Every private boat tour Miami offers, in one place — glide past Star Island mansions and the downtown skyline, or anchor at a turquoise sandbar with your own captain. Compare the charters and book with free cancellation.
Updated 2026-07-10
Top Rated — 5.0★ from 350 reviews Miami's Top-Rated Private Boat Charter
Cruise Biscayne Bay on a 29-foot SeaRay SDX with a licensed captain and a route shaped around what you want to see. Play your own music while passing the Miami skyline, Star Island, and celebrity waterfront homes.
Live dates and prices for Miami's top-rated private charter, straight from GetYourGuide. Pick a date to see open departure slots.
Skyline sightseeing, celebrity homes, champagne sunsets, BYOB cruises and sandbar swim stops — each charter below is private, captained, and priced per boat, not per person.
from $299 Cruise Biscayne Bay on a 29-foot SeaRay SDX with a licensed captain and a route shaped around what you want to see. Play your own music while passing…
from $255 A private alternative to crowded sightseeing boats: just your group, your captain, and the best views of the city from the water. Glide past Millionaire's Row, the Venetian…
from $299 Board a 30-foot Sundeck for up to 12 guests with a complimentary bottle of champagne waiting on ice. A guided route covers the skyline, dolphins and seabirds, and…
from $156 Bring your own drinks, plug in your playlist, and take over a private yacht for two hours on Biscayne Bay. One of the most-booked private cruises in Miami…
from $290 Total privacy aboard a 37-foot luxury yacht with a captain, champagne, and soft drinks included. Cruise past Miami's iconic skyline and celebrity homes while you relax on the…
from $449 Four full hours on a 24-foot private boat for up to six people, with a captain who follows your route. Long enough to combine the skyline, the islands…
from $255 A relaxed guided cruise for private groups covering Star Island, Fisher Island, and the downtown waterfront. Your captain narrates the sights while you spread out with just your…
from $80 The most affordable way to get a private boat on Biscayne Bay, with day, sunset, and after-dark departures. Bring your own drinks and watch the skyline light up…
from $359 Head north of the city to the Haulover sandbar, past Billionaire's Bunker on Indian Creek Island, and out to Raccoon Island. A swim-and-explore private trip that trades the…
Every charter side by side — price per boat, rating, length and who each one suits best. Tap a row for live dates and availability.
| Charter | Price | Rating | Book | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29-ft SeaRay Charter | $299 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 2–5 hrs | Top-rated all-rounder |
| Exclusive Skyline Cruise | $255 | 4.9 ★ | Check | 2–4 hrs | First-visit sightseeing |
| Champagne Sundeck | $299 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 2–4 hrs | Groups up to 12 |
| BYOB Party Yacht | $156 | 4.6 ★ | Check | 2 hrs | Music & party vibe |
| 37-ft Luxury Yacht | $290 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 2–4 hrs | Couples & celebrations |
| 24-ft Custom Charter | $449 | 4.7 ★ | Check | 4 hrs | Skyline + sandbar in one day |
| Star Island Scenic | $255 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 2–4 hrs | Relaxed narrated cruise |
| Budget BYOB Boat | $80 | 4.7 ★ | Check | 2 hrs | Lowest-cost private option |
| Sandbar & Islands Trip | $359 | 4.9 ★ | Check | 3 hrs | Swimming & shallows |
Private charters in Miami are priced per boat, not per person — which is why they beat group sightseeing cruises for anyone traveling with four or more people. A 2-hour cruise starts at $80 for the whole boat on the cheapest BYOB option, while a full 4-hour charter on a bigger boat runs $449. Split between six people, even the priciest option works out cheaper than many per-person dinner cruises.
