Fantastic experience on the Cosmo with our boat manager, Sal! We had a large party of 70 people, and it was spacious with the top dock and also the main area with tables and the dance floor.
I first booked a boat with Empire Cruises back in April for a July date, and paid a reservation fee. At that time they were quite prompt. The sales person told me that 2 weeks before my date, I had to get back to them with the final head count and menu.I called them in June - and the person was very surprised... she answered Hi - how can I help you....I told them I was trying to confirm headcount and menu. They had forgotten the menu was not confirmed.I asked when the next payment was due. They mentioned that it had been due start of June actually (no one had sent anything).They sent me then an invoice for the remaining balance- with no itemized receipt. I paid that (at the time I was also not informed that for using my credit card, a transaction fee would be applied)Right after, another invoice came. I called to understand what this was for because I had just paid a sizeable amount.I spent 40 min with the sales person to work through the pricing, head count new numbers again.She mentioned they split the costs to make it easier and there was still a delta and she would send an invoice for the last amount.This invoice came through and then shortly thereafter, another one came... again.So I called back again - I thought this was going to be the last invoice. I got two again. Why is that?Could not get a hold of the sales person. Days leading up to my event - she finally called back saying her colleague would help me.Spoke with her colleague, asked for an itemized receipt so I could do the math myself. Once I received it - I saw that the amount on the receipt, the amounts I had paid already, and the amounts they were still billing me - did not add up.So I called and explained - and they realized they had overbilled me and they needed to fix it. They also explained that some of the amounts did not match because of the credit card transaction fee - which was never explained before.Given how expensive this boat is, its ridiculous how disorganized this process was, how terrible they tracked their customers payments, choices, dates, invoices and preferences.I would have expected a much more professional experience. Not having to request the receipts and ledgers and check the companys math.That being said, once on the boat - the staff was very accommodating. There was one instance at the start where they had miscounted my guests and made a very rude aggressive comment that they dont like being surprised by extra guests. Once we recounted the head count - we were actually 3 people short from the original total and he calmed down.The Bar tender was great - very engaging to everyone.The food - we did the lunch option, this was kind of subpar... but overall I think people enjoyed the boat.
I was ripped off $3600 when I gave a 92 day notice to cancel my event. I had paid in full on a credit card in January 2020 and was never refunded. They wanted to give me a credit?!!! I have every email to back my claim. This was before COVID shut down everything.
I could not recommend Empire Cruises more! They’re a great company that will go the extra mile to make your event a great success in every possible aspect. Thank you Mamadou, Jennifer, and especially Yisury for going above and beyond in helping make our party amazing. Would not think twice to work with them again.Food was great, the drinks were very well prepared (not watered down or skimped on alcohol), and in all honesty the Liberty Belle is one hell of a boat! Everyone had an amazing time — 10 out of 10 would do it again.
My nephew had an end of year party scheduled on their ship, at the last minute we were notified that the ship could not take his school group instead they took another school. This is very disappointing as the children were really looking forward to their cruise. I will NEVER do business with this company. HORRIBLE!!!!
I highly recommend using Empire Cruises for any celebration. I rented the Lucille for a joint birthday with my friend and we had a blast. I coordinated things with Edward, who was a bit slow to reply via email but most always picked up the phone. He made sure to answer any questions I had and accommodated us as much as he could. The only issue we had the day of the event was that the catering was late, but the staff made it up to us by giving us extra sailing time. Kenny managed things the day of our event and could not have been nicer or more helpful. He has a very positive, fun personality which made our experience all the better. We were able to have a friend DJ and setup with the equipment on the boat. Many of us were dancing the entire cruise! The food was also delicious and the premium open bar was a hit. All of our guests said they had a wonderful time. I most certainly did! It was one of the best birthdays Ive ever had!
Highly recommend!! We rented the Lucille boat for about 40 people for a 30th birthday. Everyone had a great time. Nicole was so responsive in planning months in advance and Kenny and the crew were so attentive and helpful on the boat. The dj they hired was great, played exactly what we wanted to hear. We were nervous about the weather because went in December but it was so warm on the boat. Highly recommend for any event during any time of the year!!
Our organization, Cooper Square Committee, did a fundraising Gala on Empire Cruises Harbor Lights yacht, and the 150 or so people who attended really enjoyed it. There was plenty of room to spread out, the staff was friendly, and they provided a good package deal with dinner and bar service. It was a unique experience holding the event on the water so that people could appreciate the NYC skyline and the statue of liberty. We hope to do it again sometime.
Great staff! Didnt go very far. I would have liked it to go around the island a little more. Food..meh...Drinks good! VIP worth it for open bar! Entry was a little disorganized. Put up some signs, name of the boat, VIP line etc.
My daughter kept asking to go on a boat ride. I found not only an affordable but also a kids friendly cruise through Empire Cruises. We went as a group of family members. We had an Amazing time. There was a clown, face painting, games, music, dancing. It is kids friendly and they do keep your child entertained at all times. You can do some sight seeing from the Brooklyn bridge to the statue of Liberty . The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the food was not all that and a little overpriced. Looking forward to taking my daughter back in May.
I had the absolute best experience with Empire Cruises last Friday!! I rented the Cosmo boat for my aunts 60th birthday and had the best Manager - Sal -as well as his whole team!! Sal was on top of every detail and made sure we were all being taken care of and having a great time. At one point I spilled some water on my hand and he rushed over with some napkins for me to dry myself. He was the best!! The bartender was awesome, the DJ was great had us dancing all night and the rest of the team all worked really well with our group. It was a lovely boat ride and unforgettable experience. Thank you Empire Cruises!! 5 stars!!
Empire Cruises could not have been a better experience. Everything was timely, clear, and easy. Our event was for two birthdays and we could not have had a more fun and less stressful day. Empire was the most affordable in Manhattan, and the entire staff made everything seamless. I would 100% recommend Empire Cruises for any event or just a unique activity in the city!!!
Rented cosmo for our wedding rehearsal. 100% recommend. The food was surprisingly really good (I wasn’t expecting much given it’s not made on site But wow was it good!), Nicole was fantastic to work with, Sal and his crew were amazing and our wedding guests thought this was the coolest start to the weekend. Fantastic choice and we cannot thank Sal and Nicole (and Empire cruises) enough!
I truly could not recommend Empire Cruises enough.... Im not a big birthday person, but for my 30th I knew I wanted to be on a boat....Even in the Winter....From beginning to end, Nicole and Edward helped me seamlessly plan an amazing night. The food was great, the drinks were top notch and the views were amazing. Our event captain Kenny went above and beyond the night of the event to make sure everybody was happy, everything went off without a hitch and make it a special night. I would highly recommend them to anybody looking to have a boat event. Take it from somebody who searched far and wide, there is nobody that does it like Empire Cruises!! Thank you for a memorable 30th birthday!!
I hosted a spring formal event with Alex and Ed Bacon on the Harbor Lights Boat. Everyone had a good time, and the staff were amazing! Thanks again for the fantastic night!
Had an amazing time renting out this party boat for my event! The crew was beyond fabulous! They were very hospitable, friendly, and very helpful! Couldn’t ask for a better crew and captain Sal! All the details went out smoothly and the experience was amazing. One issue we ran into was there was not enough of some of the food items for the guests but that was a catering issue. So make sure to order enough food!
