What "Yacht Charter Miami" Actually Includes (and What It Doesn't)

A plain-English guide to what's in the price of a yacht charter in Miami: captain, fuel, ice, taxes: and what's typically extra. Written for first-time charterers.

The single most common question we get on a first inquiry call is some version of: *"So what am I actually paying for?"* It's a fair question, and the answer in the Miami charter market isn't standardized. Different operators include different things. Here's how we structure it, and what to watch for when comparing quotes from anyone else.

What's almost always included

When we send a charter quote, the headline price covers:

- **The vessel itself**, for the duration you booked (typical charters run 4, 6, or 8 hours) - **A licensed captain.** We don't run bareboat charters, every yacht goes out with a captain who knows Biscayne Bay - **Fuel** for the planned route - **Ice and bottled water** stocked at the dock before you board - **Cleaning** before and after your charter - **Standard safety equipment**, life jackets, first aid, flares

That's the baseline. Any operator quoting a "yacht for six hours" without those things is leaving them off the page on purpose.

What's typically extra

These are the things that get priced separately, and they're worth thinking about up front so the total doesn't surprise you:

- **Gratuity for the crew.** Industry-standard is 15–20% of the charter price for the captain and any deckhands. Some charters in our fleet are quoted "all-in" with gratuity included; others list it separately. We're explicit about which model applies on each quote. - **Food and beverage.** We don't mark up catering. You either bring your own, work with one of our catering partners, or we coordinate a chef on board. All three are options. - **Alcohol.** BYOB is allowed and common. We don't sell alcohol directly. - **Additional hours.** If you're having too much fun to stop at hour six, the captain can usually extend, billed at a pro-rated hourly rate. - **Add-ons.** Jet skis, a party bus for pickup, a photographer, a DJ, floating water mats, anything beyond the boat itself is quoted as a line item. - **Overage fees on capacity.** Most yachts have a "base" guest count and a "max." Going above the base typically adds a per-person fee.

What's never extra

Some operators in Miami charge for things we consider table stakes. We don't. Specifically:

- **No fuel surcharges added at the end.** Fuel for your planned route is in the price. If you ask to extend significantly mid-charter, additional fuel may be discussed, but no surprise top-ups. - **No "cleaning fee" added after.** It's already in. - **No platform booking fees of 10–15%.** We're not a marketplace. You're working with us directly.

The two numbers that matter

When you compare two quotes, look at two numbers:

1. **The total cash out the door**, including gratuity and any required fees. 2. **The maximum guest count without overage.**

Those two numbers tell you what you're really paying and how big a group you can really bring. Everything else is detail.

A typical four-hour charter, sketched out

To make this concrete, here's roughly how a four-hour charter on a mid-tier 60-foot yacht might break down for a group of twelve:

- Yacht + captain + fuel + ice (4 hours), included in base price - Crew gratuity (~18%), added separately or rolled in, depending on the vessel - BYOB alcohol, guest's cost - Light catering for twelve, quoted separately by the chef or catering partner - Total cash out: roughly the base charter price + tip + your own food and drinks

That's it. No platform fee. No fuel surcharge. No surprise add-on at the dock.

The right next step

If you're comparing operators in Miami, ask each one to give you a written quote with: base price, what's included, what's extra, and total estimated cash out for your party size. The ones who can't answer that clearly are the ones to be careful with.

When you're ready, [browse the fleet here](/yachts) or [reach out to start a quote](/yachts). We'll walk you through everything before you put a deposit down.