Do I need a license to rent a boat in Florida?

To drive one yourself, Florida requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 to carry a boating safety education ID card, and rental companies usually handle this with a short test for a temporary certificate. On a captained charter like Envision, nobody in your group needs one.

Why are small captained charters usually limited to six guests?

Smaller charter boats generally operate under a captain's license that allows up to six paying passengers. Larger groups need a vessel certified to carry more. Envision carries up to 13 guests.

Is a party boat the same as a private charter?

No. A party boat or shared cruise sells seats, so you share the boat and the schedule with other guests. A private charter is the whole vessel for your group, on the schedule you book.

Which is best for a birthday or bachelorette group?

For a group of eight to 13 who want the day to themselves, a private yacht charter. Everyone rides together, nobody has to drive, and there is room to celebrate across several decks.

What does a private yacht charter cost?

Aboard Envision, $1,950 for two hours for the whole yacht and up to 13 guests, captain and crew included. Four, six and eight hours are on the pricing page.

Envision, a white 110-foot Broward motor yacht, seen from the water

A guide to getting on the water

Charter, rental
or party boat?

Four ways to get on the water in Daytona Beach: who drives, who else is aboard, and which one fits your group.

Call to Plan Your Charter See open dates

The four options at a glance

Search for a boat in Daytona Beach and you will find four different things described with the same words. The quickest way to tell them apart is to ask who drives, who else is aboard, and what the price covers.

Option	Who drives	Who is aboard	Priced by	Best for
Boat rental	You do	Your group	The boat, by the hour or day	A small group comfortable at the helm
Captained small-boat charter	A captain	Your group, usually six or fewer	The boat, by the hour	Fishing, sandbars, a small family outing
Party boat or shared cruise	A captain	Anyone who bought a seat	The seat	A low-cost outing for one or two
Private yacht charter	A captain and crew	Your group only	The whole yacht, by the hour	A celebration, hosting, comfort and privacy

Boat rentals and small captained charters

A boat rental puts you at the helm of a pontoon, a deck boat or a center console. It suits a small group with someone confident driving, and it is the lowest-cost way to have a boat to yourselves. Florida requires operators born on or after January 1, 1988 to carry a boating safety education card; rental companies usually offer a short test for a temporary one.

A captained small-boat charter adds a captain, so nobody in your group has to drive. These boats are built for fishing, sandbars and a handful of people, and they are usually limited to six guests.

Party boats and shared cruises

A party boat or shared cruise sells seats. You get a place aboard on a set schedule, alongside whoever else bought one. For one or two people who want an hour on the water at a low price, that can be the right choice. For a group celebrating something of its own, sharing the deck with strangers changes the day.

Private yacht charters

A private yacht charter is the whole vessel for your group, with a licensed captain and crew, for the time you book. Envision is a 110-foot Broward motor yacht with three levels: a salon and dining room inside, a covered aft deck for the table, and an open flybridge with a bar, a yacht tub and lounge seating. Up to 13 guests come aboard, nobody else does, and nobody in your group has to drive.

It costs more than a seat on a shared boat or a small rental, and it is one price for the group: $1,950 for two hours for the whole yacht, up to eight hours. See what a private yacht charter costs for how that compares and what to ask before booking any boat.

What people charter Envision for

Each occasion has its own page with ideas for the day:

Questions people ask

Do I need a license to rent a boat in Florida?: To drive one yourself, Florida requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 to carry a boating safety education ID card, and rental companies usually handle this with a short test for a temporary certificate. On a captained charter like Envision, nobody in your group needs one.
Why are small captained charters usually limited to six guests?: Smaller charter boats generally operate under a captain's license that allows up to six paying passengers. Larger groups need a vessel certified to carry more. Envision carries up to 13 guests.
Is a party boat the same as a private charter?: No. A party boat or shared cruise sells seats, so you share the boat and the schedule with other guests. A private charter is the whole vessel for your group, on the schedule you book.
Which is best for a birthday or bachelorette group?: For a group of eight to 13 who want the day to themselves, a private yacht charter. Everyone rides together, nobody has to drive, and there is room to celebrate across several decks.
What does a private yacht charter cost?: Aboard Envision, $1,950 for two hours for the whole yacht and up to 13 guests, captain and crew included. Four, six and eight hours are on the pricing page.

Read how renting Envision works, see the charter prices, or take a closer look at the yacht.