I just wanna write a Big Thank You to owner of Cosmo boat and all employees. It was such a pleasure having business with them .Nice boat and amazing service!!!!! Thank you, Kristina ( decor by Rosalia New York Event Company)
Held a graduation party aboard the Lucille. Setting up the boat was easy, and Margarita in the office was informative and accessible. The boat itself was well-represented in pictures, and the lower deck, dance floor, and outdoor area were all fantastic. The food was plentiful and the drinks were flowing all night. Kenny the boat manager went above and beyond to ensure the comfort and safety of all of the guests. We had an incredible time, and Id highly recommend Empire Cruises to any group looking for a fun, safe, and memorable adventure.
Great music and a fun boat ride up and down the east river. Went around the statue of liberty. Not the smoothest ride though.
Extremely professional - catered to all our whims - Our reunion was epic!
Our theater company held a performance event on the Harbor Lights vessel earlier this month. It was a resounding success, all made possible by Empire Cruises excellent customer service and accommodations. They were professional and assisted us with this non-traditional charter. Our attendance was limited to about 125 guests on three nights. The company made possible an amazing experience for the company and our guests as we cruised the NY Harbor and floated near the Statue of Liberty for the performance. The crew was friendly and attending to all of our needs and requests.We found the charter affordable and flexible. Our guests were able to find the Skyport Marina fine, and Empire set us up with a welcome table to manage the check in from our online tickets.We would highly recommend Empire Cruises for a boat charter and especially for groups wanting to do an event a little out of the norm. Thanks to everyone at Empire for making this important event happen when things are slowly coming back to life after Covid.
It was one of the best experience. The cruise ride was fun.
Great experienceVICTOR FROM HARMONY WAS GREAT! He provided excellent customer service and made sure me and my team had a good time
Hosted a BDay party on Harmony this past December and it was better than expected. From the boat manager, Viktor, to the bartenders, everybody was very professional and helpful.
Amazing experience, great crew, excellent food and drinks!!! 💍💕🎉🎉🥳💃🎊 We had a really unforgettable private wedding reception for a good price and air flow (you know how all of those elements are important these days) with the best looks of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens 🗽🥂🌃. We truly recommend it 😜
The company I work for wanted to do something fun for Halloween but also keep the vibe more covid-friendly, so a few of us looked into booking a cruise, something Id NEVER have thought to do in my personal life. Well, it turns out Im a fool for not thinking about doing this earlier because this was one of the most fun and breathtaking experiences Ive ever been a part of! It felt entirely unique, somehow touristy (in a good way) even for someone whos lived in NYC for 9 years and not a single person from our company outing had a bad thing to say about the experience - except for the fact that we wanted to stay longer!The people at Empire Cruises were super flexible, communicative and friendly throughout the entire experience. I want to preface, that while this wasnt on my own personal dime as it was a company funded event, I can safely say that the whole package was affordable from an accounting perspective - not to mention the upgraded $10 per person open bar and those Empanadas being WELL worth the price of admission. Also worth note, the weather and the seas were very cooperative for us which may not always be the case, but even if we would have had to stay indoors for bad weather, the Cosmos charm (and again, those damn Empanadas) would have won us over regardless.The Cosmo is your ticket to an affordable, unique and fun company outing, indoor outdoor dance party, birthday or honestly just some otherworldly nighttime sight-seeing.
We had our daughter’s 16th birthday party on Lucille. Kenny is the manager of the crew onboard. It was outstanding experience. The boat was awesome. Food was good. The best part was Kenny and his crew. I totally recommend all my friends and family to consider partying on Lucille with Captain Kenny and his crew.
We had my best friends Birthday on the Lucille. All of us had such a great time.Kenny was amazing and so attentive to all our guests. Will definitely be booking future events with them!
What a beautiful way to celebrate had 57 friends the crew was fabulous it was beyond our expectations. I loved everything about it and the food was good. Dancing ,drinking party with the city lights was a new appreciation for the city 🏙.
Everything about this service was incredible! I had one of the best birthdays ever. Highly recommend. At first we felt it was a little pricey, but after doing more research of large boats/after experiencing it from start to finish, it was worth the $ hands down.
Beware of these scammers! They canceled my event 4 days before the party! Unscrupulous, exploitative and dont care about anything except making money. They ruined the whole party and left me high and dry. I had to scramble at the last minute calling other cruise companies, none of which were surprised that Empire did that to me. What an embarrassment! Dont deal with these people. Noemi, my contact, even quoted her manager saying, I ran this by the bosses and am waiting for a response. I can’t continue to hound them on this. Really? Even the owners dont care about their clients and will cancel your event at the last minute even after signing a contract. Read the fine print. They are not obliged to find another boat if one of theirs is not available, leaving you with nothing. Be warned!
Beautiful sunset (it was super cloudy) cruise around Manhattan. We got some great skyline views, went under major bridges and a close pass by the Statue of Liberty. Drinks were good even if bartenders needed a little help. Food ran low but drinks made up for it.My one major complaint was the bathrooms. One room, little ventilation and only 1 of three toilets were working in the ladies room- on a boat of mostly women.
Empire cruises was great. I booked them for my brothers 41st Birthday. We boarded the Lucille and it was beautiful. I ordered the Spanish food and it was delicious. The premium drinks were good as well. I worked with Yofi and Jenn and Alex also followed up to make sure everything was to my liking. Thank you empire cruises.
We had an amazing experience for my husbands surprise birthday party with Empire Cruises, aboard Lucille. Kenny was the boat manager and he was wonderful! He helped out with decorations and seriously everything else! He was so nice and accommodating. We had DJ Razz and he was awesome! I gave him a variety of a playlist and he covered it all! Our bartender was great! Edward, Nicole, Jennifer and Margarita from the office were so helpful. The food was so good and everyone had a great time dancing the night away! The views at night are spectacular! Thank you again and hope to book another party soon!
Sal and his crew were amazing and accommodating. Everyone had a great time and would I highly recommend them. Thanks again for making our cruise party and enjoyable one.
Hands down the best experience I’ve ever had on the 4th of July! We had an amazing time and watched the fireworks on the water. We booked it through the website and purchased the VIP package which included premium liquor and a buffet. After booking, I had the pleasure of coordinating with Ronny, who is very helpful and so pleasant to work with.When we arrived on the boat, it was very clean and the employees were really nice. It’s nice to see crew members who truly have a passion for their work. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking to book a special date or to show family & friends the city from a unique perspective on the water.
Empire cruises did a stellar job from start to finish! The coordinator, Jasmine, who setup the event and schedule, answered all my questions and made sure everything I needed was arranged. The boat captain, Sal, and his crew accommodated our party with everything that we wanted. You can tell that every staff member on that boat truly wanted us to be comfortable and have a great time. The DJ was awesome! Almost every track he played was what we wanted to hear and he constantly kept the vibe of the party energetic and was great MCing on the mic as well. The food on the boat was delicious! I had the BBQ buffet and they also gave me a large sheet cake for my birthday. I also couldnt have asked for a better boat. We got on the Cosmos, which was such a cool boat both from the interior and top level exterior. I highly recommend Empire Cruises!
I had a great time celebrating my 30th bday. Everything that was mentioned to me that I would be getting included in my package is exactly wat I received. I don’t have anything negative to say it was such a good time and I would like to thank Empire Cruises and the boat manager Kelvin and his crew for helping me make my birthday one to remember.
Great team. Kenny (head guy) was extremely accommodating. Nicole hooked us up with the best DJ... DJ Razz. We danced the entire time on the boat. Bartender was great too. My company had a blast. It was one of our best parties. We are looking forward to booking our next event with Empire.
