NEW YORK – Cameras seem to be in constant operation as passengers on a Circle Line tour boat ease past Lower Manhattan on a warm autumn day. The dominant structure, of course, is One World Trade Center, which at 1,776 feet is the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the sixth tallest in the world.

Lower Manhattan featuring One World Trade Center. Image by Tom Adkinson.

Getting a good perspective on the New York skyline, close-up views of the Statue of Liberty and a look up at the Brooklyn Bridge are among the reasons 60 million passengers have taken Circle Line cruises since 1945. While the cruise line uses custom-built boats now, converted Coast Guard cutters from World War II were among its early vessels. (Ticketing tip: You’ll find significant ticket savings at Circle Line and several attractions in the New York CityPASS.)

Trip-planning resource: CircleLine42.com, CityPASS.com/new-york and NYCgo.com