Manhattan is getting a surprising new tourism attraction that will likely draw lots of locals as well: the city’s first base for whale-watching, using a fleet of high-speed catamarans originally designed for commuter ferry service.
The company that operates them, Seastreak, already operates some of its ferry routes from Manhattan to New Jersey, as well as previous whale-watching tours from points along the Jersey coast. The new service starts May 8, with one trip a day and a fare of $55 for adults, $30 for children under 12 and senior discounts available.
The three-hour tour offers a view of NYC harbor landmarks including the Statue of Liberty on its way out to the open ocean. The boats can hold up to 500 passengers in ferry service, but are being sharply limited on whale tours to maintain social distancing.
The tours also practice social distancing with sea life; crews are trained by conservation groups that run a ‘Whale SENSE’ program to ensure that the whales and other marine mammals are not disrupted by the watching. Seastreak says that so 96% of its trips last year encountered humpback whales, as well as sea turtles, massive groups of migrating rays, dolphins and sharks.