Last night, Empire Cruises, Sal the Cruise manager, Captain Dan, Bodega the bartender, and the crew made my boyfriends 30th birthday an incredible success!!! From the great communication prior to the party with Byron and Jennifer, up until the second we got off it was a dream!! Sal made sure we were always taken care of and knew exactly when to time the food and the cake cutting so we could catch the best views of the city on the upper deck! He truly made sure everything went off without a hitch and was always ready to serve in any way possible!! We chose the Italian menu and the food was excellent! Bodega our bartender made sure everyone had a drink in their hand and even brought one to me in the upper deck while I was running around making sure everyone was ok! It was truly the best night and an experience we will never forget!! We are already planning our next booking!!
I have had such a great experience with Empire Cruises that I would recommend this company to everyone! From the start to finish the service provided by Edward and Jennifer was amazing, communication was quick and they worked with me from start to finish with every question I had. I had rented out the Cosmo and I worked with Sal on the boat and he was also amazing at making sure the guest were happy and everything was going smoothly. The drinks were strong and the food was yummy. Overall this was a great experience and I would definitely work with them again!!
I threw an 80s themed surprise party cruise for my husbands birthday in early March, and everything went great. The administrative staff was very helpful and accomodating throughout the entire booking process. The staff onboard were very attentive, helpful and friendly! They even offered to lend a hand with decorating the boat. The food was hot and tasty, and I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the sheet cake was! My only complaint is that the drinks were a bit watered down, but overall, it was a great experience. Id definitely book with them again!
I’ve been using Empire Cruises 4 years now for corporate events and every year they make my events more enjoyable. I’ve been on the Liberty Bell and the Timeless and both ships are beautiful. The staff is also super friendly and willing to help and anytime. All the managers have always been available before, during and after the events. Thank you Empire cruises
Empire Cruises hosted our holiday party for our team - great communication, support in arranging this party as I was based in the UK.Feedback from the staff was awesome2
I attended the 4th of July event with my family at Empire Cruises and it was amazing. I was very impressed by how organized it was; it was comfortable and pleasant, the staff was great. The food was phenomenal. I had the lemon chicken with potatoes. Best experience we had, I would definitely recommend Empire Cruises for any event and will be joining next year’s!
Ive been on 3 of their party cruises and Ive had an excellent experience everytime. The service from start to finish has been great, starting with the greeters at the entrance of the port, to the staff serving drinks and food. Ive been on 2 of their boats and they also offer others which are for much larger groups. The boats are well kept and equipped with a nice audio system to keep the tunes blasting while cruising and dancing with the NYC skyline as your backdrop. The views of the city are just epic! The typical duration of the cruise is about 2 to 2-1/2hrs long. All in all just a great experience for a great price. Looking forward to the next event which I heard they are now sailing out of Brooklyn Army Terminal which is much more easily accessible for the Brooklyn residents.
We had a great Experiece with Empire Cruise Party Boat, our sale rep Margarita was Excellent ! All of our questions were answered promptlyand they were very patient during the entire process. A First Class Company that employs First class people they make you feel like home. I would recommend anyone interested in a party Boat to visit or to call Empire Cruise ! Thank you guys for such a great Day!!!!
Very helpful and detailed communications with me. I had a lot of questions and Margarita was very patient and helpful so there were no open items on my end.I walked into the day of my event assured that everything is taken care of and it was
We hosted our companys summer party on Thursday and it was hands down the best party weve ever had! Arranging ahead of time with Byron was super easy and the package included food and bar so I didnt have to anything after we signed the contract. Once we got on the boat (the Cosmo) we were taken care of the entire time by a top of line staff with Sal, Kenny and Keisy made sure we had everything we needed including helping us set up a make shift karaoke set up that actually sounded awesome on their speaker system. He even set up extra speakers in the upper deck since we got some hours without rain to sit out. Would definitely recommend for all occasions, we had an awesome time!!
Overall had a great experience with Empire Cruises. I planned my mothers 60th birthday party on the Lucille just a few days ago. It was a beautiful night. I wont lie, I was a little nervous because I saw other reviews where the boat ran out of food. I did not hear any complaints about thr food running outOverall, it was a great experience. The staff wasnt overly friendly but they werent rude. Only complaint is they didnt have enough tables set up for the number of guest that were attending (and about 10 people didnt show). So some people were just standing around. I did the Italian menu, I personally did not like the food but other people at the party loved it. I guess it was a matter of preference. My family is actually about to plan a family reunion next year with the company. So no bad complaints. Thanks to Yisury for your help. Thanks to the staff of the Lucille. (I will definitely be putting the gratuity in the mail).
I hosted my sons 5th birthday with Empire Crusies and they worked patiently & very professional with me. The staff answered all my questions and we kept in contact on a regular basis up until the day of my childs birthday party. When i arrived my guest and myself were greeted by the manager for the Lucille. Everyone had a great time the bartenders were fast , the food was unbelievably delicious and all staff were very friendly and helpful. I will be sure to use Empire Cruises again and refer them to all my friends/family/co-workers.
From start to end empire cruises ENTIRE staff was BEYOND helpful, welcoming, understanding, professional and FUN. Me and my bf just had a birthday party for 75 of our friends and I can’t explain how well it turned out. Every single staff was so kind and helpful through the entire process. The food and drinks were EXCELLENT too !!!!!! Wish I could rate 10 stars.
We took the 4th of July Harbor Lights cruise yesterday. This is the 3rd time on an empire cruise, twice the experience was decent but I wouldnt recommend this particular cruise to anyone. Boarding was scheduled at 5, we boarded closer to 6 standing in the heat with very little if any by staff. Finally we board, no one greets the guest, many people walked to the top deck only to realize the bottom 2 decks were where the seat community style benches were located. We grab our seats then make for the line at the bar. I order drinks and was told my options were limited to a handful of brands because we didnt purchase a gold package despite the premium open bar they advertised. I informed the bartender Id like to purchase my preferred beverage and was told I couldnt. It is now 6:40 were still docked and we noticed a rush of people making their way to the buffet line. No announcements were made so were not sure how they knew but we followed suit and grabbed dinner, which was pretty good. Afterwards we made way to the top deck to prepare for the rest of the evening. There was limited seating so most people were standing at this point until random people started bringing chairs from downstairs. So everyone is now responsible for grabbing their own seats if theyd like to sit. Security had to turn the speakers up after an hour or so upstairs as no one could hear the music the DJ was playing. Finally the time comesto watch the fireworks, everyone is excited, except they anchor the cruise in a position where the top of the boat blocks your view. Unless youre staff and a VIP who had access to the front of the boat with an unimpeded view. Security was cool, we met some cool people, the music and food were good, when we can hear it upstairs, but they can certainly improve on their hospitality.
Arranging the event from out of town proved a breeze, thanks to the accommodating and very available staff. The crew on the day of the party could not have been nicer. A top flight experience! Cruising New York Harbor in the evening was absolutely magical and the long pause at the Statue of Liberty was perfect.
All around great experience. From the people in the office, Jennifer and Mamadou, to Sal and his crew, everyone was great. I was always kept in contact and updated on everything. Despite the cold weather, everyone was very professional and genuinely cared about making the event a successful one. There was a minor hiccup when people arrived early and were not allowed to board the boat, but it was handled. All the guests and especially the celebrant were very pleased and had an amazing time. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event. We greatly appreciate your top notch service.
