Statue City Cruises
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Statue City Cruises does
Statue City Cruises is the National Park Service-authorized concessioner that holds exclusive rights to provide ferry transportation and ticketed access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island in New York Harbor. Operating since 2008 as part of the Hornblower Group family of companies, the business runs a fleet of nine vessels from two departure terminals, Castle Clinton at Battery Park in Manhattan and the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, serving both islands 363 days per year. The company's core products are four ticketed tiers sold direct to consumers: General Admission ($26.00 adult), Pedestal Reserve ($26.30 adult), Crown Reserve, and the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour ($81.00 adult). Each ticket includes round-trip ferry service, admission to both islands, entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and self-guided audio tours available in 12 languages. Capacity-constrained products such as the Crown Reserve (approximately 500 visitors per day, frequently selling out 90 days or more in advance) and the Hard Hat Tour enable premium pricing within a structurally fixed asset base.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model spanning direct-to-consumer channels (24/7 website, phone reservation center, walk-up ticket offices), group sales for schools, travel/tour operators, and community organizations, channel partnerships via CityPASS and hotel concierges, and event-driven revenue from private vessel charters. Marketing relies on owned digital channels, SEO for "official Statue of Liberty tickets" intent, multi-language site localization to 11 languages, and a content creator program producing short-form social video. Group bookings are subject to verification (school letterhead, association membership) and carry discounted rates, while the school segment excludes peak summer months (July/August). The company distinguishes itself from unofficial harbor cruise operators, which can circle the Statue but cannot dock at the islands, by marketing the lowest-price guarantee and 24-hour cancellation flexibility for direct bookings.
On-island dining (Crown Cafe, Ellis Cafe) and gift shops are independently operated by Evelyn Hill, Inc., and are not part of Statue City Cruises' revenue model. The company is privately held under Hornblower Group with no disclosed equity investors, no public financials, and no reported funding activity. Operating geographies are limited to the United States (New York and New Jersey), with no disclosed international expansion, and revenue is functionally a function of New York tourism volumes and NPS concession economics.
Statue City Cruises firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Statue City Cruises
- Legal name
- Statue City Cruises
- Website
- https://statuecitycruises.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Statue City Cruises industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ferry Transportation and Sightseeing Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Tour Operators (561520)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transportation & Access Services (Shuttles, Ferry Access, Scenic Drives Permits) (THAAAGAC), Luxury Cruise Charters & Private Expeditions (THAEABAG)
Keywords
Where Statue City Cruises is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Statue City Cruises business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ferry Ticket Sales: Core revenue from selling ferry tickets to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Multiple ticket tiers available: General Admission ($26 adults), Pedestal Reserve ($26.30 adults), Crown Reserve (limited availability, sells out months in advance), and Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour ($81 adults). Revenue is transaction-based per ticket sold.
- Onboard Concessions: Each ferry vessel features onboard concession stands offering snacks, beverages, and souvenirs during the ferry journey across New York Harbor.
- Content Creator Partnerships: Influencer and content creator partnerships where creators produce short-form video content (Reels, TikTok, Stories) in exchange for experience access, with deliverables including brand-aligned content highlighting the Statue City Cruises experience.
- Private Charters: Private vessel chartering for corporate events, private celebrations, and special occasions at premium pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission - Full island access with ferry, museums, and audio tours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pedestal Reserve - General Admission plus monument interior access to observation deck |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Crown Reserve - Full monument access including Pedestal and Crown (limited to ~500 visitors/day) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour - Exclusive behind-the-scenes hospital complex access with expert guide |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School Group Discounts - Discounted student rates for verified educational groups |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Statue City Cruises product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Statue City Cruises is the sole authorized concessioner providing round-trip ferry transportation and ticketed access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island from New York City and New Jersey. Its core offerings are four tiered ticket products — General Admission, Pedestal Reserve, Crown Reserve, and the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour — each combining ferry service, museum admissions, and self-guided audio tours in 12 languages, with progressive upgrades for monument interior access and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences.
Product overview
Statue City Cruises operates as the official and only authorized ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, functioning as a unified ticketing platform with multiple ticket tiers. The core product portfolio centers on ferry transportation with four main ticket types: General Admission ($26.00), Pedestal Reserve ($26.30), Crown Reserve, and Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour ($81.00). Each ticket tier builds upon General Admission, adding progressively exclusive access to monument interior areas (Pedestal, Crown) or specialized behind-the-scenes experiences (Hard Hat Tour). All tickets include round-trip ferry service from Battery Park (NYC) or Liberty State Park (NJ), access to both islands, both museums, and self-guided audio tours. Additional services include group booking for school, tour operator, and community groups; a content creator partnership program; NPS ranger-led programs; and Junior Ranger activities. Dining and retail operations on the islands are independently operated by Evelyn Hill, Inc., and include the Crown Cafe, Ellis Cafe, gift shops, and museum stores. The company also partners with CityPASS for bundled attraction tickets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New York General Admission Round-trip ferry transportation from Battery Park or Liberty State Park to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, including admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, plus self-guided audio tours in 12 languages. Priced at $26.00 for adults.
- New York Pedestal Reserve General Admission benefits plus reserved access to the Statue of Liberty's Pedestal Observation Deck, accessible via 215 stairs with elevator available. Priced at $26.30 for adults; sells out 90 days in advance.
