Went for the Black Flag show (I mean, who could pass up seeing Black Flag on a boat?!). The boat was smaller than I thought it would be - but I guess we all fit alright. It definitely felt "intimate". There were only a few seats strewn around the top deck which was tough for some folks w mobility issues. Just something to consider. You may be standing for 3 hours. Very small bar area downstairs - confusingly two bars set up but unclear if two separate lines (one for booze, one for food and booze? Unclear...)? Sound not the best but you're on a boat so c'mon... Bathrooms surprisingly clean and non-boat like. The ride itself is fun too! We got to see some pretty sights on a gorgeous summer night. I'd go again if another band I liked was playing (but hopefully on one of their bigger boats. Lol). read more

Rocks Off - Statue of Liberty - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Rocks Off Concert Cruise is a cool way to see spectacular views of NYC, while making corny, hacky jokes like "I'm on a boat!" amongst like minded fans of a musical act. On our cruise we were aboard for the "The Sons and The Heirs" - A popular Smiths/Morrissey cover band. We liked it so much we did it twice (2014 and 2015). The Jewel itself is not a luxury yacht - the decor is fairly plain, but relatively clean vessel painted all white with a large area below deck with windows, bar and the band usually plays towards the front of the ship. The upper deck has a small light up dance floor (ala Saturday night Fever, but not quite) and this year has fake grass carpet along the front and side. There are plenty of chairs along the side and some outdoor furniture to sit upon in the front. There is another bar located on this level. Watch the bartenders and what they charge you for drinks - early in the evening for we were charged $9 a piece for Grey Goose and Club, a half hour later he tried to charge $12 - a bit shady, but it's not like you can just leave! haha Drinks are decent, but you may be better off sticking with beer. Although it may be a bit difficult to see the band you will be able to hear the music anywhere on the boat so what I often do is just hang on the upper deck taking in those, beautiful, impressive views. Perhaps dance a little if the mood strikes. Talk with some friendly passengers. Just have a generally great time on a beautiful NYC summer night! These cruises are well worth the price of admission for a unique NYC experience. BTW - Do you also hear "Empire State of Mind" whenever you see anything New York related or walking down her streets? Freaking Alicia Keys/Jay Z! Get out of my head! read more

Rocks Off - Spectacular views from the Jewel - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Rocks Off Concert Cruise could be my favorite activity in all of New York City. For about $20 you get to: 1) Rock out with an on-board concert. Recently I saw a band called Bunny England and the New Originals do live karaoke with passengers, who all happened to be unbelievable singers and performers. I don't even know how the band can have so many songs in their repertoire - from classic rock, to punk, metal, pop, it was awesome. But my favorite excursions have been with Tragedy - an all metal tribute band to the Bee Gee's. http://www.letsmaketragedyhappen.com/ Which leads me to.. 2) Dance party USA. You should be dancin' yeah! Live music + shimmying + booty shakin' + pointing + snapping + feet moves is an obvious choice. 3) Drink reasonably priced cocktails from nice bartenders aboard. 4) See incredible views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. You are waaaay closer than the Staten Island Ferry. Snap lots of pics - you can bring cameras on board. 5) BE ON A BOAT! Never thought you'd be on a boat? You don't have buy cereal and hope for cracker jack prizes - this **** is real! No seriously, it's quite lovely - sea breeze blowing through you hair, hearing the waves crash, gliding through the water.. If you squint you may even be able to see some stars. The boats themselves are very clean with nice bathrooms, places to sit and chat, indoor and outdoor decks. Rocks Off is deluxe. There are two main boats - one for smaller events which boards at east 23rd Street and FDR drive, and the larger one usually departs from 41st Street on the west side. The schedule and tix are on their website: http://www.rocksoffcalendar.com/calendar/list.php read more

