Motor Yacht Rentals
Faster, more enclosed, and the right answer when the day involves covering distance. Air conditioned interiors matter more than people expect in August. See the motor yacht fleet for what charters from Nassau.
Services
Bahamas Yacht Rentals
What you can rent out of Nassau, how long to rent it for, and what the day actually costs you in time.
Renting by the Day in Nassau
Most yacht rentals in the Bahamas are day rentals. You take the boat for a set number of hours, go out, and come back the same evening. That is the shape of the great majority of what we arrange, and it is worth understanding before you start comparing vessels, because the number of hours affects the trip far more than the boat does.
Rental lengths cluster around four, five, six and eight hours. A four or five hour rental covers a swim, a snorkel stop and lunch on board. Six hours adds a second stop without rushing. Eight opens up the sandbars and the run further out. Beyond that you are into multi day territory, which is a different kind of booking.
The rate is for the vessel, not per head. Most rentals are priced on a base number of guests with an additional charge per person beyond it, so a group of ten on the right boat costs each person far less than a couple on the same boat.
What You Can Rent
Types of Rental We Arrange
Different vessels solve different problems. The right one usually follows from the group and the distance.
Catamaran Rentals
Wide decks, shade, shallow draft and a platform that sits flat at anchor. The usual recommendation for families, larger groups and anyone worried about seasickness. Detail on the catamaran page.
Party Boat Rentals
Larger vessels for celebrations and bigger groups, where deck space and bar service matter more than speed. Our fleet includes boats set up for events of this kind. Tell us the headcount and the occasion and we will point you at the right size.
Fishing Boat Rentals
Some vessels carry fishing equipment and some do not, and licensing and local rules apply depending on where you go and what you target. If fishing is central to your day, raise it before booking rather than on the morning, so we can match you to a boat that is genuinely set up for it.
How Long Should You Rent For?
This is the question that decides whether people enjoy the day, and it is worth more thought than choosing between two similar boats.
Four to five hours
Enough for one good swim stop, a snorkel, and lunch at anchor around Rose Island or Green Cay. Suits guests with a flight later, families with young children, and anyone testing whether they enjoy a day on the water.
Six hours
The length we recommend most often. It buys a second stop and removes the sense of watching the clock. On a settled day it also allows a sandbar as the tide falls, which is often the part people remember.
Eight hours
A full day. Reaches further, allows three stops, and gives the crew room to change plan if conditions shift. It is also the minimum for any attempt at the northern Exumas.
Longer than a day
Once you want the middle Exumas, the swimming pigs or Thunderball Grotto, day rentals stop being the sensible tool. See the three day charter or the week long charter.
Where a Day Rental Goes
The standard cruising area from Nassau runs out to Rose Island, with Green Cay and the sandbars nearby, and up as far as Green Turtle Cay for swimming with sea turtles and snorkeling. Rose Island and Green Cay sit roughly fifteen miles out, about thirty five minutes under way, which is why they carry most day rentals.
Fuel for cruising beyond the standard area is charged in addition to the rental. Pickup from a different island attracts repositioning and docking fees. Charters from Nassau to Miami are not offered.
For the full picture of what is reachable and how long each destination needs, see the destinations overview, or the Nassau guide for the ground close to the harbour.
Your Rental
What Is Commonly Included
Provision varies by vessel and we confirm the specifics for the boat you choose.
- Exclusive use of the vessel for your group
- Licensed captain and crew
- Chef on board generally on yachts around 45 feet and larger
- Freshly prepared meals where a chef is aboard
- Premium open bar and cocktails
- Appetizers and hors d'oeuvres
- Snorkeling equipment
- Water toys these vary by vessel
- Bluetooth sound system where fitted
- Fuel for local cruising within the standard area
- Marina logistics
Additional guests beyond the base number are charged per person on most rentals, and the rate differs by vessel. Sales tax and crew gratuity are handled separately from the rental figure. We set all of it out in writing before you commit.
Availability and Pricing Change
Rental yachts are privately owned. They are sold, repositioned between Miami and Nassau, operate seasonally, or are booked by another client. A vessel described on this website is not guaranteed to be available on your dates.
Rates move with season, fuel costs, demand and market conditions. Contact us for current availability and pricing rather than working from a figure seen elsewhere.
Questions
Questions About Yacht Rentals
How many hours should we rent a yacht for in Nassau?
Six hours is the length we recommend most often. Four to five works if you have a flight or young children. Eight is a full day and the minimum worth attempting toward the northern Exumas. The hours matter more to how the day feels than the choice of boat does.
Is a yacht rental priced per person or for the boat?
For the boat, with a base number of guests included and a charge per additional person beyond it. The base number and the extra guest rate differ by vessel, so we quote both when we quote the rental.
Can we rent a party boat for a large group?
Yes. Larger vessels in the fleet are suited to events where deck space and bar service matter more than speed. Give us the headcount and the occasion and we will tell you which boats genuinely fit rather than which ones technically hold that number.
Can we go fishing on a rental?
Some vessels carry fishing equipment and some do not, and licensing and local rules apply depending on the location and the target species. Tell us before booking if fishing is a priority, because it narrows the list of suitable boats considerably.
What is the difference between renting a motor yacht and a catamaran?
Speed against space. A motor yacht gets you further faster and has an air conditioned interior. A catamaran gives more deck, more shade, shallower draft and a flatter ride at anchor. For a relaxed day with a group, the catamaran usually wins.
Is fuel included in the rental?
Fuel for local cruising within the standard area from Nassau is included on most rentals. Cruising beyond that area is charged in addition. We will tell you where the line falls for your intended route before you book.
Are tax and gratuity part of the rental figure?
No, they are handled separately and we set them out in writing rather than folding them into a headline number. Crew gratuity is customary but discretionary, and we will tell you what is normal for the vessel if you ask.
Can we rent a yacht at short notice?
Sometimes, particularly outside the December to April period. It is always worth asking, because schedules change and a boat committed last week may be free. For high season or a specific vessel, plan on months rather than weeks.
What time can a rental start?
Yes. Departure time is yours to set. Early starts are often the better choice because the water is calmest in the morning and the popular stops are quieter before the middle of the day.
What happens to our rental if the weather turns?
The captain decides, and comfort and safety come before the route. Usually that means a changed itinerary into sheltered water rather than a cancellation. If a rental genuinely cannot run, we discuss rescheduling under the terms agreed at booking.
How many people can we bring?
Capacity is set by the individual vessel, not by us, and it varies widely across the fleet. Tell us your number and we will only show you boats that genuinely carry it comfortably rather than at their legal maximum.
Do we need to bring anything?
Sun protection, a hat, and a towel if you want your own. Most boats ask that shoes come off on deck. Snorkeling equipment is normally aboard already. Reef safe sunscreen is worth bringing if you plan to snorkel.
How is this different from your private boat rentals page?
This page is about what you rent and for how long. The private boat rentals page is about the arrangement itself, exclusive use of a crewed vessel and who that suits. Same fleet, different question.
Check Rental Availability
Give us your date, how many hours you want and the size of your group. We will send back the boats that are genuinely free, what each one includes, and the full cost with nothing hidden until later.
Rentals from Nassau to Rose Island, Green Cay and beyond, on vessels we know personally.
Six and eight hour rentals on weekends go first in high season.