6 Best Cruises and Boat Rides in Miami

If there is one place where a boat trip is definitely worthwhile, it is the south coast of Florida. Cruising the waters of the Atlantic Ocean is one of the best things to do and see in Miami during your next holiday.

As you will see , numerous local companies offer this type of experience on safe boats with specialised guides in several languages, seeking to give travellers the best possible experience so that you will always want to return to enjoy the city's warm climate. Choose the one that best suits your itinerary and budget.

The traditional tour of Biscayne Bay is one of the most popular tours for travellers visiting the city. For this reason, you will find numerous companies offering this experience in the city.

What do these tours include?

In addition to a peaceful boat ride to see the bay and the city of Miami from a different perspective, the Biscayne tour experience includes the company of an expert guide at all times.

The cruise takes place on board a panoramic boat and you will arrive at Miami's Millionaire's Row to admire the beautiful coastal enclaves.

This is a group tour and the number of crew members will depend on the size of the boat you book for the experience.

Tours usually depart from a common meeting point and participants are normally asked to arrive about 20 minutes before departure time to accommodate the crew and receive basic safety instructions for the tour. The tour usually takes about 80-90 minutes to complete.

Finally, keep in mind that, as with other experiences in Miami, you may find companies with English-speaking guides, so check availability with the company you decide to hire before making your payment.

Useful information

• Price: Varies depending on the participant. Adults and young people over 12 years old will pay around £35, children between 4 and 11 years old around £20, and children under 5 years old £5. These prices are approximate.
• Duration of the excursion: The complete tour of Biscayne Bay takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
• Recommended if... You are looking for an affordable, fun and widely available option that you can enjoy even on a short stay, such as a day trip to Miami.

To all my fellow travellers who prefer less organised options and like to set the pace of their adventures, I recommend booking this private boat tour to enjoy some of the best of the North American East Coast.

What do these tours include?

The best thing about booking a private boat tour is that you can choose the departure time that suits you best, as well as the route and places you want to visit.

The companies that offer this type of service provide guides in several languages, the most popular being English, Spanish and French. If you want to make sure you have a Spanish-speaking guide, ask before making the final payment.

Finally, keep in mind that certain excursions may be in high demand during peak tourist season, such as the winter months in Miami. If you are travelling to the city during these dates, make your reservations as far in advance as possible.

Useful information

• Price: Although these types of experiences are available from £330, you can include a group of 4 to 6 people in the trip, depending on the company you book with.
• Duration of the excursion: Approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on the company.
• Recommended if... you are looking for an option that allows you to set your own pace and enjoy your own experiences. Highly recommended if you are visiting the city with a group of people and are looking for a fun alternative in warm waters.

Watching the sun set over the water in Miami is one of the best things to do in the city. As a result, numerous companies offer travellers end-of-day tour options that combine the experience of a boat trip with the last rays of sunlight.

Seriously consider this alternative, especially if you've had a busy day of sightseeing and want to end your day of exploration on a high note.

What do these tours include?

In addition to access to the boat tour, these types of excursions usually include an expert guide who accompanies the group of travellers throughout the excursion and a snack served directly on the boat during the tour.

Most companies also include a complimentary glass of wine or beer.

Although the route may vary depending on the company you choose, sunset boat tours usually take place in the waters of Biscayne Bay, whose size and proximity to the city allow visitors to enjoy fabulous views of some of the most famous neighbourhoods, such as Little Havana and the Wynwood District.

A tour of the bay also allows you to appreciate Miami Beach in all its splendour.

Useful information

• Price: Approximately £30 per adult ticket. Children under 4 years old go free but must sit on an adult's lap.
• Duration of the tour: You should allow around 2 hours for the experience and arrive at the meeting point 15 to 20 minutes before departure time.
• Recommended if... you don't have the option of taking the tour during the day, it's a great option for people who are in the city for a short time, such as 3 days in Miami or less.

Another fantastic alternative is to take a day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. Specifically to Bimini Island.

Among the islands of the Bahamas archipelago, Bimini is known for its white sand beaches with few tourists, sport fishing and its excellent atmosphere.

It was the favourite retreat of authors such as Ernest Hemingway who, according to his own records, visited the island for the first time in 1935.

What do these tours include?