Rocks Off - View from the boat - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for a RJD2 concert and had a good time overall minus the few encounters with really rude people (most likely drunk). I guess that's unavoidable when you are in such a cramped area and on a booze cruise. Tip: Stay on the upper deck for the music (there's really no point in being in the lower floor unless you want to get food) but go towards the back of the boat where it's not as crowded. The closer you are to the artist, the crazier it's going get. Plus, there is no elevation platform for the artist performing so it's almost impossible to see them. So just do yourself a favor and go towards the back. The view from the back of the boat is just as amazing.. if not, better. This was my first time at a Rocks Off concert and I would definitely do this again. The cruise is about 3 hours. Ticket prices are very reasonable (around $30) - you get to listen to great music while you cruise along the beautiful east side of NYC! It's quite breathtaking at night - all the lit up buildings, bridges and being able to see the Statue of Liberty pretty close up. I don't think it can get better than that. Weather couldn't of been more perfect too. Highly recommend! read more

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I'm on a boat! Cruising on the water along the east side of Manhattan island while rocking out to good music and seeing some terrific sights on a beautiful night is always a plus. Doing this for free is even better! I received an email from Goldstar with a free offer for tickets to last night's Rocks Off Concert Cruise. I figured it would be cheesy good fun for me and my girl to enjoy a night out, especially when she is a Journey and Bon Jovi fan and a cover band called BonJourney was performing on the boat. Yes, I am serious. This was just too funny! The weather was absolutely perfect for this last night. The crowd was certainly mixed and was almost cartoonish. Younger rockers, older women in outfits they should not be in, middle aged people pounding down overpriced drinks, a group of older Asian ladies hanging out and eating food they snuck in, a group of loud drunk Russians dancing horribly, cougars on the prowl and mauling some of the younger guys the drunker they got, older married women acting like groupies as if this was the real band. It was a sight to behold, and made you giggle as if you were observing a really bad reality show competition. This was people watching perfection! Almost like a train-wreck people of Wal-Mart television show. The boat itself, the Jewel, is set up as two floors with the band playing on the lower deck below, and the upper deck with seating and a small dance floor. Bars are on both levels, while food is served on the lower deck. Men's and woman's bathrooms are also down there. This is one of their smaller boats and fits around 300 people, but last night there was nowhere near that many and was nice and open without too much of a crowd problem. We stayed on the upper deck all night enjoying the sights and listening to the band over the loudspeakers. We had our own table and secured our spot for the evening when we got on board. It was just too nice out to go on the lower deck to watch a cover band play, plus it seemed really warm down there when I hit the bathroom. Overall, the crowd was in good spirits, the band put on a decent enough show (even though the singer flubbed a few verses now and then), people were considerate when they bumped into you, and we had a great time. Between sets they pumped out tracks ranging from AC/DC, Michael Jackson, Prince, Van Halen, etc. As expected, the mixed drinks were a bit overpriced at $8 for a sea breeze in a small plastic cup, but at least the bartender did a heavy pour of vodka when I bought one for Stacey. We didn't bother with the food but I did see some wings, Ceasar salad, and pasta for purchase by the food station. Boat is clean and well maintained. The sights as you pass under multiple lit-up bridges at night, the glimmering lights of the city, and the majestic Statue of Liberty just make for a dramatic visual along the whole evening. It's a terrific thing to experience at least once, and totally worth it if you can score free or highly discounted tickets to this three hour tour. Best to go with a group of friends to have fun with. Normally, tickets are in the $25-$30 range, and is actually a cheap night out, especially for a cruise around Manhattan, but look on sites like Goldstar for the free or super cheap offers. read more

Went for the ship of fools concert (wig jam), had a blast, the three hour tour was to short went by to quick. overall great time. Would totally recommend this as a great time. Plenty of bars on 2nd ave to pre-game before hitting the boat. read more

They tried. They really tried. Bus had no idea where they were going and we were stopped for 15 minutes. They clearly did not known the route they were supposed to take. It should not take nearly 2.5 hours to get from Manhattan to Jones Beach. Glad to be able to drink on the way to the concert but this is ridiculous. Avoid unless you like getting angry. read more

We did a late Jewel boat cruise with Pink Talking Fish. It started at 11pm. The line to get to the ship was smooth. The boat is great, there is plenty of room to hang out and chill on both levels. The floor is covered in green very thick Astro turf, it felt comfortable. The upper deck has a fun colorful dance floor. The bottom floor has trippy lights like colorful targets. They matched the mood of the crowd and the band nicely. The bathroom was clean and never full so that was awesome. The ride was not too crowded and the band was fun! There was food there to buy too but I didn't have any. I think there were French fries, salad and some other stuff. They have a full bar and they accept credit cards. Overall, it's a fun dancy scenic boozy ride. read more

