The tour itself was just the right amount of time and we enjoyed the tour guide. Per the description of the VIP package, we expected that in paying nearly 3 times the standard rate (and we are not wealthy people) that we would have preferred seating and avoid lines at the dock. Neither of these things were accurate.
We arrived about 45 min early to be told we in fact needed to wait in a significant line in order to get hard copy tickets, that they don't just scan the email. We waited in the first line for 10 min only to find out that we were required to go to a different window in order to retrieve them with no offer of moving us ahead in line or any help at all. We then waited 15 min in that line. We had purchased the tickets 2 days before through the Trip Advisor app. Circle Line had no record of our purchase in their computer other than the confirmation that we had on our phone. It took another 20 minutes for the cashier looking and then finally working with the manager to get things straight. By this time it was maybe 2 min before the departure time. We hustled on to the boat and were escorted to an interior section that was roped off. Other than the rope, the only difference between the sections were that the chairs were slightly more padded. It was a perfect 72 degree sunny fall day and so of course everyone on the boat was sitting outside. After searching for seating, we came to find out, that despite paying 3 times the cost of a normal ticket, no "VIP" seating was provided outside. I was completely irate at this, especially since the description clearly states that you get "exclusive inside area, outdoor patio area onboard" in the description. Why would I pay that much more to be forced to be on the inside of the boat? That makes no sense whatsoever. Additionally, because of the issues with our tickets, we were also last on the boat at 1230pm on a Saturday and it was packed and the outdoor section was completely full. Our only option was to sit inside or stand on the bow of the boat which was small and also packed with general admission guests.
I'm no VIP type person. I can deal with the lines (even though they advertise that's not the case if you upgrade). I can deal with issues with the tickets getting screwed up, stuff happens. But, after all that, to have paid so much more to then be forced to sit inside on a glorious day I just felt dumb, duped, and taken advantage of.