On a budget, weigh it — Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise isn't cheap for what it is.
~$44 (highlights cruise)
A relaxed way to see the skyline from the water and pass close to the Statue of Liberty without the line to land on the island. The judgment call is the route: the full ~2.5-hour 'Best of NYC' circumnavigation of Manhattan is the one worth taking — you get the Statue, the bridges, and the far-less-seen northern stretch — while the 1.5-hour highlights loop can feel like a lot of setup for a quick Statue pass. Sit on the right (starboard) side outbound for the Statue and skyline, grab an open upper-deck seat for photos, and only go on a clear, mild day — it's fully weather-dependent and can feel touristy.