ALL PHOTOS: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
In the city where the heat is on, beautiful beaches meet with beautiful bodies. A vibrant Latin American culture combines with business and architecture to create a lively yachting center. While it’s short hop to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and South America, Miami is a destination in itself. With a more cosmopolitan vibe than the traditional yachting city of Fort Lauderdale, it draws an eclectic international crowd throughout the winter and into the summer.
Miami’s prime cruising season is now, and this month also sees the annual Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach. But, with annual temperatures spanning 86°F (30°C) to 61°F (16°C), Miami is great for year-round cruising. Our media partner Yachting Pages spoke to Burgess and Florida Yachts International about the best hotspots to visit and activities to take part in while visiting aboard a superyacht.
Cruising Regulations and Clearances
Foreign-flagged recreational vessels exceeding 300 gross tons must file a Notice of Arrival with the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) prior to arriving in the United States. This is a separate step than obtaining a Cruising License from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Holding a Cruising License does not exempt a vessel from having to file a Notice of Arrival. For full details, check the NVMC website and CBP website. You can also call the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, Foreign and Offshore Division at (202) 372-1218, or via email with questions. Furthermore, check with your yacht agent.
When navigating U.S. waters, non-U.S. crew must have B1/B2 visas. Non-American guests onboard must have the B2 visa if the visit is purely for pleasure. For business purposes, the B1 visa is required.
Superyacht Berthing
Miami is fast becoming an essential port of call for yachts over the winter. Not just a stopover destination, it offers a wealth of marinas.
Ideally located in South Beach, Miami Beach Marina (above) welcomes yachts up to 250 feet (76.2 meters). There are no fixed bridges and plenty of deep water, making entry and exit easy.
Downtown, there’s Epic Marina. Alhough not the largest of Miami marinas, it’s one of the most lavish, with berthing for yachts larger than 300 feet (91.44 meters). Nearby, Miamarina at Bayside (200 feet/60.9 meters) and Pier 5 Marina are the best jumping-off spots to see the NBA champions, the Miami Heat.
Heading farther south, Coconut Grove is one of Miami’s most picturesque marinas, with 582 slips for vessels up to 127 feet (38.7 meters).
Yachtsmen seeking a more exclusive experience can pursue temporary membership at the Fisher Island Club, a members-only community across from Miami Beach. Visiting superyachts of up to 246 feet (75 meters) may be granted temporary berthing and club access with sponsorship from a member or the dockmaster.
Further plans are set to open up the city to more and larger superyachts, with Deep Harbour Marina expected to open in 2016. For now, yachts over 3,000 gross tons should contact the Port Authority.
Cruising Conditions
While the heat cools off a little in the winter, the climate is still among the best in North America. Warm sunshine and cloudless skies are tempered by cool sea breezes. Tropical depressions mean the weather can be windy in the winter, prevailing east.
No special equipment or preparations are required for cruising. Bear in mind that hurricane season spans June 1 to November 30. Don’t let this put a halt to your trip, though. Modern forecasting means there’s little chance of being caught by surprise.
Water Activities
It’s been said that if you don’t see Miami by boat, you aren’t seeing the best of the city. There’s plenty to see and do beneath the water as well as on it. Surface temperatures rarely fall below 70°F (21°C). The blue-green waters teem with fish and other life, great for fishing trips, snorkeling, and watersports. Arrange a parasailing or diving adventure, or even a charter tour. All can be booked with businesses found around the marinas.
Miami fishing is consistently good throughout the year. If you don’t fancy giving it a go aboard your own yacht, many private charter companies offer trips. Regardless, tarpon, snook, and redfish require separate permits from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Discover regulations here.
Commonly known as the Wreckreational Dive Capital of the World, underwater Miami is home to an incredible array of natural and artificial dive sites. They include Emerald Reef, the Wreck Trek reefs, and Half Moon and Ophelia Brown shipwreck sites. The Neptune Memorial Reef is also worth visiting. It’s a mausoleum resembling the lost city of Atlantis. Marine enthusiasts donate money in life in order to become part of this artificial reef after cremation.
Bars, Restaurants and Nightlife
A world-class restaurant scene is surrounded by the bright neon lights and eclectic music of Miami’s various venues.
Luxury favorites include Area 31, with an outdoor terrace bar serving up innovative cocktails. The world-renowned restaurant Zuma, serving modern Japanese cuisine, is in Miami, too.
For a more relaxed dining experience, Seaspice Brasserie has its own share of the waterfront, offering visiting yachts fresh seafood.
Miami brings its own flavor to international classics, starting downtown at Cipriani and Ceviche 105, which serve up some of Miami’s best ceviche. If you don’t want to leave your yacht, send the crew for takeout from the hole-in-the-wall joints of My Cevice, a highly prized secret among Miami locals.
Around the corner, indulge in homegrown specialties at Joe’s Stone Crab, which, perennially popular, is open for a limited season each year.
We must not forget the iconic Fountainebleu, which offers up 12 restaurants and lounges. Then there’s The Miami Beach Edition, opened to huge acclaim. It’s not only a hotel; its basement nightclub holds Miami’s most exclusive bowling alley and ice rink.
Shopping
Miami boasts infamous shopping streets, beautiful outdoor shopping, and stylish shopping malls.
The Design District calls for serious collectors of furniture, antiques, and high-end fashion. The designer shopping on the streets of South Beach are synonymous with one-of-a-kind jewelry and must-have merchandise.
In Miami Beach, Bayside and Bal Harbour blend shopping with pleasure with a dizzying range of merchandise, street entertainment, and sidewalk cafés.
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