At a Glance

Take in the beauty of the natural world while learning more about the ecosystem you live in.

Location
Board in Highlands New Jersey and travel to Sandy Hook and surrounding areas to look for seals, birds, and other wildlife
Dates
Saturdays- January 27; February 10, 24; March 9, 23
Times
~2.5 Hours
Cost
$55 Adults, $30 Children Under 12, $50 Seniors (65+)
Buy TicketsSee Schedule & Pricing

A winter eco-cruise in your own backyard!

Sandy Hook Bay and the greater NY/NJ Bight are well-known for their abundance of diverse wildlife. Whales, rays, and seas turtles populate these waters during the summer months, but winter is the best time to see seals and migratory birds! Join us and the American Littoral Society on a Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise to explore the area and learn more about the incredible ecology of this unique environment.

Trips will depart from Highlands, NJ.  Hop aboard and travel around Sandy Hook and to surrounding areas where seals and birds are known to gather.

New Yorkers who wish to attend the cruise may present a Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise ticket to board any Seastreak ferry (from Pier 11/Wall St. or East 35th Street) to Highlands, NJ free of charge on the day of the cruise. Once in NJ, you can show your ticket again to board the Eco-Cruise. When the trip is over, you may then ride any boat from Highlands back to NYC using your Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise ticket to board.

  • Learn from the experts

    A wildlife expert from the American Littoral Society will be on each cruise to provide species identification support and additional information about the animals spotted. The narration will give you more time to take in the scenery and reduce the amount of time you spend flipping through ID books! 

     

    The American Littoral Society is a coastal conservation non-profit headquartered in Sandy Hook, NJ. Since 1961, the organization has empowered people to care for the coast through advocacy, conservation, and education. They provide a voice for the coast, and give concerned citizens the knowledge and tools they need to raise their voices. Check out their website to learn more about the great work they do, events you can attend or how to become a member.

     

    Click here to learn more about the American Littoral Society!

  • Gray seals and harbor seals

    Every winter, gray seals and harbor seals migrate to the NY/NJ Bight. Lucky for us, Sandy Hook is one of their favorite spots to visit. Once we get a good look of the seals at Sandy Hook, the cruise will continue north towards Hoffman and Swinburne Islands where seals like to ‘haul out’ and sun themselves on the rocks. Finally, we will head towards the Verrazano Bridge – another reliable seal watching location! Last season, we saw seals on 100% our Seal and Bird Eco-Cruises. This year, we hope to do the same!

  • There is no better place in the country to go bird watching

    That’s right! New Jersey is often regarded as the country’s best state for bird watching. New Jersey has a great diversity of habitats and is positioned directly in the path of the Atlantic Flyway (a major migratory bird highway). On our cruise you will get the chance to see a wide variety of shorebirds and seabirds, including northern gannets, loons, scoters, double-crested cormorants, grebes, brants, and gulls. Don’t forget your binoculars!

Schedule & Pricing

 

2024 Departures

Departing from Highlands, NJ
DateDeparture TimeReturn Time
Saturday, January 27th1:00 PMApprox. 3:30 PM
Saturday, February 10th12:40 PMApprox. 3:10 PM
Saturday, February 24th12:40 PMApprox. 3:10 PM
Saturday, March 9th11:00 AMApprox. 1:30 PM
Saturday, March 23rd12:40 PMApprox. 3:10 PM

 

 Pricing

AdultsChildren 12 and UnderSeniors (65+)Exchange Fee
$55$30$50$10

An exchange fee will be charged for any changes made to reservations.

Please reach out at 1(800)262-8743 with your order ID # to make any changes prior to your scheduled departure.

Event Route

Seastreak Ferry Terminal at Highlands

326 Shore Drive - Highlands, NJ 07732View Map

Ticket Office Hours

M-F: 5:00am - 8:30am, 2:00pm - 8:30pm
Sat/Sun: 8:00am - 7:30pm

Directions, Nearby Amenities, Additional Details

View This Port

Port Features
  • Bike Rack
  • Covered Waiting Area
  • Free Daytime Parking
  • Free Overnight Parking (restrictions apply)
  • Handicap Accessibility
  • Refreshments
  • Restrooms

Logistics & What to Know

View All FAQs
  • New Yorkers who wish to attend the cruise may present a Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise ticket to board any Seastreak ferry (from Pier 11/Wall St. or East 35th Street) to Highlands, NJ free of charge on the day of the cruise. Once in NJ, you can show your ticket again to board the Eco-Cruise. When the trip is over, you may then ride any boat from Highlands back to NYC using your Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise ticket to board. 
  • Don’t forget your binoculars!

Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise

More Seastreak adventures await…