Long Island partyboat cruises for sightseeing, live entertainment
Visitors take a tour of the harbor on the Port Washington Water Taxi at the Port Washington HarborFest. Credit: Linda Rosier
Guided cruises offer myriad ways to explore Long Island’s craggy 120-mile coastline from Sound to sea, shore to shore and lighthouse to lighthouse. Sightseeing and nature cruises have resumed around Long Island this summer, capacities may vary due to guidelines and with other social distancing measures are in place.
BAY JAM LIVE MUSIC
Dinner cruises on board The Moon Chaser leave from Captree State Park and cruise to Ocean Beach on Fire Island for dinner at Flynn's. Credit: Barbara Alper/Barbara Alper
Moon Chaser Cruises departing from Captree Boat Basin, Captree State Park, Bay Shore.
INFO 631-265-1848, themoonchaser.com
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 September. Also, Flynn's restaurant dinner cruises will begin this summer.
RIVERBOAT TOUR OF GREAT SOUTH BAY
Departs Bay Shore Marina, end of Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore.
INFO 631-750-5359, laurenkristy.net
COST $44.95 includes a bagged lunch or $74.95 includes dinner
The 65-foot Lauren Kristy is a replica of a turn-of-the-century Mississippi riverboat, complete with paddle wheel, cruises the Great South Bay on sightseeing tours focusing on wetlands, wildlife and local history.
PORT WASHINGTON HARBOR TOUR
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 adults, $5 children for half-hour cruise; $25 (all ages) for one hour cruise.
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 daily, June-Sept., then weekends, leaving from the dock behind the Long Island Aquarium, 431 E. Main St. Riverhead
INFO 631-208-9200, longislandaquarium.com
COST $40 ($5 younger than 3)
The Long Island Aquarium’s venerable tour boat cruises the Peconic River with two hour eco-tours of the Peconic and nearby Flanders Bay.
LIGHTHOUSE TOUR CRUISE
Departures 5 p.m. Saturdays from the dock at 103 Third St., Greenport
INFO 631-477-2100, eastendseaport.org
COST $49 ($19 ages 3-12)
The East End Seaport Museum recently resumed some of its popular lighthouse cruises. Bob Allen of Greenport is that rare tour guide who speaks from personal experience — his lighthouse lore was passed down by his own great-grandparents, who were the last live-in keepers at one of the cruise’s regular stops, the Long Beach Bar "Bug" Light in Orient.
WETLANDS NATURE CRUISE
Departs starting in June, from Stony Brook Marine Services, 51 Shore Rd., Stony Brook.
INFO 631-751-2244, wmho.org
COST $550 private charter only, up to 16 passengers.
Explore the 88-acre wetlands preserve on Stony Brook Harbor and West Meadow Creek. Onboard naturalist fills in passengers on the area’s wildlife, flora, cultural and natural history.
WHALE WATCHING AND DOLPHIN TOUR
Whale watcher aboard the Atlantic Pearl keeping a look out for whale and bottle noise dolphin in the open seas during Capt. Lou Fleet voyage out of Freeport. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Half-day trips begin May 15 from 111 Woodcleft Ave., Nautical Mile, Freeport
INFO 516-544-6698, liwhaleandsealwatching.com
COST $56-$66
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 on 5-hour trips weekends and Wednesdays, Jun. 26-Sep. 5 from Viking Fleet, 462 W Lake Dr., Montauk Harbor, Montauk.
INFO 631-668-5700, vikingfleet.com
COST $80 ($50 ages 5-12)
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 eye (and smartphone) out for bottlenose dolphin antics.
SUNSET CRUISE
Offered select weeknights from the Nautical Mile in Freeport.
INFO 516-623-5823, captloufleet.com
The Capt. Lou Fleet traditionally offers summertime sunset cruises that depart from Freeport's Nautical Mile with a DJ and cash bar. Reservations required.
SHORT TOUR
One-hour daytime harbor cruises from the Nautical Mile in Freeport, plus themed cruises.
INFO 516-521-7744, freeportwatertaxi.com
Freeport Water Taxi offers one-hour jaunts that are family- and pet-friendly. In past summers, the company's 90-minute sunset cruise have involved themed trivia sessions centered around pop culture, movies and music.
COST From $20
OTHER LONG ISLAND CRUISES
LADY LIBERTY CRUISES, Inspiration Wharf, Main Street, Port Washington, ladylibertycruises.com, 516-922-9214. Offering 4-hour cruises to the East River and Statue of Liberty. Rates $139-$159 a person includes food, beverages and entertainment.
SAPPHIRE PRINCESS, 11 Richmond St., Freeport, 516-442-4614, sapphireyachtcharters.com Offering Lunch, dinner and themed cruises. Rates From $59
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 $62
TOO HAPPY CHARTERS, Huntington (Office 663 Park Ave.), Huntington, 631-897-7126, toohappycharters.com Season May 8-Oct. 15. Departs from Huntington Harbor. Offering Sunset cruise, Day at Anchor, Zen on the Deck, and Mind & Body Meditation class. Private Charters up to 6 guests. Rates From $600
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