Miami Islands: Catamaran Day Cruise with Water Toys & Sandbar

4.89

(392 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I’d actually jump on the giant floating mat. But there we were, drifting off Miami’s coast, toes in the warm water, laughing at how weirdly squishy it felt. The catamaran—Tranquility—pulled up near Monument Island, right across from those wild Star Island mansions. There was this salty breeze mixed with sunscreen and grilled food from other boats nearby. Our guide (I think her name was Carla?) pointed out Henry Flagler’s monument and told us how locals come here just to get away from the city noise for a bit.

The paddleboards looked easy until I tried to stand up—let’s just say balance is not my thing. Some folks paddled all the way around the island; I mostly floated and watched pelicans dive for fish. There were families, some couples, a few solo travelers like me just soaking it all in. The water trampoline was a hit with kids—I almost joined but chickened out last minute. It was nice having everything included: life jackets ready, kayaks lined up, even a restroom on board (which sounds boring but honestly matters after three hours in the sun).

I liked that nobody rushed us. We could hang on the beach or mess around with the water toys as long as we wanted before heading back to Miami. At one point I just lay back on the mat looking at palm trees against that blue sky—felt sort of unreal but also exactly what you hope for when you Google “Miami day cruise.” If you’re curious about the Miami lifestyle or just want a break from traffic and crowds, this is it. Still think about that lazy float sometimes.