Hello Brooklyn Circle Cruise Line: A Full Review

Being a native Brooklynite has it’s ups and downs. One of the positives is that you know the “new” trendy neighborhoods by their original name because that’s where you grew up. One of the negatives is that you get really jaded to some of the great tourist attractions in and around the borough. In an effort to break out of this rut during my Brooklyn family’s staycation, I decided to look into some of the new family-friendly tours in our area. This is when I came across the Circle Line‘s new Hello Brooklyn Cruise.

I thought it would be fun to check out my beloved borough from the Hudson. So we set off for a “Family Day On The Circle Line ‘Hello Brooklyn’ Cruise”.

WHAT IS THE HELLO BROOKLYN CRUISE?

Circle Line is a cruise brand in the NYC area known for delighting tourists and natives alike with a variety of cruise experiences around the city’s shores. However, up until now there has not been many rides that bring light to Manhattan’s trendy neighboring borough, Brooklyn. The Hello Brooklyn Cruise sails down the Hudson River giving sightseers the usual, (but always fabulous), view of Manhattan. But it goes keeps going downstream to introduce it’s riders to many more historical sites along the Brooklyn waterline. It travels to the piers of Bay Ridge and allows tourists to see a side of Brooklyn that they may not otherwise had a chance to see.

Suggested Reading: Nick’s Lobster Waterfront Brooklyn Seafood Restaurant Review

The Brooklyn Bridge from the Hello Brooklyn Cruise

Photo Credit: Tiffany aka itsmeladyg

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THE TRIP (AKA MY 2 CENTS)

Admittedly, I had no idea what to expect when we boarded the boat. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that it was roomy and provided ample shaded & non-shaded seats throughout the boat. For the best views, sit to the rear of the boat for an unobstructed experience. In addition, there were air conditioned areas that were a perfect escape on the hot July day.

The ride was around 2 hours and featured an awesome, (and incredibly knowledgable), tour guide. He filled us in on all of the attractions, historical points, and past events during our smooth ride down the river. We were able to get fantastic pictures from both the shaded and open areas of the boat. I was finally able to see Ellis Island up close as I shamefully admitted to my family members that in my almost 35 years as a New Yorker, I had yet to visit. Our son was able to get a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty. We also had a blast taking pictures and feeling the wind on our faces at the front of the ship as we approached the Brooklyn shores.

By far, my favorite part of the cruise was when we slowed down and got a waterfront glimpse of many Brooklyn neighborhoods that we are familiar with. The tour guide was also from Brooklyn and told us a few personal stories that made the experience much more personal and relatable. We also learned many new things about those neighborhoods. For instance, we did not know that there was a pier off of Bay Ridge called the 69th Street Pier. It is also known as the American Veteran’s Memorial Pier. We took mental note of it’s location for a future picnic date.

MY RECOMMENDATION

I am happy that we took the time to try the Hello Brooklyn Cruise. It was a relaxing change of pace that also turned out to be very educational for the entire family. As a native Brooklynite, I hope that more people get a chance to see Brooklyn through the eyes of someone that loves the borough’s history and culture as we did. This was truly the most special part of the trip for me. If you get hungry, the cafe features Brooklyn based eats like Junior’s cheesecake and beer from the Brooklyn Brewery. The tickets are $38 per adult and $30 per child. So, the next time your out-of-town friends want to do something touristy, avoid the overcrowded usual Manhattan areas and check out the Hello Brooklyn Cruise. For more information about the cruise and boarding information, visit www.circleline42.com.

FTC DISCLOSURE: This post was sponsored in part by Circle Line. In no way, shape, or form, does this change the opinions expressed in this post. For more information, please visit my Disclosure Page.