They walked across the stage. Now it’s time to to take a celebratory journey on the water.
A graduation is one of life’s genuine milestones — years of work, sacrifice, and ambition finally paid off. It deserves more than a crowded restaurant or a noisy bar packed with strangers. Dream Boat NY offers a private graduation boat party unlike anything else in New York City: an intimate yacht charter exclusively for the 2–6 closest in your life, cruising the Hudson River with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and some of the most iconic waterfront scenery in the world.
This is the graduation celebration that gets remembered for decades. Not just the degree, the day.
A Graduation Party That’s Actually Private
The word “private” gets used loosely in New York. On a Dream Boat NY graduation charter, private means private: your group and only your group aboard the vessel. No shared deck with other parties. No strangers at the next table. No competition for views.
Onboard, the crew are entirely focused on your celebration. The yacht, the route, the timing, the atmosphere — all of it is arranged around your graduation party. Whether the graduate is a college senior, a graduate school finisher, a medical school survivor, a law school alum, or anyone else who just earned something worth celebrating, this is their moment on the water.
Small groups are the sweet spot for this kind of celebration. Close family. A tight circle of friends. The people who actually showed up. The intimate scale is what makes it special — everyone gets the best seat, everyone celebrates, and the energy stays warm and personal throughout the cruise.
What the Graduation Yacht Experience Looks Like
Step aboard at Chelsea Piers and into a different version of New York City. The all-teak outdoor deck stretches ahead with U-shaped seating designed for conversation, open skies overhead, and 360-degree views of the river and skyline with no obstructions and no crowds. The retractable canopy — the only convertible canopy on any private yacht in NYC — provides full shade or full sun depending on the moment and the weather.
Inside, the wood-paneled cabin lounge offers a completely different atmosphere: enclosed, elegant, and intimate. Deep-cushioned white marine upholstery wraps in a half-circle around table seating for six. It’s the perfect setting for a champagne toast, a catered lunch spread, or celebration cake.
Move freely between the deck and cabin throughout the cruise. A Bluetooth sound system connects to any playlist. A modern bathroom with cloth hand towels keeps things comfortable aboard. A kitchenette allows the crew to provide seamless food and beverage service throughout the charter.
This is not a tour boat experience. It’s a yacht, and it’s yours for the duration of the charter.
Graduation Charter Routes & Durations
Choose the duration that fits the celebration. Every route departs from Chelsea Piers and can be customized based on your group’s interests.
2-Hour Graduation Charter — from $700
The most efficient way to mark the milestone on the water. Departing from Chelsea Piers, the cruise heads into the Hudson River and New York Harbor for up-close views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Lower Manhattan and the Financial District, One World Trade Center, and the sweeping southern skyline. The captain positions the boat for photos at each landmark and shares the context and stories that make the sightseeing feel meaningful rather than rushed. Return route options include the Hudson River or the East River past the Brooklyn Bridge.
Pricing:
- $700 weekdays (2 guests)
- $800 weekdays (3–6 guests)
- $800 weekday sunsets
- $850 weekends and holidays
3-Hour Graduation Charter — $1,200
The most popular choice for groups wanting a thorough celebration on the water. The extra hour opens up the itinerary significantly. Route options include a northward Hudson River cruise past Midtown, Hudson Yards, and toward the George Washington Bridge; an East River route past the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, and the Brooklyn and Williamsburg waterfronts; or a deep southern harbor exploration toward the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Multiple angles of the Statue of Liberty, extended time at key landmarks, and a relaxed pace that lets the celebration breathe.
Pricing: $1,200
3.5-Hour Full Manhattan Circumnavigation — $1,400
The definitive NYC experience and an extraordinary way to mark an extraordinary achievement. The full loop around Manhattan Island covers the Hudson River south past the Statue of Liberty, up the East River past every major bridge, through the narrow Harlem River Ship Canal (the hidden gem of the city’s waterways), and back down the Hudson to Chelsea Piers. This is the route that impresses even lifelong New Yorkers — most have never seen Manhattan from this perspective.
Pricing: $1,400
4-Hour Extended Graduation Charter — $1,600
Maximum time on the water for groups who want to combine extended sightseeing with a full catered meal, a day-to-night experience, or a custom ambitious route. Options include the full circumnavigation plus extended time at the Statue of Liberty, a comprehensive harbor exploration paired with a leisurely catered lunch, or a late afternoon-to-sunset-to-evening cruise that captures the city in multiple kinds of light.
