NYC Bundle: Empire State, Big Bus Tour, & Circle Line Cruise

The best part of this $99 New York bundle is the change of pace: look out over Manhattan from the Empire State Building, cover ground by open-top bus, then watch the skyline slide past from the water. I like that you can spread the sights over two days instead of cramming them into one.

I also like the choice between a 60-minute Liberty Midtown Cruise and a 90-minute Landmarks Cruise. One thing to plan carefully: book your Empire State Building time early. A late or inconvenient slot can make an already full sightseeing day harder to manage, and the bus audio may not always line up perfectly with what you are passing.

• Three viewpoints, one ticket: See New York from the 86th floor, the Big Bus’s upper deck, and a Circle Line boat.
• A 48-hour bus pass: Ride the Downtown and Uptown loops, hopping off to explore and using the app to check routes and bus locations.
• Two cruise lengths: Choose a 60-minute Liberty Midtown Cruise or a 90-minute Landmarks Cruise from Pier 83.
• Flexible scheduling: The Empire State Building and Circle Line cruise can be taken on separate days.
• A worthwhile bundle if you use it: The $99 price is advertised as more than 40% below the separate retail cost, but the savings matter most if you plan to do all three activities.

A three-part way to get your bearings

This bundle gives you three different ways to read New York. From the Empire State Building’s 86th floor, you see the city laid out in every direction. On the bus, you get a moving view of its streets and landmarks. From the Circle Line, you see Manhattan from the harbor, with the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and waterfront in view.

That variety is the point. A bus tour can help you connect neighborhoods, but it cannot replace the scale of a skyline view or the calm of a boat ride. The bundle puts all three within reach, with enough flexibility to spread them across two days.

It is also a practical option if you are new to the city and want help choosing what to see first. You get a ready-made structure, but you still decide when to get off the bus and how much time to give each stop.

Empire State Building: set your time before you build your day

The Empire State Building admission is for the 86th-floor observation deck. That is the outdoor deck with wide views across Manhattan and beyond, from an Art Deco landmark that is part of the city’s skyline in its own right.

The view is the main event, but take a moment to look at the building too. Its architecture gives the visit a sense of place beyond the usual exercise of spotting familiar towers from above. On a clear day, the broad panorama helps you understand how Manhattan fits together with the surrounding city.

Your ticket includes admission to the deck, but you need to select a date and time. You can arrange this with Big Bus staff when redeeming the voucher or in advance through the booking management link. I would settle this detail early, especially if your schedule is tight. One visitor who delayed scheduling ended up with an unwanted evening slot. The lesson is simple: flexibility is useful, but it is not a substitute for choosing a time that suits your day.

You can visit the Empire State Building on a different day from the cruise. That is a valuable bit of breathing room. The observation deck need not compete with a boat departure or a long bus loop, and you can choose a time that fits the weather and your energy.

Big Bus: use the 48 hours to link neighborhoods

The Big Bus pass covers 48 hours on the Downtown and Uptown loops. It is a hop-on hop-off service, so you can ride for the views and commentary, then leave the bus when a stop catches your interest. Times Square, Central Park, and SoHo are among the areas named as places to explore.

The upper deck is the better seat for seeing the city around you, while the digital commentary adds context as you pass landmarks. The bus can be especially useful when you want a broad overview before deciding where to spend more time on foot. It also saves you from planning every connection between sights yourself.

Still, think of it as a sightseeing route, not a precision transport service. Traffic and the pace of the city can affect how quickly you get from one area to another. The 48-hour period starts when you activate the ticket, so plan your first ride with the full window in mind rather than activating it casually.

Download the Big Bus app before you set out. Add your booking reference, then activate the ticket on the day you want to start. The app provides route information and live bus tracking, which can help you decide whether to wait for the next bus or use your time elsewhere. You can also redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World, or with a driver at any stop on the route.

The main weakness to keep in mind is the audio commentary. One traveler reported that it was unavailable on some buses and out of sync with the sights on others. That does not make the bus useless, but it means you should not rely on the audio as your only source of information. Treat it as a bonus, and use the route map and your own curiosity to fill in the gaps.

Circle Line: choose the cruise that matches your day

The cruise departs from Circle Line at Pier 83 in Hudson River Park, near 42nd Street. It is also listed as Big Bus stop number 12, which makes it fairly easy to pair with the bus tour.

You have two options. The 60-minute Liberty Midtown Cruise gives you a shorter outing with a close view of the Statue of Liberty. The 90-minute Landmarks Cruise keeps you on the water longer and includes sights such as the Brooklyn Bridge. If time allows, the longer trip may be the more satisfying choice for seeing several waterfront landmarks without rushing back to shore.

