What You’ll See on a Miami Millionaire’s Row Cruise

Miami is very much a city surrounded by water. You should definitely make sure you get to cruise around it. On my recent Miami trip, I took a Millionaire’s Row Cruise with Island Queen Cruises. It was one of my favourite things I did in the city. Leaving regularly from the Bayside Marketplace, this 90 minute adventure will take you out on Biscayne Bay. Winding your way private islands via modern yacht, you’ll see Miami’s Millionaire’s Row and be dazzled by the spectacular waterfront mansions. Even if you’re not big on celebrity spotting, the cruise itself is an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend everyone take a Millionaire’s Row Cruise when in Miami. In this post, I’ll cover the route you’ll take and some of the interesting sights you’ll pass.

• With so much to do in Miami, I’ve got you covered for your upcoming trip. Check out my city guide and itinerary HERE.

Millionaire’s Row Cruise – The Basics

• Where? Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida
• When? Cruises depart from 10.30am, then every hour from 11.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and until 6.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
• How much? Tickets are $30.00 USD for adults (12 years and over), children between 4 and 12 cost $20.00 USD each.
• How to get there: Millionaire’s Row Cruises depart from the Bayside Marketplace, a popular tourist shopping complex south of Downtown Miami. If you’re coming from Miami Beach, you’ll want to consider taking an Uber here (roughly 20 minutes). If you’re driving, parking is available nearby, which can range from $4 – $30.
• Website: https://islandqueencruises.com/cruises/millionaires-row-sightseeing-cruise/

Getting On Your Millionaire’s Row Cruise

The first thing to do when planning a Millionaire’s Row Cruise is to book your ticket. The website recommends booking online to make sure there’s availability at your desired time slot. Normally I’m all about pre-booking attractions, but when I tried to do so on Island Queen’s official website, I had issues with the site accepting my Australian credit card. Its the only time I’ve ever had the problem when booking an attraction in the US, so I was quite surprised. In saying that, I haven’t heard of anyone else facing similar problems, so it may have just been an isolated issue.

Once you’ve got your reservation, you still have to go to the Island Queen ticket booth in the centre of the Bayside Marketplace to exchange it for a ticket to board. You must do this at least 45 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you arrive without a reservation, you’ll be put on the next available boat. It was the middle of July when I was in Miami, but I was still able to get a ticket for the 4.00pm departure after arriving at the Marketplace just after 3pm. Larger groups are definitely better off pre-booking though. Once you’ve got your physical ticket in hand, you’ll be shown where the boat leaves from (there’s plenty of signage). I spent the next 30 minutes checking out some of the tourist shops in the Marketplace to fill in time before boarding.

The Boat

Island Queen Cruises has 3 vessels that take guests on the Millionaire’s Row Cruise. They’re all modern yachts going by the names Island Queen (appropriately), Island Lady and Miami Lady. They’re basically all the same and have two levels. On the first level, you can sit in air conditioned comfort, but if you’re all about enjoying the sea breeze and taking photos, this definitely isn’t where you want to be. Upstairs is a shaded deck with long silver benches. If you manage to get a spot on the edge of the vessel, this would be a good spot to enjoy the cruise, but if you’re closer to the centre of the boat, you might miss some of the best views.

I personally enjoyed hanging out on the outdoor area at the front of the vessel – you’re right up against the salty spray of the water and will have some of the best views of Biscayne Bay. Just make sure you apply that sunscreen as there’s limited shelter here. I found that it also wasn’t too crowded on this part of the boat. If by some chance it is when you board, there’s a similar section at the rear of the boat when you can stand (though the view isn’t as good).

All the vessels contain a bar where you can purchase drinks and snacks for the duration of your 90 minute cruise. Throughout the trip, the on-board commentary will point out the main sights around Biscayne Bay.

From Downtown to the Venetian Islands

When your boat leaves the Bayfront Marketplace, the opening moments of your cruise will have you passing through the waters of one of the world’s cruise capitals. Chances are there will be many huge cruise ships docked in the Port of Miami. Coming up beside one in motion and truly appreciating its size is quite the experience. You’ll leave the port behind you, passing underneath the Port Miami Bridge. From there, standing on the left side of the vessel, you’ll catch great views Downtown. Among notable attractions that you’ll be able to see are the American Airlines Center and the Perez Art Museum.

When you go underneath the MacArthur Causeway, you’ll be at the beginning of Millionaire’s Row. Stick to the vessel’s left as the Venetian Islands come into view. This set of six manmade islands are connected by the Venetian Causeway and can be traced back to the boom of the city as a tourist destination from the 1920s. The 5 islands furthest from the mainland – San Marco Island, San Marino Island, Di Lido Island, Rivo Alto Island and Belle Island – were linked by the Causeway in 1926. They were followed by Biscayne Island (closest to the mainland), which originally hosted an airport in the 1930s. Today, the islands all offer quiet and peaceful real estate with an extremely expensive price tag. Socialites and celebrities call the islands home with waterfront mansions. Most emulate leafy tropical escapes, though Belle Island actually blends with Miami Beach’s high rise profile.

