Booking a yacht for the first time comes with a particular kind of uncertainty. You know roughly what it costs and roughly where you're going, but not what the day itself looks like. What do you bring? What's already there? What happens when you turn up? Most people work it out as it unfolds, and it goes fine, but there's no reason it should be a mystery in the first place.
Here's the whole thing, start to finish.
Before the Day
A smooth charter starts with good planning and clear communication before the day of your trip. The things worth telling us at that point are your final head count, what you're celebrating if it's an occasion, and anything about the group that changes the plan.
Head count matters more than people expect, because the limit is 13 guests and every person counts toward it regardless of age. Captain and crew are separate and don't count. If you're bringing children, our guide to chartering with kids covers what else changes, and if anyone in the group worries about motion, mention it, because the captain can plan a gentler route. We went through that in our piece on whether you'll get seasick.
Catering is an add-on, so arrange it when you book rather than the day before. Same with decorations if you're marking something: tell us in advance and the crew can help set up. Charter length is the other decision to make early, and our guide to choosing a charter length goes through how the time actually divides up.
What to Bring, and What's Already There
You'll need photo identification, and that's every guest, not just whoever booked. Beyond that, bring your food and drinks, towels, sunscreen, and your own disposable utensils, plates and cups. The utensils are the one people forget most often, and arriving with a full spread and nothing to eat it off is a solvable problem only if you solve it beforehand.
What's already on board: coolers and ice, life jackets in all sizes including children's, a Bluetooth sound system, a bathroom, shaded seating, and the fuel for your route. Charters are BYOB, so the drinks are yours to bring and the chilling is handled. Our full packing list goes further into the details.
Two things can't come aboard. Firearms aren't permitted under any circumstances. Neither is red wine, or anything else that can stain, because a spill on upholstery or decking is permanent. White, rosé, sparkling, beer and spirits are all fine. The other thing to know before you dress is that hard soled shoes and heels come off at the dock, since they mark the deck surfaces, so bring something soft or plan on being barefoot.
Arriving and Boarding
Get there 20 minutes before your reservation time, with your whole group. Boarding takes a few minutes, and turning up right on the hour means you're still walking down the dock when your charter was due to start.
If you're running late, the boat can leave later. What doesn't move is the return time, because the dock schedule is fixed and other charters follow yours. So a late start doesn't extend your day, it shortens it, and the time comes off the water rather than off the end. That's the whole reason for the 20 minute buffer: it's not a formality, it's what protects the time you paid for.
If you find on the day that you want longer, extra hours can sometimes be added. Ask the captain or the office rather than assuming, since it depends on what's booked after you.
Once You're Underway
The captain handles the route, the navigation and the timing, and will have planned it around your group and the conditions that day. Large parts of Biscayne Bay are no wake and idle speed zones, so the boat slows down in places for legal reasons rather than scenic ones. That's worth knowing, because the slow stretches are usually the best bits for looking at things.
Connect a phone to the sound system and the music is yours. The crew are focused on running the boat safely, which is where their attention needs to be. Your guests, children included, are the responsibility of the primary customer, meaning whoever booked the charter. That's how private charters are structured rather than a policy we invented, and our explainer on bareboat charters covers why.
The Swim Stop
Most daytime charters anchor somewhere, and for a lot of guests this is the point of the day. Where you go depends on what you're after. The Nixon Sandbar is the social one, and Monument Island is quieter with somewhere to go ashore.
Whether anchoring or going ashore is possible on the day is the captain's decision, based on water depth, tide, the yacht's draft, boat traffic, weather and any local restrictions in effect. It's worth saying clearly, because conditions change and a spot that worked last week might not work this morning. Ask your captain rather than planning around a tide chart.
Ask for life vests at the dock rather than at the swim stop, particularly for children, so nobody's sizing a vest while everyone else is already in the water.
Heading Back
The return leg is part of your charter time, and the dock time is fixed, so the captain will start back with enough margin to arrive on schedule. Dry clothes for the ride home are worth having, especially with children, since people get cold on the water even in summer. Everything you brought leaves with you, including your rubbish.
FAQs
How early should I arrive for a yacht charter?
Twenty minutes before your reservation time, with your whole group. The boat can depart later if you're held up, but the return time is fixed, so a late start shortens your charter rather than extending it.
Do I need to bring ID?
Yes, and every guest needs photo identification, not only the person who booked.
What's included and what do I bring?
Included: captain and crew, fuel, coolers and ice, life vests in all sizes, a Bluetooth sound system, a bathroom and shaded seating. You bring ID, food and drinks, towels, sunscreen, and your own disposable utensils, plates and cups.
Is there anything I can't bring on board?
Firearms aren't permitted under any circumstances. Neither is red wine or anything else that can stain, since spills on upholstery and decking are permanent. Hard soled shoes and heels come off before boarding.
Can we add extra hours on the day?
Sometimes, yes. It depends on what's booked after you, so ask the captain or the office rather than assuming it's available.
Can we choose where the boat goes?
Tell us what you'd like to see and the captain will plan around it. Whether a particular anchoring stop works on the day depends on depth, tide, draft, traffic, weather and any restrictions in effect, so the final call is the captain's.
Anything Else?
If something here isn't covered, our charter FAQs go further, or just ask. Tell us your group size and your date and we'll talk you through the rest.
Or call or text us at (786) 575-5200.
