City Cruises New Jersey: NYC Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise

New York looks especially good from the water, and this cruise gives you a moving front-row seat while you eat. From your reserved table, you can watch the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Hudson Yards pass by without dealing with subway transfers, crowded sidewalks, or a long wait for a restaurant table.

I like the combination of a reserved private table and access to the open-air rooftop lounge. I also like that coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included, while a DJ, games, and a dance floor keep the meal from feeling too formal. The main consideration is the buffet: one recent meal was reported as cold, and the menu may not satisfy someone hoping for a steak option.

Key points to know before booking

• Lincoln Harbor departure: The cruise leaves from 1500 Harbor Boulevard in Weehawken, New Jersey, with a City Cruises ticket booth at the marina.
• A skyline meal with two viewing styles: Eat inside in a climate-controlled dining room, then head outside for open-air views.
• Buffet rather than table service: The meal includes salads, entrees, and desserts prepared with seasonal ingredients.
• A long list of landmarks: The route includes the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, three major bridges, Hudson Yards, and Lower Manhattan.
• Entertainment is part of the package: A DJ, games, and a dance floor give the cruise a social, festive feel.
• Winter Wonderland dates: From December 3 through January 1, the yacht receives holiday decorations, seasonal food, themed drinks, and extra festive touches.

Boarding at Lincoln Harbor Marina

Your starting point is Lincoln Harbor Marina at 1500 Harbor Boulevard. Look for the City Cruises ticket booth when you arrive. The departure point is in New Jersey, not Manhattan, so check your route carefully and allow time to reach Weehawken.

Parking can be validated for cruise ticket holders. From Monday through Friday, parking is available at 1450 Harbor Boulevard. On Saturday and Sunday, parking is available at the Sheraton Hotel at 500 Harbor Boulevard. The parking lots are not owned by City Cruises, and the free parking arrangement can change, so confirm the details before setting out.

Bring a passport or ID card and some cash. Infants are free, but you still need to select the free infant ticket option when booking so the infant can be admitted.

The host or greeter speaks English. The cruise is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a practical option for visitors who want major city views without a great deal of walking.

A reserved table with changing views

The reserved table is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You are not searching for a seat after boarding or trying to keep a table while standing outside with a camera. Your group has a dining base, and you can return to it between trips to the deck.

The dining room is fully enclosed and climate controlled. That matters in New York, where a sunny day can still feel cold on the water. You can enjoy the meal indoors, then step outside for photographs and fresh air.

The boat also has a dance floor and an outdoor observation area. I would treat the cruise as part meal, part sightseeing ride, and part casual party. If you want quiet fine dining, the DJ and games may feel too lively. If you like some energy with your views, the entertainment helps fill the time between landmarks.

The outdoor rooftop lounge is where you will get the clearest photos. The wind can be stronger than it feels at the marina, so bring a layer even during warmer months. The indoor dining room remains useful when you want to warm up, eat, or simply rest your feet.

What the buffet includes

The meal is presented as a chef-prepared buffet with three broad courses: salads, entrees, and desserts. Seasonal ingredients are prepared fresh daily, and the menu changes with the season. Coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included in the cruise price.

A buffet works well here because you can build your meal around the timing of the sightseeing. You might start with a salad, return for an entree after photographing the skyline, then finish with dessert while the boat moves toward the bridges or Statue of Liberty.

Set your expectations correctly. This is not a steakhouse or a tasting menu. One diner specifically wished steak had been available, and another found the food cold on a chilly afternoon. Buffet quality can depend on timing and service conditions, so I would focus on the overall experience rather than book this solely for the food.

Alcohol is not included, but wine, beer, seasonal cocktails, and other drinks are available for purchase from the fully stocked bar. The added drink cost can affect the final value, especially if you are booking for a family or large group.

The route from Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty

The cruise passes a large number of famous sights during its two-hour route. You do not stop at these locations, so think of this as a sightseeing pass-by with time for photographs, not a series of shore visits.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the first major Manhattan sights on the route. From the water, you see it as part of the larger Midtown skyline rather than from street level, where nearby buildings can block the view.

The building is especially useful for getting your bearings. Its familiar profile helps you connect the river view with the city map you have been exploring on land.

Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building follows as another classic Midtown landmark. Its Art Deco crown is easy to pick out among the towers, and seeing it from the river gives you a wider view of the surrounding buildings.

You may not have long for each sight, so keep your camera ready. The boat continues moving, and the best angle can change quickly.

The Vessel and Hudson Yards

The Vessel at Hudson Yards gives the route a more modern note. Its open, geometric form looks different from the older towers nearby, making this section a useful contrast between New York’s Art Deco past and its newer development.

The Vessel is passed rather than visited. If you want to enter or explore it, you will need to plan a separate visit on land.

One World Trade Center and Battery Park City

As the boat reaches Lower Manhattan, One World Trade Center dominates the view. From the river, you can take in its full height more easily than from a narrow downtown street.

Battery Park City provides a quieter edge to the Lower Manhattan skyline. This is a good time to move outside if you want a broad city photograph, since the view opens toward the harbor.

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are the emotional high points of the route for many people. The boat passes both, allowing you to see these landmarks from the water without arranging a separate ferry ticket.

The Statue of Liberty photographs best from outside, where you can frame the statue against the harbor. Keep in mind that the cruise does not land at Liberty Island or Ellis Island. You are seeing the sights from the boat, not touring the museums or monument interiors.