Rocks Off - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Took the party bus from the city to Jones Beach to see Ozzy. I'll give them one star cause the bus is pretty and nice and you can bring you own booze and drink. Took forever to get there cause the driver was lost and we sat on the side of road for an hour. Then he didn't know where to park so we had to drive all over the venue. They leave you really far from the venue so you have to walk a mile going and leaving the show. We missed half of the opening act. We sat for an hour on the bus leaving the show, then we finally left and had to transfer to a new bus (I think the driver quit). The new driver was doing ok but then we ended up in KENNEDY AIRPORT driving around the arrivals. I'm serious! I would say about 3 hours each way and it's not cheap. We met come cool metal people on the bus but save your money and take an Uber. You'll thank yourself. read more

Hard to say...I think this boat cruise could've been shortened to a couple hours, but I ended up staying here for about four hours, thinking crap, I'm stranded on this boat! At least it had good views of all the bridges we floated under, the Statue of Liberty, the huge red clock, etc, etc. $20 for two people, and two cocktails? Definitely worth the money. It's two stories, and I went when the white wedding band was playing 80s music. You've got the classics and they were full of energy, but 4 hours on a boat gets old after a bit. There was also way too much smoking going on upstairs as you're trying to catch the view. One guy had a cig hit him as he was looking outside from downstairs (c'mon people-aim better when you're tossing it into the waters). They served pasta and salad for $10 for those who came hungry, and of course the drinks are in tiny plastic cups, but they are made strong. Overall-good experience as we sailed up and around the islands, and seeing the tall buildings & glowing bridges during sunset was quite the "aww" moment. read more

I went on a Rocks Off Concert Cruise on the Liberty Belle on June 22nd, 2017. The concert was a Philly-based band, the Menzingers. Everything started off well until my fiancé and I realized that every single emergency exit door was bolted and locked. Not only were the deadbolts in place, but the deadbolts were secured with padlocks that would need keys to be removed! It appears they were trying to keep guests away from narrower walkways where there'd be a greater risk of falling into the water, but this left one stairwell up to the main deck for exit from the lower levels, with no existing routes for emergency egress. This is a major safety concern, and needs to be the first thing I mention in this review. Before my fiancé and I realized that the emergency exits were blocked off, though, we had a decent time. For $30 bucks a ticket, it wasn't a bad deal. Only 500 tickets were sold for the show, which left lots of room to move about on the boat. During the time before the opening act began, most guests milled around on the upper levels of the deck, taking in the sights. The tour offers great views of the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty. On the lower level, there were full-service bars, restrooms, and buffet-syle food available for $10. They had pasta and salad at one buffet, and empanadas at another. There were also merch tables. Be warned there is no seating on any of the upper/outdoor levels. Be prepared to stand all evening. The cruise is also not handicap-accessible. At the very lowest level, they had the bands perform. These areas are typically designed for dining areas when the boat cruises are being rented normally (i.e., not for concerts). They set up the band on half of the dining room, on a raised platform, and put the audience on the other side of the dining room. There was only one doorway and stairwell for entry/exit, and it was incredibly cramped. It became a dangerous fire hazard. Many guests experienced claustrophobia/anxiety attacks and tried to leave in a state of panic-- difficult to leave during the band's set, as not all 500 people could fit in the room and many were listening from the stairwell. The ceiling was also very low, which may have contributed to the claustrophobic feel, as well. Some crowd surfers knocked ceiling panels down as they bumped their heads/limbs into the ceiling. The speakers were also set up in the audience area, which was a bit concerning. When the boat rocked (like when it turned around in the harbor) or when people dancing bumped into it, it appeared as though the entire speaker tower would topple over. When the boat docked, there were two employees there to assist with disembarking. Unfortunately, it took them more than 20 minutes to try to position the gangplank. There was also only one gangplank, so all 500 people had to exit the boat from the same place. This led to massive crowds on outer decks and long waits. It took 40+ minutes to get off. The band was great and the views were spectacular, but my overall impression is: never again. read more

