Book a Miami charter without a cold DM
Book a yacht without paying a stranger.
Social posts and WhatsApp deposits are where a lot of Miami charter horror stories start. Here a person on our team approves every company before it can send you an offer, you pay DESEO by card through Stripe, and you see the total, what's included and the cancellation terms before you pay.
Free to request · You pay nothing until you book
- Companies approved by our team
- Card payments through Stripe
- Terms in writing before you pay
Example offer, before you pay
Offer #2
52 ft motor yacht
Saturday · 4 hours · up to 12 guests
$2,730
total you pay
$2,600 offer + $130 booking fee (5%)
- Due today
- $1,430deposit + booking fee
- Balance
- $1,300online until the day before, or to the company on the day
Included
- Captain and crew
- Fuel
- Water and ice
- Music
Cancellation
Moderate · 50% refund for cancellations 5+ days before the booking date. No refund within 5 days.
- Company approved by the DESEO team
- Card payment by Stripe. We never see your full card number.
What approval covers — and what it doesn’t
Companies apply with business and insurance information. Our team reviews the application and must approve the company before it can send offers. That is not a blanket claim about licences or coverage on every boat.
What DESEO does
- Approves each company by hand
Companies apply with their business and insurance details. Our team reviews them and approves the company before it can send offers.
- Takes payment by card, through Stripe
You pay the deposit to DESEO, not to a stranger's account from a DM. Stripe handles your card, and we never see the full number.
- Puts it in writing first
Every offer shows the total you pay, what's included and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Contacts unlock only after you book.
- Refunds you if the company cancels
If the company cancels or can't provide what it offered, we refund everything you paid through DESEO, including our fee.
Still ask before you pay
- Who is the captain?
For a trip with a captain, ask our team to confirm the captain's details for the offer you choose.
- What coverage applies to this offer?
Coverage depends on the company and category. Ask our team to confirm what applies to the offer you are considering.
- What if the weather turns bad?
Check each offer's rescheduling and cancellation terms. The company decides if a trip can go out safely.
- What isn't included?
A 15–20% tip for the crew is customary. Fuel, docking, food and drinks can sit in or out of the charter line — get them named.
Unsure about an offer? Chat with our team before you pay — better a slow question than a rushed deposit.
Your payment
Where your money goes
You pay by card
The deposit and our 5% fee go to DESEO through Stripe.
Stripe clears it
Your card details stay with Stripe.
We pay the company
Our team sends the company its share after Stripe clears your payment.
You can pay the balance online until the day before your booking, or pay the company on the day.
If the company cancels or can't provide what it offered, we refund everything you paid through DESEO.
From request to booking
Send one request
Tell us the date, your group and your budget. It's free, and you create your account when you send it.
Compare offers in writing
Approved companies send offers with the total, what's included and the cancellation terms. We email you when they're ready.
Pay only when you choose
Pay the deposit through Stripe for the offer you want. Then you and the company get each other's contact details.
Free to request · You pay nothing until you book
Questions about trust and payment
What we check, how you pay and what happens if plans change.
Is it safe to pay a deposit before meeting the company in person?
On DESEO you pay a written offer through Stripe Checkout to book — not a personal account from an Instagram DM or WhatsApp. Review the offer, total and cancellation terms before paying. Your phone and email stay off what companies see until the deposit clears. Contact our team if anything is unclear.
How do you actually vet the companies before letting them bid?
Companies apply with business and insurance information. Our team reviews the application and must approve the company before it can submit offers. That approval is not a blanket claim about captain credentials or a specific policy on every boat — ask us about the category-specific details for an offer before booking.
How much is the deposit, and is it refundable?
You pay the deposit when you accept an offer, through Stripe — not when you send the request. The deposit is half the rental price including selected extras, with a $500 minimum, capped at that full price. The full 5% booking fee is due with the deposit. You can pay the balance online through us until the day before the booking (Miami time), or to the company on the day. Deposit refunds follow your offer’s cancellation terms. The booking fee is refunded only if the company cancels or cannot provide what it offered. See the total, amount due today and balance before paying.
Are there hidden fees added at checkout like on other sites?
Your offer shows the rental price and selected extras, plus our 5% booking fee, as one total — with amount due today and the remaining balance — before you pay. We do not add surprise platform fees at checkout. Inclusions, tip, docking and any company card fee still depend on the offer; read that screen before confirming.
What happens if a company cancels on me last minute?
If the company cancels or cannot provide what it offered, we refund everything you paid through DESEO, including the booking fee. Contact our team for help with the booking and available alternatives; a replacement is not guaranteed.
What's the cancellation policy if my plans change?
Refunds of your deposit and any balance paid online follow the offer’s cancellation policy. Our 5% booking fee is not refunded unless the company cancels or cannot provide what it offered; in that case, we refund everything you paid through DESEO. Review the terms before paying and contact our team if your plans change.
Start with a request, not a deposit.
Sending a request is free. You pay only when you choose an offer, by card, through Stripe.
Free to request · You pay nothing until you book