We had a harbour tour with Miami Aqua Tours. This is a guided boat tour during which you are told about the various bridges and other sights visible from the boat as well as about the homes of the rich and/or famous around the bay. The boats leave from the waterfront at Bayside Market Place and have a small bar selling drinks and snacks.
The company runs 3 boats, and the advertising literature says that one trip leaves every hour and that each tour takes 1 hour 20 mins. This may be the case at some times of the year but when we took the tour, in December, they were only running one boat (the others were there but stayed moored) so we left 10 mins late and returned after 55 mins meaning that our trip was less than three quarters of the advertised time although we were still charged the full $27 each (no concession for senior citizens). They take your photo as you board the boat and this is sold during the ride should you happen to want it.
Despite this we enjoyed the trip, the commentary was perfectly adequate and the views good. We had not heard of many of the “celebrities” who owned the houses but this did not bother us, we were just surprised that anyone would want to have a home where boatloads of sightseers peered up their gardens to their house – as, according to the guide, none of them were in residence I think they probably agreed with us!
This is a pleasant trip but I would not recommend it unless you have several days in Miami – we felt the Big Bus Tour was more informative and better value.