Saw Every Time I Die on the Liberty Belle last night off of Pier 36 and had a great time! Tickets were $35 for a 3 hour ride, band played two 45 min sets, beers were $6 and a hot buffet for $10 a plate included chicken, rice, caesar salad and pasta salad. Boat was 4 levels and very clean including the bathrooms. There was an ATM on board but I made sure to bring cash for everything.There was plenty of space to roam around on the boat and the weather was perfect. The boat left a bit after the 8pm departure time but we were back on the pier at 11pm. Awesome evening, would definitely see other bands on Rocks Off! read more

Sweet tits! This was a hell of a good time. A booze cruise on the E. River* done absolutely correctly - set to wonderful, melodious electronic music. Amon Tobin, to be exact, and if you do not know who the f**k that is, just throw his name into your little search engine and watch some videos. I felt like a little kid. Confused and excited, I was. A concert, that floats? And chucks along? Weeeee! What a better way to spend a very late Saturday night (early Sunday morning, technically) than aboard the Jewel - the second largest ship in the Rock's Off fleet. It was an absolutely gorgeous night. Chilly, but that is what the bar is for, friends. And the music and the dancing. And the booze. If that ships-a-rockin', don't come-a-...... Yup. It got real weird, real quick. In the best way possible, of course. A+ for the Rocks Off people. They organize *many* great events throughout the year. This is a professionally kick-ass concert venue and organization. Rocks Off hosts other venues and musical wonders besides the boat cruises, but this is kind of their claim to fame. In short, they know what the hell they are doing. You are in good hands. They have provided one hell of a platform for people like myself who get stupidly happy when the words "alcohol" "miniature-cruise-ship" and "music" are used in the same sentence. Bar is cash only. This is a three hour long cruise. Don't get kicked out, you get thrown overboard (or put into a holding cell until they dock)...so keep it chill, you crazies. There are plenty of FAQs on the website. It provides you with all of the necessary shit you need to know. FUCK this was fun. *Can not be 100 percent positive that this vessel only stayed within the confines of just the river, I saw some bridges, I saw Lady Liberty (I think... it could have been your mom or girlfriend, not quite sure, the night was a bit blurry)... Yee-haw! read more

$40 just to get on the boat. Hardly anywhere to sit. Drinks were hilariously overpriced. $7 for a Corona. The buffet style food is wildly overpriced too, and not all that great. $40 I'd expect free buffet and maybe even a free drink or two. Jimmy, Kenny, and the Pirate Beach Band was ok though, and the views were amazing. Would highly recommend eating dinner first, and maybe pregame a few drinks before boarding. Otherwise, you'll be dropping some serious cash. read more

Amazing! I saw Less Than Jake on one of these booze cruises the other night and it was one of the best shows I have ever been to. It was like seeing one of my favorite bands at a basement show except it was on a boat. There was no stage so they played right on the floor and everyone was able to get up close and sing along and go wild. There's also a sweet little balcony section for some gnarly stage dives. The setting was also pretty nice because you're able to get a beautiful view of the NYC skyline at night from the Hudson River. Just make sure you don't look in the direction of New Jersey. What a great time! This was definitely worth the trip from Boston to NYC. I also want to give props to the bouncers. We were definitely a rowdy crowd but they kept their cool and there were no tough guy attitudes. Thanks fellas. read more

Worst experience ever. Came here to enjoy the All white cruise and smoking doesn't bother me. But weed indoors is a problem for me. I work construction and get drug testing randomly. This is ridiculous. read more

People say that $20 is expensive, but they don't realize that $20 is simpler than some cheaper amounts, like $9. So I didn't mind, not once. There was music, which made it hard to hear which stop was which. I ended up being on the boat for a few hours (just wanted to 'hop across the pond' to Brooklyn) so I missed my appointment. People were getting seasick, but I had no trouble because that's why I was going to the doctor in the first place. Just kneel and put your head against the wall! Humming helps too, something soft and sweet. Overall, a night well spent in overalls. read more

