Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour in New York, NY

Statue City Cruises is the only official cruise line to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The views from the water are pretty amazing with frontal views of Lady Liberty during the approach. Onboard amenities are decent with small snack bars and restrooms for the short trip. The cruises can get very crowded, especially later in the day.

Not impressed! Took this trip today. The sights were good but the wait to get on a ferry to get back to NYC from Ellis Island was almost 2 hours in late 20 degrees heat. The staff encourage you to “don’t queue, just fill in the gaps” which causes chaos. Instead of an orderly queue, it was everyone for themselves. People had been queuing for over an hour and were just pushed to the side by people coming from the outside and back. We had to wait for 3 boats to come and go and finally managed to get on the 4th. Surprised there weren’t a few medical incidents/punch ups! Would not recommend.

Horrible experience. Overcrowded boats that we waited in long lines at both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Never again!!!

Quite well organised boarding at the Battery, clear signage, quick thorough security check and on the ferry. Which was full, you are packed together boarding and getting off, it certainly lets you feel what the immigrants to Ellis Island might have felt on arrival. Quite long lines to leave Liberty for Ellis Island, you may not get the boat and have to wait for another. Similarly at Ellis Island back to the Battery but each time less than 30 minutes to board. Overall a decently run operation and of course currently the only way to get off on the island.

Before our NYC trip (end of May), I read reviews and was hesitant about Statue City Cruises. But it is the only way to get on Liberty and Ellis Islands, so we took the chance. I regret it. The LONG LINES and heavy crowds at both places waiting on Statue CIty Cruises boats were ridiculous. I'm glad we experienced the sights, but I won't go back and I'm not sure I would recommend it. We got there early (at 7:45 am) for a 9 am departure (earliest option), so go through the entrance and first security area quickly. But then we waited at a fenced gate to board, and then waited for an officer with a dog to sniff the boat which took an additional 25-30 min. Visitors are at Statue City Cruises mercy (the only way to get on the islands), and they cram 600 people on every boat, we all use ONE flight of stairs, and then are stuck waiting on crowded boats to get back and forth. Staff tells you to cram together and many aren't nice about it. Crowds build on the islands throughout the day. Boats of 600 come from 2 places all day: Battery Park/NYC and also New Jersey. We couldn't believe the long wait in the sun for the next boat. Terribly inefficient and a waste of time. We felt like we were a big herd of livestock so close together. Getting to Ellis Island was another long wait, then back to Battery Park took forever because the boats are already partially full when they arrive at Ellis to pick up (they dont tell you this! There is limited space) . We were wiped out and it took about 8 hrs total: statue of liberty museum, great audio tours (30-45 min each), lunch at statue of liberty, but mostly STANDING IN LINES! Statue City Cruises can do a better job managing things. Take less people at a time and/or use more boats. Use both ends of the boats for entering/exiting patrons (not just one). There is work to be done here. Also, part of the Statue of Liberty apparently has been under construction for a couple of years. We went on a weekday, but no workers in sight. The base is a construction mess to look at and photograph!! See pics. The photos I posted are of LINES. Not people walking. Those are crammed lines standing and waiting. Half of our day was literally standing in crowded masses. I would rather have taken Staten Island Ferry, or a private charter boat to get close enough to see the places.