Empire City Watersports

1900 Shore Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11214, USA

Address:	1900 Shore Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11214, USA
Phone:	+1 917-708-3813
Site:	empirecitywatersports.com
Rating:	3.8
Working:	10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM

Location

Photos 34

Reviews 4

Diana Duong

LISTEN TO OTHER REVIEWERS AND DO NOT GO HERE!!! THEY SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON YOUR TOUR!! This was the epitome of unprofessional experiences. I am merely leaving a 1-star review only because Google requires that to express freely so here it goes. My boyfriend reserved us a two-rider jet ski for our anniversary. When we got there, it started off with our guide being late. No biggie, things happen. It followed with him patronizing us and the other couple, telling us we were "normal people" and asked us if his friends could join. This wouldve been fine except we requested a second jet ski, only to be told that they were "all booked up". This wouldve been true except I didnt know other tour guides and employees count as being "all booked up" and they couldnt let their customers GIVE THEM MORE MONEY. Afterwards, the tour guide was helpful with his safety instructions except for the fact that his loud friend, Jay, was discussing his previous nights activities so loudly with their friends to the extent where we could not hear the instructions. Overall, once we were on the water, there was no tour even though we paid for the 90-MINUTE MANHATTAN TOUR. This wouldve been more fun for locals who already knew the landscape except we are both from Philly and even though we paid for a tour, we received a constant game of catch up to the tour guides and their friends. The other couple and ourselves were constantly exchanging looks of wondering when the "tour" would begin. HERES THE WORST PART. The other couple on the tour and ourselves paid for the "photo package" (please excuse the excessive quotations, but this places advertising services were a joke). What we received for our $35 was a stream of blurry photos that had their friends in the background. In addition, we received the other couples photos as well as our own. By the way, they told us if we paid cash, we wouldnt have to pay TAXES (hopefully some auditor will stumble across this) but I digress. I never signed any waiver that allowed the photos of my girlfriend and I to be shared and Im sure the other couple didnt either. This was a DIRECT invasion of privacy laws and I hope for everybody reading, they understand that their photo package might involve paying $35 for a string of terrible pictures and shared with other tour group members. PLEASE EMPIRE CITY OWNERS, RESPOND AND CORRECT ME IF ANY OF THIS IS "LIBEL" but I feel my civil responsibility is to share this deplorable excuse of a business so others can learn from our experiences.

bob turner

I went there with my girl last year in the summer. It was our first time riding a jetski. Im sure we emphasized that. First, It was a difficult finding the place. When we arrived, they appeared really polite& laid back, they gave us a quick run through of how to operate the jetski and briefly how to leave the premise with the jetski. We rode the jetskis for some time, it was great.( 2 seperate rentals) Then, We had an issue returning to where they were docked and at what time. They never specified how we were going to be dismissed or how to keep track of time. My girl and I were worried we were going to stay over the time we paid for and didnt want to interrupt the schedule of others who had an appointment so considering we were never informed of thorough returning instructions, we attempted to head back on our own (apparently about 10min early). My girl accidentally went on the other side of the marina and was insulted and cursed at. She apologized and turned herself towards the right direction while continuosly insulted by a line of people who were already docked. When we finally arrived. But to be yelled at by the by what appeared to be the owner. He cursed his ass off. My girl, being the emotional person she is, cried the whole time saying how she was insulted and harassed by those in the area and not to mention the owner who was already yelling at us for being early, going the wrong way and an accusation of speeding while riding through the marina. It went from a great FIRST experience for her to one of the worst that summer. My point being, they are unprofessional. They do not give clear directions and they barely have any consideration for their customers. Instead of apologizing for a fault on their end, they yell at us for their failure. I will never go here again. That was the only turn off from my experience. The way they handled the situation. There many other locations in area. What makes these guys so special? Their terrible service. Im sorry, but never again.

Jose Rubio

I had the opportunity to have a nice view of NYC from the water. It was a nice experience, although a little too pricey one. I went with two other friends and at the conclusion of the trip when we arrived to the harbor and parked the jet skis, the guide supposedly "inspected" all three skis, he went specifically to the first skis and found what appeared an old scratch in the pain. He rapidly claimed that the scratch was caused by a little bump two of the riders had, when the skis were on halt while taking pictures to Ellis Island. Honestly the bump was in the rear part of one of the jet skis. The guide was present when the incident happened but never stopped to check the ski. These two never came into full contact because all jet skis were on halt, not shut off. The guide and someone else from the staff made a quick call to an expert on fiberglass to get an estimate. The person never showed up but they said they had sent him a picture and he estimated the damage was 225 dollars. The scratch it had was so minor that it would be almost impossible to have a clear perspective of what it takes to fix it through a picture. At the end, we had to pay 234 with cents for the supposed scratched. What really kills me is that the guide went straight to that spot as though he knew about the scratch. It was 7 pm and the lighting was not the best at the site. My purpose is not to hurt anybodys business or to damage their reputation, but when something is not right, it is necessary to speak up so others future riders know what to do before using empire city water sports. Some members of the staff were very nice, but the guide behaved very unprofessionally.

Vitaliy S

This is something people HAVE to do at least once. Its crazy fun going 50mph over water and sometimes catching the small waves(or wakes as I was taught) left by other boats and just the ocean in general. The staff were relaxed, and kept constant contact through the phone to confirm the reservation. I actually redeemed my groupon on the wrong day, and the last day of the season! John, the awesome staff member, helped me out and made it work, so I wouldnt lose the money I paid to groupon. All in all, I had a blast. 1hour is plenty of time to enjoy it and theres ample amount of space to go top speed for a while, while holding on for dear life. P.S. Reading some reviews, and the business replies, it does seem a bit unprofessional. I recommend going in with an open mind, keep them informed of your arrival, and be easy going. They in turn will work with you, explain everything, and you will get your amount of fun guaranteed. People stress over small things, no need!