- New York Crown Reserve Access to both the Pedestal and the Crown of the Statue of Liberty via a 162-step spiral staircase. Limited to approximately 500 visitors per day; children must be at least 42 inches tall and able to climb independently; maximum 4 tickets per household.
- New York Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour Guided 90-minute tour through the unrestored Ellis Island Hospital Complex, including access to historic wards, operating rooms, infectious disease facilities, and the Mortuary. Priced at $81.00 for adults; ages 13 and over only; includes Early Bird option.
- Private Charters Private vessel chartering for corporate events, private celebrations, and special occasions, booked via [email protected] and 201-604-5724.
- School Group Bookings Discounted group tickets for K-12 school groups with verified school letterhead, including chaperone-required booking process, NPS ranger-led programs, and Junior Ranger badge activities for grades 3-6 and 9-12.
- Travel and Tour Operator Group Bookings Group booking services for tour operators, wholesalers, and sightseeing companies, including educational/youth group discount eligibility and group reservation request processing through the Group Sales department.
- Community Group Bookings Group booking for organized community groups including church groups, scouting organizations, sports teams, company outings, music groups, camps, and college classes, with flexible group booking and discounted rates.
- CityPASS New York Bundle Bundled ticket option pairing Statue City Cruises ferry and museum access with four or more other NYC attractions, offering up to 41% savings through the CityPASS program.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~500 Crown visitors daily (limited capacity)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Statue City Cruises
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Statue City Cruises technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Statue City Cruises partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- National Park ServicecoreOfficial partnership as NPS-authorized concessioner since 2008. Statue City Cruises is the only authorized provider of all ticketed access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. NPS Rangers provide free daily tours on Liberty Island, and the company works with NPS on accessibility, security procedures, and visitor services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Statue City Cruises competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Go City / CityPASS: Attraction pass and bundle provider that includes Statue City Cruises in its NYC offering. Functions as both a distribution partner and adjacent competitor in the bundled attraction-tourist market.
- Big Bus Tours: Global hop-on/hop-off sightseeing tour operator with NYC presence, competing for tourist attraction-spend and bundling partnerships with major destinations. Broad incumbent in the sightseeing tourism category.
- Royal Caribbean Group: Largest global cruise operator offering passenger cruise experiences. Broad incumbent illustrating the broader passenger water transportation/leisure cruise category in which Statue City Cruises operates, though at very different scale and product.
Direct peers
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: Operates NYC harbor sightseeing cruises including the Circle Line tour around Manhattan and Statue of Liberty viewing cruises. Closest direct competitor for harbor-based sightseeing tours and ferry services, although it lacks island docking access to Liberty/Ellis Islands.
- NYC Ferry (Hornblower-operated): Citywide commuter ferry service across NYC's five boroughs, also operated by Hornblower Group. Direct operating peer sharing fleet management, terminal infrastructure expertise, and parent company resources with Statue City Cruises.
- Gray Line New York: Major NYC tour operator offering sightseeing packages that often bundle Statue of Liberty access with bus tours and other attractions. Direct competitor in the group tour and package tour distribution channel.
- NY Water Taxi: Operates hop-on/hop-off water taxi service and harbor tours in New York Harbor, including routes near the Statue of Liberty. Direct competitor for water-based sightseeing and transportation in the same NYC harbor geography.
- City Experiences by Hornblower: Sister brand under the Hornblower Group umbrella operating sightseeing cruises, ferry services, and water tours in multiple US and international cities. Direct operating peer with shared parent, similar ferry/cruise tour model, and cross-brand commercial overlap.
Emerging players
- Liberty Landing Marina Ferry: Operates ferry service between Liberty Landing Marina (Jersey City) and the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan, near Liberty State Park. Emerging regional player offering alternative NJ-side water access to Manhattan.
- TopView NYC: Hop-on/hop-off bus and NYC sightseeing tour operator competing for the same tourist customer wallet. Comparable in targeting leisure visitors to NYC attractions, though operates land-based rather than ferry tours.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Statue City Cruises social profiles
Digital presenceStatue City Cruises financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Statue City Cruises leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Statue City Cruises funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Statue City Cruises 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 Statue City Cruises
What does Statue City Cruises do?
Statue City Cruises is the sole authorized concessioner providing round-trip ferry transportation and ticketed access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island from New York City and New Jersey. Its core offerings are four tiered ticket products — General Admission, Pedestal Reserve, Crown Reserve, and the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour — each combining ferry service, museum admissions, and self-guided audio tours in 12 languages, with progressive upgrades for monument interior access and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences.
Is Statue City Cruises a public or private company?
Statue City Cruises is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Statue City Cruises founded?
Statue City Cruises was founded in 2008. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Statue City Cruises based?
Statue City Cruises is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Statue City Cruises make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ferry Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are onboard Concessions, content Creator Partnerships and private Charters.
Who are Statue City Cruises's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Go City / CityPASS, Big Bus Tours and Royal Caribbean Group. Direct peers are Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, NYC Ferry (Hornblower-operated), Gray Line New York, NY Water Taxi and City Experiences by Hornblower. Emerging players are Liberty Landing Marina Ferry and TopView NYC.
Does Statue City Cruises have an API?
No public API is recorded for Statue City Cruises.
What industry is Statue City Cruises in?
Statue City Cruises's product category is Ferry Transportation and Sightseeing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAA, Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching), with a secondary code of THAAAGAC, Transportation & Access Services (Shuttles, Ferry Access, Scenic Drives Permits). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 4400.