Family Boat Charter Fort Lauderdale: Private Captained Trips
Book a private family boat charter in Fort Lauderdale and your group gets the whole boat, a USCG-licensed captain and a route planned around your kids, for groups of up to 13. Pick a pontoon, a tritoon or a yacht from the Lauderdale Charters fleet, and we quote the trip in writing for your date and group.
Anyone who has tried to keep a four-year-old, a teenager and a grandparent happy on the same beach day knows the problem. On a boat, everyone sits together, the breeze helps with the heat and the view keeps changing as you cruise. Searching for a family friendly boat rental in Fort Lauderdale, a family pontoon rental or a simple family boat ride? Every trip we run has a captain, so no one in your family has to drive, dock or read a chart. Nobody else boards, and nobody else sets the schedule.
Each of these gets its own pace, route and stops:
- Three generations on one deck: grandparents, parents and kids cruising together, 13 guests at most.
- A break from the beach: visiting relatives see the coast and Fort Lauderdale from the water without driving anywhere.
- Birthdays: a child’s birthday or a grandparent’s milestone, with only your people aboard.
- School breaks and holiday weeks: winter break, spring break or Thanksgiving week, when the relatives are in town and everyone needs a plan.
- Reunions and graduations: a small family gathering that fits within 13 guests.
All of them run as private family charters, with no other passengers on the boat.
How Many Can Come? Up to 13, Kids Included
Thirteen guests is the most we carry on a family charter, and every person counts, from grandparents to the smallest passenger. The cap keeps the deck uncrowded and lets the captain brief every guest before we leave the dock.
Traveling with more than 13? We can point you to a bigger pontoon run by a local partner we trust. Groups of 13 or fewer are the trips we run ourselves.
Pontoon, Tritoon or Yacht: Which Boat Suits Your Family?
All three are private and captained. Your choice comes down to group size, trip length and how much room the kids need to move around.
Family Pontoon Rental: Captained Pontoon and Tritoon Trips
A pontoon is a flat, open-deck boat that rides on aluminum tubes, and a tritoon adds a third tube. The whole family shares one open, level deck. Our Aqua Patio 27 ft tritoon is one of the most requested boats in the fleet.
A family pontoon rental here comes with a captain, so you get the open-deck day without anyone in your group driving. See the full pontoon charter fleet.
Family Friendly Yacht Charters
Our yachts suit families who want an enclosed cabin, a swim platform and extra space for a longer trip. Yacht charters run the same private format with the same 13-guest ceiling. Browse the yacht charter fleet and tell us which boat caught your eye.
What Your Family Gets on Board
Every family charter comes with:
- A licensed USCG captain at the helm for navigation, the safety talk and your route
- The whole boat to yourselves, with no other guests or charters aboard
- A cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway, timed around your group’s naps, meals and interests
- USCG-required safety equipment, including life jackets (PFDs) for every guest
- Coolers and ice for the food and drinks you bring
Food and drinks are on you. Pack lunch, snacks and water for the group and load them into the coolers. Plan on a 15 to 20 percent tip for your captain and crew, separate from the quote.
For kids, add sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, towels and a few snacks they actually like. Non-marking shoes protect the deck, and a light layer helps on cooler mornings and evenings.
REQUEST A FAMILY QUOTE
Meet the Captain Who Runs Your Trip
Captain Parker Long is a licensed USCG captain on Fort Lauderdale waters. Parker is a Florida State Graduate professional and holds a 100 Ton USGC license to operate in Florida. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale Parker developed a passion for boating, freediving and fishing.
Where Do Family Boat Rides Go in Fort Lauderdale?
Most family boat rides in Fort Lauderdale start on the Intracoastal Waterway, the channel that runs behind the beach. A typical family trip goes like this:
- Board at the marina, meet your captain and hear the safety briefing before leaving the dock.
- Cruise Millionaires’ Row, where waterfront estates and large yachts line the Intracoastal.
- Ask about a run toward the Port Everglades inlet to watch cruise ships and cargo ships come and go.
- Request a swim or sandbar stop if the vessel, the weather and the tide allow it.
