Sea The City
Sea The City is a direct-to-consumer jet ski and hot tub boat tour operator based at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ, offering guided NYC Harbor sightseeing experiences to tourists, celebration groups, and corporate clients across NYC and Washington DC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersJersey City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sea The City does
Sea The City is a privately held, direct-to-consumer experiential tourism operator founded circa 2014-2016 by Adam Schwartz and headquartered at Liberty Landing Marina, 84 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City, NJ. The company runs guided personal watercraft (PWC) tours of New York Harbor, dispatching small groups of up to 9 guests on Yamaha WaveRunner (2017/2018) and Sea-Doo (2026) jet skis accompanied by certified guides. Its core catalog comprises two standard PWC tours — "Sea The Highlights" (1 hour, from $185 per person) and "Sea It All" (2-2.5 hour Manhattan circumnavigation, from $335) — plus occasion-specific variants targeting bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, graduations, corporate team-building, and July 4th. The company has diversified into a parallel Hot Tub Boat experience operated under standalone NYC and Washington DC brand sites.
The business runs a unit-pricing, pay-per-experience model with a 50% deposit required on bookings over $500 and the balance due 72 hours before departure. Bookings are sourced through the company's website (built on the Peek.com reservation platform) and via direct phone/email for groups, with no third-party resellers. Marketing relies on a top-of-funnel mix of SEO-driven blog content, broad social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, X), an influencer program, and earned-media amplification through TripAdvisor, Google, Yelp, and Trustpilot — where the brand holds a 4.9-star average across 2,500+ reviews and a 4.8 Trustpilot rating. Customer cohorts include tourists, celebration groups, couples, families, NYC locals, and corporate teams.
Operationally, tours depart from a single marina with 15-minute ferry access from Manhattan, supporting tight capacity utilization within a seasonal operating window (typically April–October). The founder retains ownership and active involvement, with no external funding rounds, parent entity, or institutional investors disclosed. Adjacent revenue includes photo-package sales through a PicThrive store. The model is asset-light in software but capital-intensive in marine equipment, Coast Guard safety gear, and licensed guides, and is structurally constrained by harbor access permits, marina slip availability, weather, and NYC tourist seasonality.
Sea The City firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sea The City
- Legal name
- Sea The City
- Website
- https://seathecity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sea The City is a direct-to-consumer jet ski and hot tub boat tour operator based at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ, offering guided NYC Harbor sightseeing experiences to tourists, celebration groups, and corporate clients across NYC and Washington DC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Sea The City is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jersey City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sea The City business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Jet Ski Tour Experiences: Primary revenue from selling guided jet ski tour experiences to individuals and groups. Tours range from 1-hour highlight tours to 2-2.5 hour comprehensive Manhattan circumnavigation tours. Pricing is per-person with group discounts available for parties of 6 or more.
- Private Group and Event Bookings: Custom private tours and event bookings for bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team building, birthdays, and celebrations. Tailored packages with exclusive rates for groups.
- Photo Packages: Sale of tour photos captured by guides during the experience through their PicThrive store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sea The Highlights - 1 Hour Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sea It All - 2-2.5 Hour Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brooklyn Bridge Jet Ski Tour |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Groups & Private Tours |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sea The City product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sea The City operates guided jet ski sightseeing tours of New York Harbor from Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ, with certified guides riding alongside guests on personal watercraft. The company also operates Hot Tub Boat Tours under separate brands in NYC and Washington DC. Tour products range from 1-hour highlight tours to 2-2.5 hour full Manhattan circumnavigation tours, plus occasion-specific private bookings.
Product overview
Sea The City is a jet ski tour operator offering water-based sightseeing experiences in New York Harbor. The core product portfolio includes three main jet ski tour offerings: Sea The Highlights (a 1-hour introductory tour), Sea It All (a 2-2.5 hour Manhattan circumnavigation tour), and Groups & Private Tours (custom experiences for celebrations and corporate events). The company also operates Hot Tub Boat Tours as a separate brand in both NYC and Washington DC. Additional occasion-specific tours cover bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and corporate team building. Tours launch from Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ, just 15 minutes from Manhattan, and feature certified guides, safety briefings, photo opportunities at landmarks, and equipment including 2026 Sea-Doo personal watercraft.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sea The Highlights
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.9 star average rating across 2,500+ reviews on major platforms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sea The City
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sea The City technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sea The City partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Social Media Influencers (Influencer Program)minorSea the City operates an influencer program inviting social media influencers and brands with reach to apply. Approved influencers create engaging content showcasing their jet ski tour experiences. Due to overwhelming response, approval takes 1-2 weeks. Must be located near the operation or willing to travel.
- Filmmakers and Media Production TeamsminorSea the City hosts media projects including documentaries, commercials, and photoshoots at their location. The Hot Tub Boat provides a unique backdrop for creative productions. Interested filmmakers and media teams can submit requests through a form on the website.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sea The City competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hot Tub Boat (Seattle): Original floating hot tub boat operator in Seattle that pioneered the concept. Direct conceptual peer to Sea The City's Hot Tub Boat NYC and DC operations, operating the same novel vessel format in a different city.
- Liberty Cruises: NYC harbor cruise operator offering sightseeing and specialty tours including brunch, sunset, and seasonal experiences. Competes in the same NYC water-based sightseeing tourist market as Sea The City.
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: Operator of iconic NYC harbor sightseeing cruises departing from Pier 83, offering Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline, and bridge tours. Direct competitor for NYC waterfront sightseeing tourist dollars, though using large ferry vessels rather than jet skis.
- Manhattan By Sail: NYC harbor sailing tour operator offering scheduled and private sailing experiences around Manhattan and to the Statue of Liberty. Competes for the same sightseeing tourist segment with a different (sailboat) modality.
Others
- Peek: Booking platform used by Sea The City for online reservations. Functions as both a distribution partner and a competitive benchmark for direct-to-consumer tour booking experiences.
Broad incumbents
- Airbnb Experiences: Global marketplace for bookable local experiences including tours and water-based activities. Represents the broader online distribution channel where tourists discover and book experiential tourism products.
- New York Water Taxi: Operator of water taxi and sightseeing services in NYC harbor, providing commuter and tourist transportation between Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts. Competes for tourist attention on the harbor with broader transit-style offerings.
- City Experiences (Hornblower): Large-scale cruise and sightseeing operator with NYC harbor presence plus national footprint. Overlaps on sightseeing cruises but as part of a broad portfolio across multiple cities and vessel types.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sea The City social profiles
Digital presenceSea The City financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sea The City leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sea The City funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sea The City M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sea The City
What does Sea The City do?
Sea The City operates guided jet ski sightseeing tours of New York Harbor from Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ, with certified guides riding alongside guests on personal watercraft. The company also operates Hot Tub Boat Tours under separate brands in NYC and Washington DC. Tour products range from 1-hour highlight tours to 2-2.5 hour full Manhattan circumnavigation tours, plus occasion-specific private bookings.
Is Sea The City a public or private company?
Sea The City is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sea The City founded?
Sea The City was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sea The City based?
Sea The City is headquartered in Jersey City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sea The City make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Jet Ski Tour Experiences are the primary driver. The others are private Group and Event Bookings and photo Packages.
Who are Sea The City's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hot Tub Boat (Seattle), Liberty Cruises, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises and Manhattan By Sail. Peek is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Airbnb Experiences, New York Water Taxi and City Experiences (Hornblower).
Does Sea The City have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sea The City.