Crab Island Luxury Adventures
The leader in 30A pontoon boat rental & Catamaran Charter companies
a Family Owned Business
Since the establishment of Crab Island Luxury Adventures, Nathan Hill has been dedicated to realizing a vision and mission centered around crafting bespoke adventures for discerning travelers along the Emerald Coast.
In the current landscape, where access has become the new benchmark of luxury, CILA’s foundational values take center stage.
We proudly showcase the benefits of luxury vessels and unparalleled hospitality, bringing families and friends together for an extraordinary day on the waters of Destin and the 30A areas.
As a family-owned business, we specialize in providing private luxury pontoon and Catamaran charters, accommodating up to 13 guests per boat. If your party exceeds 13 people, please feel free to give us a call.
Committed to delivering exceptional customer service, our aim is to ensure that every customer experiences a fantastic and secure day on the water from the moment their journey begins with us.
One of our greatest desires is for the freedom of all people. We give a portion of our sales to Global Renewal.
Global Renewal is a network of leadership training centers, anti-human trafficking efforts, and local community development initiatives with one goal in mind:
POSITIVE LIFE CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION FOR EVERY HUMAN.
Read What Our Discerning Guests Are Saying
Caitlyn Nicole2024-03-20We had a great time! Lance was our captain and was wonderful! He was very knowledgeable and was easy to work with. He kept us safe while allowing us the freedom to decide if we wanted to be beached, floating at Crab Island or at a restaurant. We got to see dolphins by the dozen playing in the ocean for 20 minutes on our way in. It was amazing! I would definitely use Crab Island Luxury Adventures again and would recommend Captain Lance to anyone! :)Sandy Gautier2024-03-18We absolutely loved our experience with captain Lance (first mate Harper) and Crab Island Luxury Adventures!!! So much fun and completely seamless! From booking the cruise and setting up transportation to the day of… everything was taken care of! The boat was spacious and super clean! Very comfortable. Lance was such a gentleman and demonstrated amazing service. 10/10 would recommend!!!Julia Daley2024-03-17Captain Lance and his first mate, Harper (his cute dog) were the highlight of our trip. His professionalism was unmatched. He listened to what we wanted to do and offered great suggestions for how to spend our day. He was attentive to our needs, engaged, and always making sure we were comfortable. Would happily book again!Denika Hill2023-11-13Our time on the Azul, with Lance as our captain, was the most phenomenal experience. I’ve been on boat rides before, but this was truly a luxury experience. Lance’s attention to detail & our preferences made the trip: he noticed when we had trash & offered to pick it up so we didn’t have to stop enjoying our meal, he suggested multiple places to take us & gave us great information about each spot, & he took pictures for us too! His dog harper joined us on the boat; I’m not normally a dog person, but this dog is the most calm & sweet natured dog. When we got home, my friends said it was a “life changing” because it was that incredible. A 10/10 experience!!!Mallory Quinonez2023-11-10This was such a special experience and Lance (our captain) was the absolute BEST!!!! He was so intentional with conversation and super knowledgeable on all things sailing, ocean life, and first aid! If you ever get the chance to hop on the boat, you’ll even get to meet and love on sweet Harper (the boats personal pup)❤️caroline connor2023-10-29Lance was wonderful! He was friendly, experienced, and truly went above and beyond! Highly recommend!Lexa Cabral2023-10-27Lance is absolutely amazing and I’ve never experienced better customer service! Harper made my day as wellJeff Macklin2023-10-26Fantastic experience and an AWESOME Captain.Donata Mcclure2023-10-26Captain Lance is the most amazing tour Captain. He is so accommodating and knowledgeable, he knows his job inside and out. He treated us like royalty and waited on us hand and foot, didn't let us get our own drinks, etc. Due to his experience, we felt very safe and secure in every aspect of our tour. We loved having Harper as our First Mate, she was so cuddly and knew how to make us comfortable. We are going to book Capt. Lance and Harper again for next year, the BEST EVER!Anthony Yovino2023-10-26Lance was super professional and laid back. Would definitely recommend.
U.S.C.G. Boating Laws
In accordance with US Coast Guard regulations, bareboat charters CANNOT include the captain’s rate, gratuity, or fuel cost in the charter payment. The captain must be paid by the charterer (you) directly either via cash app or through the captain’s website before departure.
After booking, We provide you with a list of pre-approved captains to choose from. We have pre-selected those with the best sailing experience and hospitality skills, destination expertise, and a passion for the region.
What is a Bareboat Charter?
A Bareboat or demise charter requires a written agreement between the owner of a vessel and a charterer where the charterer has use of the vessel for a defined period of time and is considered the de facto owner. A bareboat charterer may take on legal obligations to the owner of the vessel, the crew, the passengers carried, and others.
Elements of a valid Bareboat Charter:
- The charterer must have the option of selecting and paying the crew, although the owner may require general levels of proficiency for the crew that is retained based on federal statutes.
- The master/crew are paid by the charterer
- All food, fuel, and stores are provided by the charterer
- Insurance is obtained by the charterer
- The charterer is responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel
- The charterer may discharge, for cause, the master or any crew member without referral to the owner
- The vessel is surveyed upon its delivery and return
Any provision that tends to show retention of possession or control of the vessel by the owner, or the owner’s exclusive operator, would be a contradiction that a valid and legal bareboat charter exists.
Common Bareboat Charter Vessel Errors:
- A chartered vessel may NOT carry more than 12 passengers without a Certificate of Inspection (COI)
- A chartered vessel may NOT carry more than 12 passengers while moored. A chartered vessel is considered to be carrying “passengers” whether moored or underway. This includes a boat bed and breakfast
- The owner of the vessel may NOT be the vessel master or part of the crew. The vessel owner is NOT allowed on board during a bareboat charter
- A bareboat charter contract may not provide or dictate a crew. The charterer must be able to select a crew and have the ability to discharge the crew
- The charterer is not considered a passenger, and there can only be one charterer, even though the vessel may be chartered by several individuals. In this case, one person would be considered the charterer and the rest would be counted as passengers.
- Both U.S. flag and foreign vessels may be chartered, however, foreign-flagged vessels cannot carry passengers for hire between U.S. ports and must be chartered by and/or operate as a recreational vessel. Foreign-built vessels owned by U.S. citizens must meet coastwise trade rules before carrying passengers for hire.
- Using a vessel as a boat bed and breakfast in which the owner or operator receives consideration for people to remain overnight on the vessel is a commercial operation, is still limited to 12 passengers, and requires a written contract (bareboat contract) if the vessel is foreign-built and does not carry a MARAD small passenger vessel waiver.
Crab Island Luxury Adventures, LLC is dedicated to ensuring all of our managed vessels operate legally, and at the highest safety and maintenance standards. We recommend printing and carrying aboard your fully executed bareboat charter agreement when operating a bareboat charter and ensuring any hired crew are properly trained and qualified.
Departure/Embarkation Location
Strategic Partnerships:
