MYA Boat Charters: Private Miami Boat Charter With a Licensed Captain
Quick answer
MYA Boat Charters sells a private Miami boat for up to 10 people from $224 per group, with 2, 3, 4 or 5-hour options.
The captain ($50 per hour) and fuel ($50) are paid at the dock, so a 2-hour trip totals about $374; rating 5/5 from 377+ GetYourGuide reviews.
MYA Boat Charters
Miami Guided Private Boat Charter: Cruise, Swim & Explore
5.0 (377) · from $224
MYA Boat Charters sells a private Miami boat charter for up to 10 people, listed from $224 per group on GetYourGuide, with the captain and fuel paid separately at the dock.
That split is the detail that changes the decision.
A two-hour trip costs $224 plus $100 for the captain plus $50 for fuel, or $374 in total, and every extra hour adds $50 for the captain on top of the higher boat price. Compare the same job on the Harbour Advisor home page or the full list of boat tours in Miami before you commit.
| Operator | MYA Boat Charters |
|---|---|
| Boat and capacity | Private motorboat with Bluetooth sound, restroom and floating mat; up to 10 passengers including children |
| Price | From $224 per group (the 2-hour option); the longer options are priced at checkout. Captain $50 per hour and fuel $50 per trip are paid at the dock |
| Duration | 2, 3, 4 or 5 hours, depending on the option |
| Departure times | Shown after you pick a date; the listing gives no fixed timetable |
| Meeting point | A marina near Downtown Miami, sent the day before once your captain is confirmed; the route starts and ends on the Miami River |
| Route | Miami River, Downtown, Bayside Marketplace, the residential islands, Star Island, Fisher Island and the Port of Miami, depending on the option |
| Food and drink | Bring your own; cooler, ice, bottled water and cups are provided. Red wine is not allowed |
| Languages | English and Spanish |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 5/5 from 377+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the MYA Boat Charters private boat tour in Miami?
It is a self-contained private charter: one boat, one captain, one group of up to 10, and a choice between six set itineraries from two to five hours.
The two-hour options are the skyline run past Millionaires' Row and a sunset version that adds a bottle of champagne.
The three-hour option adds an anchored swim stop near Monument Island, the four-hour option leaves time to swim and drift on your own schedule, and the two five-hour options head to the Haulover Sandbar or to Raccoon Island. A third-party jet ski stop can be arranged on the four-hour trip if the captain agrees and availability allows.
| Option | Length | What the listing says you do | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Highlights | 2 hours | Skyline and Millionaires' Row from the water | First-time visitors on a budget |
| Sunset & Champagne | 2 hours | Sunset over Biscayne Bay with a bottle of champagne | Couples and small celebrations |
| Sight & Island Stop | 3 hours | Skyline, then anchor near Monument Island to swim | Families who want swim time |
| Half-Day Charter | 4 hours | Sightseeing, swimming and free time; optional jet ski stop | Birthdays and groups |
| Haulover Sandbar Escape | 5 hours | Swim and float at the Haulover Sandbar | Groups who want the sandbar scene |
| Raccoon Island Adventure | 5 hours | Time near Raccoon Island and its raccoons | Families and wildlife fans |
I'd start from the three-hour option for most mixed groups, because it is the shortest trip that includes a swim. The two-hour trips are sightseeing only.
Where does the MYA Boat Charters trip leave from?
You will not know the exact dock when you book: the operator sends the marina the day before, after you have chosen a captain.
The listing says the departure is one of its marinas near Downtown, and the itinerary starts and ends on the Miami River. That is enough to plan a rough arrival, not enough to pre-book parking.
Treat the Metrorail fare as a guide rather than a route: the county fare guide lists $2.25 for Metrorail and Metrobus, with Metromover free, but the marina may be a short ride from the nearest station.
Ask the operator for three things in the same message:
- Where to park, and what it costs near the marina.
- How early to arrive for the dock payment.
- Which gate or dock number to use.
Who is the captain, and what does the captain cost?
On the MYA Boat Charters trip the captain is a licensed professional that you pick from a list the day before, and the fee is $50 per hour, paid at the dock.
The listing explains that the boat is chartered without crew, so the captain is hired separately to comply with local bareboat rules, and says every listed captain holds a US Coast Guard licence. The fuel charge is a flat $50 per trip. Both are charged on top of the GetYourGuide price and collected before you leave.
| Trip length | Captain ($50/h) | Fuel ($50) | Dock total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | $100 | $50 | $150 |
| 3 hours | $150 | $50 | $200 |
| 4 hours | $200 | $50 | $250 |
| 5 hours | $250 | $50 | $300 |
Add the boat price you see at checkout to get the full cost. For the two-hour trip that is $224 + $150 = $374, or $37.40 each for ten people and $187 each for two. Tips are not mentioned in the listing, so ask what is customary.
