Rockin’ The River Cruises

You get a three hour cruise… yes, just like on the SS Minow… but you don’t get shipwrecked on a deserted island.
Rather you get a great view of the Manhatten Skyline from the Hudson and East Rivers.
At $ 42, you can hardly go wrong. We were treated to a great show by Buckwheat Zydeco of Big Easy fame. It was a Rockin Good Time.
He plays a great accordian and the keyboards as well.
All backed by his home and touring band… they are very tight.
I though it was funny that he yelled ‘somebody scream’ at least a dozen times during the show.
If you want to sit, get there early. Otherwise you will only find a place to lean at either end of the boat where you can’t see the show.
The acoustics are good for a live show on a boat.
They sell a decent selection of bottle beer but they go for $ 7.50 a throw… just a bit pricey.
They also have a snack bar and a full stocked bar if you like a cocktail.

Wow!
My friends were in from Florida and invited me to go on Rockin the River cruise. A bluegrass band from Ithaca NY I think «Donna the Buffalo» was the entertainment.
What a great evening. This was my first time on the Hudson River .
We left the pier as the sun was setting. cruised down to the Statue of Liberty and loitered for a while. It was amazing what a sight.
We then proceeded to go around the horn up the East River. I was just overwhelmed cars and trains whizzing overhead on the Brooklyn Bridge. Forgot is was a steel decked bridge…
Up just short of the 59^th st Bridge. Now I was on the Manhattan side of the boat and my goodness what a site, FDR drive cars silently moving along the baseball fields all lit up Wow!
You can buy Drink tiks on the boat i think beer and wine was $ 9.00 maybe $ 12.00 for a mixed drink.
The crowd was a mix of 25 to 60 yo just dancing singing and having a blast. I was with my friends. I would say it was the most wonder full evening I’ve had in the city since returning some months back.
So get online and book a show abt $ 40 Take in the sights and sounds…

Four stars. One for the breathtaking view, two for the fact I’m on the water looking at the concrete jungle, three for the fact that Rhett Miller is serenading me as I glide along and four for the fact that I’m not seeing it all in some crappy club.
Crowded? Sure, a little. You’re a captive audience on a boat, remember. Easy to go find fresh air somewhere on deck? You bet your ass.

I attended the Circle Line John Hiatt «Rockin’ the River» Cruise on August 7^th, and was frustrated and disappointed. I arrived early enough (or so I thought), an hour and a half before departure, but upon boarding the boat, it became obvious that less than 10% of the passengers would be able see the performance, and even then only if you were aggressive enough to crowd in front of the stage and stand the whole time, blocking everyone else’s view in the process. The PA system on the boat was very good, but they might have well been playing a recording for the overwhelming majority of people who couldn’t catch even a glimpse of the band.
Fortunately, Hiatt played again two nights later at the State Theater in New Brunswick, and I was able to attend and enjoy what was a much better show.
If you want to take a sightseeing cruise around lower Manhattan, the CIrcle Line cruise is fine. If you want to see a musical performance, go to a club or a theater. Attempt to do both at the same time, and something is going to suffer.

John Hiatt rocked the heck out this cruise on Thursday night. He’s a true old school musician and his performance was one of the best I have ever seen. That is a real rave considering the venue. This boat thing leaves a lot to be desired. Scott R. really nails it in his previous review. We were in the front of the line and still didn’t get a front seat, there were so few to be had. Although if you wanted to you could stand. The circle line sells tickets for the bar before you even board so you’re getting your drink on pretty early which makes for a rowdy crowd by mid sail. We sat on the side about three rows in and couldn’t see the performance except when he leaned back away from the mic and jammed with his band. Fortunately, there was lots of that and I got a good view and was able to enjoy the performance in spite. It was a beautiful day but if we had been able to sit with a better view of the performance we would have had a crappier view of the waterfalls installation and our lady liberty. So, if you’re REALLY into the band, be the first online or see them somewhere else. If it’s the floating around the island while they play in the background thing you’re looking for, hangout by the back bar. Overall, I had a good time although I would probably not do it again.
p. s. all day parking there was $ 30. I’d take the subway.

Have you secretly wanted to go on a cruise around New York but are afraid you’d seem lame?
Evidently, someone thinks so b/​c they’ve been booking music acts on NYC cruises for the last couple years.
What sounds like a great idea wilts in practice. I’ve been on a couple — the last being an Old 97s show. Whereas a normal show would give everyone a view of the band, only about 10% of the people on the cruise have even a decent view. This is due both to their being no raised platform for the band and b/​c the boat’s dimensions force the band to play width-​wise so almost the whole audience is viewing the band from the side. Add in all the non-​musical rocking plus a $ 15 premium for being on a boat and this equates to a subpar music venue.
If you’re lucky enough to get up close to the band or don’t mind hanging out on the deck and treating the musical act as background music to a night on the Hudson, this might work for you. But I’m only gonna be disappointed the next time I hear one of my favorite acts are playing one of these cruises…