Arlo Hotel NYC’s Tips for Exploring by Boat

While Manhattan is not technically an island, it can often feel like one due to being surrounded by water to the east, west, and south. Water is an integral part of the New York City experience, with the Hudson and East River’s creating Manhattan’s borders and establishing that amazing skyline when viewed from Brooklyn or New Jersey. At Arlo Hotels, we encourage our guests to get out onto the water so they can experience the city from a different perspective, by boat!

For a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks, we recommend a boat cruise. Multiple operators such as the Hornblower offer fully hosted evening cruises that let guests soak in the views while enjoying some quality food and bevvies. These leisurely-paced trips are ideal for families with older kids who want to slow down the pace of their vacation, as well as couples who want to add some romance to their stay

If the dinner cruise is not fast paced enough for our guests, we at Arlo Hotel NYC also recommend they go onboard The Beast. This jet-powered boat lives up to its name with more than 1,400 horsepower engines that propel riders to upwards of 45 miles-per-hour up and back down the Hudson River. The Beast should be back to full operation in the summer of 2021 and offers an inexpensive 30-minute ride that isn’t for the faint of heart.

Another inexpensive option to see the city by boat is to hop onto the Staten Island Ferry. This orange-colored ferry that’s been featured in countless movies and TV shows departs from Whitehall Terminal in southern Manhattan and ends at the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island. The ferry ride offers passengers amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Freedom Tower, and the other buildings of lower Manhattan. We always recommend guests pack a sweatshirt or jacket for the ferry ride as it can become chilly out on the water, even during summer.