Board at Pier 78 for Lady Liberty and Two Bridges
Starship's landmark loop leaves Pier 78 up to nine times a day, and undercuts the Circle Line boats by about a third.
The Landmark cruise runs a fixed 90-minute loop out of Pier 78, at West 38th Street. It heads south on the Hudson past Hudson Yards, holds off Liberty Island, then swings east under the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges before turning back.
A guide narrates the whole way, live, in English. Boarding at a midtown pier matters if you are staying anywhere near Times Square or Hell's Kitchen.
There are two decks. The lower one is enclosed and climate-controlled, with table seating. The upper one is open, with a canopy over part of it. Your booking names the Atlantic Star, a 199-passenger boat and the quickest in the Starship fleet, though the operator does not tie one vessel to this route.
Viator lists the cruise at 4.5 out of 5 across 2,437 reviews. Confirmation is instant and the ticket works on a phone.
Circle Line and City Experiences both price their 90-minute harbour cruises above forty dollars, and this one sits roughly a third below that. Children count from age three, infants under two ride free, and one booking covers up to 15 travellers.
New York City 90-Minute Cruise: Lady Liberty, Bridges and SkylineStarship NYC · departs Pier 78 · live narration, snack bar and full bar onboardwww.viator.comWhere the Boat Slows Down
The southbound leg ends off Liberty Island, and this is the part of the route with time built into it. The boat holds position at the statue long enough to actually photograph it.
A photographer works the boat. The complimentary photo is the one taken at boarding, and the operator states plainly that shots at the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks fall outside it. Those belong to the Priority and Premium upgrades. Reviewers have flagged the gap, so budget for the statue photo as a paid extra.
Ellis Island sits just north of the statue. The Jersey City towers close the frame behind both.
Under Two Bridges, Then Back
After the statue the route turns into Upper New York Bay and runs up past Lower Manhattan. The boat passes beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, then the Manhattan Bridge, goes a short way up the East River and turns around.
That leg is quick. It is also the stretch where the towers come close enough to pick out individual buildings.
Below deck there is a snack bar and a full bar, both paid: brewed coffee and hot chocolate, sodas and juices, beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, and packaged snacks. The operator publishes no prices. Outside food and drink are not allowed onboard.
Decks, Seats and Upgrades
The operator describes seating as first come, first served across the enclosed cabin and the open deck. A paid Priority Pass adds earlier boarding and a seat you pick.
Standard-ticket reviewers regularly report ending up on the lower deck on busy sailings, with the open deck and the better tables going to upgrade holders. That one is common enough to plan around. Board early.
The operator lists the route as suitable for all fitness levels, allows prams and strollers, and admits service animals. Smoking is not permitted onboard.
One guest wrote after an August sailing: "Lovely staff especially Dimitri and Darius. Kind, nice, prepared and friendly, they made these 90 mins a pleasure." Guides are named and reviewed individually here, and the narration tracks whoever is working your boat.
Where to Meet the Boat
🚢 Check in at Pier 78, 455 12th Avenue, on the north side of the pier. The operator tells guests to find the team in blue Starship uniforms to validate tickets, and the booking adds that the ticket booth sits under the blue awnings.
Arrive 30 minutes before the departure printed on your ticket. Boarding opens roughly 15 minutes ahead of sailing, and the boat does not wait for late arrivals.
Weekdays carry five sailings, weekends nine. On weekdays the boat leaves at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. At weekends it runs hourly from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Through winter the 6:00 PM departure comes off the schedule.
Pier 78 sits at West 38th Street on the Hudson, and subway and bus lines stop within walking distance.
- Duration: 90 minutes, fixed
- Confirmation: instant, mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation: full refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before departure
- Group size: one booking covers up to 15 travellers
- Customer service line: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern
Schedules move with the season, so the slot shown at checkout is the one that counts. The harbour also runs colder and windier than the street does. On the open deck, one more layer than you think you need is the right call in any season.