What is the route, stop by stop?
All the sightseeing options follow the same arc: out of the Miami River, past the Downtown towers, then east through the island chain to Fisher Island and the cruise port.
| Stop | What it is | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Miami River | Where the trip starts and ends | Miami River |
| Downtown Miami | Skyline of the central business district | Downtown |
| Bayside Marketplace | Waterfront shopping and dining complex | Bayside |
| San Marco, Di Lido, Hibiscus and Palm Islands | Residential islands between Downtown and Miami Beach | Di Lido Island |
| Star Island | Island of large waterfront houses, billed as celebrity homes | Star Island |
| Fisher Island | Private island at the mouth of the channel | Fisher Island |
| Port of Miami | The cruise port, seen from the water | PortMiami |
The listing does not publish a minute-by-minute schedule, and it does not say which stops are skipped on the shorter trips. Ask the captain to confirm the plan when you pick the captain.
What is on board and what is included?
The boat comes with the comforts of a day charter: shade seating, a restroom, a sound system, a floating mat, towels and life jackets.
| Item | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Private boat | Included | Only your group is on board |
| Cooler, ice, bottled water, cups | Included | For your own drinks |
| Towels and floating water mat | Included | Floating mat is for swim stops |
| Premium Bluetooth sound | Included | Play your own playlist |
| Restroom and life jackets | Included | Life jackets are on board |
| Captain ($50/h) and fuel ($50) | Not included | Paid at the dock |
| Food and alcohol | Not included | Bring your own; no red wine |
| Jet ski stop | Extra on request | Third-party rental, subject to availability |
The rules are strict about stains and flames. Shoes go in a basket before boarding, sunscreen has to be on before you step aboard, smoking is not allowed (vaping is), and candles or sparklers are banned. At least one traveler must be 18 or older. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, although strollers and service animals are allowed.
How does it compare with the other private boats in Miami?
For a pure private charter, the MYA price sits in the middle of Miami's private options, and the real difference is how much is included before you pay the dock fees.
| Boat | Price from | Group size | Captain and fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| MYA Boat Charters | $224 per group | 10 | $50/h + $50 at the dock |
| Ocean Sunrise exclusive private tour | $255 per group | 12 | $50/h + $50 at the dock |
| Party on the Seas 37ft yacht | $215 per group | 12 | $50/h + $50 at the dock |
| Bruschi BYOB yacht cruise | $125 per person | 10 or 12 | $45/h + $50 at the dock |
The three boats with a $50/h captain fee end up within about $40 of each other on a two-hour trip, so choose on capacity and the itinerary options. See the wider choice on the private boat tours in Miami page.
Is the MYA Boat Charters private charter worth it versus a shared boat?
It is worth it from about four people upward, when the dock total is split between enough heads to beat a per-person ticket.
At two hours the all-in cost is $374.
A group of eight pays $46.75 each, which is below the $59 per person asked for the shared happy-hour cruise on this site, and it comes with your own music and an itinerary you shape. A couple pays $187 each, which is hard to justify against a $30 shared sunset cruise unless you want privacy.
Sub-scores on the listing are 5.0 for the guide, 5.0 for transportation and 4.9 for value, which fits a service that is priced transparently once the dock fees are known.
- Groups of 6-10 - the dock fees dilute quickly and the boat is yours
- Celebrations - birthdays, proposals and anniversaries are common in the listing's reviews
- Swimmers - the three-hour and longer trips include a swim stop
- Couples on a budget - a shared cruise costs a fraction of the private total
When is the best time to go?
November to April is the comfortable window, with dry weather and highs between 75 and 82°F, while June to October brings more than 19 rain days a month.
| Month | Avg high | Rain days | Sunset | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°F | 11.0 | 5:52 PM | Dry and mild; a light layer on the water |
| Feb | 77°F | 11.3 | 6:15 PM | Dry and mild; light layer after dusk |
| Mar | 79°F | 9.6 | 7:30 PM | Dry season ends; comfortable all day |
| Apr | 82°F | 12.4 | 7:45 PM | Warm; shade matters from midday |
| May | 84°F | 16.4 | 8:00 PM | Hot; rain starts to build |
| Jun | 85°F | 22.5 | 8:14 PM | Wet season; afternoon storms likely, book morning or evening |
| Jul | 87°F | 22.2 | 8:15 PM | Hot and wet; shade and water essential |
| Aug | 87°F | 25.0 | 7:57 PM | Hottest; storm and heat risk, favour early or sunset |
| Sep | 86°F | 23.9 | 7:26 PM | Peak wet and hurricane season; watch the forecast |
| Oct | 83°F | 19.3 | 6:54 PM | Still wet; storm delays possible |
| Nov | 80°F | 13.1 | 5:33 PM | Drier and cooler; among the best months |
| Dec | 77°F | 11.0 | 5:33 PM | Dry and mild; busy holiday weekends |
Temperature and rain come from Open-Meteo for central Miami; UV was not available. Check the National Weather Service for live marine conditions on the day through its Miami forecast office, which publishes coastal waters forecasts and small craft advisories. A small craft advisory is a good reason to ask the captain about moving your date.
