The Beast, owned and operated by the Circle Line Cruise Company, is the perfect combination of adventure and sightseeing. Riding the Beast adds a unique thrill to seeing the iconic sights of New York City. The Beast is 70 feet long with 1400 BHP-horsepower with two ZF 3000 marine gears powered by twin Hamilton Jets. The boat cuts through the water at a speed of up to 45 MPH, truly a Beast! Due to the speed, passengers must be above 102 cm to ride and loose items such as caps or sunglasses should be secured so that they should not blow away.

We rode the Beast on Memorial Day Weekend. The weather was beautiful and it was perfect for a sightseeing adventure. As we boarded, we asked the crew where we would get the wettest. We were advised that the front is bumpier while the back is wetter. We chose to go to the back- the wetter the better. We’d brought along a change of clothes, just in case. Most people didn’t get soaked but riders definitely have to be prepared to get somewhat wet.

Once everyone was seated and buckled up, the ride started. The captain picked up speed just minutes after pulling out and we were practically flying along the Hudson River in the direction of the Statue of Liberty. We had to adjust to the powerful wind and the engines noise but nothing could put a damper on the fun time we were having. The friendly crew member (the only one allowed to stand during the ride) offered to take a photo for each person or group.

We enjoyed seeing the NY Skyline and Ellis Island. When we got to the Statue of Liberty the Captain stopped the boat and the staff offered to take pictures of everyone in front of Lady Liberty. At one point, the Captain even turned the boat around so that both sides would be able to get good photos. 

Once everyone got their photos taken, we started heading back. Since we had already seen the sights, the captain gave us a great time, swerving and turning to make the ride more fun. At times the waves came crashing over the back rail and we got soaked! The rest of the passengers didn’t get away scot free. The crew member used a water gun to tease some of the dry passengers. It was lots of fun!

The 30-minute tour was perfect. We got to see the sights, had fun and were ready to get back and change our clothing before continuing our day.

Posted: June 4, 2024