Reviews of Doug Fox’s 2024 AIA NY and Classic Harbor Line architecture and climate change boat tours on TripAdvisor and Google:

TripAdvisor Reviews

It’s an eleven out of ten
The architectural cruise was the trip highlight. Great way to get oriented to Manhattan and the boroughs. Doug, our architect guide, was a font of knowledge, a terrific speaker and very personable. Makes me want to take a walking tour sponsored by the same organization, AIANY. It’s an eleven!

One of the best experiences of my life
I took the AIANY architectural boat tour on the Classic Harbor Line on October 30, 2024. Our guide was an architect named Doug. The tour was one of the best experiences of my life. The guide was just super: he knew so much about the city and its architecture and shared it in a way that was really engaging and witty. I can't recommend this tour and the guide enough. I also thought the ticket prices was reasonable for three hours of cruising around Manhattan, seeing breath-taking scenery with a glass of champagne.

Great tour around the island
Fascinating ride. Doug and crew did great job explaining the architecture and history of the islands. Definitely recommending to others.

A Native New Yorker Speaks!
I cannot say enough good things about this adventure. The boat was handsome and comfortable. The whole crew, Maggy, Jason, Jacob, architect Doug, and Captain Justin, were top notch. I learned so much about buildings and bridges, history, and interesting anecdotes all while sipping Champagne and snacking on hummus. Give yourself a gift and go enjoy a few hours circling Manhattan!

Kevin' review
A great trip and we had great weather. The guide (Doug) was top-notch and was anxious to exchange opinions with the passengers.

3 hours on the Architecture Boat Tour will help you understand NYC as never before.
Doug, the tour guide, was fantastic. He provided an exciting experience for all. His knowledge of the buildings and their relationship to the past and present growth of the big Apple provided a contexts most civic classes lack. The ship’s staff was equally exemplary. As a native New Yorker I suggest that you inform your friends and family to book a tour.

Cheers to Architectural Digest and the city with 1.000 Stories.
An absolutely lovely time had by all. We celebrated my parents 53rd wedding anniversary ages ranging from 74 -19yrs old and we all had a wonderful time. Doug our guide was extremely knowledgeable and approachable. He balanced time to learn and admire, as well as, converse in bits and pieces with one another. The outdoor deck provided ample space to experience the entire tour with the sun and wind upon us and we took time throughout to venture both inside and out. The cheese platter and hummus platter were a lovely addition to order as snacks. My parents raved about the lovely morning we spent and said it will long be remembered. As lifelong New Yorkers we highly recommend this event. The crew and serving staff are wonderful, attentive and kind especially our server Jessie. In recent years New York has felt heavy and it was a breath of fresh air to get this perspective on our beloved city. Cheers to Architectural Digest.

Manhattan from a unique perspective!
Exceptional experience all around Doug our guide incredibly knowledgeable and made learning fun! Onboard staff very welcoming offered super service Will go again!

This cruise is a must!
We booked this as a recommendation from a friend, and we are so pleased we did. We enjoyed Doug Fox’s deep knowledge, great information and funny asides. We loved all the sights especially the Statue of Liberty and crew members the lovely Dianna was offering to take photos. We enjoyed a welcome drink, and lost count of the many spectacular bridges we went under. You can spend your time out on deck, or inside the boat and they both work really well when listening to Doug’s commentary. We def recommend this tour to all who are visiting as it is a great way to see NYC from the Hudson and East rivers. Liz and Michael Melbourne, Australia

Breathtaking views of City with Fantastic Narration
This was a fantastic tour! It was so well-rounded too. Our guide, Doug, was both knowledgeable and kind. He made an effort to get to know every passenger and share both historical and personal stories of the city and its architecture. The boat was well-designed with comfortable seating around tables. Everyone had terrific views with the huge windows to see the skyscrapers and a clear roof for dramatic views of the bridges as we went under them. The tour took almost 3 hours to go all the way around the island, and it was time well spent for us. After visiting NYC so many times over the last 50 years, we thought we pretty much had seen it all. This tour gave us a fresh new look.

Manhattan from the Water
This was a delightful tour around Manhattan’s waterways, highlighting architecture, changes to the city and the ongoing efforts Manage storm surges and address climate change. Doug was an excellent tour guide. He has a wealth of knowledge and an engaging manner.

The best way to see Manhattan
Wonderful way to spend the afternoon! The trip around Manhattan took us to places I had never seen before in my 13 years living in nyc, and Doug was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of everything in our view. Highly recommend!