This is my 4th time taking the rocks off party bus and I will NEVER take it again! Paid $66 plus fees $100 total to take bus from Hammerstein to jones beach to see Ozzy. The driver got lost both on the way there and way back! Took 3 hours each way! On the way there the driver pulled over for a half hour and was debating whether he could clear the low clearance bridges. Got lost inside the venue as well and parked like a mile away and we had to walk! Waited over an hour after the show to take off, had to pull over and get in a new bus. This driver got lost too and we were stuck inside JFK airport! The bus is clean and you can drink, but dont waste your money! Ive had problems everytime Ive taken this party bus! read more

Had an enjoyable time despite the crappy weather Thursday night. Well, actually, it didn't rain so can't complain too much. The boat was nice. The Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra was awesome and the drinks were decently priced at $8. It was a good time and I an bet even better experience when the weather is nicer. read more

Ok, I was apprehensive. But, I went to No Code, the Pearl Jam boat cruise because I'm a diehard fan. SO MUCH FUN! There was a decent spread of food on board, which I didn't know and had already eaten, but lots of people had it and it looked good. Upstairs you have a great view of the city and can hear the band. People were hanging out and talking. Then downstairs it was a full on concert. The band was really good, everyone I met was cool. I actually went alone since my friend got sick, but everyone was so friendly (and there for the common interest of PJ!) that I made tons of friends. The beers were sort of pricey, but honestly, what do you expect? Well worth it. Would totally do again! read more

I went to see the Soft Rock Renegades and the Fades. It was really fun and only 20 bux! I feel like I could pay 20 bux for just a cruise minus the music in this town. It was a lovely night, there were some fireworks from somewhere. In case the weather got bad, there was plenty of indoor space. There was a bar (natch) and food for sale. The chicken, salad and rice combo was regretted immediately after it was ordered. overpriced. But the hot dogs were only $2! again, I'm pretty sure hot dogs are about that much even when they are NOT on a boat. I'm on a boat! (at least I was.) read more

This is a great way to spend an evening. On the water, watching the sunset, and enjoying live music. Granted space can be a bit cramped and the acoustics aren't great its still a lot of fun. Try to get there early to grab a spot on the upper deck. That way you'll get to enjoy the spectacular views. The bands usually don't start until you are well under way. read more

Had such a great time on a recent boat party - CamoNYC Jungle Cruise. We were on the Half Moon (200 people). The sound was great and the sights were amazing: Governors Island, Statue of Liberty, all the bridges and Brooklyn. Everyone that I saw there had a blast! They were very organized having a clip board with all the will call tickets listed and it did not take long to board. I do wish that the dock had a better waiting area, but that isn't something controlled by the Rocks Off Concert Cruise. I highly recommend them! read more

The Jewel was a fantastic experience with friendly staff, reasonably priced drinks with s surprising selection of import beers at $7 a bottle. The ship was not overcrowded and there were some seriously fantastic night views of New York City and Brooklyn, as well as several bridges and the statute of liberty. The show started at 8pm and we docked by 11:15pm. cabs are around when you get off the ship and ease of access was pretty good. excellent venue, will definitely come again asap. read more

Rocks Off - The statute of liberty from The Jewel for The Falcon - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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so last night, I kicked off my summer vacation by going to see Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine (they do hilarious lounge music covers of pop/rock/metal/TV songs) on a Rocks Off cruise. now, the fact that this show was ON A BOAT was epic in and of itself. I would give the show itself 5 stars if I could. Richard Cheese is goddamn hilarious and always puts on a great show (I've seen him perform three times). however, I will have to give the actual Rocks Off Concert Cruise 3 stars. 1) confiscation of my keychain-attached multi-tool by a security pat-down because "it might be a weapon" is extremely lame in this day and age. and no, you can't even get it after the show. thankfully, it was a cheap one, and I have a ton more, but still, I was not a happy camper. 2) concerts take place on one level. now, I was lucky enough to actually be on the same level as the band. however, the boat was packed, and as such, there were two other levels filled with people. I think I'd be kind of pissed if I didn't get to see the actual band, but just hear them on the speaker systems on the other levels. maybe they should get a boat with a different layout? fix these and we can be better friends. don't get me wrong, seeing a concert while you float past the most beautiful skyline in the goddamn world at night is 287 kinds of awesome...but...yeah. read more

