One of the largest natural harbors in the world, New York Harbor became the world’s busiest, thanks to the completion of the Erie Canal in 1820 and then World War II when more than 500 ships awaited assignments at more than 750 piers or docks that lined Manhattan like the teeth of a comb.
Or as the docent from AIA New York (American Institute of Architects) reminded those of us aboard the motor yacht Manhattan II for his architectural tour, New York’s harbor traffic was once the equivalent of the summer Friday rush to the Hamptons on the Long Island Expressway.
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With that image in mind, it’s all the more relaxing to sink into the plush interiors of the 100-foot motor yacht Manhattan II while enjoying Classic Harbor Line’s architecture tour AIANY Around Manhattan. Guided by members of AIA New York, the tour circumnavigates the island of Manhattan in just under three hours. While you might initially balk at the cruise’s duration, it’s likely that you’ll be spellbound by a visual feast of breathtaking vistas supplemented by a fascinating narrative of Manhattan’s waterfront development.
As the immaculate and quiet yacht glides up the Hudson, guests wander from the all-glass conservatory and salon with its upholstered banquettes and full-service bar to the open bow with its teak decks and mahogany finishes. Midway through the tour, light hors d’oeuvres are served.
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Passengers aboard our recent cruise hailed from Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Japan, Portland, and San Francisco, as well as New Jersey. Even seasoned Manhattanites will find themselves mesmerized by familiar neighborhoods and historic towers that take on new perspectives from the water.
Gifted with a memory for facts and dates, the AIA docents are veritable compendia of architectural trivia, while offering insight into architecture’s ongoing evolution. From Beaux-Arts icons to Art Deco gems and on through residential “starchitecture,” the tour showcases more than 150 architectural landmarks, not only in Manhattan, but also along the waterfronts of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
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For those more interested in admiring Manhattan at gloaming, Classic Harbor Line offers various sunset sails and cruises aboard its 1920s-style motor yachts or one of two schooners. The 105-foot sailing yacht America 2.0 was built in tribute to the winner of the first America’s Cup in 1851. An eco-friendly vessel with cutting-edge construction materials, America 2.0 sails through the water with the finesse of a superior schooner built for speed and comfort.
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During the two-hour sunset sail, America 2.0 glides past the Statue of Liberty, as well as One World Trade Center, and Ellis Island on her way into New York Harbor. Complimentary cocktails are offered and guests are encouraged to bring a light picnic, if they desire. Even the most hardened New Yorker will soften at the sight of Manhattan glistening like a bejeweled necklace against a sunset-streaked sky.
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Owned and operated by a New York boatbuilding family with maritime roots, Classic Harbor Line salls from Chelsea Piers and offers private and corporate events that include jazz cruises, brunch cruises, foliage cruises, sushi and sake cruises, and holiday cruises with cocoa and carols. Apart from New York with its five vessels, Classic Harbor Line maintains locations in Boston, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Key West—and, naturally, Newport.