My friends and I had a great day with Sal and Bodega! They made sure everything went smoothly and were very friendly. Would definitely recommend for anyone planning a boat cruise with friends!
I would like to take the time to Thank all the staff from Empire Cruises. We had our Company christmas Party with Empire Cruises and I must say All staff was great , pleasant, welcoming, and attentive. I would recommend them to anyone for events!! We had a D.J assigned to us by the name of Anthony , I must say we had a few doubts, but he was amazing ! I would like to thank all the staff for everything. Happy New years to All !!!!!!!!!
I booked my event last year, which happened during the pandemic. Ive been emailing for months and no response. When reopened I still havent had anyone call me or return my email in regards to my event. I had to constantly call. I requested a refund for my deposit and been put on a waiting list and still waiting for about a month. Was told my refund for my deposit is on stand by. Communication and giving updates to their customer is very poor.
Planned a surprise party for my boyfriend who turned 30 on Saturday, May 19th from midnight to 4am. 30 of our closest friends joined us in celebrating this milestone on the Cosmo ship. We had the time of our lives! The DJ played great music, the food was on point and the drinks were hands the down the best part! We went with open bar top shelf-liquor and Im glad we did. The staff on he boat was incredible especially Sal, the manager of the Cosmo. Overall we had a great experience! The only reason Im giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because part of my preselected menu was not present the night of the event (no maduros and no tres leches cake as stated in our contract). But I would definitely book with empire cruises again for future events. Thank you so much Empire Cruises for an unforgettable night!
Nicole provided an amazing customer service as far as hearing my needs and answering every single question. Her voice was very pleasant and I am satisfied with the treatment I received. I work customer service as well, which is why I appreciate her and decided to write a review.Thanks Nicole!
Had our company party with Empire Cruises and couldnt have been more pleased with the turn out. The cruise lived up to our expectations and the highlight was getting to pause up close to the Statue of Liberty for amazing photos. The cruise was beautiful and the staff is very helpful with any requests/needs. Would 100% book again.
Had the pleasure of spending a memorable July 4th onboard Empire Cruises Timeless ship.. what an amazing experience. From the start everything was very organize, the lines, boarding, security and once on the boat every level had an Empire personnel directing where to go and asking if we needed any assistance. The bartenders were very friendly, helpful cheerful. The food was so good, the lemon chicken was hit. What impressed me the most was the customer service from EVERY employee, the entire time everyone had a smile on their face and willing to make your time on the boat the best posible. Highly recommend and will definitely be back any time of the year.
Experience of a life time. We had my fathers 50th birthday party on one of their boats. It was amazing. First the boats are beautiful, and such a good price compared to other companies that offer the same boats for double the price. The boat had everything we could hope for with an unlimited open bar beautiful deck dance floor and great lighting. The staff was unbelievably awesome. Kelvin and his crew took care of everything from every small detail. From a couple days before our beautiful event I was in touch with kelvin the boat manager and he gave me all the time in the world to take care of every detail. The staff may be the best part! They were so nice and made sure we had the best time. The customer service was also a pleasure from when I first called deandra, she was just super great to deal with. Overall if you are looking for a great night out on a boat in Manhattan I can guarantee you there is no better place than empire cruises. They will take care of you with every detail and they have the best staff and they’re also the best price in town!!!!! It’s a no brainer they’re the best. Greatest experience ever!!!
The Empire Cruises was wonderful!I celebrated my daughter’s sweet sixteen on the Jacana and it was an amazing experience. Family and friends enjoyed the party and the Statue of Liberty night view was a plus. The spanish menu food was delicious. Lots of thanks to DeAndra, she made my booking process very straight forward and stress free. The crew members and the manager were very helpful and attentive to our needs and concerns. I would definitely recommend the Empire Cruises.
Empire Cruises was fantastic! We used them for our end of the year event, and we overall had a great experience. The food was awesome, the music was great, and the sights were beautiful. Everyone had a great time. I would highly recommend using them. The service was exceptional!
Ive been on two all you can eat and and drink private events with Empire Cruises and was blown away by the quality of the experience both times! Of coure the views were amazing, but what really made eveyones experiences great were the friendly and attentive staff who were on call from before boarding until everyone got off the boat. The bartenders would mix up any drink asked if they had the mixes, the food was good enough that most of it was finished quickly, and the captain made it a smooth ride while giving all the attendees ample time to take pictures around the most scenic spots on the river and harbor! Especially at this price point, I cant imagine a better NYC by sea experience.
I celebrated my 25th birthday party on the Jacana and it was the best birthday Ive had! Open bar, food included, and awesome views, I couldnt have asked for anything more perfect. I opted for the Spanish menu and the food was amazing. The drink options were enough to get everybody lit! My guests and I had an awesome time, Edward and the staff/crew members were very helpful and responsive to any and all questions/concerns I had. I did not want the night to end, honestly. I would recommend Empire Cruises to anyone, you cant beat their prices and what they have to offer.See you next time! :) *starts to plan 30th birthday party*
Attended the 4th of July cruise to view the fireworks on the Hudson. The ticket cost was $222 per person after taxes and fees. The cruise description included a cruise around the Statue of Liberty, Elis island, BBQ dinner, open bar, and view of the fireworks.Once on board the crew was very hospitable. The seating was extremely limited with mostly standing room. The dinner included pulled pork, dark meat chicken, Mac& cheese, rice, salad, and mixed vegetables. Dinner was good. The lines to the 2 (non-VIP) bars were long with a 30-60 wait. No bottle water was available. Water was offered in a 6 oz cup for a 4 hour event. The inside decks (the dinner and bar areas) were not air conditioned and with the multitude of people, the areas got very warm.The Liberty bell NEVER cruised around. The boat was about 100 yards from the dock at all times docking once to jet a bunch of unruly individuals off. The cruise around the historical sites never occurred. The Macy’s firework display was outstanding, but our view was not the best.Bottom Line: SAVE YOUR MONEY!! the liberty Bell was not work the expense and the crowd, heat, and entertainment was equivalent to being on land.
My friend and I booked an Empire Cruise for the 4th of July fireworks and it was best decision we made!! The cruise exceeded our expectations and staff went above and beyond to make sure we were having a great time. We were treated like VIPs with a top shelf open bar and delicious food served throughout the night. Would definitely recommend and will be back if we visit NYC again.
July 4th, liberty bell. So far, the boat was supposed to arrive and start boarding at 5:30, it hadn’t arrived until 5:45. And it’s 6pm let’s see how long the open bar actually is now. Boarderd @ 6:40. Only 2 bars, not 3 fully staffed bars. It’s 7:10 and still no drink. Will update later.
I recently had a fashion show on the cosmo to present my fashion line & i could not be any happier with my experience. The manager Sal allowed for the night to run extremely smooth & super easy. He was extremely helpful & his crew were very commendable. Reggie & Kevin were also studs. I had the best time & look forward to coming on board again. Once again thank you to everyone at empire cruise especially Sal !! That man was an MVP & a true gem.
This was my first time booking a cruise event, and t Empire Cruises was a breeze to deal with every step of the way. DeAndra, my contact, was very helpful leading up to the event, and the actual cruise itself was a blast. Everyone had a good time - my only regret is that I didnt book a longer cruise ride! Would recommend to anyone. Fair on price too
I totally recommend booking with Empire cruises. The entire process from the beginning was smooth and straight forward. I was working with Yisuris the entire time, she answered all of or questions clearly and in a timely fashion.The boat ride for the most part was smooth and we were catered to very attentively. The boat host always ensured that everything was fine and communicated with me all the moves well be making. In all it was a 10/10 experience, and I will be booking again in the near future.
