The tour is worth it. However, as someone who traveled from a very distant country, I got lost and didn't follow the rest of the tour once I arrived at Liberty Island! The tour focuses on facts and history, so if you want to take a lot of photos at Liberty Island while also capturing Manhattan from across the water, you should opt for the cruise package to Liberty and Ellis Island without a tour guide. But the tour guide is definitely worth it if you want to be guided and not spend too much time in front of Lady Liberty (I spent too much time there, almost 5 hours). By the way, the ferry has free entry once you depart, so you can go back with or without the guide.