Marketplace boat rental platforms quote $100 to $500 per hour for similar boats, and fuel is not always included. Every charter compared here comes with fuel included, plus the boat and a licensed captain in the listed price — the only extras are your drinks and the customary captain's tip.
| Charter type | Length | Price per boat | Per person (6 aboard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget BYOB cruise | 2 hours | $80 | $14 |
| BYOB party yacht | 2 hours | $156 | $26 |
| Guided skyline cruise | 2–4 hours | $255–299 | $43–50 |
| Champagne yacht cruise | 2–4 hours | $290–299 | $49–50 |
| Sandbar & islands trip | 3 hours | $359 | $60 |
| Full custom charter | 4 hours | $449 | $75 |
Most 2-hour cruises run the classic sightseeing loop: out of Downtown Miami or the Miami River, under the MacArthur Causeway, around Star Island's celebrity homes and the Venetian Islands, past Fisher Island and back along the skyline. Captains point out the waterfront mansions of Palm Island and Hibiscus Island along Millionaire's Row — and dolphins, manatees and sea rays turn up more often than first-timers expect.
With 3 or 4 hours you can head north instead: past Billionaire's Bunker on Indian Creek Island to the Haulover Sandbar and Raccoon Island, where the boat anchors in waist-deep turquoise water for a swim stop. If you want both the skyline and a sandbar swim in one day, the 4-hour charter is the one that fits it all.
The boats behind these listings range from an 18 to 24-foot runabout for up to 6 people to a 37-foot private yacht charter with a shaded cabin, bathroom and room for up to 12 guests. Smaller boats feel nimble and get closest to the islands; bigger yachts add comfort, shade and space to move around — worth it for birthdays and proposals.
Unlike a bareboat boat rental, every option here comes with captain included, so nobody in your group needs a boating license, experience, or a sober-skipper argument. You board, the captain handles the bay.
Most Miami charters are BYOB, and several provide a cooler with ice plus a Bluetooth speaker so you can play your own music. Florida boating rules are relaxed for passengers, with one firm exception every captain enforces:
Charters run every month of the year on Biscayne Bay. The chart shows average daytime highs — the real difference between seasons is humidity, afternoon storms and how calm the water is.
Hurricane season officially runs June through November, peaking August to October — captains watch the forecast and reschedule or refund when weather closes the bay. Water temperature stays swimmable all year, from 72°F in winter to 86°F in late summer.
Almost every charter works this stretch of Biscayne Bay — the skyline and celebrity-home loop sits between Downtown Miami and South Beach, while the sandbars anchor the far north and south ends of the bay.
Mornings are the bay at its best — glass-calm water, soft light on the skyline and empty anchorages at the sandbars. By early afternoon the sea breeze picks up a light chop, and in summer the daily thunderstorms roll through between roughly three and five o'clock.
The sunset cruise slot is the crowd favorite for a reason: golden hour paints the towers orange, and on a night cruise the skyline switches on behind you as you head back to the marina. Book the last daylight departure to get both — sunset out, city lights home.
Most of the charters compared here leave from the marinas around Downtown Miami and the Miami River — an easy ride from Brickell, Wynwood or the Port of Miami cruise terminals. A few board at Miami Beach Marina next to South Beach, putting you on the celebrity-homes loop within minutes of casting off.
The sandbar specialist departs from the Haulover area in North Miami Beach instead — smart routing, since leaving from South Beach adds close to an hour of round-trip transit to reach the same sandbar. Your exact dock address arrives with the booking confirmation; double-check it before ordering the rideshare.
Charters are casual — swimwear under light clothes is the standard uniform, and barefoot or boat shoes on deck is the norm. The short list that separates comfortable guests from sunburned ones:
Renting a bareboat in Florida means proving boating experience, paying a security deposit, and staying sober at the helm — plus navigating the bay's shallows, sandbars and weekend traffic yourself. Anyone born after January 1, 1988 also needs a Florida boating safety card to drive a rental at all.
A private boat tour with captain removes the whole checklist. The boats carry USCG-required life jackets for every passenger, the licensed captain knows where the manatee zones and no-wake stretches are, and everyone in your group gets to actually be on vacation. For most visitors it's also the cheaper option once fuel and deposits are counted.
