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The city's most intimate skyline experience, departing from Chelsea Piers.
Big Apple Charters is New York City's leading woman-owned private luxury yacht charter, founded by Amal Salameh and featured in Robb Report and The New York Times. Departing from 59 Chelsea Piers, every charter is fully private, USCG-licensed, and fully insured. Trusted by New York finests; Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, FIFA, Louis Vuitton, Google, and Deloitte for private events on New York Harbor.
Living in New York carries an unspoken advantage: the city is always offering something new. A quietly lauded restaurant opens in the West Village. A gallery debuts a late-night exhibit in Chelsea. A tucked-away bar in Tribeca becomes the place everyone seems to know about, but no one can quite explain how.
For those who know the city well, the real magic was never just the landmarks. It is the constant sense that the next remarkable evening could begin at any moment.
The ability to slow down deliberately and beautifully is the real measure of luxury in a city that moves at this pace. That is precisely what a private charter with Big Apple Charters offers: an intimate nautical experience curated for those who understand the difference between an evening out and an evening that endures.
For many New Yorkers, nights out can settle into familiar rhythms: a favorite restaurant, a well-worn cocktail bar, or a neighborhood known too well to surprise you. There is comfort in that. But the evenings that stay with you are rarely the expected ones.
New York rewards the quietly adventurous. A private dinner in a SoHo loft. A late reservation at a jazz salon in the West Village. And occasionally, the most memorable move is not finding another room within the city. It is stepping beyond it, without ever truly leaving.
For those who call New York home, a genuine escape can feel like a logistical undertaking. Trains to the Hudson Valley. Weekends arranged weeks in advance. The mental overhead of leaving often exceeds the rest it promises.
Big Apple Charters offers something more straightforward: a private yacht experience departing directly from 59 Chelsea Piers, placing you on the harbor within minutes, with the full Manhattan skyline as a living backdrop. Chelsea Piers sits at the western edge of the Meatpacking District, a short walk from the southern entrance of the High Line, with the Hudson Yards neighborhood visible to the north from the water. The location is one of the most accessible departure points in Manhattan for guests arriving from virtually any neighborhood.
Whether you are hosting a private client gathering, marking a significant occasion, or simply seeking one of the most refined and intimate things to do in New York at night, the experience begins the moment you step aboard.
Three vessels accommodate groups of up to 8, 12, or 30 guests, a deliberate ceiling that ensures every charter remains a private occasion, never a public one.
Some evenings are months in the making. Others come together in a matter of days. The team is experienced in both, and in ensuring that whichever it is, the experience feels as though it could not have been otherwise.
Out on the water, the city you navigate every day becomes something different. The skyline, so familiar it can become invisible, suddenly demands to be looked at. The hum of traffic softens to silence. The river sets a pace that Manhattan rarely permits.
From the water, the city reveals a dimension most residents never encounter. The skyline stretches across the horizon with quiet grandeur. Hudson Yards rises to the north, its towers catching the last of the afternoon light. The Brooklyn Bridge arcs overhead like a piece of suspended architecture. The Statue of Liberty stands in composed distance.
Without the press of sidewalks or the noise of observation decks, New York feels open, calm, and unexpectedly personal. It is the kind of evening, a relaxed Hudson River passage at dusk, that reminds you why this city has inspired generations of artists, writers, and visionaries.
What distinguishes a Big Apple Charters private yacht experience is not only the view, but how gracefully the evening unfolds.
The team coordinates with you in advance to arrange catering and the creation of a custom keepsake banner featuring your theme, colors, and photography. Guests are welcome to bring their own preferred selections on board, including alcoholic beverages, to enjoy throughout the journey.
You step aboard. The skyline becomes the setting. The water sets the pace. The Brooklyn Bridge arcs across the horizon, and beneath its towers the Manhattan skyline stretches in full, lights reflected across the Hudson.
Conversation lingers. The evening slows in a way that feels rare in New York. For a few hours, the city belongs only to the people sharing the moment. Nothing to manage or arrange. Just the water, the skyline, and the company you chose to bring.
Big Apple Charters offers three vessels, all departing from 59 Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. Every reservation is fully private, ensuring no shared decks, no other events on board, and no strangers in your evening.
The Manhattan Mermaid, a 2020 SeaRay 270 SDX, is the most intimate vessel in the fleet, with an open-air layout that makes it ideal for drinks and taking in the sights. The natural choice for couples, close companions, or any occasion where the focus is on the people gathered rather than the size of the group.
Planning note: The Manhattan Mermaid is best suited for drinks and light handheld items. It does not have a galley or dining area; guests wanting a full catered meal should consider the Hudson Star.
View the Manhattan Mermaid intimate charter vessel
The Hudson Star, a 2020 Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS, accommodates up to twelve guests with soft leather seating, a cockpit bar, a full galley with multiple refrigerators, a multi-zone Bluetooth sound system, and a full walk-in bathroom. Featured in Robb Report. Simple catering and handheld items work beautifully on board, and the team can help coordinate catering with sufficient notice.
Personal enough that every moment remains genuine, and generous enough to include everyone who should be there.
View the Hudson Star private yacht for groups up to 12
The Skyline is the largest vessel in the fleet, a custom-built catamaran accommodating up to thirty guests with generous seating both covered and open to the sunshine, a full bar, custom lighting, a Bluetooth sound system, a full walk-in bathroom, and Starlink connectivity available for certain events. The vessel can be fully enclosed in the event of cooler weather or a passing shower, keeping the occasion going without interruption.
