Partyboat cruises on Long Island
Boat operator Michael Di Maggio, of Massapequa, and his toy schnauzer, Pignoli, aboard the sunset cruise on Freeport Water Taxi & Tours in Freeport. Credit: Marisol Diaz
Guided cruises offer several ways to explore Long Island’s coastline from shore to shore and lighthouse to lighthouse. These sightseeing and nature cruises are sailing this summer.
BAY JAM LIVE MUSIC
Moon Chaser Cruises departing from Captree Boat Basin, Captree State Park, Bay Shore.
INFO 631-265-1848, themoonchaser.com
COST $55.
This popular 65-foot boat offers partying space on the main deck and the breezier open deck upstairs. Bay Jams cruises feature live rock and reggae, and sightseeing trips are narrated by a former stand-up comic and typically run weekly through August. Sightseeing cruises July and August; Flynn's restaurant dinner cruises Tuesdays through Thursdays in July and August.
RIVERBOAT TOUR OF GREAT SOUTH BAY
Departs Bay Shore Marina, end of Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore.
INFO 631-321-9005, laurenkristy.net
COST $49.95 includes a bagged lunch; $79.95 includes dinner.
The 65-foot Lauren Kristy, a replica of a turn-of-the-century Mississippi riverboat, cruises the Great South Bay for sightseeing tours focusing on wetlands, wildlife and local history.
SHORT TOUR OF PORT WASHINGTON HARBOR
Departures daily on the hour, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., from the Town Dock, 347 Main St., Port Washington.
INFO 516-455-0411, portwatertaxi.com
COST $10 per person (all ages) for half-hour cruise; one-hour cruises available with advance booking.
Don’t be surprised, old sport, if your captain quotes F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" while pointing out East and West Egg (respectively, Sands Point and Kings Point), the location of the novel's symbolic green light, and the magnificent homes of modern-day Gatsbys. Tour also includes information on the history and environment of the area.
ATLANTIS EXPLORER CRUISE
Sails Memorial Day and weekends May 27-June 25, daily July 1-Sept. 4, weekends Sept. 9-30; leaving 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. from the dock behind the Long Island Aquarium, 431 E. Main St., Riverhead; weather permitting.
INFO 631-208-9200 ext. 426, longislandaquarium.com
COST $40 (does not include aquarium admission), $5 younger than 3.
The Long Island Aquarium’s venerable tour boat cruises the Peconic River during two-hour eco tours of the Peconic and nearby Flanders Bay. Other cruises: Rum Cruise July 14-15, Tequila Cruise Aug. 11-12, Wine Cruise Sept. 8-9, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; two-hour sunset cruises with music, drinks and snacks, $75 per person, ages 21 and older only.
WHALE-WATCHING AND DOLPHIN TOUR
A humpback whale viewed from the Atlantic Pearl in the open water during a trip out of Freeport. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Half-day trips (four hours) May 29 through mid-Nov. from 111 Woodcleft Ave., Nautical Mile, Freeport.
INFO 516-544-6698, liwhaleandsealwatching.com
COST $75 adults, $60 ages 3-12. Kids younger than 3 not permitted. Ride shotgun with the captain, $91.
The Atlantic Pearl, a 100-foot Yank super-cruiser with two big viewing decks, has a knack for spotting spouts; whales can be seen from anywhere onboard. Who knew there were that many whales and dolphins cruising the waters off the South Shore?
WHALE-WATCHING CRUISE
Departures for five-hour trips Sun. and Wed., July 2-Sept. 10, from Viking Fleet, 462 W. Lake Dr., Montauk Harbor, Montauk.
INFO 631-668-5700, vikingfleet.com
COST $85, $55 ages 5-12, ages 4 and under free.
Humpbacks, finbacks and minkes regularly meet the 140-foot Viking Starship’s offshore cruises, says Arthur Kopelman, a CRESLI marine mammal population ecologist and cruise tour guide. Also keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphin antics.
WETLANDS NATURE CRUISE
Departs starting mid-June from Stony Brook Marine Services, 51 Shore Rd., Stony Brook.
INFO 631-751-2244, wmho.org
COST reservations $45 ages 13 and over; $30 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and under; walk-on price $50 ages 13 and over, $35 ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and under; $675 private charter (27 passengers).
