The rivers of New York City are a bit more festive this month with a Cocoa & Carols themed holiday cruise aboard the Classic Harbor Line. This tradition — now five years in the making — gives passengers of all ages the chance to sing carols, dance to a live band and drink hot chocolate while enjoying some of the best lights of all: the NYC skyline. We took a ride ourselves last week and are sharing our experience below:
With a 90-minute route that travels from Chelsea Piers to the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Cocoa & Carols themed holiday cruise is an intimate {and efficient} way to see the city. It was designed to fit easily into visitors’ and locals’ holiday itineraries.
“NYC is such a magical place to be in the holidays and our holiday cruise is a perfect addition to a holiday travel itinerary,” said Will Candis, a spokesperson for the Classic Harbor Line. “Classic Harbor Line’s yachts have that old world, classic feeling like the Plaza Hotel or a Central Park Carriage Ride.”
According to Candis, the trip is particularly great for families and couples — the glass-walled boat has a row of two-person tables in the center, with larger booths for families and friend groups on the side.
READ: Places to Bring Your Hoboken Visitors {Where to Eat, Drink, + Go}
The cruise’s “Cocoa & Carols” title is more than just a name. They have hot cocoa {spiked for $9 or unspiked for $3}, not to mention a variety of additional and unique beverages, such as the fall line-up with an Autumnal Batched Manhattan {maple barrel aged rye, fig-burnt orange bitters, and cocci americano vermouth} as well as the Hudson Apple {bourbon, hard cider, ginger ale and lemon}. Beer, wine and additional cocktails are also available. The first cocoa, beer, champagne or wine is free and all other first drinks are half off {then full price}.
In terms of the cruise’s second “C” — carols — expect a lot of fun and festive singing. The cruise’s host engages the audience {especially children} with jingle bells for dancing. Each table gets a hand-out with lyrics to popular holiday songs such as “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” And, during “The 12 Days of Christmas,” each table is responsible for singing one “day” of the song as the host runs from table to table with his microphone. Everyone who participates {so, really, everyone} gets a plate of cookies to end the show.
While the fun, singing and holiday festivities are sure to get passengers in the holiday spirit, according to Candis the true magic is in the views.
“I think the most exciting part is the middle when the yacht lingers by the Statue of Liberty at sunset,” he said.
The Classic Harbor Line’s Cocoa & Carol’s cruise departs from Chelsea Piers. Tickets are available for $64 for adults and $36 for children. The tours run through December 30.
Have you been on the Cocoa & Carol’s Holiday Cruise? Share your experience with us in the comments!
See More: Hoboken + Jersey City Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve + Christmas Day 2018
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