Six ways to do the bay — matched to budget, occasion and how much time you want on the water. All prices are per boat, not per person.
| Charter | Length | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget BYOB cruise | 2 hrs | The cheapest way to go private | $80 |
| BYOB party yacht | 2 hrs | Groups with a playlist ready | $156 |
| Guided skyline & celebrity homes cruise | 2–4 hrs | First-time sightseeing | $255 |
| Champagne yacht cruise | 2–4 hrs | Couples, proposals & birthdays | $290 |
| Sandbar & islands trip | 3 hrs | Swimming in turquoise shallows | $359 |
| Full 4-hour custom charter | 4 hrs | Skyline plus sandbar in one day | $449 |
Every option includes the boat, licensed captain and fuel. Split the per-boat price across your group — six people on the $299 charter pay about $50 each.
Our captain looped Star Island twice so we could get the mansion photos, then cut the engine under the skyline right at sunset. Two hours felt like a private movie of Miami.
We did the sandbar trip for my husband's 40th — anchored at Haulover in warm waist-deep water with the cooler floating between us. Worth every dollar over a crowded party boat.
BYOB boat with our own music was exactly what our group of six wanted. The captain handled everything and still pointed out dolphins on the way back. Booked again for our last night.
The whole boat is yours — no shared benches, no queue for the bow photo spot, no stranger's bachelorette party over your conversation.
Linger at Star Island, skip what bores you, add a swim stop. Captains adjust the loop to your group instead of a fixed timetable.
Bluetooth speakers and BYOB coolers are standard — the soundtrack and the drinks are exactly what your group brought.
Licensed local captains handle the shallows, the no-wake zones and the narration — nobody in your group needs any boating experience.
An empty bow, a captain who positions the boat for the skyline light, and no heads in your shot — private charters win every photo comparison.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on these charters — lock in the sunset slot and adjust if your plans change.
Between $80 and $449 for the whole boat, depending on length and boat size. A 2-hour BYOB cruise starts at $80 per boat, guided skyline cruises run $255–299, champagne yacht cruises about $290, and a full 4-hour charter for up to six people costs $449. Fuel and captain are included in every price compared here.
Per boat. Every charter on this page is private — the listed price covers your entire group. Six people on a $299 charter pay about $50 each, which usually undercuts per-person group cruises while giving you the whole boat.
The classic loop covers the Downtown Miami and Brickell skyline, Star Island's celebrity homes, the Venetian Islands, Fisher Island and the waterfront mansions of Palm and Hibiscus Islands. Longer trips head north past Billionaire's Bunker to the Haulover Sandbar, or south toward Key Biscayne, the calmer Nixon Sandbar and Stiltsville. Dolphins, manatees and sea rays make regular appearances.
Yes — most Miami charters are BYOB for passengers, and many provide a cooler with ice. The one hard rule is no glass bottles on board; cans, plastic bottles and boxed drinks are all fine. On the champagne cruises, a bottle is already included.
No. Every charter here comes with a licensed captain who handles the boat, the route and the rules of the bay. That's the practical difference from a bareboat rental, which requires experience, a deposit and — for anyone born after January 1, 1988 — a Florida boating safety card.
Morning for the calmest water and emptiest sandbars; the last daylight slot for golden hour over the skyline. Sunset departures — especially the champagne yacht cruises — are the most popular and sell out first. In summer, avoid mid-afternoon — that's when the daily thunderstorms pass through.
Captains monitor the forecast and will reschedule or refund when conditions close the bay — and the charters here carry free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, so you can move your slot yourself if the outlook worsens. Brief summer showers usually just mean a short pause under the causeway, not a cancelled trip.
Yes — private boats are one of the most family-friendly ways to see Miami, since there's no crowd and the captain sets the pace. USCG-required life jackets are on board for every passenger, and child sizes are available if you mention ages when booking.
Most depart from marinas around Downtown Miami and the Miami River, near Bayside Marketplace; some board at Miami Beach Marina next to South Beach, and the sandbar trip leaves from the Haulover area in North Miami Beach. The exact dock address comes with your booking confirmation.
November through April is prime season — dry air, calm mornings and daytime highs near 80°F. Summer works too if you book morning or sunset slots around the afternoon storms. Hurricane season runs June through November, but disruptions are rare and refundable; the bay water stays a swimmable 72–86°F all year.