You will depart from the port of Miami aboard a cruise ship bound for the Bahamas archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Many of the companies that organise this type of experience take travellers to the island's most popular private resort: the Hilton Hotel, part of the famous hotel chain. You will spend the day enjoying the facilities, where various options for lunch, breakfast and dinner are available.

Depending on the company you book with, it is possible to do other activities on the island, such as snorkelling on the reefs, jet skiing, paragliding or swimming with dolphins.

If any of this catches your eye, don't forget to contact the company organising the experience for specific details.

Like many other cruise experiences in Miami, this experience is available in several languages, mainly English and Spanish.

Useful information

• Price: The cost of this experience is around £240 per traveller.
• Duration of the excursion: This is a full-day activity and you should allow at least 11 hours for the tour. I recommend it for travellers who are spending 5 days or more in Miami.
• Recommended if... You want to experience a short cruise for yourself. Although the boat is a little smaller, the tour and adventure are quite similar.

A great alternative that allows you to save time, money and effort on your trip to Miami is to book a combined option that includes several activities you want to do in the city.

One of the most popular and requested options for first-time visitors to Miami is the combined experience of a city tour, either in an air-conditioned vehicle or on the Miami tourist bus, complemented by a boat trip around Biscayne Bay.

What do these tours include?

The combined experience allows you to take advantage of two of the essential activities when getting to know the city.

On the one hand, there are options that take you in an air-conditioned vehicle and others where you will have a pass to board the tourist bus in Miami. In any case, this tour will allow you to visit the city's most outstanding points of interest, including the districts of South Beach, Wynwood, Downtown, Little Havana, Bayside and more.

You will also receive a ticket to join one of the many boat tours of Biscayne Bay that take place every day in the city. Please note that you must arrive at the tour departure point 20 minutes before departure time in order to board.

Useful information

• Price: You will need to pay around £45 for the experience.
• Duration of the excursion: Depending on the company you choose and the itinerary, the experience can take up to 5 hours to complete.
• Recommended if... you are looking for a simple way to organise your holiday without worrying about planning too many details. If you analyse the excursions separately, you will see that there is practically no difference in price between booking the services individually.

Continuing with the combined experience options in Miami, you will find companies that offer a package with the most impressive adventures to do in the city: the traditional boat tour through the waters of Biscayne Bay, a city tour on the tourist bus and an excursion to discover the Everglades National Park.

The latter is one of the largest parks in the United States and one of the nation's most important natural assets due to its size and biodiversity.

What do these tours include?

When talking about the activities included in these excursions, it is important to bear in mind that the order in which they take place will mainly depend on the company you hire for the excursion.

First, you will have access to the city sightseeing bus, which will take you on a tour of the highlights Miami has to offer. The bus has a narrated tour in several languages so you can learn the most relevant information.

On the Everglades tour, you can take the traditional excursion that includes a hydroplane ride through the mangrove waters to admire the creatures of the swamp in their natural habitat, learning about and seeing up close such impressive creatures as alligators and turtles that have lived in this environment for thousands of years.

Finally, the tour of Biscayne Bay is an opportunity to admire the crystal-clear waters of the sea and see both the coastline and the city skyline from a different perspective.

Useful information

• Price: From £65 for an adult ticket, while children usually pay a little less for admission.
• Duration of the excursion: You should reserve a full day for the experience, as the tour of the National Park alone takes approximately 5 hours to complete.
• Recommended if... Visiting with your family, as the Everglades activities are designed to be educational and entertaining for all ages. The alligator show is impressive!

Finally, here are some tips that I think will be very helpful for travellers who are planning to visit the city soon.

Plan your route and arrive on time for the tour

Plan your route well to arrive at the meeting point at least 20 minutes before departure time. The passenger confirmation and boarding process takes some time, and the captain will leave at the scheduled time whether you are there to board or not.

Book in advance

Another important tip is to book this type of excursion in advance, especially if you are visiting the city during a busy tourist season, such as winter in Miami.

Despite increased demand during specific seasons, places are always limited and the only way to secure one is by booking in advance.

Bring only what you need

More often than I can count, I have seen travellers carry much more than they need, especially for day cruises or longer.

If, for example, you book a cruise to the Bahamas, a change of clothes, your swimsuit and sunscreen are more than enough.

Read other travellers' reviews carefully

Boat tours in Miami are among the most popular activities and also have the highest number of providers, so you should avoid those that offer poor service at all costs.
Use websites such as Hellotickets, where users are free to leave their impressions. It is the best possible provider.