I took this cruise a couple of weeks ago. I was travelling on my own and found this was the perfect way to see the city from a different perspective and in comfort. I paid the extra for a premium seat and was glad I did. There was no waiting in the cold on the pier, I was taken straight to my seat, which was softly cushioned and in a roped off area of allocated seating. A waitress took my order for drinks and food and brought it all to me. This is particularly useful when you are on your own so you don't lose your seat.
The views were great and although I had visited NYC a couple of time before, I saw it from a different perspective. And even though it was a cold night, it was nice and warm inside the ferry. The guide was excellent. He gave lots of insights and anecdotes about NYC and was very entertaining.
Overall I would recommend this tour to everyone and recommend paying the little extra for the premium ticket.