We worked with DeAndra from the beginning to arrange for a family party. aboard the Harbor Lights. DeAndra was always very responsive and helpful and was especially good at easing any concerns I expressed. Several days before the party, Mamadou contacted me to introduce himself to us as General Cruise Manager who would be on board with is the night of the party. He was very nice, incredibly helpful ,and so accommodating before and during the party. Everyone seemed to like the food, and there was plenty of it. The night was beautiful, the ride was smooth, and the views of the city -- especially the Statue of Liberty -- were really dazzling. All our guests thanked us profusely for arranging the party. We would definitely think of doing another party with Empire.
I celebrated my wedding in one of their boats and it was a memorable experience. Mamadou was extremely kind and attentive to the contract details and our needs, and the whole crew was super nice and helpful. We were blessed with a gorgeous evening, but the captain made sure to take our preferred route. I will definitely come back for an anniversary and I highly recommend it for any special celebration.
We booked a cruise for a Sweet Sixteen party. Everyone had a great time. The views of NY harbor, the skyline, the bridges and Statue of Liberty were amazing. On top of that, the servers were very attentive to our needs. Highly recommended.
My birthday was made unbelievably special thanks to all the Cosmo staff!!!! Super communicative and helpful with all my questions. A birthday I will simply never forget! Thank you!!!
Empire gave us a fabulous experience. One of our guests accidentally went to the wrong pier and the captain agreed to pick them up without any issue. Everyone had a wonderful time and said that the hosts were attentive and courteous.
I was recently on a company party hosted by empire cruises and was blown away by their incredible service. From their punctuality with food catering to their bartending service, the staff was super friendly and extended their service beyond what I could have expected. As an attendee, I could have not had a better experience. I cannot reccomend empire cruises enough.
We thought that we had a good spot to watch the fireworks, from the top deck of the Liberty Bell...until the boat turned around and the captains deck and two HUGE pillars at the front of the boat blocked the view for everyone on our deck. We could barely see a thing... after waiting 4 hours and paying hundreds of dollars, this was very disappointing. The boat shouldve stayed facing backward as we had started out. While the night was beautiful and it was great being out on the river, we will do better research on the specifics of the boat set up itself, before we book again...
Empire cruises was excellent. My friend and I had such an amazing time on their 4th of July cruise. Open bar, music and overall ambience was great. Fire work show was my personal favorite. Thanks Edward and Yajaira for escorting us to the V.I.P area with no wait time. Definitely, worth the upgrade. Thanks again guys!
I worked with Empire Cruises to host a Halloween Party and they did a great job! Highly recommend working with Sal on the Cosmo boat.
It was a Magical Experience!!! Empire Cruises really delivered!!!My event was a private, 4th of July cruise in NYC to experience the Macys Fireworks Show, up close. It was AWESOME!!!I initially booked my event through Myiah. She was so helpful and responsive to me, with any and all of my questions along the way. She has the perfect personality for working with customers. Thank you Myiah. Jennifer, in the office, was also very helpful. Thank you Jennifer. I worked alot with Alex, who is the CEO of the company. He is such a terrific guy!!! I cant thank him enough, truly. Kelvin was the manager who was assigned to my event -- WOW -- what a caring and motivated individual he is. He was extremely attentive to all of my guests, and to me as well. He stayed on top of everything -- sharp, fast, and exceedingly helpful. Thank you Kelvin. The captain was awesome too!!! Thank you Sir. The catering staff was very kind and attentive as well. Annette, the bartender, was GREAT!!! Everyone loved her. Thank you Annette.We had a buffet of appetizers, a dinner buffet, an open bar, a DJ and dancing, and many other fabulous highlights too. My guests and I had a very beautiful and most memorable experience. I plan on booking more events going forward with this company, and would highly recommend them. Thank you Empire Cruises!Most sincerely,Brian
Staff was amazing. We were aboard the Jacana, which was a lovely boat. The weather was not in our favor, but we made the best of it and the staff did everything they could to make the evening enjoyable. When booking an event like this it is important to remember the boat sails rain or shine! The only thing that could use some improvement was the food, our chicken was a bit dry and the string beans were a little cold.
Forth of July cruise was marginal. Was not expecting great food but weather was very nice. DO NOT purchase upgrade they stop serving open bar early and force all to cash bar. But what was worse really was the captain smoking and drinking on upper deck. They also had 10 people in the restricted area of upper deck and did not rotate boat so majority of passengers could see fireworks. Really poor on their part.
I celebrated my 50th birthday aboard the Jacana on August 5, 2017. It superseded my expectations. I had one of the best nights of my life and my guests had an amazing time. The yacht looked just like the pictures on the internet. It had two regular size bathrooms. It had a regular staircase to the second floor in addition to a spiral staircase. The manager gave me the option of blocking off the spiral staircase, which I chose to do for safety reasons. DJ Ray kept everyone on the dance floor and took requests on demand. The second floor truly felt like being in a club. The food was good and plenty, although, it was a little on the cold side. The views were amazing. We were closer to the Statue of Liberty that I have been on any other cruise. The manager, Ed, was very helpful throughout the entire party and lets not forget Jennifer and Yisury (girls in the office) who answered my tons of questions. The only thing that could have been better was the sound system. I spoke a few words on the second floor and no one on the first floor heard me. If you want to say some words, wait until everyone is on the second floor. I highly recommend Empire Cruises for a special party.
Empire Cruises has a wonderful team that goes above and beyond to help you get what you are looking for!! We recently had a trip aboard the Lucille and the Captain and Crew were outstanding and helped make the experience wonderful. I would highly recommend Empire Cruises to anyone looking to plan any event on the water!
With all the planning involved with events, it’s great to work with a manager like the Harbor Lights Yacht’s manager, Esrin, who consistently goes above and beyond to help make sure that we have everything we need before, during, and after every event. Esrin, along with his Harbor Lights Yacht staff, always help to not only make sure the yacht is set up the way we want before the event but also checks on us during the event to assist with whatever we need to ensure our guests have a good time and help the event run smoothly overall. As event coordinators it is a huge relief to work with someone so professional, that understands how much work goes into organizing an event, and is consistently there, event after event, to provide us with such top notch personable customer service.
This review is LONG overdueif you are thinking of hosting an event with this company, just do it!I hosted a surprise 30th birthday party for my husband last year and it was a great success!you cannot go wrong and the views of the city are spectacular =)
Empire Cruises were Excellent!I will try to collect my thoughts, but let me say from the start - I found them by searching online and was so glad I did!I had the idea to start looking at prices and googled a few places and found nothing less than almost 10 grand! I priced and shopped around and slowly got a bit lower and a bit lower until I finally found them and they were by the most reasonable priced of ANY option, even some of the other options which shouldve been cheaper cuz I wouldve gotten less, these guys were still a better price. They had really excellent customer service, shout to Edward who was such a pleasure to be in touch with throughout everything! He was super accommodating and I really liked dealing with him despite my calling him 100x on his cell phone and dealing with some issues on my end, it was still great!! Really a big fan of Ed!Then the day of the event - It was AWESOME! We had Jared and Sal with us as captains on the ship and Momadu (Im def getting these names wrong) as our point person (hes the Manager or something, professional and really looking out for the well-being of things) all on board. The boat ride was really fun, the condition of the ship was great, it had 4 TV screens, a speaker system, serving areas for food, a dancefloor, and open deck, a dining room - there are other pictures online but it was the Lucille boat, a really nice vessel, and the experience was really just great all around. I can go on and on, but just take my word on it, these guys are def the place you want to turn to for a boat cruise. My group loved the event and we are already talking about going back! 5 out of 5! Highly Recommended! Def a happy customer who is excited to return again soon!
