Clipper City – Manhattan by Sail

Great way to spend a beautiful summer evening. A two hour cruise around the NYC harbor at sunset… nothing better. We did the Lobster & Beer lovers sail in August, which includes a Coney Island Brew, two Luke’s Lobster rolls (perfect), and a bunch of side dishes. It was a great sail with great music, staff, food and crowd. The boat wasn’t overcrowded either, which is something we were wondering about. I had never been out on the water after sunset with Manhattan skyline views… was definitely a treat!

My boyfriend and I took a 4:30 sail yesterday, the second trip I’ve had on this particular boat and his first. We decided to give it a go as I had gone with family almost 10 years ago and remembered it being quite enjoyable. Fortunately, it was just as good as I remembered.
We purchased our tickets online in advance, which I would recommend — it allows you to check in at any point before your cruise time (we checked in at 3:45) grab your tickets, enjoy a walk along the water and avoid rushing. Boarding starts 15 minutes before your scheduled departure and they are prompt so be sure to arrive on time!
Once on board we stopped at the bar to use the free beer/​wine voucher from checking in on Unilocal.We returned for another beer later, and at $ 7 each (mixed drinks were all $ 10-​$ 15) found them reasonably priced and the bartenders pleasant and attentive. We found a spot near the back of the ship where we could stand, and enjoyed not only the views but getting to watch the crew work as we went.
The cruise lasted right up to 6pm and was really an excellent way to spend an afternoon. I would recommend this for locals and tourists alike, especially if you’re looking for a different way to see some of the city. At less than $ 100 for 2 tickets and 4 beers excluding tips, it’s really quite a good deal to boot.

Great place to see the sunset, you get to see the Statue of Liberty and the city with all the lights on. I loved it

We enjoyed the craft beer sail yesterday (Saturday) on the Clipper as a wedding gift. It’s easily located in battery park (between the Statue of Liberty boats and battery park gardens restaurant). The clipper is a beautiful old sailboat that actually uses the sails (you may be asked to help with the rope to get them up!).
Things we loved about our sail:
–everyone working there (captain, bartenders, deck hands, etc) were extraordinarily friendly and seemed to truly like their job
–the ship is large and pretty unique. It was definitely a sold out sail but we had no problem finding a seat or a shady spot when we wanted it. Very relaxed atmosphere and not stuffy or overcrowded like other boat rides I’ve seen. That being said, be prepared to sit on untraditional «seats» as the benches may fill up quickly
–awesome views of lower Manhattan, governors island, brooklyn bridge, Statue of Liberty, Ellis island, and more. They’ll point out some of the major ones but for the most part you’ll be on your own
–full bar with something for everyone. We had five beer tastings provided with our ticket, along with some snacks (cheese, meats, crackers, dried fruit, nuts) and waters. The bar had full sized beers, wine, and a bevy of specialty drinks
–if you keep an eye out on groupon or living social you can get a good few on ticket prices
–two bathrooms on board!
–perfect length (1 hour 45 minutes) that you see a good deal but are not overly bored or tired
–free beer or wine at the bar when you check in on Unilocal!
Would recommend one of these sails (whichever one seems most up your alley: beer, lobster, jazz, etc!) to both locals and tourists alike… Fun way to spend an afternoon! Also would be a good way to celebrate a special occasion (birthday, visitors in town, bachelor or bachelorette party).

We booked this very last minute, in fact the same morning. It was fun! We met allot of nice people and the bar was pouring real fast. Well worth it! Crew was great but they just would not take the Unilocal coupon for one free drink, said i had to print it? Well not a big deal breaker but still perplexing!

Took a 2:15 day cruise with my 9 year old daughter while on vacation. We actually tried to get on the Shearwater, but it was booked. Admission was included with our NY passes and I also got a free beer for checking in on Unilocal!
Throughout our stay, we «toured» the Hudson on 4 different boats. The Clipper City was unique because it was the only sail boat we rode. It was a nice leisurely cruise with no engine noise or the smell of gas or diesel.
There’s a full bar serving specialty drinks as well as classic cocktails, beer and wine. I personally thought that the drinks were reasonably priced. They also sell a handful of snacks, but no real food. This is the larger of the two boats and there were quite a bit of people aboard, probably close to 100 not including crew. There is a fair amount of seating, but very little shade.
It was cool to watch the crew raise and lower the sails. They allow you to participate at some points. My little one also posed with the captain at the wheel. The entire crew including the bartenders were very accommodating and friendly.

Who: mom & I
Where/​when: mom’s 60^th bday
What: 4:30pm sail, August
Why: Sometimes you have to force yourself to rest on vacation. Once you feel the sun on your skin, the breeze in your hair, and the rocking of the boat, you’ll realize that this is how summer should be anywhere-​including in the bustling NYC. Glad I took mom here. Also saw many cute romantic couples. Very special

Great value, cool views of Fidi, and a fun way to see the Statue of Liberty, the bar was reasonably priced $ 9 – 11 for most mixed drinks. Staff was pretty friendly and did a good job handling the trip. I enjoyed that they do not over pack the boat even though it was sold out, this made for a relaxing fun cruise, I would do it again if I had some out of town guests. The bar did have a credit card machine, but bring a few bucks in cash to put in the crew tip jar at the end of your voyage.

