With the weatherman’s announcement this past Sunday of a 97% chance of rain, followed by many flood alerts, my wife Ahuva and I should have followed the wisdom of an old Yiddish adage: “Mahn tracht und Gott lacht,” (“Man plans and God laughs”). Instead, we went with our original plans: to ride The Beast Speedboat at Pier 83, undeterred by the warnings, signs which should have been a sure omen to stay home and call it a “soak-up-a-movie” kind of day. Yet, despite the odds, a glimmer of hope persisted within us, since our 11 a.m. slot held only a 20% chance of rain. When I called Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, the company that owns The Beast, its customer support line informed me that the passage was still set to take place.
We optimistically made our way to the ship, boarding the boat with other members of our party. Unfortunately, the moment we took our seats, a torrential downpour ensued, resulting in the staff’s request for us to leave the boat. Shortly after, The Beast made the heartbreaking announcement that due to the relentless inclement weather, all of its remaining voyages for the day were canceled. It was a rough start to what was supposed to be a fun-filled day.
To make up for our disappointment, the friendly Circle Line staff offered to switch our tickets from The Beast to its Landmark Cruise (designed with a comfortable indoor seating area) from which we were taken on a picturesque tour of the Hudson, visiting many of New York’s esteemed landmarks.
Landmark Cruise is one of the voyage options offered by Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises at Pier 83. As we approached the boarding area, an employee took our picture, informing us that we would be able to buy a copy at the end of the journey. Once we were on board, the boat’s sheer size amazed us, as it boasted multiple levels with indoor and outdoor seating. The lower level was mostly indoors, except for the bow of the boat, which was uncovered. Within these lower confines was a bartender selling beverages and snacks. Rows of chairs surrounded by glass windows provided ample viewing. For added convenience, spacious and pristine restrooms were located below the lower level. Ascending a staircase, we found ourselves on the top level, where we immediately heard a tour guide speaking into a microphone, sharing facts about New York and its rich history. Speakers were set up all around the boat so that no matter where you were situated while viewing the sights, you could still hear the informative tour guide.
On the top level, beyond the rows of indoor seating was a massive outdoor seating area that offered ample views of New York. Since the rain had ceased, Ahuva and I went outside. From there, we could see, a few piers over, the gigantic warship the Intrepid, resting peacefully on the dock where it now serves as a stationary museum. Being outside and having the ability to watch the passing ships was a beautiful experience. The deck was filled with green folding chairs, which were wet from the rain. Luckily, I had brought towels to cover the chairs, originally intended to be used on The Beast, where riders tend to get wet. Additionally, a special elevated section catered to riders who had opted for premium tickets, elevating their experience to new heights. Once all of the passengers boarded, the captain blasted the horn, and we were off!
Our first destination was the iconic Statue of Liberty. En route, we passed by several captivating sights of New York, including the Empire State Building, which the tour guide pointed out looks like the top of a rocket ship, The Vessel, a structure that looked like a beehive, One World Trade Center, and a Norwegian Joy cruise ship. It was delightful seeing the waves rippling behind us from the boat. Along the way, it started raining harder, so Ahuva and I went down to the lower level. Luckily, when we reached Ellis Island, it had mostly stopped raining, offering us the opportunity to go outside to the front of the boat.
Initially, Lady Liberty appeared as a tiny green speck on the horizon. As our boat pressed forward, however, the statue gradually expanded, commanding our attention and awe. Eventually, we drew near enough to observe tourists ambling about the island, prompting the Landmark Cruise to slow down. Ahuva and I were able to take some fantastic pictures with the Statue in the background. Afterward, we took the time to appreciate and reflect on the meaning of the Statue to the millions of immigrants who came through Ellis Island with the hope of a brighter future.
After a few minutes, our cruise sailed away from Ellis Island, heading towards the Brooklyn Bridge, which the tour guide told us was twice as long as any bridge in New York. We sailed underneath the bridge, observing people jet-skiing around our vessel. Our voyage continued, and we soon found ourselves sailing under the Manhattan Bridge. Later, the Williamsburg Bridge provided yet another perspective of the city, offering captivating views of the city’s architectural wonders from a unique vantage point. Throughout the voyage, the tour guide remained a constant source of knowledge and entertainment, regaling us with facts about New York City, its history, and the significance of each landmark we encountered.
Along the way, we passed by the renowned Staten Island Ferry, a no-cost, large, orange taxi boat that travels from Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan and ends at St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island. In the Hudson River, we also saw Little Island, an artificial island park covered with beautiful plants and trees that are supported by huge white stone columns, adding a touch of greenery and tranquility to the vibrant cityscape. Our guide shared intriguing details about the Empire State Building, revealing that although it currently ranks as the seventh-tallest building in the city, its position is likely to change in the coming decade as new architectural marvels begin to grace the skyline. This insight and seeing Little Island, which had only opened in 2021, reminded me of the city’s ever-changing landscape and its continuous drive for innovation.
Soon after the 90-minute journey came to an end, we made it back to Pier 83. We thanked the tour guide for sharing his observations and saw our pictures that had been taken earlier by the employee. The rain had mostly subsided. Remembering that the Mocha Blue franchise had opened a new restaurant, Mocha Burger Lux that very day, our group walked about 30 minutes to sample its food. It was a delicious and relaxing way to cap off a hectic, wet, but fun-filled morning.
If you are a fan of sightseeing and traveling, you’ll certainly love Landmark Cruise. I often hear many of my friends talking about the places to which they’ve traveled, but when I ask them if they’ve ever been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, they respond in the negative. People from all over the world come to New York to see our historic sites and innovative buildings, and Landmark Cruise offers the opportunity to visit it all, in one abridged and informative trip. While I do hope to return to Pier 83 to ride The Beast sometime this summer, I am thankful for the rain which ended up allowing Ahuva and me to try something new, turning our day around by offering us a really novel and cool experience.
Zachary Greenberg is a consultant at Semler Brossy and the TABC track coach. In 2013, Zachary began his writing career for the TABC newspaper Kol Torah. He recently watched the film “Sound of Freedom.” If you have any recommendations of fun places for Zachary to cover, please email him at [email protected].
