dusk drain it fast.
The October temperature is the 2025 monthly average from the Open-Meteo archive API. Prices are the GetYourGuide figures checked on 2026-10-17, and the listing warns that prices rise closer to the travel date.
Who should skip this cruise?
Skip it if you want live commentary, a landing, or a guaranteed deck seat. Seats are first come, first served.
- Guide seekers: take the harbor lights cruise.
- Visitors who want to land: take the ferry.
- Dinner plans: see the dinner cruises.
The listing marks the product wheelchair accessible. It does not state child age rules, so ask the operator.
How do you book the Circle Line statue sunset cruise?
Choose the date on GetYourGuide and carry your voucher to Pier 16. Prices rise closer to the date, per the listing.
The Circle Line statue sunset cruise is $27 per person for 90 minutes, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat tour in NYC?
For a cheap statue view at dusk, the $27 Circle Line sunset cruise; for a guide, the $45 harbor lights cruise.
Are NYC boat tours worth it?
Yes, 90 minutes for $27 puts the statue, the bridge and the skyline in one sail.
Which ferry ride in New York City is the most scenic?
For the statue at sunset, this cruise; for landing on the island, the Statue City Cruises ferry.
Is there a $4 boat ride in NYC?
I found no $4 fare in the listings; this cruise at $27 is the cheapest I list.
Are there any free boat rides in NYC?
NYC DOT lists the Staten Island Ferry as free service between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan.
Where does the cruise leave from?
From the Circle Line box office at Pier 16, South Street Seaport.
How long is the sunset cruise?
The cruise lasts 90 minutes, plus time to queue and board.
Is there a live guide?
No: the listing offers pop music and a downloadable audio guide in 9 languages, so bring headphones.
Does the cruise land at the Statue of Liberty?
No: a 90-minute sail cannot include a landing, so it is a sail-by with photo time.
Are seats reserved?
No: the listing says seats are first come, first served.
Can I cancel?
Yes, free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Sources: Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises; MTA fares; National Weather Service New York; NYC DOT Staten Island Ferry; Open-Meteo archive API; Nager.Date API; sunrise-sunset.org API; GetYourGuide listing 449842.