We stood for the whole time 5 hours. There were no seats available but the ticket clearly stated VIP room admission. The manager told us that they dont guarantee everyone has seat. I saw people standing on the streets along the Hudsons river and wondering why I paid $449 per ticket and stand like them. The fireworks were spectacular but I will not taking this empire cruise again. If you plan to take cruise in nyc, dont book this cruise and make sure they will provide seat at least when you are eating.
I had my birthday on empire cruises. The crew was very professional and helpful throughout the process of booking and setting up the cruise. I worked with Jennifer and Byron. I would highly recommend this service.
Our team had a great time! Kenny and the rest of the crew did such a great job for us and our expectations were definitely exceeded!
Attended the NYE 2019 fireworks cruise on the Liberty Belle. Awful experience between having nowhere to sit, having to wait in a 20 minute line every time you want a drink, not many drink choices, subpar buffet food, and the general overcrowding of the boat. They oversold the tickets till the boat was basically at max capacity and they were very understaffed, hence the long lines for food and drinks. The value of the experience came nowhere near the $175+ per ticket price.
Not impressed. Boat was a dump with no heat and dirty, food was cold, cruise ended 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Was to be 3 hours; was only 2.5 hours. Only reason for 1 star is the crew members were nice. Plus it costs 30.00 cash to park! I do not recommend at all.
Good Vibe. Had a great time on it.
We want to thank you and your team for a great night.Salvadore the Matre’d was AWESOME. He was super attentive and was very professional. The team of waiters and the BARTENDER were super. You assembled a great team for our corporate event.We look forward to holding future events with Empire
I personally would like to thank Byron, Sal and Bodega! We had an amazing experience and intend to make this an anual party now. You paved the way and we love and appreciate you for that. Thank you so much! Empire Cruises you did amazing!
The cruise itself was FUN! The problems started to arise when I got to the bar and a cup of ginger ale soda costs more than a bottle of beer! The food or appetizers as they were called were not plentiful! there was three floors and only one of the floors had food and not enough. Next time base your food on how many tickets were sold before the cruise. Please put food on each floor and more than one pan of each thing of whatever the food is.Make the food according to the theme of each floor. Drinking and not eating especially in the sun is not a good thing.
This was my first time ever being a cruise to see the fireworks. I have to say that this is something I would keep doing every year. Our hostess Yisury was very friendly, attentive and informative. It was a great experience that I would never forget. So far Ive told everyone I know about this. Next year Ill have way more people coming with me. Just wanna say thanks to Empire Cruises & Yisury.
I’m usually against going to cruises however, I decided to go on this cruise for July 4th and what an awesome experience! I had so much fun, the music was great, staff were friendly and the views were phenomenal especially for a holiday like this but I’m sure even if it wasn’t a holiday, you’ll be able to have an enjoyable time. You should definitely go with empire cruise!!!
Hi recently had a surprise birthday party in the Jacana. Kelvin and his team were very professional and made us feel we were in great hands. I would definitely recommend this cruise and crew.
Excellent experience for a corporate event with Kenny & Empire Cruises. Very reasonable prices, nice boat, great time. Would definitely cruise with Empire again.
Awful awful experience with empire cruises. Went on their 90s themed Booze cruise out of pier 36 in Manhattan. The boat was late to the dock and the so called decorations were not even set up. The stocking of the bar loading of the food and boarding of the guests delayed the voyage roughly an hour and a half after the scheduled time. The beer served was warm and the ship ran out of liquor shortly into the trip. What was supposed to be a roughly 5 hour cruise was a mere 2 hour trip docking around 9pm instead of 10:15 as advertised. The staff were very unfriendly and poorly trained
Every dealing I had with the staff and crew at empire cruises was helpful courteous and professional. They did everything possible to ensure a wonderful experience. The food was yummy and plentiful We really enjoyed ourselves
I LOVE EMPIRE CRUSIE AND KELVINThank you DeAndrea (Empire Cruise) Kelvin (owner of Jacana)! Service was exceptional! DeAndrea made the reservation process super simple. The Jacana... is BEAUTIFUL vessel. Food was excellent... Staff aboard was very friendly! Kelvin was made the day of event run smooth. I wanted an ice cream cake delivered before our arrival. I called Kelvin, he said Dont worry about it, give me the number and will take care of everything. This exactly what I needed to since was unfamiliar with the location. Kelvin definitely exceeded my expectations. I cant wait to book our next party
Despite all the last minute hiccups, the event managers found a way to get me on a different boat and kept my party going. Responsive and clear -- exactly what you want when planning a massive party
Hosted a great Sweet 16 party on the Jacana yacht. Excellent service. DeAndra was excellent in helping me get all the details figured out and since I was coming from 2 hours away with 45 kids she even decorated the boat beautifully for me.
One star is too much. Disappointing. Not accessible to persons with disabilities or problems walking. I was one of the persons. I will be reporting this incident.Security was unconcerned, and forced disabled persons to stand for over 70 minutes, despite the persons asking for a chair. One woman was forcibly removed from a Blade table and chairs display and made to stand. Unprofessional staff, nasty and argumentative. Will never go to that marina or ride on Harbor Lights again. Boat was old and decrepit. Reminds me of a fishing boat from 1960. It was like riding in a blender on water. The boat needs to be retired or renovated to meet 2019 standards for a yacht.
We went on the Lucille for a wedding. It was raining and the ride was a bit rough but the view made it great.
It was a nice boat ride. The service on the boat was okay. The staff checking the tickets and searching people before having access to the boat was very rude and in a rush. We also had to wait a long time in line before getting on the boat.
Super friendly crew! We had a blast on the St. Patricks Day Booze Cruise.
Empire Cruises provided us with a great end of the year celebration aboard Harbor Lights. With gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline, rooftop drinks, and a full service buffet, we would gladly have another event with Empire Cruises.
I want to thank theJacana staff that made our company event so perfect. The food, drink and the DJ were excellent.
AVOID !!!! Dinner Cruise involved Williamsburg Bride to Roosevelt Island 3hrs... Table bill stated a cruise of thr LADY LIBERTY (Not at all). Staff had there own party as soon as we left port. Of no help. During the fireworks show only.1/2 of the customers could watch. Ship sent time facing forward and then turned in mid show to face backwards ... only those in that part of the ship could watch ... ( ever hear of sideways???!!!) ... AVOID ...
Great service and support when trying to plan an event with them. I didnt not go through with hosting my event on one of their boats, but will certainly keep them in mind in the future. Special thanks to Margarita for supporting me through the process and for being extremely responsive to my questions. Thank you, thank you!