28 million visitors came to Miami-Dade County in 2024, the most the county has recorded in a single year.
That visitor volume is why holiday weekends sell out first. The next ones are Veterans Day on 11 November and Thanksgiving on 26 November (Nager.Date), so book those boats early.
What time should you board for the sunset option?
For the two-hour sunset and champagne trip, board about an hour before sunset so the sun goes down mid-cruise.
The listing does not state the departure time for the sunset trip, so the table below is my own arithmetic from sunrise-sunset.org times: sunset minus one hour. Confirm the actual time in the booking calendar.
| Month | Sunset | Board about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5:52 PM | 4:52 PM |
| February | 6:15 PM | 5:15 PM |
| March | 7:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| April | 7:45 PM | 6:45 PM |
| May | 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| June | 8:14 PM | 7:14 PM |
| July | 8:15 PM | 7:15 PM |
| August | 7:57 PM | 6:57 PM |
| September | 7:26 PM | 6:26 PM |
| October | 6:54 PM | 5:54 PM |
| November | 5:33 PM | 4:33 PM |
| December | 5:33 PM | 4:33 PM |
What do passengers say about MYA Boat Charters?
The sample is overwhelmingly positive and centres on the captain: reviewers name individual captains, praise the commentary and describe a clean, roomy boat.
The ten reviews shown on the listing are all five stars, so they tell us little about problems.
GetYourGuide's own summary of 78 reviews is more useful: travelers like friendly, informative captains, clean boats, skyline views and relaxed sunset rides, and the one recurring request is clearer information about the extra fuel and captain fees. That matches my reading of the listing, which is why this page puts the dock total near the top.
- Captains - named often, described as friendly and good at local trivia
- Celebrations - marriage proposals and family trips appear in the sample
- Swim time - a family review mentions having time to swim
- Fees - the only critical theme is knowing the dock fees in advance
Who should skip it?
Skip it if you travel alone, need wheelchair access, or want a single fixed price with nothing to pay at the dock.
Solo travelers and couples will do better on a shared boat; see the boat tours in Miami hub, where several cruises cost under $60 per person.
Wheelchair users cannot board, and groups above ten need a second boat or the 12-person Ocean Sunrise charter. If your group wants a branded party boat with food and a DJ, the party boats on the hub fit better than a bring-your-own charter.
How do you book the MYA Boat Charters trip?
From $224 per group for up to 10 people, plus captain and fuel at the dock; pick your length and your date at checkout.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the MYA Boat Charters trip cost?
The listing starts at $224 per group for up to 10 people. The captain costs $50 per hour and fuel is $50 per trip, both paid at the dock, so a two-hour trip comes to about $374.
Is the captain included?
No. The captain is hired separately at $50 per hour and chosen from a list of US Coast Guard licensed captains the day before the trip.
How many people fit on the boat?
Up to 10, counting toddlers and children. At least one traveler must be 18 or older.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
Yes, drinks and snacks are welcome, with the exception of red wine. The boat provides a cooler, ice, bottled water and cups.
Where does the trip leave from?
From a marina near Downtown Miami. The listing says the exact meeting point is sent the day before, once your captain is confirmed.
Can we swim during the trip?
Yes, on the three-hour and longer options, which include anchored swim time. A floating mat and towels are on board; the two-hour options are sightseeing only.
What is the Haulover Sandbar option?
It is the five-hour trip to the Haulover Sandbar, a shallow area popular with Miami boaters, where the group can swim and float.
Is the boat wheelchair accessible?
No. The listing says it is not wheelchair accessible, but strollers and service animals are allowed.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel free up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
What languages does the crew speak?
The listing offers English and Spanish.
Can we smoke or use candles?
Smoking is not allowed, though vaping is, and open flames such as candles and sparklers are banned.
What should we wear?
Bring swimwear and put sunscreen on before boarding, because the listing warns that sunscreen stains the cushions. Shoes go in a basket before you step on the boat.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 556244 (checked 2026-10-17); Miami-Dade Transit fare guide; National Weather Service Miami; Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2024 visitation; Open-Meteo archive API (temperature, rain); sunrise-sunset.org API (sunset); Nager.Date.