Explore the Ward Melville Heritage Organization's 88-acre wetlands of West Meadow Preserve. An onboard naturalist fills in passengers on the area’s wildlife, flora, cultural and natural history.
JULY FOURTH FIREWORKS CRUISES
Departing July 4 from Captree Boat Basin, Captree State Park, Bay Shore.
INFO 631-661-1867, captree.com
COST starting at $59.
The Laura Lee Fleet is among the partyboats that will once again take passengers to see fireworks on July Fourth.
ALSO TRY Other boats with fireworks cruises include the Captree Pride (631-848-9857, captreepride.com) and Captree Princess (631-404-6817, captreeprincess.com). Reservations suggested.
SHORT TOUR IN FREEPORT
Sunset cruises by Freeport Water Taxi. Credit: Bruce Gilbert
One-hour daytime harbor cruises from the Nautical Mile in Freeport, plus themed cruises (karaoke, trivia), May 14 through September.
INFO 516-521-7744, freeportwatertaxi.com
COST $20 one-hour tours, $30 happy hour tour, $35 sunset and themed cruises.
Freeport Water Taxi offers one-hour jaunts that are family- and pet-friendly (Friday-Sunday). In addition, the company offers themed cruises (Thur.), happy hour cruises (Friday to Sunday) and sunset cruises with live music (Saturday and Sunday).
LIGHTHOUSE CRUISE
Departures at 5 p.m. Saturdays from the dock at 103 Third St., Greenport.
INFO 631-477-2100, eastendseaport.org
COST $59, $49.50 seniors, students and military, $25 ages 2-11. Purchase tickets online.
The East End Seaport Museum offers cruise adventures across Peconic Bay, including its Long Beach Bar "Bug Light" cruise, narrated by an area resident. Hear about life on a lighthouse during the 1800s. Returning this year is the extended 3½-hour narrated cruise to other lighthouses in local waters.
ALSO TRY the Cross Sound Ferry's Long Island Lights narrated tour, June 23-Oct. 9, departing from Orient Point aboard a catamaran with airplane-style seating that brings passengers past eight remote lighthouses. It also visits the ruins of the Spanish-American War's Fort Tyler, leveled by World War II bombing practice. ($33 adults, $16.50 ages 2-11; 631-323-2525, longislandferry.com)
OTHER LONG ISLAND CRUISES
ELIXIR YACHT CHARTER by Long Island Boat Rentals, 403 Main St., Port Washington, 516-761-0840, LIBoatRentals.com/Elixir Season May 15-Oct. 15. Offering luxury party yacht for up to 24 guests. Half-day cruises at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-11 p.m. Rates $3,850 to $5,000, catering and beverage service, taxes and gratuities extra.
NORTHPORT CHARTERS, Departs out of Britannia Yachting Center, 81 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport, 631-707-3266, northportcharters.com Season May 15-Nov. 15. Offering historic tours, sunset cruises, bird watching and marine-ecosystem tours. Private cruises available. Rates from $400 for 3-hour cruise for 1-5 passengers or $80 per person for 5 people.
PORT TIKI, 405 Main St., Port Washington, 516-297-9296, porttiki.com Season May-Sept. Offering two-hour tiki-themed cruises on Manhasset Bay. Bring your own food and drinks. Rates from $300 to $600; up to 12 passengers.
SAPPHIRE PRINCESS, 11 Richmond St., Freeport, 516-442-4614, sapphireyachtcharters.com Offering lunch, dinner and themed cruises. Rates from $79.
SKYLINE PRINCESS CRUISES, 1 World’s Fair Marina, Flushing, Queens; 718 446-1100; skylinecruises.com Offering 3- and 4-hour brunch, lunch and dinner cruises to the Statue of Liberty; Long Island lighthouse cruises. Rates from $67.
TOO HAPPY CHARTERS, Huntington (office 663 Park Ave.), 631-897-7126, toohappycharters.com Season May 1-Oct. 15. Departs from Huntington Harbor. Offering sunset cruise, brunch charter, day trips, destination trips, day and half-day at anchor. Private charters up to six guests, includes meal and soft drinks. Rates from $700.
