Can I charter a yacht overnight in Miami?

Miami is a natural departure point for overnight charters. Three destination categories dominate.

1. Florida Keys (Key Largo, Marathon, Key West): - Travel time: 2-5 hours each way depending on vessel speed and destination. - Marina stops at Ocean Reef, Coconut Palm, and Stock Island are popular. - U.S.-domestic, so no customs paperwork. Simpler and often cheaper.

2. Bahamas (Bimini and Cat Cay): - Travel time: 1.5-3.5 hours from Miami depending on sea conditions and vessel speed. - Closest Bahamian entry point — customs clearance at Bimini Big Game Club or Resorts World Bimini. - Owner needs Bahamas Cruising Permit ($150-$300 for standard yachts, more for larger vessels). - Each passenger needs a passport. - Crystal-clear water and the Gulf Stream in between — this is the "Bahamas dream" charter.

3. Bahamas (Berry Islands, Abacos, Exumas): - Multi-day itineraries, typically 5-10 nights. - Premium destinations with remote anchorages. - 4-8 weeks lead time for captain, provisioning, and paperwork.

Typical overnight-charter structure: - Charterer rents the vessel; captain (and optionally mate, chef) are separately hired. - Owner provides full kitchen, linens, toiletries. - Fuel, slip fees, customs fees, and provisioning are pass-through expenses. - APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) of 20-30% is common on larger crewed yachts.

Cost framework: - 50-foot crewed yacht, 3 nights in the Keys: $9K-$15K + fuel + slips + provisions. - 70-foot crewed yacht, 4 nights Miami-Bimini-Miami: $22K-$40K + fuel + slips + provisions. - 100-foot crewed yacht, 7 nights to the Exumas: $80K-$150K+ + APA + fuel.

Bareboat overnights are possible but less common — most owners won't allow multi-day bareboat on larger yachts.