The Hudson River keeps going long after the Manhattan skyline fades, and two cruises ride that northern stretch (see Cruises Compared). Kingston sends out the Rip Van Winkle II from Rondout Landing for narrated sightseeing trips, evening runs and leaf-peeping sailings in fall. Albany hosts the Dutch Apple, which earns the higher rating of the pair. Each trip runs 1 hour 30 minutes with live commentary, and neither demands a city commute: you drive straight to the dock in the valley.
The Kingston cruise starts at $43 per person and carries a 4.5 rating across 898 reviews. Albany undercuts it at $39.99 with a stronger 4.8 from 608 reviews. Durations match at 1 hour 30 minutes, so the real comparison is departure point, price and reviewer mood rather than time on the water. Confirm current sailing dates on each live listing, since the valley operators run seasonal schedules.
1 hour 30 minutes · Hudson River Cruises
from $43per personHudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Kingston runs through Hudson River Cruises. Rated 4.5 across 898 reviews. Runs 1 hour 30 minutes. From $43.
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1 hour 30 minutes · Dutch Apple Cruises
from $39.99per personHudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Albany runs through Dutch Apple Cruises. Rated 4.8 across 608 reviews. Runs 1 hour 30 minutes. From $39.99.
Check availability →Geography does most of the work here. Kingston sits mid-valley, near the highlands and river estates that make this reach famous, so it pairs well with a wider day trip through the region. Albany, near the head of navigable tidewater, suits travelers already in the capital area or driving down from the north. The Kingston cruise offers free cancellation, which keeps a change of plans cheap; check the Albany listing for its current terms.
Price will not settle this, given a few dollars between them. Reviews favor Dutch Apple, though the Kingston operation layers on evening and leaf-peeping departures that widen the calendar considerably. The Rip Van Winkle II also has a crew with deep local knowledge of the river's history, which shows in the narration. Families and first-time visitors are well served by either boat.
October is the busiest month for the Kingston operation, sharing that peak with the July 4 holiday, so foliage departures fill early and reward advance booking. Leaf season on the upper Hudson is brief and draws travelers down from the city in numbers. Summer weekends run busy too. Free cancellation on the Kingston side softens the risk, and the Albany booking page shows its current terms.