I came here twice for a work party and everyone had a great time. The view of the city and Lady Liberty during sunset is very picturesque so have the cameras ready. They have a full bar and if you’re renting the whole boat you can get the food catered.
The only con is that both times the bar service was really slow.

Fun staff, beautiful boat and great beer (which you can preview on their website prior to booking your reservation for all you beer connoisseurs out there).
All in all, very much worth the ~$ 40 I spent on a Groupon for the 2 hour craft beer cruise! The drinks onboard are expensive, so I’d recommend bringing some cash for extra drinks/​tip at the end of your cruise if you don’t feel like waiting in between beer samplings. There are also a bunch of snacks (nuts, dried fruit, cheese, crackers, etc.).

Yes so everything that that guy just said is total bullshit. They just rescheduled yet again. And I found out through an inside source it’s because somebody came along with enough money to kick us out of the party and charted about privately so they don’t really care about their patronage they just care about making a buck smh

Celebrated memorial day by sailing the Hudson River in the twilight with my Family. We had an awesome time. I found some discount tickets at Goldstar and surely glad I did! The Sail ship was nice and elegant. The crew was also young and hip and even invited some of us to help them put up the sails which I found was pretty cool. Now, the trip itself is tres nice. They pass by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis island and the world trade center. I got some awesome pics in the dusk. There is also a bar with munchies (Had my first Rice Crispy Treat in years) and booze. I recommend the Mermaid’s Kiss. Nice and sweet on the lips and on the way down. It’s quite the soothing experience and ideal to bring a girl to for a date. Very Nice.

This was an amazing cruise. We took the 4:30 cruise on Memorial Day.
We had ‘free’ tickets through our NYC passes (which we paid a lot for), but it was very convenient to be able to just walk up and grab a ticket for the next cruise instead of reserving anything.
The crew on the ship was wonderful– they were all very nice, and made the trip pretty fun. Those helping us sail were really fun to watch. They also had a full bar (we were on the larger ship), so we grabbed a couple of drinks (which were priced on par with other places in the area and tasted great). When my mother didn’t know what to order, the bartender suggested some sort of theme drink (pirate something) that was really yummy! And, it was a fun drink to have on a tall ship.
The views from the ship were amazing! You get a direct front view of the lower half of Manhattan, which made for some amazing pictures. The ride was surprisingly very smooth, which was great because my typically-​motion-​sensitive mother didn’t have any trouble or any hint of sickness.
I would seriously recommend this to anyone: tourists will get a great view, locals will have a carefree ride, and it would make an amazing date option– especially if you take one of the later cruises for the twilight hour views.

Have to give this company five stars. They were so kind as to partner with Unilocal for a Unilocal elite event on cinco de mayo. Took us on a two hour cruise around the river from 7−9pm. Open bar by Espelon tequila. And it was a great time.
The ships staff were super friendly and funny. So accommodating. They really made the experience that much better.
Got the pass the statue of liberty, among a bunch of other great sights. And they sail the boat, for real, the engine runs in idle and the crew actually sails this hundred year old replica ship. Its pretty awesome to see.
Met a bunch of really cool Unilocalers, as well as the Unilocal kind himself King Ruggy. Very nice guy from the same hometown as me. San Diego represent. Also met the owner of the ship, who spent half an hour telling me and my gf about the ship and its origins and his other ships in the fleet. Also a super nice gentlemen.
Only single complaint would be the bar. They were using concentrated mixes for their margaritas it seemed like and the sour mix for the margs was that super sweet sour store bought crap. But hey, they were free so can’t complain.
Overall a fantastic event with great planning. A really nice crew. Cool boat. Free cocktails a-​flowin, and a well organized event. I will definitely be suggesting this place to friends who want to feel like tourists for a day, cuz this is the best way to do it.
Bravo and thank you to everyone who put the event together.
Will post pictures shortly.

C ould’ve turned out sooo horribly…
L ady got ‘sick’ a few minutes in and we turned back
I nfuriating that she wasted 45min of everyone’s time
P retty lame when stupid customers ruin it *scowl
P erfectly handled by MBS though: started the 90min over!
E ven offered free rescheds, but super glad we stayed: D
R eally fun time talking, drinking*, selfie-​ing, relaxing~
C rew was the absolute BEST part of the whole thing
I can be pretty silly & obnoxious, esp whilst drinking
T hey tottttally humored me though; love them for that!
Y elling nautical nonsense with them was super fun ^^v
M ade do with our own flask + snacks [Pirate’s Booty yarr]
B ut they also have a full bar and a friendly bartender
S illy, fun experience — would definitely recommend!
[*protip: Don’t forget to check in for a free beer/​wine!]

