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

New York looks different from the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor deck, from the open top of a sightseeing bus, and from the Hudson River. This $99 bundle brings those three views together, with two days to arrange them around your own plans.

I like the 48-hour bus pass, which gives you a useful way to cover Midtown, Uptown, and Downtown without paying for separate rides. I also like the Circle Line choice: you can take a 60-minute Liberty Midtown Cruise or a longer 90-minute Landmarks Cruise. The main drawback is timing. You must arrange the Empire State Building and cruise slots, and the bus audio can be unreliable on some vehicles.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different views of New York: See Manhattan from above, at street level, and from the Hudson River.
• Two days from first activation: You can spread the Empire State Building and Circle Line cruise across separate days.
• The 48-hour bus pass covers major routes: Use Downtown and Uptown loops, hopping off near Times Square, Central Park, SoHo, and other major areas.
• The 90-minute cruise is the stronger choice for many visitors: It gives you more time on the water and reaches more major sights than the 60-minute option.
• Book your timed attractions early: The Empire State Building slot can fill at less convenient times, especially if you wait.
• The bus app matters: It activates your ticket, shows routes, and tracks buses in real time, though the onboard commentary may not always match your location.

What the $99 bundle actually gives you

At $99 per person, this package makes sense when you plan to use all three parts. You receive admission to the Empire State Building observation deck, 48 hours on the Big Bus Downtown and Uptown loops, and one Circle Line sightseeing cruise.

The value comes from combining attractions that normally serve different purposes. The Empire State Building gives you a fixed viewpoint. The bus helps you move around a large city while hearing recorded commentary. The cruise gives you a clean view of the harbor and riverfront without fighting street traffic.

I would not buy this just for the bus. Nor would I choose it if you only want the Empire State Building and a short boat ride. The savings work best for a first visit when you want a broad introduction and plan to use the bus for more than one short ride.

The ticket is valid for two days from the moment you first activate it. That detail matters. You can begin with the bus in the morning, take the cruise later that day, and visit the Empire State Building on day two. Or you can arrange the attractions in another order around your schedule.

Empire State Building at 86 floors

The Empire State Building is the most structured part of the package. Your ticket gives you access to the 86th-floor observation deck, where you look across Manhattan and beyond from an Art Deco landmark.

The attraction is valuable because it gives you a clear sense of New York’s shape. From above, the city’s streets, towers, and surrounding water come together in a way that is hard to understand at street level. You get a classic view of the City That Never Sleeps rather than a casual photo stop.

You need to select an entry time. This is not an attraction to leave until the last minute if your schedule is tight. A late booking may leave you with an inconvenient evening slot, which can affect dinner plans, the cruise, or your use of the bus.

The observation deck is also the least flexible part of the ticket. You cannot simply show up at any time and expect to enter at once. Use the booking tools before your visit, or arrange the time with Big Bus staff when you redeem your voucher.

I like placing the Empire State Building on the second day. That gives you a better chance to use the bus and cruise without racing from one timed activity to another. If your weather forecast looks poor, you may prefer to reserve the deck for the clearer of your two days.

Big Bus through Midtown, Uptown, and Downtown

The Big Bus portion gives you 48 hours on the Downtown and Uptown loops. You can ride the full route for an overview, then hop off where you want to spend more time.

This works well in New York because the city’s major sights are spread out. Times Square, Central Park, and SoHo feel quite different, and walking between all of them takes time. The bus lets you cover more ground while keeping your feet fresh for the neighborhoods you actually want to explore.

The open top offers better views than a standard city bus, especially when you are passing major buildings and broad avenues. Digital commentary is included in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. That is useful for orientation, but I would treat it as background help rather than a precise guided tour.

The recorded commentary has a practical weakness. On some buses, the audio may not work. When it does work, it can occasionally run ahead of or behind the place you are passing. Keep your eyes open and use the route information in the app as your main tool for knowing where you are.

The Big Bus app allows you to add your booking reference, activate the ticket, check routes, and track buses live. I would download it before reaching the first stop. Live tracking is especially helpful when you have just hopped off and do not want to guess when the next bus will arrive.

You can activate the ticket at any stop by showing the activated pass to the driver. 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. The first activation starts your two-day validity period, so do not activate it several days before you intend to use it.

Times Square, Central Park, and SoHo by bus

Times Square is one of the easiest places to use the bus as a starting point. The bright signs and heavy foot traffic can be a lot, but the stop gives you a clear reference point for the city’s central area.

Central Park offers a different kind of break. The bus makes it easier to reach the park without spending your morning walking from Midtown. Hop off, explore on foot, then return to the route when you are ready.

SoHo is useful for seeing another side of Manhattan. Its streets make a good contrast with the taller, more commercial parts of Midtown. The bundle does not provide a private guide for exploring these neighborhoods, so plan to use the bus as transportation and set your own walking time.

That freedom is the best part of the hop-on hop-off format. You are not locked into a group itinerary. The tradeoff is that you must watch the route and allow time for the next bus, especially if you are working around a cruise departure or Empire State Building reservation.

