Statue of Liberty tickets and New York harbor cruises

The short answer

Decide first whether you want to set foot on Liberty Island. The National Park Service says Statue City Cruises is the only authorised ticket seller and runs the only ferries that bring visitors to the islands.[3] Two products on SkyGate include that ferry: the Official Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Admission Ticket + Roundtrip Ferry by Statue City Cruises, and the guided Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour.[2][1]

Everything else here shows you the statue without landing. According to SkyGate's listings, every Circle Line cruise and The Beast speedboat stops in front of the Statue of Liberty for photos, and the helicopter flight passes it from the air.[16][11][6]

Landing on Liberty and Ellis Islands

The Official Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Admission Ticket + Roundtrip Ferry by Statue City Cruises is the self-guided choice, with audio guides rather than a guide. Both options include the round-trip ferry, the Statue of Liberty grounds and the Statue of Liberty Museum, the National Museum of Immigration and multilingual audio guides, and both say pedestal and crown access are not included. The only difference is the departure: the New York City option redeems at Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park, and the New Jersey option at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.[1] The National Park Service says pedestal and crown access require advance purchase, and that all visitors pass airport-style security before boarding at either departure point.[3]

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour adds a guide. Its single option includes a return ferry with reserved priority access, an English and Spanish-speaking guide, and admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum and the National Immigration Museum. SkyGate's itinerary meets outside Starbucks at 1 Battery Park Plaza at 9:30 AM and ends at 1:30 PM. The listing warns that the guide may not be able to go inside the museums, and that suitcases, scooters and other bulky objects are not allowed on the ferry.[2] SkyGate does not name the ferry company for this tour.

On Ellis Island, the National Park Service describes the Registry Room, also known as the Great Hall, where millions of immigrants were inspected, and lists the park under both New Jersey and New York.[4] See the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island pages on XTOUR.

Circle Line from Midtown: Pier 83

Circle Line boards at two piers: Pier 83 on West 42nd Street in Midtown, and Pier 16 at South Street Seaport downtown.[5] Every Circle Line product here is a Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket, which SkyGate says lets you skip the box office line and go straight to the boarding line.[6]

The Official Circle Line Cruises, Midtown NYC: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket bundles five Pier 83 cruises as options; the other Midtown products each sell one of those cruises on its own.[6] The cruises differ like this, according to SkyGate:

• Circle Line "Best of NYC" Sightseeing Cruise: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket, the full loop around Manhattan, 2.5 hours in the option title, passing sights such as Yankee Stadium and The Cloisters.[7]
• Circle Line "NYC Landmarks" Sightseeing Cruise: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket, the southern half of Manhattan, under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, 1.5 hours in the option title.[8]
• Circle Line "Statue of Liberty Midtown NYC" Cruise: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket, down the Hudson River to the statue and back, 1 hour in the option title.[9]
• Circle Line "NYC Harbor Lights" Evening Cruise: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket, the southern half of Manhattan at night, 2 hours in the option title.[10]
• The Beast speedboat from Pier 83, also sold as its own product (see below).[14][6]

SkyGate's Pier 83 listings say boarding begins 30 minutes before departure, seats are first come, first served, and wheelchair access is on the first floor of all vessels.[7]

Circle Line from Downtown: Pier 16

The Official Circle Line Cruises, Downtown NYC: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket bundles three Pier 16 departures: a 50-minute Statue of Liberty Super Express, a 1.5-hour Statue of Liberty at Sunset evening cruise, and The Beast Downtown speedboat.[11] The first two are also sold separately. The Circle Line Downtown "Liberty Super Express" Cruise: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket passes under the Brooklyn Bridge and stops in front of the statue, with live commentary.[12] The Circle Line Downtown "Liberty Sunset" Evening Cruise: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket plays music instead of commentary and stops in front of the illuminated statue; SkyGate says departure times vary by season.[13] In XTOUR's reading the downtown pier suits a day already spent in Lower Manhattan.

The Beast speedboats

The Beast Speedboat Ride to Statue of Liberty by Circle Line: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket leaves from Pier 83 in Midtown, and The Beast Downtown Speedboat to Statue of Liberty by Circle Line: Reserved Straight-to-Board Ticket from Pier 16; both stop in front of the statue. SkyGate's listings say children under 3 or shorter than 102 cm are not allowed, riders may get wet, the ride is not recommended for pregnant people or those with heart conditions or back injuries, and The Beast does not operate in rain.[15][14] SkyGate's option text gives a summer season, while its booking calendar showed October dates when XTOUR read it; XTOUR does not know which is right, so confirm your date on SkyGate.

The helicopter flight

The New York City: 20-minute Helicopter Tour from Manhattan is the aerial alternative. SkyGate's option describes a 17 to 20-minute flight along the Hudson River with views of the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building and the George Washington Bridge. SkyGate gives the address as Manhattan Helicopters on the East River Piers, and Manhattan Helicopters' own site names the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, 6 East River Piers.[17] SkyGate's listing says photo ID is required for all passengers, seating is assigned by weight and balance, and under-18s must fly with a parent or guardian.[16]

How to choose

• To walk on Liberty Island and visit Ellis Island at your own pace, the Official Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Admission Ticket; choose the Battery Park or Liberty State Park option.[1]
• For the same islands with a guide and a fixed morning schedule, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour.[2]
• For the whole of Manhattan from the water, the Best of NYC loop; for a shorter look, the Landmarks or Statue of Liberty Midtown cruise.[9][8][7]
• For the skyline after dark, Harbor Lights from Midtown or Liberty Sunset from downtown.[13][10]
• For speed and spray, The Beast from either pier; for the view from above, the helicopter.[16][14]

Before you book

• Check which pier your ticket uses: Pier 83 is in Midtown on West 42nd Street, Pier 16 at South Street Seaport.[5]
• Pedestal and crown access are not part of either island product.[3][1]
• Expect security screening before the Statue City Cruises ferries.[3]
• The Beast has a 102 cm minimum height and does not run in rain.[14]