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Empire Cruises

3.0 (68 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Dry champagne for VIP, very dry and bitter. Didn't like it.
May M.

Bought VIP tickets for 4th of July (2019) in the Timeless yacht with Empire Cruises. Instructions said be there by 5:00pm. Arrived at 4:45pm and people are already waiting, naturally, but still no "yacht." 5:00pm comes and the boat arrives, an effort was made to dock, but the crew was having a hard time. They left and made a u turn to try and dock a second time. 20 minutes later they finally docked. There is no line at this point, but the security/guards were yelling at people to stand by the wall. How would people know where to wait, there is no order, just complete disorganized chaos. They didn't start to let people in until almost 6:00pm. There was no voyage to Lady Liberty as indicated on the schedule (Picture attached of the schedule provided to us). The boat didn't move til 7:00pm. The food was mediocre. No other option for a main entree other than chicken. This is not a buffet, you get one serving. There isn't enough food for a second serving. The only highlight of this Empire cruise is the fireworks. Not worth $200 for VIP ticket. Regular admission is just about the same with all you can drink. Also, the drinks are put in small plastic cups and was made very weak. I didn't even have a buzz at the end of the night. It felt like I was drinking juice. I do not recommend the VIP tickets for 4th of July. I understand tickets are expensive due to the fireworks display, but this cruise was very disappointing.

The fireworks "view" we paid Empire Cruises over $1,000 for!!!! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!

DONT GIVE THESE PEOPLE A PENNY! (I wish I could give NEGATIVE STARS). I purchased 2 VIP tickets for the July 4th, 2021 fireworks cruise on the Liberty Belle - OVER A THOUSAND BUCKS! The VIP experience was simply not delivered. Not even an adequate experience. When I tried to complain after, phone calls and emails were not even acknowledged. These people are crooks and scoundrels! The major selling point was the "PRIVATE VIP OUTDOOR LOUNGE". There were not even enough chairs and I had to go backdown four floors and get some. VIP? Seriously? Perhaps that could have been overlooked (or at least there could have been a sign, "VIP's - Bring your own chairs!" but the main event, of course, was the fireworks. It was, after all, sold as a "NYC Fireworks Cruise". I understand the Fireworks were nice but I wouldn't know, we couldn't see them! The Captain positioned the boat so the Captain's house (or whatever it is called) and the fake smoke stacks completely blocked the display. (photos attached). The people one deck below (who paid a fraction of what I paid) had a much better view but, by the time I noticed that, that deck was completely full. There is MORE: Initially, we were told to board at 5:30 and later received an email saying boarding was at 5 pm and departure at 5:45. "Gate closes 6 pm, no exceptions". The boat didn't even arrive until 6pm and did not set sail until after 7, AN HOUR AND A QUARTER LATE. The VIP "Priority Boarding line" was not marked at all so, despite being there since 5, we ended up at the back of the line. The DJ was playing music NO ONE in that crowd wanted to hear over dinner. When I respectfully asked if he would be playing a wider range of music, he said (and this is an exact quote of his words, if not his smartass offensive tone), "I don't need your advice. They hired me for a reason." I choose not to match his obnoxious tone so I did not say, "No actually you DO need to take my advice, I am paying you." Perhaps he had a problem with an inter-racial couple..... I thought those days were long gone. Further, there was absolutely no FOURTH OF JULY music, no Star-Spangled Banner, nothing. This was especially upsetting to my spouse, who is a refugee to this country. The food was not bad but clearly not VIP, including steak that was essentially slabs of fat. The Party Favors consisted of a cheap fan (which no one offered us but another guest who saw my spouse was looking ill, did). It appears to have been sitting in a box for years with the folds all stuck together and the glue coming off on the spine. This is NOT VIP by anyone's standards. There is still more but I will just add that the bathrooms were absolutely DISGUSTING. For a thousand bucks, they might have had ONE attendant/cleaner and enough toilet paper??? (I'll spare you that photo - DISGUSTING) Don't give these people a PENNY!

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Ask the Community - Empire Cruises

Review Highlights - Empire Cruises

Susanne Flushing, NY: On June 3rd, 2013 I booked a party through Empire Cruises more specifically the boat The Jacana.

Mentioned in 9 reviews

Read more highlights

Overlook at Bryant Park

Overlook at Bryant Park

(3 reviews)

Theater District, Midtown West

Overlook is located in Bryant Park and is on the 2nd floor of the observation deck of the skating…read morepavilion. They often host free events and can be rented for parties, dinners and receptions. Overlook is a gorgeous space with floor to ceiling windows and skylights. It overlooks the Bryant Park skating rink, Winter Village and has views of the surrounding buildings. The views here are AMAZING!!! I recently attended one of their free yoga classes as part of their Winter Fitness program. The space is pretty large and comfortably held the 40 or so attendees the night I attended yoga. We all were informed beforehand to bring our own mats and towels as these would not be provided. The yoga sessions are run by different yoga companies and the one I attended was by Sputnik Yoga and was a silent headphone yoga session. We each were provided, free of charge, headphones to wear during class. This was my first time attending a session like this but had a blast! The headphones took a bit getting used to, but I loved that you could clearly hear the teacher during the class. They also played some cool music while helping to block out all other sounds. This really helped me focus on the movement and the instructions. The class was an open level Vinyasa but the movements and flow were slightly advance. It was quite a workout and I was sweaty by the end. After class, we were each given wipes to sanitize the headphones and our mats. Then we all took selfies in this beautiful space and one final group picture, which they posted on their Instagram account. This was by far the coolest yoga class I've ever taken. I've been telling all of my friends and co-workers about it and have already signed up for some of their upcoming classes. Overlook offers other types of activities like Meditation, Ribbon Dancing, Barre classes and Story time for kids. It is a great place to watch the skaters below and enjoy Bryant Park's free activities. I highly recommend trying them out.

We held our annual holiday party at Overlook at Bryant Park and could not have been happier. The…read morestaff, the venue, the food were all excellent. All 130 guests raved about the beautiful evening. Do not hesitate to engage Overlook at Bryant Park for a special event. You will be wowed.

Glasshouse Chelsea  - View -Chelsea Glasshouse

Glasshouse Chelsea

(32 reviews)

Chelsea

The Glasshouse Chelsea encompasses large spaces on the 14th and 21st floors of The Chelsea Arts…read moreTower. The event location offers sweeping views of the Hudson River, the Vessel, and a good deal of Manhattan and New Jersey's Gold Coast. The areas are supposed to be customizable, and I recently attended a party on the 21st floor. The space was more limited than I had expected, but I think it might have been configured as such. For instance, according to its website, it could fit up to 150 guests for a cocktail party or 20-120 guests for a seated dinner, but this setup held about 60-70 patrons. However, it was able to accommodate a coat check, a bar, a DJ station, a photo booth, and a few couches, while still allowing room for attendees to gather in groups and servers to pass out hors d'oeuvres. The party I attended was catered by Abigail Kirsch, and the food was fabulous in both taste and quantity. So, while the Glasshouse Chelsea is pretty far west and not the most convenient, its ability to set the scene for a great event makes it worth the trip, either as an organizer/planner or as an attendee.

Glasshouse Chelsea is one of the most beautiful event spaces I've ever been to. The windows, the…read moreglass and steel, the large open space - all enhanced by stunning views. It's windy out on the terrace, so be prepared (suggest bringing a brush or comb just in case). Even though you're in Manhattan, the space feels very comfortable and tranquil. The building staff were professional and helpful.

Empire Cruises - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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