The natural choice for landmark occasions, corporate client evenings, and any gathering where the full circle needs to be on board together, with the Manhattan skyline, the harbor, and complete privacy as the only backdrop.
Planning note: The Skyline carries a mandatory 20% service fee on all bookings. Crew is included for all group sizes. Weekend and peak season dates sell out well in advance.
View The Skyline private event vessel for groups up to 30
For corporate hosts, a private charter represents something a dinner reservation rarely can: an environment entirely your own. No adjacent tables. No ambient interruptions. Just a curated setting that communicates consideration, taste, and the kind of attention to detail that reflects well on the host.
The ease that follows in conversation, in rapport, and in the sense of reciprocity that defines lasting client relationships is something a restaurant reservation simply cannot replicate. Teams from Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, FIFA, Louis Vuitton, Google, and Deloitte have all chosen New York Harbor for client entertainment with Big Apple Charters.
For those planning a proposal, an anniversary, or a milestone celebration, the experience offers something equally rare: the certainty that the evening will be exactly what you intended. The setting is inherently considered. Privacy is guaranteed. The memory is made before the vessel leaves the dock. Big Apple Charters has hosted over 100 proposals on New York Harbor, each handled with complete discretion and personal attention.
Big Apple Charters was founded by Amal Salameh on the conviction that every guest deserves to be hosted, not processed. Every charter is treated as a singular occasion. The company holds the top ranking on every major charter platform and has been featured in Robb Report and The New York Times.
All private charters depart from 59 Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, located just south of the golf driving range. The marina entrance is just off the West Side Highway across from 17th Street, with boarding at the end of the boardwalk pier near the dockmaster house. The M23 bus stops directly in front of Chelsea Piers, and the closest subway access is the A, C, and E lines. Paid on-site parking is available at Chelsea Piers, with several garages within a few blocks.
Charter rates vary by vessel, time of day, and day of the week. The Manhattan Mermaid (up to 8 guests) runs $300-$400/hr. The Hudson Star (up to 12 guests) runs $500-$700/hr. The Skyline (up to 30 guests) runs $1,250-$1,500/hr, with a mandatory 20% service fee. Weekday and morning rates are the least expensive; weekend, sunset, and event-day rates are higher. Booking direct at bigapplecharters.com saves considerably over third-party platforms.
Daytime charters begin at a two-hour minimum. Sunset and evening experiences begin at three hours. Full-day options are available for extended private gatherings and beach escapes. The team will help shape the right duration around your occasion.
Absolutely. While many guests plan their evenings weeks or months in advance, the team regularly accommodates shorter-notice reservations. The recommendation is to begin the conversation as soon as the occasion presents itself, as availability is intentionally limited. But the conversation is always worth beginning.
It is among the most intimate and considered settings New York offers: private, scenic, and unlike any conventional dinner reservation. For proposals specifically, the team can help coordinate every detail that makes the difference, including flowers, keepsake banners, gifts, photographers, and the timing of the moment itself. Big Apple Charters has hosted over 100 proposals on New York Harbor.
Big Apple Charters only cancels a charter if the US Coast Guard issues a marine craft advisory or the captain determines that conditions are unsafe. Rain alone is not grounds for cancellation; wind and sea state are the relevant considerations. All three vessels have custom enclosures for passing showers. Should an adjustment be needed, the team works with you directly on revised timing or an alternative date. Keeping some flexibility in your schedule is always recommended.
Big Apple Charters accommodates private gatherings for a wide range of occasions, from client entertainment and corporate events to milestone celebrations. The experience also serves as an exceptional curated gift for those who value something genuinely uncommon over something merely expensive.
Speak with the team directly to discuss your vision, confirm availability, and begin curating the details. Reservations can be made by phone, email, or via the contact form at bigapplecharters.com. Booking direct saves considerably over third-party charter platforms. The team responds personally and promptly to every inquiry.
Smart casual is the right register for most charters. The single most important practical consideration is footwear: guests are asked to avoid high heels, leather soles, and black-soled shoes on board, as these can mark the deck. Flat shoes, deck shoes, or soft-soled footwear are ideal. A light layer is strongly recommended regardless of season, as the water runs approximately 7 degrees cooler than the city. For sunset and evening charters, guests often dress slightly more formally than they would for a dinner reservation; the setting warrants it.
Yes. Big Apple Charters welcomes guests of all ages. New York State law requires children under 12 to wear US Coast Guard-approved life jackets while on board; the team provides these with advance notice. All vessels are USCG-licensed and fully insured, and the licensed crew maintains attentive oversight throughout the charter. Parents planning to bring young children are encouraged to mention this when booking so the team can shape the vessel and itinerary accordingly.
Chelsea Piers sits at the western edge of the Meatpacking District, within a short walk of the High Line's southern entrance at Gansevoort Street and the Hudson Yards neighborhood to the north. The West Village is immediately to the south, with some of Manhattan's most celebrated restaurants and wine bars within easy reach. Hudson River Park runs along the waterfront in both directions from the pier. Guests arriving early often walk the High Line toward Hudson Yards before boarding, or move to a West Village restaurant after the charter for a seamless evening across both land and water.
Availability is intentionally preserved to ensure every guest receives the full measure of the experience. The team is available to discuss your vision in confidence, confirm availability, and begin curating the details.
Big Apple Charters is New York's leading private yacht charter, woman-owned and committed to ensuring that every evening on the water is treated as the singular occasion it is.
Reserve your charter at bigapplecharters.com/contact
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