The security for both the liberty belle and timeless are way too gung ho, gestapo level intense. Very rude and aggressive. We are customers, both times ive gone before i even had a chance they just start grabbing things, arguing, etc. They UNNECESSARILY poured out my gfs make up bag and they berated her for having too much make up even though she had to come from work, and OH WELL, BIG DEAL, customers are going to have belongings, get over it. . These people need to relax, and be more respectful. Also both times there was more than one security person talking at me at once, three people at once at some point. How am i supposed to respond to three people talking at me? We arent unreasonable people, we work in nightlife, some close friends and coworkers are security. We know the annoying aspects of their job and dont act like annoying customers. The way your security acts though is the same as being stopped by police and treated like teenagers. Are they on cocaine? Because thats what they remind me of. I will try to avoid these cruises because of this.
Love love LOVE Empire Cruises - second time with this company and myself and my team were very impressed. The group had an awesome memorable time. Thank you for being so professional.
Threw a 25th birthday party on the Cosmo, crew was amazing if I needed anything they were there to help me. Boat was like in the pictures, big and very spacey. Everything was exactly how I wanted, I brought some stuff on to the boat they helped and took care of it. Overall best time, would do it again for sure!!!
The staff was soo supportive and helpful with my event that i had plan. Kelvin helped from start to finish with my decorations and made sure that things ran smoothly. THANKS GUYS !
On the Lucille 06/17/17@12: AM. The bartender was not cordial and the open bar was the worst. All the drinks were watered down, they dont serve shots at the bar. People might as well bring their own drink. And to top it all, any complaints and you get banned from the bar by the bartender. Wow
Worst cruise ever the first year the boat leaves us and this year they never leave the harbor. Such a waste of money, dont do it if you dont have to. This really deserves negative stars but thats not an option
Myiah was great with coordinating and answering all my questions. Was very flexible with payment and nice! Calvin the day of manager was great too and made me feel special and welcomed. I would recommend for sure
I bought the New Years Eve on the Liberty Belle and i love it it was a awesome experience, food was good and drinks were strong, my first experience in a boat for New Years and it was great, the weather was a little disappointing but what can you do if NY.
From Booking & Arrangements, the experience was wonderful! Staff on/off the yacht were very friendly and accommodating! Thank you for giving us such a memorable experience!
I had great time with my wife at the harbor lights cruise great d Jay and live bands salsa
Office is a little hard to find since its inside of another business.
The company work with your needs, Sal, Nicole, Jennifer Mercedes, are all good people. I love their service and am definitely using them again very soon😘
Staff was cool Boat was extra choppy was on it for a all white poeat at sea Event lights didnt really work until ride was done was fun tho
My friends and I took the harbor lights cruise for New Year’s Eve for my birthday ( New Year’s Day)To start, they informed us if we were late the boat would leave without us, ALL THROUGHOUT the email it was explained that we would lose our spot and needed to arrive by 8:30.We arrived at 8:30 and STOOD IN THE RAIN UNTIL 9:45 WITH NO EXPLANATION,We paid close to 300 dollars for “VIP” seating, when we arrived our table had other people sitting in all of the seats. they refused to assist in any way at allI WOULD DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT TAKE THIS CRUISE. I AM BEGGING YOU UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE THIS EVENT OR CRUISE THEY ARE THEIVES TRYING TO STEAL YOUR MONEY
Loved the cake, the rooftop, the music, but could use better seats and nicer staffs. One staff woman was yelling, cursing and creaming at everyone to get the fk out. Not very professional...
Im on here every month during the summer for #summersplashoff. I always have a good time great music and drinks. I just dont like if they cut us short because the crowd isnt as big as they want.
Its a great experience all together it has great employers and its well organized fun to ride great on taking your mind away from all the things that maybe bothering you i think everyone should take a trip on it.people may think its pricey but ita worth the cost you wont know until you try
Awesome!! Great service, lovely boat. Everyone who came had so much fun.
I too was supposed to be on this NYE cruise at 8:30pm on 12-31-18 - but after being completely soaked in the rain & freezing temps with zero explanation from crew regarding the hour plus delay in boarding - we bailed.I believe we were standing in front of the two below reviewers. One gentleman said it was his birthday....and that it was ruined.We paid $500 for VIP seating for two - but didn’t know if the boat was even going to depart an hour later at 9:30pm. It was miserable and we were left to make our own assumptions without any direction from staff....I have requested a refund as services were not rendered per the email we all received regarding what to expect.If I don’t settle with Ball Drop - I will dispute with Visa next. This is basically theft of service.
We booked the boat from 14;00 to 18:00.We sailed off at 14:45 and were back at 17:00. That was also the time they closed the bar, which would be open till 18:00, total scam, dont book here!!
The wedding was beautiful the service was good everyone had a good time and enjoy the boat ride everything went as planned five hours went fast but it was a beautiful evening and will do it again thank you sal Byron and the rest of the crew
Very relaxing and well guided cruise.. Andy did a great job with every detail about New York City & NJ. He gets 5 stars!!! Great job & he threw in a few jokes that were funny too. I would Definately recommend it and go again next summer.
Had a wonderful time on board the Cosmo with Sal the Captain! Went for a corporate summer party and all enjoyed - would highly recommend!
..well Im going tonite. To the party boat. So I keep u post it. Lol
WOW , lovely experience . It wasnt me who hosted the party nor the one who made it happened but I do know who did . But we sure had a lovely experience.
Very friendly staff/crew and had a great party! Will definitely return next year!
DO NOT DO THIS! This was a waste of time and money. They will take your money and will hire 3rd party companies to promote their service. Then when you arrive with tickets that say this is your ticket, you will get told by the workers that the ticket is only a voucher. Therefore, you WILL BE DENIED entry to the boat and SENT BACK to the ticket purchase booths to turn your apparent voucher which is a ticket into another ticket from them for an hour. Then you will be told at the window that since your ticket is apparently a voucher, but states its a ticket, that spots are sold out. So better luck for the next day or call your provider for your money back. We were told this while dozens of people were still waiting in line with the same issue or were being told by workers to get in line to wait like us even though the window would be shutting down in 9 minutes and the boat would be taking off.Youve been warned.
We paid the premier and guide was down, we could not hear any explanation on premier deck and complains were just disregarded! Bad experience!!!
I had a great experience on the boat. Staff was attentive and my boat manager Sal did everything I needed to make my event perfect.
The event on liberty belle for New Year’s Eve!! Was a amazing event food entertainment drinks on point. Had a blast!!!
Very nice yacht. Had a great time.
OMGGG WANT TO BOOK WITH THEM EVERY YEAR SUCH GOOD SERVICE AND GREAT ENERGY MOST OF ALL THE BOAT IS BEAUTIFUL
I had a really good time and the staff was very friendly and help ful i would recommend Empire Cruise to my friends and family im thinking about doing something for my birthday
The staff were extremely nice and helpful. The view from the boat was great. Awesome experience overall.
Boats need to depart on time. Dont expect for your time to be given back to you if the boat departs late. It wont happen.
I was under the assumption that it was all inclusive.. but other than that, its was great
We had a corp. event for about 40 people. Everything went smoothly and staff was great. Def recommend.
We came with a group of kids, the staff was not ready and not prepared, .
Amazing experience! Drive 1200 miles to see h2o and Murphys law!!
Maya was the easiest person to work with and made our company outing easy and stress free.
They charge $30 per child but it dont includes food or drink for children birthday partys.... Ripoff!!
Ratchet. Weed smoked filled. very expensive drinks. Even the ATM on board charges a hefty fee. Narrow halls cramped bathrooms.... go to a night club.
Cruise ship had good food and excellent Djs
Clean, stall is wonderful. Just a great cruise.