Best tour ever!
My friend found out about this tour and booked it for us. I’m so glad she did. The boat was very comfortable, the food and drinks were tasty and plentiful, the crew was pleasant and helpful. Doug, our AIA guide, was terrific. Might sound weird, but his stellar command of adjectives helped us clearly identify the buildings on shore that he talked about as we sailed past them. We learned so much about Manhattan architecture; we’ve been to NYC dozens of times, and know the city fairly well, but this tour taught us an incredible amount. He also talked a lot about how climate change is affecting NY - the shoreline, newer LEED buildings, impact of Sandy, etc. He was a wealth of knowledge and I’m grateful. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough! We were also fortunate to have a sunny day for this lovely boat ride. Definitely worth the money.

A boatload of info and fun.
Very skilled docent. Douglas was engaging and funny; we learned a lot! Crew was kind and helpful! Fellow travelers were warm and friendly.

Tour NYC in Style!
Deanna and Jacob are tremendous crew! Captain Justin Thank you! Doug was a great architect/ NYC tour guide. Funny stories and perfect touch to engaging folks. This #yacht has Beautiful glass ceiling and window views of the city! 🚨🚨💯 What a picturesque way to view #NYC on a #cruise! Glass of vino and delicious tapas made the 3 hour trip seem short! We brought my service dog Leo, Everyone was more than accommodating to us! My son was only 10 and enjoyed himself. He is quite mature for his age, so if you have hellions , mabye not for you. The seating was so comfortable and cozy! Open the window if you need more air! I felt like First Class Travelers aboard The Manhattan II ❤️💯. So worth it to see the city in style! Fully enjoyed myself. Thank You!!

Highlight of our recent trip….
We loved this tour!!!!
The boat is beautiful, Doug, the tour leader was funny, knew New York having grown up there, and kept us entertained ed and informed for the whole trip. The crew were amazing too, drinks being served, photos taken by your members so the wife and I could be in the pic together. Was well worth the cost and was the highlight of our recent trip. Amazing views, amazing team, brilliant memories built!!!! Thank you!!!

Best way to learn about and see Manhattan!
Best way to see Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the entire island of Manhattan!! Doug, our narrator, was amazing and knows everything about the architecture and history of New York. Gives you the closest view of the Statue of Liberty in the comfort of an old style 20’s yacht.

Excellent experience
This cruise had been recommended to us and we were not disappointed. Doug was very knowledgeable and it was a wonderful way to see and understand some of the history of New York.

Great way to spend a morning.
Loved this trip. Almost 3 hours of cruising with a highly engaging and informative guide. Our guide (Doug) knew his stuff, was local and cared passionately.

Google Reviews

Boat Tour
Wonderful experience! Informative and beautiful… we were lucky to have a sunny day, but the narration and boat were equally interesting. Doug is an endless supply of architectural notes… and funny too… a lovely guy. The staff were friendly, and kind. Highly recommend 😉

Boat Tour
Great sail. Warm clean inside. Great staff. Wonderful tour guide doug. We had a wonderful afternoon. Highly recommended. You can stand outside too. Good snacks And drinks

Boat Tour
This almost 3 hour boat ride around Manhattan Island far exceeded my expectations. The “architectural” aspects of the tour were far more than a guide pointing out interesting looking buildings. The guide was “Doug” a life long New Yorker who clearly had a deep knowledge of the City’s history and people, and an obvious love for her. His monologue was a nearly continuous narrative fluently weaving together detailed building descriptions (and architectural details) with history, anecdotes, and personal touches about what we were observing. He covered buildings, bridges, parks, roads, statues, scenery, even nearby boat traffic, and tied it all together with the history of the city and its people into a fascinating and easily absorbed narrative. Anyone who wants to go beyond Times Square and the 9/11 memorial will love this tour. The boat is very comfortable, and the wireless mic and excellent sound system allows you to listen to the guide inside or outside of the spacious cabin.

Boat Tour
I recently went on an Architect cruise with Classic Harbor Line in New York City, and it was a truly fantastic experience.

Our cruise was led by Doug, who was an absolute wealth of information. His passion for architecture was evident throughout the tour, and he was able to share fascinating details about the city's iconic landmarks in a way that was both engaging and informative. It was clear that Doug really knew his stuff! The service onboard was equally impressive. Maggie and Kira were attentive and ensured that all the guests were comfortable and having a great time. Their friendly and professional demeanor added another layer of enjoyment to the cruise. Overall, I highly recommend Classic Harbor Line for anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable way to see New York City. The knowledgeable guides, attentive service, and beautiful views make for an unforgettable experience.