Circle Line is bringing back its costumed canine cruise for a fifth year, and this time it's setting sail after dark. The Howling Halloween Pup Cruise departs Pier 83 on West 42nd Street at 7 p.m. on October 23, giving dog owners and their pets a 90-minute trip past the illuminated Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline. Tickets cost $40 and go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m.
The nighttime departure is new. Per PIX11, this marks the first time in the event's five-year run that the dog cruise has sailed after sunset, and Circle Line expects the ticketed event to sell out fast. Previous editions ran during daytime hours, and the after-dark format for the 5th Annual Howling Halloween Pup Cruise is a first for the company's dog cruise history, according to Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.
Riders are encouraged to dress up their dogs for Halloween as the boat cruises the harbor. Onboard, guests can expect dog treats supplied by sponsor Raising Cane's, costume contests with prizes, and live Halloween-themed music, according to Benji's Guide to NYC's coverage of last year's cruise.
A Mobile Adoption Unit Waits at the Dock
Before and after the cruise, a North Shore Animal League America mobile adoption unit will be available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on October 23, per the same PIX11 report. Visitors can meet adoptable pets there, and some may leave having adopted one. All proceeds from cruise ticket sales will be donated to North Shore Animal League.
That donation plugs into a sizable rescue operation. North Shore Animal League America, founded in 1944 in Port Washington, New York, describes itself as the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, having saved the lives of more than 1.2 million animals, according to background compiled by North Shore Animal League America. The organization rescues, nurtures and adopts nearly 20,000 pets annually, Newsday has reported.
Eight Decades on New York Harbor
Circle Line itself has deep roots in the city. Founded in June 1945, the sightseeing cruise operator has spent more than eight decades running boats out of Pier 83 in Midtown Manhattan and has carried more than 85 million passengers since it started, according to ILoveNY.com. The Halloween cruise is one piece of a broader fall lineup that also includes 40-mile Oktoberfest-themed cruises and Hudson River foliage sailings running through September and October, a lineup Hoodline detailed in its coverage of Circle Line's foliage cruises.
New York City's dog-owning population gives events like this a built-in audience. New York City Economic Development Corporation data estimates the city is home to roughly 600,000 dogs and 500,000 cats, meaning about one in three NYC households has a pet, per PetCareRx. A national survey separately ranked New York state number one in the country for spoiling pets.
Licensing Rules for Dogs Heading Out in Public
Dog owners planning to bring their pets aboard should be aware that New York City law requires all resident dog owners to license their pets with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Annual fees run $8.50 for spayed or neutered dogs and $34 for unaltered dogs, with the surcharges helping fund the city's municipal spay/neuter programs, according to a report from the Office of the New York City Comptroller.
Costumed dog gatherings are far from new to New York. The East Village's Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, recognized as the country's largest and oldest dog costume parade, celebrated its 35th gathering last October, as reported by The West Side Spirit. Circle Line's floating version of the tradition gives owners another way to show off a costume, this time with the harbor as a backdrop rather than a park path.