- Return to the dock on your schedule.
Tell us how long your family wants to be out and who is coming, from toddlers to grandparents, and the captain builds the route around them. Sea life sightings are possible along the waterway but never guaranteed. Building a bigger day around the boat? Our guide to a family day out on the water in Fort Lauderdale has ideas.
Get a Written Quote for Your Family Day
Skip the guesswork. Send us who is coming (with the kids’ ages), the day you have in mind and what the trip is for. We pick the boat that fits your group and answer with a written quote that lists the price, the route and where you board.
Winter break, spring break and holiday weeks fill first, so ask early. Book a Monday through Thursday trip and we add one free hour.
Private Boat or Shared Tour? What Changes for a Family
A shared tour sails on its own schedule with a deck full of strangers. That is hard on a family with a nap window, a picky eater or a grandparent who wants to take it slowly. On a private charter, the departure plan, the route and the pace are yours.
With no more than 13 aboard, everyone can hold a conversation, and the captain can head back early if the kids have had enough. Weighing the options? Read the common mistakes people make when booking a shared boat tour.
Why Book Direct With Lauderdale Charters?
Booking direct puts you in touch with the team that runs your boat:
- Ask about life jackets, your kids’ ages and the pace of the trip before you pay a deposit.
- No third-party booking platform fee added on top of the charter rate.
- Direct communication about group size, timing and route changes, with no platform inbox in between.
- A written quote for your exact date and group.
Ready to Put Your Family on the Water?
Tell Us Who Is Coming
Call us or send your group size, date and the kids’ ages and we reply with a written quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will a family boat charter cost in Fort Lauderdale?
The rate depends on the boat, the number of hours and the time of year, so we price each family trip individually. Send your group size, date and the kids’ ages, and your written quote spells out the price, the route and the marina.
How many family members fit on the boat?
Up to 13 guests, and children count toward that number. For a bigger family, we can point you to a partner boat. Reach out to us and let us know!
What is included in a family boat charter?
You get a licensed USCG captain, the whole boat to yourselves, an Intracoastal Waterway cruise, USCG-required safety equipment with a life jacket for each guest, and coolers with ice. Food, drinks and the 15 to 20 percent tip for your crew are not included.
Are life jackets provided for children?
Every guest has a life jacket (PFD) on board, and the captain shows you where they are stored during the safety briefing. Put your children’s ages in your quote request and we will plan sizes. For the current rules on life jackets, see the U.S. Coast Guard boating safety guidance and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Can babies and toddlers come on a family boat charter?
Children are welcome. Tell us their ages when you request a quote so we can confirm life jacket sizes and plan the trip around nap and meal times.
What is the difference between a pontoon and a yacht for a family?
A pontoon or tritoon gives you a flat, open deck for a relaxed outing. A yacht typically adds an enclosed cabin and more room for a longer trip. Both are private, both are captained, and both work as a family friendly boat rental with room for 13 guests at most.
Can we bring our own food and drinks for the kids?
Yes, and you need to, because meals are not provided. Bring lunch, snacks and water, and use the coolers and ice we provide. The captain follows all USCG safety rules on every trip.
Is there a restroom on the boat?
It depends on the vessel. Ask when you request a quote and we will put your group on a boat that fits.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
The captain makes the call on weather and safety. If the captain cancels, we move your trip to a new date and apply your deposit to it . Before your trip, you can also check the NOAA National Weather Service marine forecast.
How early should we book a family charter?
Several weeks ahead is best, especially for winter break, spring break and holiday weeks. Call (954) 358-9832 and we will check the dates you have in mind.
Who runs the boat, and is the captain licensed?
A licensed USCG captain runs every Lauderdale Charters trip, handling navigation, docking and safety while your family relaxes.
Can we swim or stop at a sandbar?
You can ask for a swim or sandbar stop. The captain decides based on the vessel, the weather, the tide and conditions that day. Mention it in your quote request and we will plan the route.
Where does the family charter leave from?
Your written quote names the departure marina for your date. Lauderdale Charters operates in Fort Lauderdale.
Still have questions? Call (954) 358-9832 and talk to the team that runs the boats.