Knowledge Base

Yes. On captained charters you can typically bring your own alcohol — the boat is operating under a captain's license and is not a licensed bar. Guests 21 and older may drink responsibly; the captain has final authority to limit consumption if safety is at risk. Bareboat charters also allow alcohol, but the operator cannot drink while driving the vessel.

Yes. Yacht weddings are common in Miami — you charter an inspected passenger vessel (COI) for groups over 6, bring a licensed officiant or destination-wedding planner, and use the ceremony deck for the service and the salon/aft deck for the reception. Typical 4-hour wedding charters run $3,500-$15,000 depending on yacht size and guest count. Decor, catering, and florals are usually handled by the customer or a third-party coordinator.

Yes. Overnight yacht charters from Miami are common destinations to the Keys, Bimini, and the Abacos. Typical overnight charters are 2-5 nights aboard a 45-80 foot yacht, with a captain (and often a mate or chef) included. Pricing ranges from $3,000-$8,000 per night for the vessel plus fuel, marina fees, and provisioning. Book 4-8 weeks ahead for crewed Bahamas trips.

For most yacht charters in Florida the captain is included — the owner supplies a properly credentialed captain (a valid USCG captain's license is strongly recommended; CharterXO reviews each captain's documentation and the specific credentials required depend on the vessel, passenger count, and local regulations) and you ride as a passenger. Bareboat charters, where you operate the boat yourself, are the exception and typically require documented boating experience, often a state boating safety card, and a pre-departure check-out with the owner.

Yes. Tipping the captain and crew is standard practice on U.S. yacht charters. The customary range is 15-20% of the base charter fare for a day charter, paid in cash at the end of the trip and split between captain and mate. On crewed multi-day charters, 15-20% of the total fare plus a separate tip for any specific exceptional service is the norm.

Most captained charter yachts over 40 feet carry cellular Wi-Fi — a 4G/5G hotspot that works near shore and for coastal trips in South Florida. Offshore or in the Bahamas, coverage drops to intermittent; yachts built for multi-day trips often add a Starlink Marine terminal for reliable offshore connectivity. Ask the owner before booking if Wi-Fi matters to you.

No boating license is required to book a captained charter — the captain holds the license. For a bareboat charter where you operate the vessel yourself, you don't need a federal license, but Florida requires a Boating Safety Education ID card for anyone born after January 1, 1988 operating a vessel with 10 HP or more. Owners may additionally require documented boating experience.

To list your boat for charter in Miami, you need a commercial marine insurance policy (minimum $1M passenger liability), current USCG documentation or state registration, and a properly credentialed captain if you're offering captained trips (a valid USCG captain's license is strongly recommended; CharterXO reviews each captain's documentation based on the vessel, passenger count, and local regulations). Sign up at charterxo.com/list, upload your vessel details and insurance certificate, and your listing is typically reviewed and live within 48 hours.

CharterXO splits payments evenly or by custom share across your group, charges everyone's card, and releases funds to the owner after the charter completes. Deposits are typically 25-50% at booking; balance is due 7-14 days before the trip. All transactions happen inside the app — no wire transfers, no paper contracts, no broker markup.

Yacht charter tipping follows restaurant-like norms: tip 15-20% of the base charter fare, paid in cash at end of trip, directly to the captain. The captain distributes to the mate if one is aboard. On multi-day crewed charters, pool the tip (15-20% of total fare) and deliver it in a sealed envelope on the last evening for the captain to distribute.

For a standard weekend day charter in Miami, 1-2 weeks in advance secures good availability at reasonable prices. For peak events — Art Basel, Miami Boat Show, Spring Break, New Year's Eve — book 6-8 weeks ahead or earlier. Overnight and multi-day Bahamas charters need 4-8 weeks lead time because of crew scheduling, provisioning, and customs paperwork.

USCG rules cap a charter yacht at 6 paying passengers unless the vessel is a Certificated Inspected Passenger Vessel (COI) — in which case its COI specifies the exact maximum, typically 12-49 for mid-size yachts and up to 149+ on purpose-built party yachts. The yacht's own practical capacity (seating, bathrooms, safety gear) may be lower than its legal max.