A Winter Cruise to See the Harbor Seals

Every winter, seals haul out on two small artificial islands off Staten Island, and Classic Harbor Line runs a naturalist-led cruise to find them. Hoffman and Swinburne Islands were built in the nineteenth century to quarantine immigrants with contagious diseases; abandoned since, they have gone back to nature as bird colonies and resting rocks for harbor and grey seals. The boat leaves Chelsea Piers, runs down the harbor under the Verrazzano and idles off the islands while the guide points out seals, seabirds and wintering ducks.

The trip lasts about two and three-quarter hours aboard one of the line's classic yachts, with tickets from $88 to $128 for adults and $78 for children as of October 2026. The operator ran the cruise from January through March in 2026; check its site for the 2026–27 dates as winter approaches. Seals are not guaranteed, though the operator says they have been constant winter residents for years. Bring binoculars and a hat, and book a clear, calm day if you can choose.