Circle Cruises- Statue of Liberty Accessibility

When I was in New York City, I wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. To do this, I took a one-hour cruise to view the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I learned that reserving a ticket to the island is booked 3 months in advance, so cruises are the best way to see the Statue of Liberty at the last minute. This week, I want to talk about the accessibility of the Circle Cruise to see the Statue of Liberty.

The hour-long cruise I took allowed me to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Colgate Clock, and the skyline. During the cruise, the speaker shared some history about New York and commented on all of the sights. Snacks could be purchased, and we could stay inside the boat or on the dock.

First, I want to mention that the circle cruises used ramps, so it seemed like everyone could get onto the boat. The Circle Cruises website confirms this by noting that guests using standard wheelchairs can access the first floor of the boats. Guests using electric wheelchairs may not be able to access the boat. The bathroom is also on the first floor so that people who use wheelchairs can access it. I did not go into this bathroom, so I cannot confirm its accessibility. However, I can confirm that there are bathrooms on land that, while dirty, are accessible. However, the second floor is not accessible. This is a problem because the premier level, which gets visitors a book with historical facts, better seats for viewing the sights, and access to the bow of the boat, is advertised as the best and most luxurious experience for cruises of different lengths. This means the less crowded option is only accessible to those who can walk up a flight of stairs.

The cruise is presentation-heavy, with commentary occurring throughout. There are no ASL interpreters, so deaf guests who speak ASL cannot access the information. As stated earlier, the book with information is only given to those who book the premier seating option. This means that deaf viewers might need to bring a friend or interpreter who can translate if they want to hear the history. Blind visitors can listen to the presentation but need someone to tell them when they are near certain sights and what side of the boat the sights are on.

I want to note that this boat is small enough to get seasick. I did not eat before the hour-long cruise and was happy with that decision. Cruises could be as long as two and a half hours, but I was very happy to only be at sea for one hour. If you get seasick, this cruise might not be for you.

Overall, I would rate the accessibility a 2 out of 5. A wheelchair can mostly access the ship, but most other disabilities are not accommodated. I understand it is a boat, but many people with disabilities or able-bodied want to see the Statue of Liberty. If I could make improvements, requests for ASL interpreters could be made, commentary for blind visitors could be made, and efforts could be made to accommodate larger wheelchairs.

Thank you for reading about Circle Cruise's accessibility to see the Statue of Liberty in New York City. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!