Governors Island and Lower Harbor

Governors Island appears as the boat continues through the harbor. The island adds open space to a view otherwise filled with towers, bridges, and waterfront buildings.

This part of the route helps you see New York as a harbor city, not just a wall of skyscrapers. The water gives you a better sense of how the city’s boroughs fit together.

Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge

The cruise passes three major East River bridges: Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge. Each has a different design and setting, and viewing them from below gives you angles that are hard to find on foot.

The Brooklyn Bridge is the best-known of the three, but the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges add variety. The bridge sequence also gives the cruise a strong finish before it returns toward the marina.

Lunch or dinner: which works better?

A lunch cruise can be a good choice if you want to combine sightseeing with a daytime view of the skyline. Sunlight makes it easier to photograph the bridges and buildings, and a clear afternoon can make the Statue of Liberty look particularly sharp.

The drawback is weather. A cold or gray day may make the outdoor deck less comfortable, and one meal was found to be cold during a chilly afternoon. The climate-controlled dining room helps, but the overall mood still depends on the day.

Dinner brings a different feel. The city lights, DJ, dance floor, and bar create more of a night-out atmosphere. You may lose some detail in the buildings, but the lit skyline can make the cruise feel special.

The experience lasts about two hours, though the published duration is also listed as up to 150 minutes. That gives you enough time for a full meal and a broad route, but not enough for a slow, multi-course restaurant pace. Plan to arrive ready to board rather than expecting a long interval before departure.

Holiday Winter Wonderland sailings

From December 3 through January 1, City Cruises adds a Winter Wonderland theme. The yachts are decorated with twinkling lights and snow-covered trees, and the atmosphere becomes more seasonal.

The holiday sailings include themed cocktails, seasonal menus, and live entertainment. These details can make the cruise appealing for a December celebration, family outing, or festive evening in the New York area.

Winter weather is the tradeoff. The outdoor deck may be cold, even when the indoor room is comfortable. You can still step outside for the skyline and return indoors for the meal, but pack warm clothing if the view matters to you.

Is $84 a fair price?

At $84 per person, the price includes the two-hour cruise, buffet lunch or dinner, reserved dining table, DJ, and unlimited coffee, hot tea, and iced tea. You are paying for the meal and the setting together, not simply for transportation on the river.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for a meal and a separate sightseeing activity. You get a broad route past major sights, a table for your group, and access to indoor and outdoor areas in one booking.

Alcohol costs extra, as do souvenir photos. Those extras can push the final bill higher, so budget carefully if you want cocktails or wine with dinner.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a detailed monument visit or a quiet gourmet meal. The boat passes landmarks without stopping, and the buffet is designed for a large cruise setting. For a birthday, holiday outing, or first look at New York from the water, the package makes more sense.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it for couples, families, and groups who want sightseeing without spending the day walking. The reserved table is helpful for mixed-age groups, and the enclosed dining room gives you a break from the weather.

It also suits visitors with only a short time in New York who want to see many landmarks in one outing. You will not tour each sight, but you will pass the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and three bridges in one route.

The cruise is less suitable for someone who wants a quiet meal, a specialist food experience, or in-depth commentary at every landmark. The entertainment is led by a DJ and games rather than a detailed historical guide. The English-speaking host or greeter handles the welcome, but no named guide or full narration is provided.

If your group is booking separately, make one reservation for everyone. City Cruises cannot guarantee that separate bookings will be seated together.

Should you book the City Cruises New Jersey buffet cruise?

Book it if you want a relaxed meal, a reserved table, and a wide sweep of New York sights from the water. The best features are the skyline views, the Statue of Liberty pass-by, the indoor and outdoor spaces, and the easy mix of food and entertainment.

Think twice if food quality is your top priority or if you need a quiet, highly polished dining experience. The buffet may be uneven, and drinks cost extra. For most people, the cruise works best as a scenic New York outing with a meal attached, not as a destination restaurant.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from Lincoln Harbor Marina at 1500 Harbor Boulevard in Weehawken, New Jersey. Look for the City Cruises ticket booth.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts about two hours, with the activity duration listed as between two hours and 150 minutes.

What meal is included?

You receive a chef-prepared buffet lunch or dinner with salads, entrees, and desserts.

Is a table reserved?

Yes. A private reserved dining table is included. To sit together, make one reservation for your entire group.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included. Alcoholic drinks, including wine, beer, and seasonal cocktails, are available for purchase but are not included.

Is the boat climate controlled?

Yes. The dining decks are fully enclosed and climate controlled. There are also outdoor observation decks and a rooftop lounge.

What landmarks does the cruise pass?

The route passes the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Vessel at Hudson Yards, One World Trade Center, Battery Park City, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Governors Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge.

Is the Statue of Liberty a stop?

No. The boat passes the Statue of Liberty but does not stop there. Ellis Island is also passed without a landing.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is wheelchair accessible.

Is parking available?

Validated complimentary parking is available Monday through Friday at 1450 Harbor Boulevard and Saturday through Sunday at the Sheraton Hotel at 500 Harbor Boulevard. The parking facilities are not owned by City Cruises, and the arrangement may change.

Are infants allowed?

Infants are free, but you must select the free infant ticket option when booking to ensure admittance.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.