About 70 Guttenberg senior citizens took over the third deck of a Spirit Cruise vessel and spilled out onto the adjoining outdoor decks on Friday, July 12, 2019 when the county offered its annual senior boat ride around the lower tip of Manhattan and back again. The free two-and-a-half-hour cruise included a delicious gourmet buffet, plus live entertainment from several talented singers. On the return trip a DJ spun an energetic mix of dance favorites to fill the dance floor and end the party on a high note.
 
The clear, warm weather was perfect for a sightseeing tour past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Freedom Tower, and up the East River to the Brooklyn Bridge. Along the way an onboard host provided a running commentary describing local sights and attractions passing by on either side.
 
Sponsored by County Executive Thomas DeGise and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and coordinated by Catherine Macchi, consultant/community outreach for the Hudson County Office on Aging, the program was initiated more than two decades ago as a small sailing for less than 150 seniors out of Liberty State Park. It has evolved into a program hosting about 2,400 seniors from all 10 county municipalities and numerous senior groups.
 
Marisol Montanez coordinated the planning, tickets, and transportation for Guttenberg. Months of planning go into arranging the event, with attendees receiving tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many of the seniors attend regularly and look forward to it all year.
 
Helping out on board and with transportation were Council Members Monica Fundora, William Hokien, and Juana Malave, and Nutritionist Alicia Hernandez. The ship was shared with the neighboring Township of North Bergen, which brought about 175 senior citizens, all seated on the second floor.  

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