Aquarius Captained Boat Rental on Biscayne Bay: 2 Hours for Up to 6 People
Quick answer
The Aquarius captained boat rental costs $320 per group of up to six, runs 2 hours from 518 West Ave in Miami Beach and lets you bring your own drinks.
It suits groups of four to six; ask whether the $40/h captain fee is included, because GetYourGuide shows only 2 ratings, both 5.0/5.
Aquarius Boat Tours
Captained Biscayne Bay Boat Rental for Up to 6
5.0 (2) · from $320
The aquarius captained boat rental is a 2-hour private cruise for up to six people on Biscayne Bay, leaving from a marina at 518 West Ave in Miami Beach with a captain at the helm. It costs $320 per group, which is $53.33 each for six people, and fuel is in the price.
What changes the decision is that the captain is not covered by the headline price in a way the listing makes clear. The inclusions list a "Captain Fee $40/h" next to gas and ice, which reads like a rate rather than a freebie. Ask the operator whether $320 already covers a captain for the full 2 hours before you pay anything.
| Operator | Aquarius Boat Tours (activity provider on GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Boat and group | Private motorboat with a captain, up to 6 people |
| Price | $320 per group of up to 6 (taxes and fees included, per the listing) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Departure time | Not stated - pick a date on GetYourGuide to see slots |
| Start point | 518 West Ave, Miami Beach on Google Maps; wait at the marina gate and the captain comes to get you |
| Route | Star Island, Palm Island, Biscayne Bay, a swim stop off Miami Beach, downtown Miami views |
| Food and drinks | Bring your own; cooler and ice on board, no smoking |
| Languages | English |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 5.0/5 from 2 reviews on GetYourGuide (too few to rely on) |
What is the Aquarius captained boat rental and what do you see?
Aquarius sells a private bay cruise where you decide the pace and a licensed captain does the driving. The listing names Star Island and Palm Island on Miami Beach's side of the bay, an hour on the water off Miami Beach, and views of downtown Miami on the way back.
This is a captained charter, not a bareboat hire. Under Florida's livery law, a "livery" is a business that rents out a vessel without a US Coast Guard-licensed master to run it, so the livery rules on pre-rental instruction do not apply to a trip where the captain drives (Florida Statutes 327.54).
The listing's highlights call it a "sightseeing", "celebrity" and "private" tour. I read that as marketing; the data supports a swim stop, a tour of the bay's residential islands and a sound system, nothing more.
Where does the Aquarius captained boat rental start?
The address is 518 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139; stand at the marina entrance and the captain walks over. The listing gives no marina name and no check-in time, so I would message the operator for the slip number after booking.
Marina start point on Google Maps
- Parking and transit are not covered in the listing; a ride-share drop at the gate is the simplest plan.
- Return point is the same address, according to the itinerary.
- Arrive 15 minutes early is my suggestion, since the listing states no check-in time.
What is the route, stop by stop?
The route is an out-and-back loop of about 2 hours, with the swim stop taking up 1 hour of the 2. That leaves limited time for the bay sights, so plan one or two photo stops, not a long tour.
| Stop | What the listing says | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Marina gate on West Ave, Miami Beach | Open map on Google Maps |
| Star Island | Boat cruise and sightseeing, optional | Open map on Google Maps |
| Palm Island | Guided tour and cruise, optional | Open map on Google Maps |
| Biscayne Bay | Cruise and sightseeing, 2 hours in total | Open map on Google Maps |
| Miami Beach | Swimming, up to 1 hour, optional | Open map on Google Maps |
| Downtown Miami | Sightseeing, optional | Open map on Google Maps |
The listing marks most stops "optional", so you can drop the swim stop for a longer cruise. Ask the captain to confirm the plan on the dock, because itineraries are labelled "subject to change".
How long is it and when does it sail?
It runs for 2 hours, and the listing publishes no fixed departure times. You choose a slot when you check availability.
If you want sunset on the water, the sunset time matters more than the slot. Sunset is at 6:54 PM on 15 October and 5:33 PM on 15 November and 15 December, so a 5 PM start catches about two hours of light in October but only about half an hour in November and December.
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Start for golden hour |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17:52 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Feb | 18:15 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Mar | 19:30 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Apr | 19:45 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| May | 20:00 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Jun | 20:14 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Jul | 20:15 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Aug | 19:57 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Sep | 19:26 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Oct | 18:54 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Nov | 17:33 | about 2 hours before sunset |
| Dec | 17:33 | about 2 hours before sunset |
What is on board and what is included?
You get a boat, fuel, ice and a sound system, and you bring your own drinks. The listing allows alcohol under its "bring your own booze" policy and bans smoking.
- Included: 2 hours on the water, fuel, cooler, ice, Bluetooth sound system, safety equipment, and a floating mat.
- Unclear: the captain fee, listed as $40/h among the inclusions.
- Bring: drinks, snacks, swimwear, a towel and sun protection.
- Not suitable: wheelchair users, according to the listing.
How does it compare with other private Miami boats?
