6.14.18 / New York / New York

The Mark Hotel Sets Sail For the Summer

Complete with Jean-Georges’ food & drinks

As one of the more luxurious hotels in New York, The Mark doesn’t have much to prove in terms of accommodations. It offers guests all the comforts they need, along with a dose of style (take a look at The Met Gala pre-event prep from last month), but it’s still finding ways to enhance the guest experience in unexpected ways. A sunset trip overlooking Manhattan does just that, and this week the 70-foot Mark Hotel Sailboat sets sail down the Hudson River once again.

The onset of the 2-hour long journey is marked with a celebratory oyster toast (part of the Billion Dollar Oyster Project too), which are shucked and served at the North Cove Marina. Once the passengers board and the ship sets sail, the treats roll out almost constantly. Champagne gets things started, but soon guests have the option of wine or, more preferably, refreshing ginger margaritas, which are both served throughout the entire trip. The Mark is home to renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s namesake restaurant, and the sailboat brings that same quality in a bite-size form. Caprese skewers, lobster with ginger sauce, tuna tartare, and rich caviar ‘dumplings’ are fresh and decadent, the perfect seaside eats. Jacques Grange’s elegant black & white stripes against the wooden accents make you feel like you’re on a coastal retreat but the stunning downtown skyline is ever-present. Once you get within viewing distance of Red Hook and the food and drinks have settled into your system, the crew finally raises the sail; a more relaxed scene would be hard to find in New York. On the journey back you’re treated to one more experience, a close view of the Statue of Liberty, something New Yorkers rarely make the effort to see.

The Mark carries its tradition of unparalleled hospitality, but this time places it on a sailboat that evokes the feelings of romance and escapism, of luxury and adventure, all with the backdrop of Manhattan’s towering cityscape. It’s certainly not the only way to tour the waters of New York, but it’s simply the most refined version of an experience few people enjoy in this city.

The Mark Sailboat is available for hotel guests to reserve at an additional cost