We took a cruise thee from Southampton last September. Mrs WG had always wanted to sail in and see Manhattan come up over the horizon. We sailed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge at about 4:30 in the morning and tied up a couple of piers north of the Intrepid aircraft carrier museum and looking up to Times Square, a fantastic experience. We were in port overnight so I took her ladyship to 230 Fifth Avenue and we had a great evening meal on top of a little skyscraper about 23 floors up and looking at the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and the New York skyline. We'd like to go back and spend longer. I have a good customer there so perhaps I should go soon.
http://www.230-fifth.com/
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/