Miami Yacht Rental Payment Methods: Card, Zelle, Cash & Bitcoin

Planning · By The VCYC Team · August 21, 2026 · 10 min read

Vice City accepts card, Zelle, cash, and Bitcoin for Miami yacht charters. A 35% deposit or $250 minimum secures your booking—no hidden charges, transparent pricing.

Every Payment Method We Accept (and How Each Works)

Vice City Yacht Club accepts four payment methods for all Miami yacht charters: credit card (including Apple Pay), Zelle, cash, and Bitcoin. The 35% deposit or $250 minimum—whichever is greater—can be paid using any of these methods, and the balance is due on charter day using any method you prefer. There are no forced payment gateways, no surprise processing fees, and no restrictions on switching between methods for deposit and balance.

Credit and debit card processing accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major card networks. The deposit charge appears on your statement within one business day, and the balance is processed the morning of your charter. Card payments carry no surcharge—the price you see on the fleet page is the price you pay before tax and gratuity.

Zelle transfers offer instant settlement with zero fees. After you receive your booking confirmation email, you'll be given the Zelle recipient details and your unique booking reference number to include in the memo field. Transfers typically clear within minutes, and your booking is confirmed as soon as the deposit lands. Zelle works best for deposits because it bypasses card holds and processing delays, and it's the preferred method for guests paying from U.S. bank accounts who want immediate confirmation.

Cash payments are accepted for both deposit and balance. For deposits, you can drop off cash at the marina during business hours or arrange a secure handoff with the concierge team. The balance is paid directly to the captain on charter day before departure. Cash is popular with international guests and those who prefer not to run large charges through credit networks.

Bitcoin payments go through a wallet-to-wallet transfer—no exchange, no intermediary. You'll receive a QR code and wallet address in your booking email, along with the exact BTC amount based on the current exchange rate locked for 15 minutes. Once the blockchain confirms the transaction (usually within 30 minutes), your booking is secured. Bitcoin is the only method that offers true privacy: no bank records, no card statements, no third-party processors. It's also faster than wire transfers for international guests booking large charters like the 135ft Matrix or 116ft CIAO 5, where traditional payment rails can take days.

All four methods are available for every charter in the Vice City fleet, from the 26ft BALI at $650 for four hours to the 126ft Never Blue at $29,700 for eight hours. You can mix methods—deposit by Zelle, balance in cash—without penalty or delay. Payment Method — Deposit — Balance — Settlement Time — SurchargeCredit/Debit Card — ✓ — ✓ — 1 business day — None Zelle — ✓ — ✓ — Instant — None Cash — ✓ — ✓ — Immediate — None Bitcoin — ✓ — ✓ — ~30 minutes — None How the 35% Deposit Works (and When You Pay the Balance)

The deposit to confirm any Miami yacht charter is 35% of the total charter price or $250, whichever is greater. On a four-hour charter aboard the 48ft XUL at $1,150, the deposit is $402.50. On an eight-hour charter aboard the 70ft Spysea at $9,150, the deposit is $3,202.50. The deposit is charged or transferred as soon as you confirm your booking.

The remaining balance—65% of the charter price—is due the day of your charter, before departure. If you paid the deposit by card, you can pay the balance in cash. If you paid the deposit in Bitcoin, you can pay the balance by Zelle. There are no restrictions, no forced payment matching, and no surprise holds placed on your card after the charter. The only charges you'll see are the deposit when you book, the balance on charter day, Florida sales tax (6% plus a 1% Miami-Dade surtax on the first $5,000, capping the surtax at $50), and crew gratuity, which you pay directly to the captain—it never runs through Vice City's payment system.

If you cancel your charter, the deposit is nonrefundable. If weather or mechanical issues prevent safe departure and the captain cancels, you receive either a 100% refund of all payments or a free rebook to any future date—your choice. This is the Perfect Day Guarantee, outlined in detail on the cancellation policy page.

The 24-Hour Free Hold: Reserve First, Pay When You're Ready

Any available date in the Vice City calendar can be held for 24 hours with no credit card and no deposit. This free hold locks your preferred yacht and departure time while you finalize group size, confirm headcount, or coordinate with other guests. During the hold period, that yacht and time slot are removed from public availability—no one else can book it.