Both cruises include a live English guide. Audio guides are available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. The boats have indoor seating with large windows, outdoor deck space, air conditioning, restrooms, and an onboard café and full bar. That range of spaces makes the cruise a useful break from walking, and gives you options if you would rather watch from inside than stay on deck.

Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Seats are first-come, first-served, so arriving early matters if you have a preferred place to sit. Cruise times and departures are worth confirming as you plan your day, rather than treating the boat as an activity you can fit in at the last minute.

The cruise appears to be the strongest part of the bundle for one traveler who chose the 90-minute option and found it worth the time. That is not a guarantee that everyone will prefer a longer boat ride, but it does point to the value of choosing the 90-minute trip if you want more time on the water and a broader look at the landmarks.

How to fit the three experiences into two days

The ticket is valid for two days from first activation, and the bus pass itself runs for 48 hours. The Empire State Building and Circle Line cruise can be scheduled on separate days, which gives you room to avoid stacking every major activity together.

One sensible approach is to activate the bus on the morning of your first sightseeing day. Use the loops to get oriented and hop off where you want to explore, then take the cruise when its departure time fits. Put the Empire State Building on either day, using the time you selected in advance. If the boat and observation deck would make one day feel rushed, split them up.

The key is to distinguish the bus pass from the timed attractions. The bus gives you a broad window, but the Empire State Building and cruise require their own date and time arrangements. Build your day around those fixed appointments, then use the bus for the flexible parts.

You do not need to ride every loop end to end for the pass to be useful. Its value comes from combining transport and sightseeing: ride for a stretch, get off to see a neighborhood, then check the app for the next bus. If the audio is working well, it adds context. If it is not, the views and ability to hop off still have a purpose.

Is $99 a good deal?

At $99 per person, this bundle is marketed as saving more than 40% compared with buying the attractions separately. The exact value to you depends on whether you want all three parts. If the Empire State Building, a bus tour, and a harbor cruise are already on your list, bringing them together is an appealing way to organize a first visit.

The bundle is less compelling if you would skip one or more activities. A ticket that looks inexpensive on paper can still be poor value if you do not have time to use it. In particular, the 48-hour bus pass is most useful when you plan to hop off and explore, not just take a single quick ride.

I would also weigh the convenience against the limits of a packaged tour. You get a clear framework and avoid buying each component separately, but you still need to manage reservations, bus timing, and a cruise departure. The advertised savings are best understood as a reason to compare the bundle with your own itinerary, not as a reason to fill your schedule with activities you do not want.

Accessibility and small planning details

The New York Big Bus fleet is wheelchair accessible. Strollers must be folded and stored on the lower deck, so bring a plan for that before boarding. The activity also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and a reserve-now, pay-later option.

The ticket supports digital activation through the Big Bus app or voucher redemption with staff or a driver. The bus audio is listed in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. For the Circle Line, the live guide is in English, with audio guides in those languages plus Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

Who should book this New York bundle?

I would book it if you want a well-rounded introduction to New York and expect to use all three attractions. It suits a first visit especially well: you get the broad view from the Empire State Building, an easy way to cover different areas by bus, and a harbor perspective that is hard to get from the sidewalk.

It is also a good fit if you like having choices instead of following a fixed group itinerary. You can hop off, pick the shorter or longer cruise, and split the timed attractions across separate days. Book the Empire State Building slot early, arrive at Pier 83 30 minutes before sailing, and treat bus commentary as helpful when it works rather than essential.

Skip it if you are unlikely to use the bus pass or prefer to plan every trip by another means. The audio can be inconsistent, and the schedule still takes some attention. But for $99, if all three experiences appeal and you can give them two days, this is a practical way to see New York from above, at street level, and from the water.

FAQ

How long is the bundle valid?

It is valid for two days from the first activation. The Big Bus pass provides 48 hours of hop-on hop-off access.

What does the ticket include?

It includes admission to the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observation deck, a 48-hour Big Bus pass for the Downtown and Uptown loops, and one Circle Line sightseeing cruise.

Which Circle Line cruise can I choose?

You can choose the 60-minute Liberty Midtown Cruise or the 90-minute Landmarks Cruise.

Can I visit the Empire State Building and take the cruise on different days?

Yes. The Empire State Building visit and Circle Line cruise can be scheduled on separate days.

Where does the Circle Line cruise depart?

Cruises depart from Circle Line at Pier 83 in Hudson River Park, at 42nd Street. It is listed as Big Bus stop number 12.

How early should I arrive for the cruise?

Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Seating is first-come, first-served.

How do I activate the Big Bus ticket?

You can add your booking reference in the Big Bus app and activate your ticket on the day you start. You can also redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World, or with a driver at any stop.

Is the Big Bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The New York fleet is wheelchair accessible. Strollers must be folded and stored on the lower deck.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.