Rocks off is great. Organized. Fun and always a good time. The mixed drinks are very high priced but that's to be expected. Get drunk before u get on. Sometimes they have a Buffett. I love these cruises read more

Amanda H. said it all pretty much but I will try to think of some things to add. I've been on two Rocks Off concert cruises and hope to be on many more. The boat is the perfect size to be intimate enough while not too crowded. You get to go on a boat cruise around freaking Manhattan which is practically free for the price of the concert ticket. The bar is not too overpriced. I am pretty sure there is no search and you can definitely bring cameras. It's so nice standing out on the deck with the view of the skyline lit up at night and an awesome band playing behind you! read more

What a funkin' boozin' time to break up the monotony of going out in NYC. I experienced this amazing cruise venue 2 summers in a row when I saw The New Mastersounds (both times). Their concert series offers a plethora of genres- punk, funk, rock, metal, dance, hip hop, jazz- you name it! It must have cost $18-$20 per head and drink prices weren't that bad either. Well worth over 3 hours of music, dancing, and beautiful views of the city from all angles. Go with your closest pals and you'll remember it for the rest of your life. There is no stage however everything is set up on the main floor of the ship, with two bars in the front and back of the cruise. Feel free to walk up to the deck and do as you please. Plenty happening everywhere. Note: There's only one bathroom so you're sh*t out of luck with a long line. read more

This was an awesome time for a 30th birthday celebration. We saw The Jimmy Kenny Band aboard The Jewel. The tickets were relatively inexpensive: between $25-30. The drinks were on the pricier side but I just figured that's because it's NYC. However, the mixed drinks were STRONG but came in very small plastic cups so I felt as if I was done my drink the second I got it. The cruise was sold out and The Jewel holds 300 people but I didn't feel like we were squished like sardines. It's definitely best to get there early to pick your spot. It was a beautiful afternoon and the sights were spectacular. I'd love to do another cruise but at sunset or night to see the city lit up. read more

Drinks are a little expensive (supply and demand) because you're on a boat. And you have to buy from them. Because you're on a boat. But seriously, I went with three friends and it was a great time. Def highly recommend it. read more

The Rocks Off Concert Cruises are a real treat. It's like you get the best of both worlds: an awesome show and a full viewing of NYC! I feel like it's somewhat of a secret since most people I know have never heard about it but when they do, they jump right on it. Or my friends are just not "in the know." The only issue I personally have is that the prices for a ticket seem to have gone up quite a bit since I first started seeing bands on the boat around 6 years ago but then again, what place hasn't increased their prices? I like all of the boats and have no preference. read more

Loved it! Great views of the city and Statue of Liberty. Reasonably priced booze and friendly staff. What impressed me the most was how great the sound was! I will definitely be rocking another show here in the future. read more

First off, we went to see BonJourney and they were really good. We enjoyed the upbeat vibe and it was fun music. However, the overall experience was only a 3. The boat wasn't the best, it was ok. Sitting downstairs was cramped and stuffy. Upstairs was better because of the fresh air, but the sound from the speakers muffled and unclear. The sights of the NY skyline and the Statue of Liberty were beautiful! We enjoyed the beauty of NYC and the lead singer of BonJourney was fun. It was advertised as a three hour cruise, leaving at 8:00 pm. We didn't get underway until after 8:15 pm, and then the band played until around 9:00 pm. Then they took a break until 9:45pm and then we pulled back into port at 10:30 pm. Not quite the three hour cruise as advertised. read more

The Half Moon is way too small. Nowhere near enough space in the uncovered part of the upper deck - I was worried I was going to burn people with my cigarette. We experienced such choppy waters for more than half of the cruise that the first band nearly fell over a few times. There's no stage (read: no elevation) for the band, so you can't see anything unless you're right up front. Staff were all angry bouncer types; I don't think I got even half a smile from any of them. No mention of safety procedures or what to do in an emergency. Drinks were typically overpriced. Stay on dry land to see the bands, then take a ferry for the view. read more

