For Immediate Release MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Rogers Hawkins International PR (212) 255-6541
[email protected] NEW YORK CRUISE LINES, INC. AND THE DURST ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF NEW YORK WATER TAXI BY NEW YORK CRUISE LINES, OWNER OF CIRCLE LINE SIGHTSEEING YACHTS NEW YORK, NY – January 12, 2017 – New York Cruise Lines, Inc. (NYCL) and The Durst Organization today announced that they have closed a transaction for the sale of New York Water Taxi (NYWT) and Circle Line Downtown to New York Cruise Lines, owner of Circle Line Sightseeing Yachts, located on 42nd Street and the Hudson River. The combination of the iconic Circle Line and New York Water Taxi brands will broaden and strengthen the transportation and sightseeing waterway services for both local residents and tourists alike. “New York Water Taxi has established a great sightseeing and transportation business with its New York Water Taxi brand, including a hop on hop off service which connects Manhattan’s West Side, East Side and Brooklyn. We wish to preserve and grow this business. The transaction also unites the midtown and downtown Circle Line brands, which operated out of 42nd Street and the Hudson River and South Street Seaport on the East River, respectively. The addition of NYWT and Circle Line Downtown fleet and staff within the NYCL family gives us the geographic scope and capacity to expand the world famous Circle Line sightseeing business," said Samuel Cooperman, Chairman and CEO of New York Cruise Lines. “With the acquisition, NYCL will own and operate 25 ships, including transportation ferries, high speed thrill rides and sightseeing, dinner, entertainment and charter yachts, with capacity ranging from 74 to 600 passengers.