While you’ll spend most of your time through this part of the cruise checking out the mansions on the left, as you round the MacArthur Causeway you can also see Jungle Island – a popular zoo attraction that is currently undergoing an extensive renovation.

The Golden Trio – Hibiscus, Palm and Star Islands

The main part of a Millionaire’s Row Cruise takes you through the waters surrounding these three highly exclusive islands. Accessible only through gated bridges off the MacArthur Causeway, Hibiscus, Palm and Star Islands have become hotspots for Miami’s rich and famous. The artificial islands were created in 1922, when developers began draining marshes, dredging sand and re-depositing it to form these masses. The first of the islands you’ll see is Hibiscus. Today, the palatial waterfront mansions on this leafy island have been home to notable names such as Shakira, Julio Iglesias and Shaquille O’Neal.

Palm Island is Hibiscus’ twin and is one of the most coveted destinations for wealthy property owners – in fact, the island’s original developer, Locke Highleyman, sold all of the lots on Palm Island before it was even finished! Among Palm Island’s residents over the years was the infamous Al Capone, whose Mediterranean compound has been meticulously restored.

Then you’ve got Star Island, arguably the most famous of the trio. The first man to own property on Star Island was Carl Fisher, a man who at the time of its creation also owned much of Miami Beach. Many of the original properties on this island were designed by 20th century architect Walter De Garmo. There has been extensive backlash in recent years as a number of De Garmo’s mansions have been demolished by successive owners to make way for larger properties. One of the mansion’s, Casa Di Paola, was actually moved by crane to the other side of its lot to make way for this very purpose. The 12 bedroom dwelling now serves as a very exclusive guesthouse. Star Island is also where you’ll see the famous ‘Scarface Mansion’.

Fisher Island

Rounding Star Island, you’ll be able to see Miami Beach skyline. You’re now on the other side of Biscayne Bay! As you pass underneath the other end of the MacArthur Causeway, Miami Beach Marina will be visible on the left the vessel. From there, the ride gets a little bumpier (though nothing too bad) as this is where the Bay starts to open up to the ocean beyond. At the tip of Miami Beach, you’ll see another private island at its tip. That’s Fisher Island – the wealthiest ZIP code in all of the United States. With only 218 households on its 216 acres, the average Fisher Island resident has an income of $2.5 million! Naturally, its home to some of the wealthiest celebrities, athletes and investors in the nation.

Fisher Island was once part of Miami Beach, however it was separated from the main barrier island in the early part of the 20th century. Between 1903-1905, the US government decided to cut a shipping canal through the bottom of Miami Beach. The result of the sand dredging was Fisher Island. The island was developed by Carl Fisher (hence the name), who originally owned the whole of the island. It then passed between millionaires until the 1980s, when more extensive work was carried out, with the extravagant houses and condos you see today coming into being. The most notable of these is the Vanderbilt Mansion – a massive Spanish style property recognised as a Miami-Dade County Landmark.

Access to Fisher Island is extremely restricted. The only way to reach the island is by boat. The residents tend to have their own private transport, but workers catch a ferry across, going through comprehensive clearance checks each day. Residents of Fisher Island are swimming in cash. Many are members of the Fisher Island Club, membership of which is a one time payment of $250,000.00 plus around $22,000.00 yearly fees! Property prices on the island have soared even more following Oprah Winfrey living on Fisher Island between 1995 to 2001!

Back to Bayside

Millionaire’s Row may have culminated with Fisher Island, but you’ve got a little more of your cruise to enjoy as the boat takes you back to where you started. Along the way you’ll pass back into the Port of Miami. This major seaport is huge. You’ll see giant container freighters, cranes and a whole lot more, all while the Downtown Skyline draws closer into focus. Coming back to the realm of cruise ships, I noticed some really cool looking floating tiki bars taking guests through Miami’s waters as well. Passing by the Miami Observation Wheel, you’ll know your time on the Bay is about to come to an end. You’ll be docked back at Bayside Marketplace to disembark moments later.

I loved taking the Millionaire’s Row Cruise with Island Queen Cruises. This 90 minute experience was a highlight of my trip to Miami. I can’t recommend it enough. There’s no better way to see Miami than by boat, so this cruise allows you to do just that at an affordable price. It just so happens you’ll learn a bunch along the way as well! With all the mansions you’ll see along Millionaire’s Row, it can be tough to keep track of them all. If you’ve been on this tour, which one stuck out most to you?