At $160 per hour this is the most expensive per hour of the three Miami rental pages, but the only one with a captain stated and a fixed group limit of six. Prices are the listing from-prices on 2026-10-17.
| Option | Price | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquarius captained rental (this page) | $320 per group of 6 | 2 h | Captain, Bluetooth, BYOB |
| Miami Beach Boat Rental Deal | from $99 per group of 12 | 2-6 h | Extras: captain $50/h, fuel $50 |
| Upisle Rentals pontoon | $299 | 2 h | Captain optional, gas $25/h |
| Bruschi Boat Rental yacht | $125 | 2 h | BYOB yacht cruise |
If you want other private formats, I list them on my Miami boat rental guide, and you can compare every operator on the Miami boat tours hub.
Is the Aquarius captained boat rental worth it compared with a bay cruise?
It is worth it for a group of four to six who want a swim stop and their own playlist, because $320 divided by six is cheaper than most shared cruises that last 2 hours. It is not worth it for a couple, who would pay $160 each.
- Worth it for a birthday group of six.
- Worth it for anyone who wants to choose the stops.
- Not worth it for solo travellers or couples comparing with a $30 to $64 shared sunset cruise.
When is the best time to go?
From November to April, because rain days drop below 14 a month and the heat is easier to take on open water. Summer afternoons bring 22 to 25 rain days a month.
| Month | Avg high 2025 / 2015-24 | Rain days (1 mm+) | Sunset (15th) | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74 / 75 °F | 11 | 17:52 | Driest months; pleasant on the bay, a layer helps after sunset |
| Feb | 79 / 77 °F | 11.3 | 18:15 | Driest months; pleasant on the bay, a layer helps after sunset |
| Mar | 79 / 79 °F | 9.6 | 19:30 | Warm and fairly dry; good all day for swimming and cruising |
| Apr | 82 / 82 °F | 12.4 | 19:45 | Warm and fairly dry; good all day for swimming and cruising |
| May | 87 / 84 °F | 16.4 | 20:00 | Warm and fairly dry; good all day for swimming and cruising |
| Jun | 86 / 85 °F | 22.5 | 20:14 | Hot with frequent storms: take the morning or the sunset slot, and check the forecast |
| Jul | 88 / 87 °F | 22.2 | 20:15 | Hot with frequent storms: take the morning or the sunset slot, and check the forecast |
| Aug | 91 / 87 °F | 25 | 19:57 | Hot with frequent storms: take the morning or the sunset slot, and check the forecast |
| Sep | 86 / 86 °F | 23.9 | 19:26 | Hot with frequent storms: take the morning or the sunset slot, and check the forecast |
| Oct | 84 / 83 °F | 19.3 | 18:54 | Warm and fairly dry; good all day for swimming and cruising |
| Nov | 81 / 80 °F | 13.1 | 17:33 | Warm and fairly dry; good all day for swimming and cruising |
| Dec | 78 / 77 °F | 11 | 17:33 | Driest months; pleasant on the bay, a layer helps after sunset |
14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes make up an average Atlantic season, from June 1 to November 30.
Check the National Weather Service Miami forecast two days before you sail. The 24-hour free-cancellation window leaves little room for a storm change.
What do passengers say?
Only two ratings exist, both 5 out of 5, and neither carries written comments, so they tell me nothing about the boat or the captain. Treat the 5.0/5 as "no complaints yet", not as proof.
- Dated ratings - one from November 2025 and one from August 2026, both from verified bookings.
- No complaint data - nothing about waiting times, boat condition or the captain fee.
Who should skip it?
Skip it if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair, because the listing excludes wheelchair users. Skip it too if you want a guided commentary: the captain answers questions, but the listing does not promise a script.
Groups above six should look at the Miami River rental, which allows up to 12 on paper, or at the private boat tour guide.
How do you book the Aquarius captained boat rental?
For $320 per group of six you get 2 hours on Biscayne Bay with a captain, fuel, ice, a Bluetooth sound system and a swim stop.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Aquarius captained boat rental cost?
It costs $320 per group of up to six people for 2 hours, with taxes and fees included according to the listing. Ask whether the captain fee of $40/h is already covered.
Where does the boat leave from?
It leaves from a marina at 518 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. You wait at the gate and the captain meets you.
How many people fit on the boat?
Up to six people, which is what the listing and the title state.
Can you bring your own alcohol?
Yes, the listing describes a bring-your-own-booze trip with a cooler and ice on board. Smoking is not allowed.
Is the captain included?
The listing says a captain drives the boat but also lists a captain fee of $40 per hour among the inclusions. That is unclear, so confirm with the operator.
Do you need a boating licence?
Not for this trip, because a captain drives. Florida law applies boating safety rules to operators born on or after 1 January 1988 who run a motor of 10 horsepower or more, which the captain handles.
What do you see on the route?
The listing names Star Island, Palm Island, Biscayne Bay, a swim stop off Miami Beach and downtown Miami views.
Can you swim during the trip?
Yes, the itinerary includes up to 1 hour of swimming off Miami Beach and a floating mat on board.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
No. The listing lists wheelchair users under not suitable.
What time is sunset in Miami?
Sunset is about 6:54 PM in mid-October, 5:33 PM in mid-November and 8:15 PM in July, according to sunrise-sunset.org data.
Sources: Listing data from GetYourGuide (product 767140); Florida Statutes 327.54 (liveries) and 327.395 (boating safety education), Florida Legislature; National Hurricane Center climatology; NWS Miami; Open-Meteo archive API (climate); sunrise-sunset.org (sunset times); Nager.Date holidays API.
