Hello! We arrive at JFK at 12:30 p.m. on a Sunday and would like to take a harbor boat cruise (nothing fancy required since this is the first day of a 20 day trip) to see the sights. Any recommendations on where to board, which company, and how to get there from JFK? Thanks very much!

From JFK? Are you not stopping at a hotel? Will you have some place to put your luggage?

There are a number of options. The most basic is the Circle Line cruise which leaves from 42 st & the Hudson River. Here's a link to the schedule. There's a full circle and half circle. Most feel the half circle is enough.
http://circleline42.com/index.ihtml?page=schedule
To get to that pier from JFK, either a taxi (flat fare of $45 to anywhere in Manhattan plus toll of $4 plus tip makes it about $55-60).

There are some other nicer cruises/sails but not sure about the timing for your purposes. Some websites
shearwatersailing.com
sail-nyc.com
The Nywatertaxi.com also does either a harbor cruise or has a hop on/off option which might be good for you if you have some more time.

You definitely need to go to your hotel and drop your luggage first - since the cruise boats won;t want the responsibility for it - and you won't want to be sitting on it the whole time.

You don't say where you're staying - or how many of you thre are. I would taxi to the hotel, dump the luggage and then do one of the circleline cruises - perhaps all the way around Manhattan if you have so many days.

Thank you for the replies. The 3 of us will have one 24" sports duffle. Our hotel is close to the airport since leave the next morning to go overseas. We only have from 12:30 p.m., when we land at JFK, through early evening to make plans. I thought a boat trip would be a better choice than a bus tour. Will have 14 year old son along. Any further suggestions?

With the delays so often now and the need to be at airport 2 hours ahead for international flight..you have very limited time. I would consider calling one of the car services (7's, or 6"s, or others) have them pick you up and take you around to the major sights by car and then back to airport. You can get hourly rate.

If you're just getting off a plane, I think sitting for hours whether a bus or a boat trip is b o r i n g, esp. for a teenage boy. You'd be better picking 1 or 2 things (how much time do you have?) to actually SEE or do. Maybe go to Rockefeller Center and go to Top of the Rock. Then have a walk over to Times Square. The idea of a limo tour is a good one too. You might contact limotours.com and see what they'd offer.

All 3 of you will have only one 24" sports duffle?

Have you confirmed that they will check the rest of your luggage all the way through - and you don;t have to pick it up in New York?

And 24" is too big for a carry-on with any airline I'm aware of.

And perhaps you should give us an idea of how much time you actually have. If your plane lands at 12:30 (no luggage pick up and no delays) you'll be in Manhattan by about 1:30. And for an international flight they will want you at the airport 2 hours in advance - which mans leaving Manhattan 3 hours in advance.

How many hours do you relaly have to do/see anything?

(And I would agree to do something active, rather than just sitting - perhaps Top of the Rock and then walk up to see some of Central Park.)