Parade of Sail Cruise and Tall Ships Guided Tours bring passengers close to the action

Weehawken, NJ (June 24, 2026) – NY Waterway, which operates the largest ferry fleet between New Jersey and New York, will offer two scenic boat tours, a Parade of Sail Cruise and Tall Ships Guided Tours, that will provide spectacular on-water access to Sail4th 250, a historic, global gathering of tall ships and military ships that will sail into New York Harbor and up the Hudson River to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our nation’s founding. 

Parade of Sail Cruise Details

On July 4th, NY Waterway will run a special cruise that will provide an optimal, on-water viewing location, just south of the Statue of Liberty, of 48 Tall Ships and crews from around the world as they pass by in the International Parade of Sail. Riders will not only enjoy a great view of the ships passing by but also be able to view the US Navy's Blue Angels flying overhead. The cruise will provide comfortable, open-air seating, with drinks and food available on board for purchase. The ferry will depart from the Port Imperial ferry terminal in Weehawken at 7:30 a.m. and return at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Ticketholders arriving from Manhattan will enjoy free, 8-minute round-trip connecting ferries from the Midtown W39th St Ferry Terminal to Port Imperial by presenting their Parade of Ships Cruise Voucher to deckhands, including free multi-route shuttles throughout Manhattan.

Date: July 4, 2026

Port Imperial Boarding:

7:30 a.m.

Return:

Approximately 3:00 p.m.

Pricing

Adults: $149

Children 4-12: $99

Toddlers Under 4: FREE

To purchase tickets, visit: nywaterway.com/Sail250

Tall Ships Guided Tour Details

From July 5 through July 7, NY Waterway will run Tall Ships Guided Tours. These 2 ½ hour guided tours will provide passengers with up-close looks from the water of more than 60 Tall Ships and over 40 U.S & Allied naval ships (including a British Royal Navy aircraft carrier) anchored in the New York harbor and the Hudson River, along with detailed narration from the tour guide. Riders will enjoy comfortable, open-air seating, and drinks and food, which will be available on board for purchase. The ferries will depart from the Midtown / Pier 79 W39th St. ferry terminal in Manhattan.

Ticketholders arriving from New Jersey will enjoy free, round-trip connecting ferries from New Jersey routed to Midtown by presenting their Tall Ships Guided Tour Voucher to deckhands, and free shuttles back to New Jersey. *Based on operating schedules.

Dates:

July 5, 2026

July 6, 2026

July 7, 2026

Midtown Pier 79 Terminal Departures:

10am, 1pm, 4pm

Pricing

Adults: $99

Children 4-12: $75

Toddlers Under 4: FREE

To purchase tickets, visit: nywaterway.com/Sail250

Reminder:  NY Waterway’s 4th of July Cruise experience is returning for America’s 250th Anniversary. The cruise offers the best seat in the city for unparalleled on-water views of the Macy’s Annual 4th of July Fireworks Show -- the nation’s largest synchronized fireworks event -- from the Hudson River. Purchase tickets for your cruise at: July 4 Cruise (nywaterway.com)

Get updates at 1-800-53-FERRY (7am-11am Monday through Friday), nywaterway.com,  facebook.com/nywaterway​ or twitter.com/ridetheferry

About NY Waterway

NY Waterway operates the nation’s largest privately owned commuter ferry service, including the biggest fleet traveling between New Jersey and New York. Every day, NY Waterway’s ferries, together with its free shuttle buses in New York and New Jersey, provide tens of thousands of commuters with safe, fast, convenient, and reliable transit service.

NY Waterway ferry routes feature daily service between terminals in Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken, Edgewater and South Amboy in New Jersey and Midtown, Battery Park City and Wall Street in Manhattan. In cooperation with MTA Metro North Railroad, ferries bring commuters from the west side of the Hudson River in Haverstraw to the Hudson Line station Ossining.

NY Waterway continues to evolve and innovate, adding new routes to meet changing commuter demand and upgrading its fleet to utilize hybrid-electric power.

Celebrating 40 Years

Founded in 1986, NY Waterway is celebrating four decades of exceptional service. NY Waterway ferries regularly provide emergency service when public transit systems are disrupted. On 9/11, NY Waterway ferries evacuated more than 150,000 people from Manhattan, part of the largest maritime evacuation in history. Ferry crews have also rescued more than 300 people from New York waters, most notably the 2009 rescue of 143 people from US Airways Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson.