Miami's Top Water Tours — Local services in Miami

Bought tickets through Groupon and what a nightmare not because of the Groupon but because of the such a disorganized company . After jumping through hoops to complete the reservation and getting a QR code, I assumed we were all set. Nope. Turns out you still need to pick up a paper ticket at the pier — with not much instructions or signs on where or how to do that. Bayside Marina is packed with boats and companies, so it felt like a scavenger hunt just to find the right place. Seriously, it’s 2025 — how are they not equipped to just scan a QR code? By the time we finally got the ticket and found the boat, we were at the back of the line. The boat was already packed, so forget about getting a decent seat or a clear view of anything. We ended up standing on the stairs for the entire 90-minute ride just to see something — and I’m pregnant, so it was incredibly uncomfortable and exhausting. No one offered assistance, and the staff didn’t seem to care . To top it off, workers were aggressively asking for tips like it was part of the ticket price.

On the bright side, they did send text messages with traffic updates to give a heads-up.

Pro tip: If you do decide to book, arrive at least an hour early or risk missing the boat entirely — but honestly, you’re better off skipping this tour. It’s just not worth the stress, especially if you’re expecting a...

This trip was advertised as a maximum 10 person tour. Unfortunately, this was absolutely false advertising as it was over 50 + people crowded onto the boat. By the time I realized those people waiting in line were on the same tour it was too late to get a seat where I had unblocked views. I ended up going to the lower level and looked out the window. The tour guides themselves did a great job. Unfortunately, I would have never wasted my time as I had just got off a cruise and was seeking a smaller group tour. I have never had a negative experience in my many years of traveling trusting the accuracy of the group # of a Viator tour. It will be hard to ever use Viator again. I will give my business now to Get Your Guide or book directly through the tour operator itself...

We did the celebrity’s mansions tour. On the positive side, the guide was friendly and gave great commentary in both English and Spanish, pointing out amazing houses and sharing who owns them, which was really interesting. However, the boat was very crowded, with around 80 people on board—we were hoping for a smaller group of 10-20. There was a huge line to get in, and to make things worse, they made us take a picture before boarding, only to offer it for $20 afterward (as if we don’t all have phones with cameras!). There also weren’t enough chairs for everyone, making it a bit uncomfortable. On the plus side, there’s a bar where you can buy drinks, which was a nice touch. Overall, a decent trip, but the crowd and extras made it less enjoyable...