Pricing: $1,600
Gratuity is not included in charter pricing. 18–22% is customary for excellent service.
View complete route details | See full pricing
Graduation Catering: Celebrate in Style
Food and drinks turn a great cruise into a true party. Dream Boat NY offers a full catering menu available to add to any graduation charter — everything from champagne and charcuterie to open bar brunch packages.
All-Inclusive Packages
All-Inclusive Champagne & Appetizers — $65 per adult Open bar with an artisanal charcuterie board: select cured meats, premium cheeses, fresh grapes, marinated olives, and crackers served on solid wood trays. Open bar includes Chandon Brut Cuvée Champagne, Whispering Angel Rosé, High Noon Hard Seltzer, Pinot Gris, Beer, and non-alcoholic soda & seltzer.
All-Inclusive Champagne Brunch — $80 per person Open bar with New York bagels and smoked salmon, all the fixings (red onion, capers, sliced tomatoes, cream cheese, butter), artisanal pastries, and seasonal fruit. Open bar includes Chandon Brut Cuvée Champagne, Mimosas, Whispering Angel Rosé, High Noon Hard Seltzer, Pinot Gris, Beer, orange juice, soda & seltzer.
All-Inclusive Champagne Lunch — $80 per person Open bar with a Mediterranean Lunch Board: bite-size sandwich wraps, Mediterranean dips, pita bread, fresh vegetables, and cornichons. Open bar includes Chandon Brut Cuvée Champagne, Whispering Angel Rosé, High Noon Hard Seltzer, Pinot Gris, Beer, and soda & seltzer.
Boards & Party Trays
Traditional yachting cuisine served on solid wood boards and platters. Select your favorites:
- Artisanal Charcuterie Board
- Classic Shrimp Cocktail
- Mediterranean Board
- Cheese Board
- Seasonal Fruit Board
- Farmers Market Crudités
- Continental Breakfast Tray
- Celebration Cakes: Chantilly Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, or Birthday Cake
Champagne & Beverages
- Dom Pérignon
- Veuve Clicquot Brut Reserve Cuvée
- Moët & Chandon Reserve Imperial Brut
- Whispering Angel Rosé
- Fleur de Mer Côtes de Provence Rosé
- Louis Jadot Chardonnay
- Rainstorm Pinot Gris
- High Noon Hard Seltzer
- Seasonal IPA, Pilsner & Lager
- Soda & Seltzer Package
- Coffee Service
What’s Included in Every Graduation Charter
Every Dream Boat NY private boat party includes:
- The vessel exclusively for you and your guests
- Outdoor all-teak deck with U-shaped seating
- Retractable canopy for full shade or full sun (NYC’s only convertible on the water)
- Indoor wood-paneled cabin lounge with deep-cushioned white upholstery and table seating for six
- Modern bathroom with personal cloth hand towels
- Kitchenette for crew food and beverage service
- Bluetooth sound system
- Bottled water
- Professional USCG-certified captain
- All Chelsea Piers docking, boarding fees, and fuel included
- Complete route planning and coordination
- Photo opportunities at iconic NYC landmarks throughout the cruise
Graduation Season Booking: Plan Ahead
Graduation season — May through June — is one of the most in-demand periods of the year for private yacht charters in New York. Ceremony weekends in particular book weeks in advance. Securing a date early means the celebration happens on exactly the right day, not a backup.
Recommended advance booking for graduation season: 2-4 weeks minimum.
Other Ways to Celebrate
The graduation party is just one reason to come aboard. Dream Boat NY charters the same intimate private yacht for a full range of milestones and celebrations — all with the same exclusive experience, the same professional crew, and the same Manhattan skyline backdrop.
Birthday Party Boat NYC — milestone birthdays deserve an unforgettable setting.
Bachelorette Party Boat NYC — the ultimate private NYC send-off.
Bachelor Party Boat NYC — the last ride before the big day.
Private Boat Party NYC — any occasion worth celebrating.
Corporate Yacht Charter NYC — impressive client entertainment and executive gatherings.
View all events and celebrations
Book the Graduation Boat Party
Graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. The celebration should match.
A private yacht on the Hudson River, the Manhattan skyline stretching across the horizon, champagne in hand, close friends and family gathered around — this is the graduation party that gets remembered.
Call our concierge team: 917-399-9084 Or check availability and book online using the booking calendar below.
Graduation season fills fast. Secure the date now.