Broadway Top 10 CityPASS®

East River Secrets: NYC's Infrastructure by Ferry - Private

7 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 7 reviews collected by Cool New York City and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| New York City, USA
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from $275 per group (up to 9)

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On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.
2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
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Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

This is not a sightseeing cruise -- it’s a guided look at how New York City’s core infrastructure actually works. Led by a transportation planner and licensed NYC guide, the tour uses the East River as a moving classroom to explain the systems most people never see: trash movement by barge, wastewater and sewer outfalls, landfills that expanded the shoreline, rail and subway tunnels beneath the river, and the bridges that knit the city together.

Rather than focusing on landmarks alone, the tour connects everyday infrastructure to history and public health -- from Dutch-era dumping in Lower Manhattan to modern shoreline rebuilding, from working waterfronts and rat-shaping waste patterns to stacked train tunnels under the river. Guests experience rare, water-level views while learning how engineering decisions beneath and above the East River shaped New York as a city.

The result is an expert-led experience that reveals the hidden systems behind the skyline.

What's Included

  • Ear pieces to hear perfectly
  • Restrooms on board the ferry
  • Round-trip ferry tickets included

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    Pearl Street
    New York, NY 10005, USA

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    South Street
    New York, NY 10005, USA

    What To Expect

    Book Online

    Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
    Read more

    Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

    Lower Manhattan

    Learn how Dutch New Amsterdam expanded Manhattan using landfill, garbage, and debris, shaping today’s shoreline and Financial District. Hear how the Fulton Fish Market and riverfront trade generated waste, smells, rats, and early sanitation systems along the East River.
    Read more

    30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Brooklyn Bridge

    View the Brooklyn Bridge and learn how nearby dumping grounds later became today’s barge-based restaurants.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Manhattan Bridge

    View the Manhattan Bridge while discussing historic DUMBO photos, rail traffic, and the industrial waterfront below.
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    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Williamsburg Bridge

    Learn how the Williamsburg Bridge connects to subway culture, the L-train shutdown, and once-proposed gondola plans.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Lower East Side

    Learn how the East Side Coastal Resiliency project is rebuilding the shoreline to protect Lower Manhattan from flooding, including new land creation and rapid bridge construction over the FDR Drive.
    Read more

    10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    United Nations Headquarters

    Pass the United Nations while learning how landfill, trash barges, helipads, and modern shoreline projects shaped this stretch of the East River.
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    10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Manhattan Skyline

    Take in the Manhattan skyline from the water while learning how landfills, bridges, tunnels, and utilities shaped the city’s growth along the East River.
    Read more

    20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Queensboro Bridge

    See the Queensboro Bridge while learning about its former streetcar service to Roosevelt Island, subway tunnels stacked beneath the river, and historic utility tunnels linking Queens and Manhattan.
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    10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Queens

    See Rikers Island and learn how it was built on landfill, its relationship to surrounding waterways, and its proximity to major aviation and waste infrastructure. Watch aircraft approach LaGuardia Airport and learn how flight paths intersect with islands, landfills, and the East River. View the Long Island City skyline from the water and learn about the area’s industrial past, including rail yards and Long Island Rail Road waterfront operations.
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    20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Bronx

    See the Bronx River and learn how it was polluted and later restored as it meets the tidal waters of the East River. View the New Fulton Fish Market at Hunts Point and learn how seafood distribution, refrigeration, waste handling, and river access sustain the Bronx’s working waterfront. Learn about Hart Island, New York City’s potter’s field, and how ferry access, isolation, and public health shaped its history. As the river opens toward Long Island Sound, view the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges and experience rare water-level views of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.
    Read more

    20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Roosevelt Island

    View Roosevelt Island from the river while learning about the Roosevelt Island Tramway, the island’s former trolley service, Delacorte’s Fountain and early sewage infrastructure, and its underground pneumatic trash tube system.
    Read more

    10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

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    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (7)

    Q: Will I get seasick on East River Secrets: NYC’s Infrastructure by Ferry – Private?

    A: If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy. Read more Feb 2023

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-239060P6

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    5.00
    7 reviews

    Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 6 traveler reviews collected by Cool New York City and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
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    On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (7)

    Activity name

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool New York City customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: Will I get seasick on East River Secrets: NYC’s Infrastructure by Ferry – Private?
    A:

    If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy.

    Feb 2023
    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the East River Secrets: NYC’s Infrastructure by Ferry – Private?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT).
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • Ear pieces to hear perfectly.
    • Restrooms on board the ferry.
    • Round-trip ferry tickets included.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the East River Secrets: NYC's Infrastructure by Ferry - Private is as follows:

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for East River Secrets: NYC’s Infrastructure by Ferry – Private will be included in your confirmation email from Cool New York City. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Ear pieces to hear perfectly
    • Restrooms on board the ferry
    • Round-trip ferry tickets included

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

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    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT).

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