We really enjoyed the Harbor Tour. You can’t pictures like this anywhere else. We went at the end of August, so we had daylight from 7 - 8 pm and sunset and nighttime from 8 -9 pm.
It really doesn’t matter which side you sit on, but you want to be there early to sit on top of the boat. Most reviewers said to be there an hour early, but we arrived at 5:45 and there was a long line at the ticket window. We purchased tickets on TripAdvisor, but you have to show your e ticket to get a paper ticket and that took 20-25 minutes. They let you start getting on the boat at 6:15 pm.
The down side of getting there early is you then have to sit in the sun for 45 minutes waiting for the tour to start.
Tony was the host, emcee and guide for the night. He spoke throughout the evening giving you great facts about New York.
During the tour, they let you move around to take pictures. They open the front of the ship and you can go there for great views and pictures. They also have a snack bar for food and drink.
The tour felt a little long, but we really enjoyed our evening.