Large Group Yacht Charters in Miami

Why 13 guests is the line

Almost every yacht you can book by the hour in Miami runs as an uninspected vessel, and the Coast Guard caps those at twelve passengers for hire plus the charterer: thirteen guests, however long the boat is. That is why the private yachts on every yacht rental in Miami, from a 26 ft day boat to a 166 ft mega yacht, all say thirteen. Every person aboard counts, children and babies included. Past thirteen, a group needs a vessel built, equipped and crewed to carry more, and certificated to do it.

Two ways to take a big group out

An inspected passenger vessel. These are the event yachts, catamarans and mini cruise ships that carry a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection, the document that sets how many passengers the boat may carry, the crew it must have and the safety gear aboard. Everyone sails on one deck plan, with one bar, one dance floor and one set of speeches.

A raft-up of private yachts. Two or three private yachts, each within its thirteen, leave the marina together and tie up side by side at a sandbar or in a sheltered basin. It suits a day party for 20 to 40 that wants to swim and move between boats more than it wants a ballroom.

Choose by headcount

• 20 to 30 guests: a small inspected event boat, or a raft-up of two private yachts, set out on 20 person yacht rentals.
• About 30 guests: a mid-size inspected boat with the seating, shade and restrooms for that number, on 30 person yacht rentals.
• 40 to 80 guests: a two- or three-deck event yacht with a bar and catering space, on 50 person yacht rentals.
• 100 to 300 guests and more: multi-deck event ships for galas, weddings and conferences, on 100 person yacht rentals.

Opus 1, the flagship event yacht

For a wedding, a gala or a brand launch, Opus 1 Miami is the 120 ft event yacht operated as Opus by Feeling Yachty: two climate-controlled salons, an open-air sky deck and a full-service bar, for up to 300 guests under her certificate.

What a large group charter includes

The vessel, a licensed captain and the professional crew its certificate requires, standard fuel, ice and water, and the sound system aboard. The quote packages the yacht side together; the crew gratuity and any vendor you add are separate. Large vessels are priced on the boat, the date, the hours, the headcount and the food and bar plan, and many set per-person minimums for catering and the bar. Some event yachts require their own caterer and licensed bartenders; others allow outside caterers with proof of insurance. The team sets out which applies when it sends the shortlist, and the parties built on top, from birthdays to corporate nights, are planned on Miami yacht parties.

Cruise, dockside or both

A big group can cruise the skyline, Star Island and Biscayne Bay; stay mostly at the dock, which suits speeches, AV and a step-and-repeat; or do both, boarding at the slip for welcome drinks, cruising at sunset and returning for dinner and dancing. Boarding depends on the vessel and its permits, with Miami Beach Marina, Island Gardens, Bayside, Dinner Key and Haulover the usual docks. Guests arrive thirty minutes before departure to check in.

Booking a large group yacht

Send the date or a window, the start time, the headcount, the occasion, cruise or dockside, a budget range and the services you need. The team replies with two to four vessels that fit, holds the one you choose, and sends a digital agreement and a payment link; after the deposit come the run-of-show, the boarding instructions and the vendor timings. Weather is handled under each vessel’s own policy: the captain may delay boarding, change the route, keep the event at the dock or move the date when conditions are unsafe.