Look through our fleet and you will notice something odd. A 42-foot yacht holds 13 guests. A 60-foot yacht holds 13 guests. Same number, boats that differ by nearly twenty feet.
That is not a copy-paste mistake. It is the law. And once you understand why, choosing a boat gets much easier — because the real question was never how many people fit.
Why Every Yacht Says 13 Guests
Thirteen is a legal ceiling, not a measurement of the boat. Under the bareboat charter structure that private charters in Miami operate on, the guest limit is set by regulation rather than by hull size, and it applies the same way to a 42-footer and a 60-footer. Crew do not count toward it — 13 means 13 guests, with the captain and staff on top of that.
We explain how that arrangement works in our guide to bareboat charters in Miami, which is worth reading if you are curious why most Miami boats cap at six guests and ours do not.
So every boat in the fleet can legally carry your group of 13. The honest follow-up question is whether you would enjoy it.
Legal Capacity vs. Comfortable Capacity
Thirteen people on a 42-foot boat is a party. Everyone is close together, the cockpit is full, and if half the group sits down the other half is standing. For a three-hour sunset cruise with a lively group, that is genuinely fun — proximity is part of the atmosphere.
Thirteen people on a 60-foot boat is something else. People spread out. Some are on the sundeck, some in the salon in the air conditioning, some at the swim platform. Nobody is negotiating for a seat.
Neither is wrong. They are different days, and the mistake is booking one while imagining the other. Here is what actually changes as boats get bigger.
What You Are Really Paying For
Bathrooms
This is the most underrated line item on the whole list. One bathroom serving 13 people across a six-hour charter, on a BYOB trip where everyone is drinking, means a queue. Two bathrooms effectively removes the problem.
If your group is large and your charter is long, this single detail will affect the day more than any interior finish. As a rough rule, the larger yachts in the fleet have two bathrooms and the smaller ones have one — but it varies by vessel, so ask when you enquire and we will tell you exactly what a given boat has.
Shade and a second level
In Miami, shade is not a luxury. A flybridge gives you a whole second social area with cover and the best views on the boat, which changes how a full group distributes itself — and gives people somewhere to go when the afternoon sun gets serious. A boat without one concentrates everybody in the cockpit.
Somewhere to escape the heat
An air-conditioned salon matters more than people expect, particularly with kids, older guests, or anyone who does not want six straight hours of sun. Larger boats have more interior space and a proper kitchen rather than a wet bar, which also makes a real difference if you are adding catering.
The ride
Bigger boats sit heavier in the water and move less in chop. Biscayne Bay is protected and generally calm, so this rarely decides anything for a bay-only trip. It matters more if anyone in your group is nervous about motion, or if your route heads out through the inlet.
A Rough Guide by Group Size
2 to 6 guests
Any boat in the fleet will feel spacious. At this size the decision is about atmosphere and budget rather than room — a smaller boat gives you a more intimate feel and leaves budget for a longer charter or catering, which is usually the better trade. Couples, small families, and proposal or anniversary trips sit here.
7 to 10 guests
The middle of the fleet is the sweet spot. Everyone has a seat, the boat still feels social rather than sparse, and you are not paying for space nobody uses. This is the most common group size we see, and where a second bathroom starts being worth the difference. Have a look at what is in the fleet to get a feel for the range.
11 to 13 guests
Now size genuinely matters. At full capacity, go bigger than feels necessary — the extra deck space, the second bathroom, and a flybridge all earn their keep. A packed smaller boat can still be a great time for a short, high-energy charter, but for anything over three hours the larger yachts in our fleet are a noticeably better day.
More than 13
Thirteen is the cap per boat, so larger parties mean booking two yachts. It is more common than you might think for milestone birthdays and corporate groups, and the boats can run the same route together.
Let the Occasion Decide
Group size narrows the list. What you are actually doing usually settles it. Availability varies by date, so rather than pinning yourself to one boat, tell us the group size and the occasion — our sales team will match you to whatever is free that day and fits the brief.
- Sandbar or swim day: deck space and swim platform access matter most. Interior finish matters least.
- Dinner or a proposal: a proper interior and a real kitchen carry the evening.
- Bachelorette or birthday: deck space, sound system, and somewhere to take photographs.
- Corporate: seating where people can actually talk, plus air conditioning and a second bathroom.
- Wedding or ceremony: think about where people stand, not just where they sit.
Charter length interacts with all of this too — a packed boat is fine for three hours and tiring for eight. Our guide to choosing a charter length covers that side of it.
The Short Answer
Take your group size, add two, and choose a boat you would be comfortable on at that number. Groups grow between booking and departure more often than they shrink, and nobody has ever finished a charter wishing the boat had been smaller.
FAQs
How many people can go on a Miami yacht charter?
Up to 13 guests per boat, plus the captain and mate, who do not count toward the limit. The cap comes from the bareboat charter structure rather than the size of the vessel, which is why it is the same across the fleet.
Do bigger yachts hold more guests?
Not more than 13 — the legal limit is the same. What a bigger yacht gives you is more room per person, more bathrooms, more shade, and more places to spread out.
What if my group is more than 13 people?
Book two yachts. They can follow the same route and anchor together, which works well for large celebrations and corporate events. Get in touch and we will coordinate it.
Does the crew count toward the guest limit?
No. Captain and mate are additional to your 13 guests.
Still Not Sure?
Layouts, bathroom counts and deck space differ from boat to boat, and what is available depends on your date — so the fastest route to an answer is asking. Tell our sales team your group size, your date and what you are celebrating, and they will tell you honestly which boat fits, including when the smaller one is the better call.
Call or text us at (786) 575-5200.
