Dinner Cruise on NYC's Hudson and East Rivers

Our last night in New York City was extraordinary.  We arrived by taxi to Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River, on Manhattan's west side.  Chelsea Piers was built in 1910 as a terminal for passenger ships.  It was supposed to be the docking destination of the ill-fated Titanic. Now it's a dock for Spirit Cruises, Atlantica, and Bateaux New York.

Steve booked our three-hour evening dinner cruise before our arrival in NYC.   Boarding began at 6:15 p.m. and the boat departed at 7:00 p.m.  

The European-inspired Bateaux New York has a curved glass ceiling and walls that allow great views of NYC's iconic skyline.  It's 200 feet long and was built in 1996 by a French company. There is an outdoor deck for guests to enjoy, but our table was next to a window, so we stayed inside throughout the cruise - except when Jerry went out to take a few pictures.

When we pulled out of the pier, New Jersey was visible on one side of the Hudson River and New York City on the other side.  It was still day light when the cruise began, so we got to see the skyline in both day light and later in twilight.
   

Guys and gals sat side-by-side at the beginning of the cruise, and later we switched to couples.

[Steve and Jerry]

[Sharon and Me]

Being the dish lover that I am, I had to take a picture of the china!

~ We started our meal with shrimp cocktail. ~

The tall building with the spire is the 'One World Trade Center Building'.  

Below are buildings along the Hudson River.  We saw Battery Park that was the site of Dutch fortifications in the 1600's.  Battery refers to the cannons installed by the British during Colonial times.  And the South Street Seaport, that also dates back to the 1600's - once the world's gateway to New York City and America.

When the boat left the Hudson River sailing into the East River we could see the three iconic 'BMW' bridges - Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg. The lights on the Brooklyn bridge at dusk were beautiful.

Then the boat turned around and headed out to New York Harbor where we saw Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  I went to Ellis Island in 1999, so it wasn't a part of this trip's itinerary.

Lady Liberty - proudly standing 300 feet about the harbor - was beautifully lit up in the darkness. The boat sat in the harbor for awhile allowing everyone to enjoy her.  So blessed to be an American! She was a gift from France in 1885.

Twelve million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island  between 1892 and 1957.

I love the sonnet, 'The New Colossus' written by American poet, Emma Lazarus in 1883.  It was engraved on a bronze plaque and mounted inside the lower level of the Statue of Liberty pedestal. It reads in part: "...Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

My main dinner entrée was Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, with Sweet Corn, Red Pepper and Thyme Succotash, and a Cajun Cream Sauce.  It was SO good!  I forgot to take a picture of dessert, which was New York Style Cheesecake.

[Jerry and Me]

[Steve and Sharon]

Steve mentioned to our waiter that we were celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary, so just before the cruise ended he brought me a bouquet of red roses.

We took a taxi back to the guest house, and packed our suitcases for an early morning flight back to Michigan the next day.  It was a fabulous trip, but all good things must come to an end. We didn't get to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Macy's on Herald Square, Lady Mendl's Tea Salon, or Harney Tea shop in So-Ho, but there's always next time!  I'm grateful for everything we did accomplish, and I hope you've enjoyed traveling along with us.