I would possibly have gone 4 stars for one of the bigger boats, but the Half Moon only gets 3... Anyway, I went out to see Tool tribute band, Schism. Along with Alice in Chains tribute, Facelift. The show was really good. Facelift was so-so, but Schism was unbelievable! But you want info about the boat, not the bands, right? Ok... It's small. There is decent space on the lower deck, but nothing really goes on there. The lower deck is cool if you need a break from the music or the crowd, but you can't see the bands, and you can hear the music but not great. The upper deck is totally packed. There is not very much room in the covered area of the upper deck, and you should absolutely plug your ears if you plan to stay there. On the uncovered portion of the upper deck, it is a smoke fest. Seriously, Smokey the Bear would have a heart attack. I cannot believe how many seemingly healthy, attractive, young people are sucking cancer sticks like they are their last hope! Sick! No one even seemed to care that there was a band! But hey, knock yourself out. I stayed inside to avoid lung cancer. About the only only good thing about the outside upper deck, is the amazing view of Lady Liberty at night. Really close up and awesome. Food was nothing special, and runs out kinda quick. I packed in a hero sandwich, and they were cool with that. Drinks were priced average to below average by NYC standards. I think beers were $6 and mixed were like $9. Bar staff was skimpy though, so wait times for drinks were a bit much. Don't bother tipping well with the hopes of a buyback, it ain't happenin'. Overall, we had a great time, but only because we really love Schism. I would not go on this cruise just for the hell of it. If you are a tourist, or a transplant, you may want to add a star. I'm a jaded, native NY'er, so I was not impressed by the whole "I'm on a boat!" aspect. Oh, and one final tip: Don't board too early!! We got there real early and went right up top to scope out the situation, and the rocking of the boat was intense! At dock, the boat rocks way worse than when it's underway. And it also rocks way worse on the upper deck than the lower (think pendulum). We jumped off, and ate our sandwiches until about 7:50, then got back on. No seasickness at all. Several people who got there early, went right to the upper deck and started drinking and smoking were green and puking by 9 pm. If you even SUSPECT that you will get seasick, pop a Dramamine or wear the bracelet. read more

A friend writes for a NYC music review website and scored free tickets to the Less Than Jake show this past Saturday night. Having seen LTJ 7-8 times, I knew they'd be great. They're one of those bands that loves to perform, so they take any and every opportunity to do so. As usual, they did not disappoint, and the sound system on the boat was great. I believe the tickets were $30, which isn't bad, considering you're seeing a band you (presumably) like and you get a fantastic boat ride around Manhattan. The sights were gorgeous and you spend a good amount of time out on the water (after the initial hour wait). My qualms, however, are the fact that the boat is a bit small. There was no way everyone was fitting in the main pit area. This was the first time I've ever gone to see a band and did not actually see them. Not even the tops of their heads/hair. The low ceilings also did not serve well for crowd surfing, though I wasn't planning on going up, so I didn't mind too much. Given that it was November, the heat was on. However, it was a LTJ show, so everyone was jumping and dancing and moshing. I had to hide behind my friend to keep the sweaty boys from rubbing against me. I was near-fainting point by the end and a little ventilation would have helped. Beers are 6 bucks and drinks and shots start at 10, which is pricey, given the small size and weakness of them. Unfortunately, we didn't have much cash on us and it was a cash-only bar. Also, the ATM wasn't working, which is a major downer for us and them. (Actually, it turned out to be a not-so downer for us given we were both much drunker than we thought. Thank you, day drinking!) Regardless, I would've given them more of my money because I have no idea what my tolerance is anymore. The experience was fun, but I don't think I'd go back unless it was a band I was dying to see. The space and drinks just aren't worth it and I've been on the open seas i.e. the Hudson and East River several times now. read more

I was taken on a first date to a jam band show on Rocks Off and I had the best time. Inside was rockin and outside was more serene and beautiful. It was a gorgeous night out too so nothing could have been better. Everyone was super friendly too. read more

Amazing music, tons of dancing, the New York skyline and a boat and you could not have a more perfect evening. The staff at Rocks Off are absolute sweethearts and extremely chill. read more

The weather was good and the view was great. The mixed drinks were skimpy so i suggest bringing a few little bottles in your purse.

Not impressed at all. It sounded so much better than it turned out to be.. By the end of the cruise, actually somewhere by the middle of it, I wished we could have gotten off the boat, it was just plain boring. The food was very mediocre, the music was ok, I guess, maybe it was the crowd?.. read more