The Beast Speedboat Ride

The Beast is the loudest, fastest and wettest way to see New York Harbor. It is a high-powered speedboat that leaves from the Lower Manhattan waterfront and runs a short loop down the Hudson, past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, with a few sharp spins and bursts of speed that send spray over the open seating. The ride is short, usually around half an hour, and it is built for fun more than for sightseeing, though the views of the Statue of Liberty and the downtown towers from the water are real and the skipper gives a running commentary between the thrills.

If a slow harbor cruise sounds too gentle, the Beast is the opposite. The boat is a purpose-built thrill ship with rows of open seats, a powerful engine and a sound system that pumps music across the water. Riders sit in bench rows, hold on to the bar in front of them and settle in for a ride that alternates between cruising stretches, where the guide points out landmarks, and full-speed runs and tight turns that throw the boat sideways across the wake.

Expect to get wet. The spray is part of the appeal, and on a warm day it is a welcome shower rather than a nuisance.

The route is a compact harbor loop. From the pier in Lower Manhattan the boat heads south along the Hudson past Battery Park, then out into the open water toward Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is seen from a closer angle than most cruise boats allow, and past Ellis Island.

The skyline view back toward the Financial District, with One World Trade Center rising above the older towers, is the picture most riders take away. Because the ride is short, you see less than a full harbor cruise, but you pack in a lot of motion.

Who is it for? Families with older children, teenagers, groups of friends and anyone who finds sightseeing boats dull. There are usually height and age limits for safety, and pregnant riders and people with back, neck or heart conditions are normally advised not to ride, so read the conditions on the ticket page before you book.

Younger children can find the speed and noise overwhelming, so think about the temperament of your group. Phones and cameras get splashed, so keep devices in a bag or a waterproof pouch, and bring a light layer even in summer, because the wind over the water is cool when you are wet.

Timing matters. Departures run through the day in the warmer months, and the late-afternoon sailings combine good light on the skyline with the driest, warmest conditions. Winter operation is limited or weather dependent, so check the season before you plan around it. Rough water can cancel or shorten rides, and the operator will normally offer a reschedule or refund, so keep your plans flexible on the day.

The Beast pairs naturally with the rest of Lower Manhattan. Arrive early, walk Battery Park, and combine the ride with a ferry visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, or a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. If you want a calmer night view of the same skyline afterwards, a harbor lights cruise is a good counterpoint to the speed of the morning.