We are thinking about taking one of these boat trips to see the lights of Manhatton when we visit in early November, but some of them see to depart at 4.00pm - will it be getting dark at that time and can you suggest which company to use please.

Don;t know one company from another - but yes - in November it will be getting dark at 4pm.

Any idea on what sort of temperatures we might expect - it will be early November.

It could be 50 - or it could be 30. And on the water it will be damp and windy.

To be safe at that time of year you need at least a moderately warm coat (leather perhaps - but the heavy kind - not a little thin blazer, hat, scarf, gloves and waterproof shoes or booties). We usually don;t get snow that early - and if we do it;s usually only an inch or two and melts right away. (We have had snow on the ground as early as before Halloween though.)

The boats I've seen in New York harbor are all enclosed so you should be fine unless you want to stand out by the railing in bad weather. I don't know which company to recommend; does any guide book have any suggestions?

Within the last 7 days, NYC has seen 2 feet of snowfall, two 60 degree days and two days of temeratures in the teens, accordingly, all bets are now off as to weather at any time of year. That said, most of the harbor cruises have indoor spaces that are weatherproofed, so that shouldn't be a concern.

That time of year, the sun goes down around 4:30, so these will be true twilight tours, but watching the sun set in the harbor and the lights come up around town is simply beautiful, at least to me.

As for recommended companies, it's been a while since I have done one of these (always as part of a corporate event), so I really don't know who's out there anymore.