Around Manhattan Easter Brunch Cruise

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Alan

February 18, 2026•

Absolute Nightmare – Avoid Event Cruise NYC Skyline Dinner Cruise at All Costs (Especially in Winter/New Year's) We splurged $350 for two on the Skyline Dinner Cruise over New Year's, hoping for a memorable night with stunning NYC views. Instead, it was a chaotic, uncomfortable, and downright scary experience from start to finish. This is hands-down one of the worst "premium" outings we've ever paid for. No signage for check-in whatsoever. We wandered an abandoned pier in pouring rain and freezing cold, finally boarding the boat just to escape the weather—only to be screamed at by staff to get off. They pointed rudely to an obscure door leading to a dark, wet parking garage (see photo attached) where dozens of other soaked, confused customers stood silently with zero staff guidance or updates. We waited forever like that, no communication, no hospitality. Boarding was delayed ~30 minutes past check-in time, chaotic free-for-all by wristband color. We paid extra for window seats, so we boarded early in our group and snagged window spots, but the process felt disorganized and stressful. The boat was old, dirty, and poorly maintained—my seat cushion literally came off when I sat down. Dinner was a sad buffet: we sat on the upper deck but had to go down to the lower deck to queue up, served on paper plates with cheap disposable cutlery. For $350 for two? Embarrassing. Once underway in winter cold and wind, the cabin quickly fogged up with condensation on all windows—zero view unless you went outside to the back (which was freezing and windy). No enjoyment of the skyline we paid for. Halfway through, the captain announced over the loudspeaker for everyone on the dock side to move to starboard because the boat was listing!!! It was terrifying—felt unstable, choppy waters made them cut the sailing short, skipping the Statue of Liberty entirely. We just wanted off the whole time; nothing was enjoyable. Worse, the DJ was blasting huge speakers right in front of our table—no chance for normal conversation without screaming at each other. This feels like a sketchy operation run by opportunists with no real hospitality experience or qualifications. The boat seemed unsafe, the service rude and absent, everything cheap and cut corners. Avoid this company by all means—especially for special occasions like New Year's or in bad weather. Total waste of money and ruined our night. Never again.

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Romina

February 09, 2026•

Quite happy to book this hop on hop off people is so kind bus the frequency of the bus is every 30 min which is too much!! By the way the app doesn’t work either to see where the bus is going and not to be waiting in the cold and not to waste time. When l bought the ticket told me there was a free tour but finally that is not true.

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Anna

January 01, 2026•

⭐ 1 Star – Extremely Disappointing New Year’s Eve Experience This was our first time booking a New Year’s Eve dinner cruise, and unfortunately, it completely ruined what was supposed to be a special family celebration. My family and I traveled over 2 hours to attend this event. This experience was not cheap—the original price was $675 per person, discounted to $399 per person, and there were three of us. For that price, we expected professionalism, attentiveness, and a memorable holiday experience. We received none of that. While boarding was on time, everything went downhill once dinner service started. • Our server clearly did not know what they were doing. • On the drink menu, lemonade with assorted flavors was listed, yet when my husband requested a flavored lemonade, the bartender dismissed his request outright instead of explaining or offering alternatives. The lobster soup arrived late, and to make matters worse, no spoon was provided. We waited so long that my husband had to get one himself. By the time we could eat, the soup was already cold. Throughout the evening: • No one checked on us • No offer of water refills or complimentary bread • Servers walked past our table repeatedly — we were seated near the DJ, so we were impossible to miss It was only after my husband’s visible frustration that the entrée was suddenly rushed to our table, which felt reactive rather than caring. When the manager briefly asked, “How’s everything?”, dessert was immediately served — again without spoons. Once more, I had to chase down a waiter myself. Meanwhile, other tables were served promptly and completely, without having to ask or wait. By this point, the damage was done. This experience caused tension within my family. My husband repeatedly said, “Is this the service we paid $399 each for?” The entire night felt heavy and uncomfortable. What was meant to be a joyful New Year turned into silence on the ride home. I chose this cruise because I wanted something special and different for my family to welcome the New Year. Instead, it became a domino effect of frustration, disappointment, and regret. For a premium-priced New Year’s Eve event, this level of service is unacceptable. New Year’s only comes once a year — and unfortunately, ours was ruined.

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Prof

October 30, 2025•

FALSE ADVERTISING !!! To Whom It May Concern, I’m writing to express my complete disappointment with the so-called Fall Foliage Cruise I booked with Event Cruises NYC. What was advertised and what was delivered were two completely different things. First, the Liberty Cruise I was placed on was clearly a combined Oktoberfest and Fall Foliage cruise, something that was never mentioned during booking. This bait-and-switch approach is unacceptable. The cruise felt chaotic and overcrowded — far from the calm, scenic experience your site promised. The tour guide rambled aimlessly, making strange and irrelevant descriptions of areas instead of providing an informative narration. On top of that, the cruise never went down to the Statue of Liberty, which was explicitly mentioned as part of the route when purchasing the ticket. The service and amenities were subpar — no warm pretzels as listed, disorganized staff, and a generally low-quality experience. For what was marketed as a “special seasonal event,” I could have had a more enjoyable and professional ride on the NYC Ferry for a fraction of the cost. This experience was false advertising and a disservice to paying customers. I expect a full refund or at minimum, a substantial credit for this misleading and poorly managed event Please do check out the LOW QUALITY SEATING AND DECOR. Which is complete different from their pictures and advertising !!!

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Kimberly

August 12, 2025•

My family chose the Skyline Dinner Cruise to celebrate my mom’s birthday. From the moment we stepped aboard, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and taken care of. The dinner was flavorful and well-prepared (coming from a New Yorker). I was genuinely impressed. Our server, Bryan T. was incredibly attentive and friendly. Also, a big thank you to Breanna B., who was very accommodating. If you're looking for a unique evening with great views, excellent service, and quality dining (whether you're a local or a tourist), I highly recommend the Skylight Dinner Cruise with Event Cruises.