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Beer-and-Cheese Cruises to Set Sail From Chelsea Piers This Summer

By Mathew Katz | May 11, 2012 1:07pm
The America 2.0, one of the newest ships in the cruise line's fleet.
The America 2.0, one of the newest ships in the cruise line's fleet.
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Classic Harbor Line

CHELSEA — Put on your boat shoes and grab a pint glass — beer and cheese cruises are one of many exotic tours coming to New York City's high seas.

A Chelsea yacht company will offer a multitude of special-interest cruises this summer, from the delightfully posh to the esoteric.

Operating out of Chelsea Piers, Classic Harbor Line is offering a huge range of cruises on their new 110-foot, 85-passenger Eco Schooner, the patriotically-named America 2.0.

In addition to the company's architecture cruises, which feature lectures about Manhattan's iconic skyline so extensive that they count for college credit, the company hopes to capitalize on cruises for foodies and nature-lovers as well.

Starting in June, $78 will get you aboard a beer-and-cheese tasting tour curated by the ale experts from popular Brooklyn bar 61 Local. The two-hour cruise event is hosted by 61 Local's beer and cheese expert, Chris Munsey, and features five craft-beer-and-fromage pairings.

If beer and cheese isn't your thing, there's also a two-hour sushi cruise with star appeal, featuring samplings from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, along with four types of sake. The fish-and-rice-wine is pricier, however, running at $135 a ticket.

For the outdoorsy set, the line also offers a full-day cruise to Bear Mountain State Park, complete with scenic views and hikes. The whopping nine-hour-long cruise includes a full breakfast buffet and barbecue picnic, for a pricey $165 a ticket.

The company is also amping up its educational cruises around Manhattan this season, including a trip on May 20th hosted by Michael Marrella, the Department of City Planning's Director of Waterfront Planning. Marrella will discuss the upcoming implementation of the city's plans for the waterfront

"It's a peek into the future of the waterfront," said Will Candis, a spokesman for the cruise line. "If you're an architecture nerd, you really like it."

Not to miss out on West Chelsea's emerging role as the city's artistic hub, Classic Harbor Line will also offer a combination cruise and Chelsea gallery tour.

Finally, for those who want to see and be seen among the seaside set, you can join the crew of a boat taking part in the OP Sail 2012, a parade of the city's historic large sailing ships and military vessels. The Fleet Week parade starts under the Verrazano Bridge at 10 a.m. on May 23, and tickets to hop aboard the America 2.0 are $120 for a four-hour trip.