New York City is a destination that is known for many things; culture, business, shopping and the arts. Yet, New York City has some of the most incredible jetski rentals in the world!
While jet skis can be rented near any one of NYC ‘s five boroughs, there are some rental locations that stand out from the others for their great services and prices. When looking to rent a jet ski, it is important that you are renting from a reputable company with high standards so that your experience will be safe but also fun!
The Best Cheap New York Jet Ski Rentals
In terms of price and quality of service, the best cheap jet ski rentals in New York City are Sea the City and New York Harbor Tours.
Sea the City Jet Ski New York
Our top choice for New York jet ski rentals is the Sea the City. Their tours allow you to ride up close to the most important sites, including the infamous statue of liberty and up along the west side highway. You will have great views of Manhattan, and will definitely be able to see the World Trade Center and Empire State building from the water.
Sea the City is a great option for beginners, because their guided tours legally allow people to drive the jet ski even if they don’t have a New York boating license. They are known for having the best New York City harbor jet ski tour.
Even though these are technically guided tours, they let you ride as fast as you want in the open water. They also have a very large fleet of 2018 & 2019 Yamaha EX jet skis so it is a great option if you are coming with a large group.
The price for jet ski rental from Sea the City is dependent on the day of week. From Monday to Thursday, the cost is $169 for one hour. On Friday to Sunday, the cost is $199 for one hour. On any day of the week, you can add a second rider to your jet ski for an additional $50.
As long as the weather is nice, Sea the City offers jet ski tours through December. If weather does cause your trip to be cancelled, you have the option to either get a full refund, or you can reschedule.
What I love most about Sea the City is that there are no additional hidden costs. You don’t have to pay for gas, and you can get free accessories such as a dry suit or water shoes. The only additional charge is for photos taken during the tour.
Sea the City has regulations that are in line with most other jet ski tours. You must wear a life jacket at all times, and you must be 18 years old to operate the jet ski. If you are riding as a passenger, you must be at least 12 years old. If you decided to have a passenger on your jet ski, the combined weight cannot exceed 350 lbs.
You do not need any drivers license or boaters license to operate the jet ski, all you need is a photo valid photo id. All riders will be required to sign a waiver before they ride.
New York Harbor Jet Ski Tours
New York Harbor is another great jet ski tour option in Manhattan. They have a large fleet of 2021 Sea-Doo GTX 130 PRO jet skis which are very fun and easy to ride.
They have three different tours which are the New York City Harbor Tour, New York City Harbor + George Washington Bridge + Two Rivers Tour, and the New York Harbor Sunset Tour. The prices are following:
New York City Harbor Tour: $169 for one rider and $219 for two riders during the weekday. $199 for one rider and $219 for two riders during the weekend. The duration of this tour is 1 hour.
Harbor/George Washington Bridge/2 Rivers Tour: $249 for one rider and $299 for two riders during the weekday. $279 for one rider and $320 for two riders during the weekend. The duration of this tour is 1.5 hours.
New York City Harbor Tour: $169 for one rider and $219 for two riders during the weekday. $189 for one rider and $219 for two riders during the weekend. The duration of this tour is 1 hour.
All of the tours cover the top spots in the New York City Harbor, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Freedom Tower, Governors Island, and the Empire State Building. The Harbor/George Washington Bridge/2 Rivers Tour includes the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and parts of Brooklyn.
Similar to Sea the City, these tours also include free accessories, and you do not need any prior jet ski experience. You also must be 18 years old to operate the jet ski, and you need to be 14 years old to ride as a passenger.
What I really like about New York Harbor tours is that they let you switch drivers midway through if you want.
If you cancel your reservation more than 24 hours in advance, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel within 3-24 hours of your tour, you have to pay a $100 feel. Cancellations within 3 hours of the tour will not be refunded.
How to book a jet ski tour in New York City?
Both Sea the City and and New York Harbor tours have online portals that allow you to see availability and reserve your tour online. There is also the option to call and make your reservation. You cannot book on the day of reservation, so I recommend that you book at least a couple days in advance.
You will need to put down a credit card in order to hold your reservation.
What is the jet ski age limit in New York?
In order to operate a jet ski by yourself, you must have a New York State boating license. However, if you are doing a tour with one of the companies listed above, you only need to be 18 years old and have a valid photo id. You do not need to have a drivers license.