The 4th of July cruise was an incredible letdown. The event was disappointing as follows: The cruise moved to one point in the river and stayed for hours, so the scenery was great if you like the UN building or the underside of the Queensboro Bridge. It seemed like a great spot to watch the Macys fireworks but 1/2 hour before the fireworks started the boat moved to a less favorable spot for seemingly no reason as we watched other same-size boats backfill our previously great spot. The food was slow to be served and not really very good (the pre-meal snacks were room temperature coconut shrimp; zero other choices). DJ Spike didnt start playing music until after the fireworks ended as we headed back to port, and he was terrible. The cruise was advertised as having Cirque de Soleil style performers but there was one girl who could do a few cool tricks but that was all. We were in a bad spot for the fireworks. The dress code was listed as Cocktail Attire so some of us put a lot of effort forward while many people were not dressed well at all. The boat had the decks still lit up (mood lighting, not safety related) during the fireworks so we couldnt take in the full show. Finally, the staff was absolutely rude with one wannabe bouncer in a pink shirt being nothing more than a total jerk. Bottom line is this was the most disappointing way to spend this kind of money and a frustrating way to spend my 4th of July.
This is the second year in a row I have used Empire Cruises and loved every minute of it!Cant wait until next year!!!!!😀😀😀😀😀😀
Our HS reunion coodinator scheduled a HS reunion on this charter boat. I understood if we bought tickets and we as a group or individual cancelled we forfeit funds. With that said, myself and many other HS individuals purchased the tickets at $125 per ticket - myself ordering 2 tickets for June 16th. We now understand the charter boat cancelled the event, further adding insult to injury we are not entitled to any refunds. This is theft. I understand perhaps if there is a service fee but to lose $273 (includes small donation and taxes). Our HS classmates made donations on this site as well which Ive still not heard if our High school received those donations made through the site. Please be aware of this place. They take deposits or full purchases, cancel event and no refunds, options or concessions are offered. I chose 1 star because I had to.
Perfect way to see the city at night
Have a parking lot, easy to boarding, amazing to enjoy nightspots of New York and shoot spectacular picture
Wonderful cruise!!!
Very happy with the service so far, lets see how the big event goes!
July 4th Rip Off - Run by Enrique Gonzalez - Cirque at Sea 4th of July Cruise Co-Founder & Organizer. Worst experience that I have ever had on a cruise. Each person with a paid ticket did not have a table to eat at. Terrible food, appetizers were cold, main course barely eatable. Drinks were difficult to get. The Cirque de Soleil acts were one person, who did a nice job, but was on;ly one person. Bringing your food up and down one narrow flight of stairs was much more exciting than it should be.
Great service great boat
The food was very bad. Please eat before boarding the cruise.
Awesome night out
Great chill fun
Loved it!
Just excellent
Really good professional company will book again :]
Excellent and good servicethe people working in office very good and answer for all the questionthx
Beautiful! Come for the booze and leave with COVID!!!
This place was amazing! Highly recommend going
Great time
Great location
Amazing company !!! I highly recommend it to everyone.
They always make you feel welome
My team love you guys.
Left late
Had to wait but the wait I guess was worth it
Meh...
Loved it
Nice size boat!
Fun
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for Empire Cruises 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-19My students just had their prom. Great venue. Lovely staff. Great food and a perfect night to end the school year. Thanks so much to Empire cruises for a night to remember. 💙
Review №2
2022-04-26I had my 25th birthday on the Cosmo with Sal. We had the best time ever. The staff and crew were amazing and so helpful! I could not recommend this more. The food and drinks were fantastic! It was such a great way to get my friends and family together to celebrate. Will definitely be back!!
Review №3
2022-07-19Dont waste your money going on the Empire Cruises. This cruise is a complete ripoff. I bought 4 VIP tickets for the Timeless Cruise for Fourth of July and it was awful. They charged way too much money for the quality of the food. They served us pretzels and one container of cheese and salami. It was a cold buffet and dessert was a tray of cold cookies from the market. Nothing classy about this cruise. The music was way too loud and the DJ had horrible taste in music. Defiantly not worth the money for what you get on this cruise. They say it is from 5:00pm to 10:00pm but we didnt leave until 6:30pm and we got back at 10:40pm.
Review №4
2022-04-23I dont even know where to begin. This was my first time organizing an event with 150 attendees and I was so nervous, but the crew on the Cosmo were extraordinarily accommodating. The boat was clean, there were two bars and a buffet. The drinks and food were wonderful. Everyone had an amazing time. HOST YOUR EVENT WITH EMPIRE THEYRE AMAZING!
Review №5
2022-03-08I booked Empire Cruises for my 29th birthday! We had an absolute blast! The staff was super friendly and everyone loved the food. We did the Italian style buffet. The only thing is they never announced when dessert was being put out and took it away before anyone had a chance to get any dessert. Most people were upstairs on the dance floor and didn’t know there was dessert. There could have been better communication on that part. But when we approached the staff about it, our Party Manager Kenny let us take some dessert home to make up for it. Kenny was super personable and had great energy! Over all we loved the experience!
Review №6
2021-11-16Amazing fantastic experience. Absolutely wonderful boat, and great crew! Thank you so much Sal for giving us the experience of a lifetime and making my husbands birthday an unforgettable event on the Cosmo. We had the awesome DJ Ish who never gave us a chance to catch our breath. Great music and very accommodating to our requests. I was personally too busy hosting, but all of our guests raved about the food, so kudos to the catering company (we chose the Hispanic menu). Had plenty of time to set up for decorations, and we brought our own birthday cake. The crew was so great about letting us enjoy our time to the very last minute. Would gladly do this again in a heartbeat!
Review №7
2022-07-21We held a sunset cruise corporate event aboard the Unity for around 25 people in July and it was absolutely fabulous! Boat is modern and offers both indoor and outdoor spaces to stand and sit. Would highly recommend.
Review №8
2022-04-06I bought tickets for Fourth of July aboard the Timeless for 2020. The event was postponed due to COVID-19. I was told that my $850 VIP PLUS tickets would be credited, but not refunded, for the 2021 or 2022 events. As we are going to New York from Seattle for this July 4, I requested in a link that was sent to me tickets for this years event. I got no response, so I called the venue many times and emailed through many different channels. I have been trying since the beginning of February. The one time a person actually answered the phone, she told me she would check if the manager wants to call you back. I have not heard back. I really dont want to go to the venue on July 4 and make a scene, to be let on the boat or give me my money back, so please help me. $850 is a lot of money, especially for those of us who lost a lot during this pandemic. BTW, Empire Cruises is currently selling tickets to this event, and I know there are at least 5 VIP PLUS tix available.AFTER THIS REVIEW: After seeing my post, someone in charge contacted my husband and made things right. The tickets will honored, according to this manager and a link to new tickets was sent to us. Thank you very much! Stay tuned for a post on the actual experience. So far the reviews I have read aren’t stellar.
Review №9
2022-04-10This company enables inconsiderate people to host parties on their boats, such as The Jewel, blasting music into late weekend hours beyond midnight. Their boats slowly coast along the East River and idle around by both the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. Club music bass can be heard from apartments situated along the river. Reporting to 311 as a club is recommended to keep record of complaints for future use with New York assembly members to help hold the company accountable for not following the same sound laws placed on nightclubs.
Review №10
2022-04-18I enjoyed the cruise. The meal onboard wasnt really adequate for the students (I was advised 4 apps) and I needed to arrange an additional meal etc. Maybe more student-friendly comprehensive options for meals would have been helpful. Thanks