I had a fabulous experience on the city clipper last night! I highly recommend this boating experience as a unique way to check out the NYC waterways. The boat itself is aesthetically pleasing with massive sails and a true sail boat shape. It is much more fun to take in the sights on a boat like this than the typical sightseeing ferry’s. The crew was top notch– very welcoming and funny. They made the sail feel like an intimate experience. There was a bar on the boat serving libations and rock and roll music played quietly by the bar. I could not think of a better way to view Manhattan island from the water.

I got to experience the Clipper City sailboat experience earlier today and have to say that it was an awesome experience. Everyone on board the boat was incredibly friendly and while this does not necessarily suggest anything about the cruise experience itself, this friendliness extended to the crew as well! Everyone working with Clipper City was very open and outgoing with respect to speaking to myself and others aboard the boat and the cruise itself was very relaxing. Also, we got so close to the Statue of Liberty, which made for great photo-​ops. This was a great experience all around :)

Okay, I actually went on this ship on September 3, 2014 and the boat actually broke down. However, I give this voyage four stars because it was a celebration of my sister’s 28^th birthday and I have never seen her have more fun.
After about an hour and a half of seeing the Statue of Liberty, the shore and the sun is various states of setting the Captain informed us that the main engine was out. At that point my stomach sank as I had failed my sister on her birthday. She laughs her ass off while the Captain also announces an open bar. So as she scurries to the bar she thanked me for picking a ship that broke down 20 miles off shore and required that the NYPD boat unit show up.
The actual crew did a good job, handled the situation of evacuating us in an expeditious fashion and were kind enough to allow us to become pleasantly inebriated while the cavalry was coming. Great experience, great times, great pictures! Thank you :)

I booked an afternoon cruise on goldstar and got an amazing discount-​usually tickets cost around $ 78 but I paid around $ 50 for two tickets. It is super easy to collect your tickets, you just go to the tent by the boat’s entrance and give them your name, I highly recommend this!
The crew was very enthusiastic and friendly and the boat ride was very enjoyable, we went on a perfect weather day, but I managed to get a little sunburn.
The bar onboard is fully stocked and the bartender was very nice. Overall the entire boat was pristine and the captain gave a few details of where we were but mostly just allowed us to enjoy the views, which I appreciate.
This is a great date activity, but would also be great to bring friends from out of town as you get pretty close to the Statue of Liberty and can get the best photos from the water without having to deal with the annoying lines at the actual Statue of Liberty. Not so great for children because there is very little space to run around and only one deck. But if you have a group of adults who don’t get seasick (it’s a pretty calm ride anyway) it’s a great activity.

Went on the 9:30 pm cruise. It was super easy to get tickets using my New York Pass and there was no line. The ship is a smaller one so it definitely makes it less obnoxious to get tickets and board. They start on time so be on time.
The ride itself was great… nice and smooth compared to the City Sightseeing Cruise so if you tend to get motion sickness but still want to go on a cruise, this is the one to go on.
Got great night time views of the city. Hard to take good pictures with the darkness and movement though so just enjoy. And enjoy with a drink! Check in on Unilocal and you get a free one. One of the bar staff didn’t know if they were being accepted but he quickly asked the other who seemed more seasoned and accepted it.
FYI there is no narration so don’t expect them to be pointing out this and that. I had gone on a twilight cruise the day before that provided a lot of narration so I wasn’t disappointed but if that’s your thing don’t go on this one (City Sightseeing was great).
They also asked for some help to lift the sails… volunteered my husband and it was pretty neat to watch them do it.
Docked a star because seats were limited compared to the amount of people on the boat. With a drink in hand and trying to relax with my hubby, it was a little hard without a seat.

Fantastisch! Traumhaft! Einzigartig! Unser Segeltörn war ein wahrlich tolles Erlebnis. Gebucht hatten wir unsere Sonnenuntergangstour schon in Deutschland über das Reisebüro. Die Tour ging um 19 Uhr los und dauerte gute 2 Stunden so das wir die Küste Manhattans sowohl im Sonnerschein als auch bei Nacht bestaunen durften. Entlang der Wolkenkratzer bis hin zu Ellis Island und der Freiheitsstatue, bei deren Anblick man wirklich Begriff das man in Amerika war. Da kann man erahnen was die Einwanderer damals empfunden haben müssen. Als die Sonne unterging glitzerte die ganze Stad, der Himmel über New Jersey färbte sich feuerrot, lila und pink. Schon kurze Zeit später war der Himmel schwarz und die unzähligen Lichter der Wolkenkratzer erhellten die Nacht…
Super nettes Personal an Bord, leckere Cocktails zu annehmbaren Preisen. Hier war es auch gern gesehen wenn die Gäste beim Segel einholen mit anpacken. Absolut empfehlenswert!