Circle Line from Pier 83

The Circle Line cruise departs daily from Pier 83 at 42nd Street in Hudson River Park. Big Bus Stop 12 is the Circle Line Sightseeing stop, which makes the bus and boat easy to combine.

You can choose between the 60-minute Liberty Midtown Cruise and the 90-minute Landmarks Cruise. Both include a live English guide, and audio guides are available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

I would choose the 90-minute Landmarks Cruise if your schedule allows. The extra half hour gives you more time to enjoy the river views without feeling rushed, and the longer option is the part of this bundle most likely to feel like a full experience rather than a quick transfer on water.

The cruise provides views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and other sights from the bay and Hudson River. The Statue of Liberty is often the moment people are waiting for. Seeing it from the water gives you a better sense of its setting than a distant view from a city street.

Boats have an onboard café and full bar, restrooms, indoor seating with large windows, air conditioning, and outdoor deck space. Seating is first come, first served, so arrive 30 minutes before departure. That is a useful rule even if you prefer standing outside, since early arrival gives you more choice.

The cruise is also the most consistently satisfying part of the package for anyone who enjoys a slower pace. You sit, listen to the guide, and let the city pass by. There is less route-watching than on the bus and no fixed observation-deck appointment to manage once you are aboard.

A sensible two-day plan

A simple plan is to use the bus first, the cruise later, and the Empire State Building on the second day.

On day one, activate the ticket in the morning and ride part of the Downtown or Uptown loop. Hop off at a place you want to see on foot, then return to the route and make your way toward Pier 83.

Keep at least 30 minutes before the cruise departure. Do not rely on a tight connection between a bus arrival and boat boarding. New York traffic can slow the bus, and cruise seating is first come, first served.

On day two, use the bus again for any neighborhood you missed. Then visit the Empire State Building at your reserved time. This arrangement keeps the fixed attraction separate from the moving parts of the day.

You can reverse the order if the weather is clearer on day one or if the available observation-deck time fits better. The important point is to make the timed attractions the anchors and use the bus around them.

Accessibility and family logistics

The entire New York Big Bus fleet is wheelchair accessible. Strollers must be folded and stored on the lower deck, so families should expect to leave the upper deck when boarding with a stroller.

The cruise vessels provide indoor seating, large windows, restrooms, air conditioning, and outdoor deck space. Those features give you options if the weather changes or if someone in your group needs to sit inside.

The attraction is not a private tour, and you will be managing your own movement between bus stops, the pier, and the Empire State Building. That independence suits many families and independent visitors, but it requires attention to time and meeting points.

Who will get the most from this ticket

This package is best for a first visit to New York, especially if you want a broad look at the city without booking each part separately. It also suits visitors who prefer a flexible day rather than a tightly guided walking tour.

You will get good value if you plan to ride the bus on both days, use the cruise, and visit the observation deck. The bundle is less attractive if you already know New York well, prefer walking everywhere, or want only one landmark.

The cruise is a strong fit for anyone who wants clear views of the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. The Empire State Building suits visitors who care about the classic Manhattan skyline. The bus helps most when you want to connect distant areas without spending all day on foot.

The main caution is that the package does not remove all planning. You still need to select attraction times, arrive early for the boat, and use the app or staff to activate the pass. Think of it as a flexible framework, not a fully escorted tour.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if you are still settling your New York plans.

To activate digitally, download the Big Bus app, tap Add Booking, enter your booking reference, and press Activate on the day you begin. Show the activated ticket to the driver at any stop.

If you prefer help in person, 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. You can select Empire State Building and Circle Line times with staff when redeeming or manage the booking in advance online.

Keep the app available throughout the two days. The route information and live bus tracking are more useful than relying only on the onboard commentary, which may not always line up with the street outside.

Should you book the NYC Bundle?

Book it if you want three classic New York viewpoints and can use the ticket over two days. At $99, the package offers solid value when you ride the bus more than once, take the longer cruise, and reserve a sensible Empire State Building time.

I would make the Circle Line Landmarks Cruise the priority, schedule the Empire State Building early, and treat the bus as your flexible connection between neighborhoods. If you dislike recorded commentary or prefer a completely self-guided visit, the bus may frustrate you, but the cruise and observation deck can still make the bundle worthwhile.

FAQ

How long is the NYC Bundle valid?

The bundle is valid for two days from the first activation.

What is included at the Empire State Building?

The ticket includes admission to the 86th-floor observation deck.

How long is the Big Bus pass?

The Big Bus pass provides 48 hours of hop-on hop-off access.

Which Big Bus routes are included?

The Downtown and Uptown loops are included.

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

Yes. The Empire State Building and Circle Line cruise can be used on separate days during the two-day validity period.

Which Circle Line cruises can I choose from?

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

Where does the Circle Line cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Circle Line Cruises at Pier 83, 42nd Street, in Hudson River Park.

How early should I arrive for the cruise?

Arrive 30 minutes before departure because seating is first come, first served.

What languages are available for the bus commentary?

Bus audio commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

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