Star Island Celebrity Homes: What You'll See on a Yacht Tour

Destinations · By The VCYC Team · May 6, 2026 · 8 min read

Star Island sits in Biscayne Bay between Miami and Miami Beach. A 4-hour yacht charter from $1,000 lets you cruise past celebrity mansions owned by Gloria Estefan, Shaq, and Diddy—all visible from the water.

The Star Island Loop by Yacht

Star Island sits in Biscayne Bay between Miami and Miami Beach, home to mansions owned by celebrities including Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Sean Combs. A 4-hour yacht charter from Vice City Yacht Club starts at $1,000 and lets you cruise the full perimeter of Star Island, Palm Island, and Hibiscus Island in under 90 minutes, leaving time for a sandbar stop or sunset cruise. Most homes are walled from the road but fully visible from the water—including gates, docks, and waterfront architecture that street traffic never sees.

The star island celebrity homes yacht tour is one of the most requested routes departing from Miami Beach Marina, and it fits easily into a half-day charter with room for a second destination.

Why Star Island Works Better by Yacht Than by Car

Star Island is accessible by car via a single guarded causeway entrance off the MacArthur Causeway, but there is no public parking, no through traffic, and every property is surrounded by high walls, hedges, or gates. From the street, you see privacy barriers. From the water, you see the estates themselves: Mediterranean Revival facades, glass-walled modern compounds, manicured lawns that slope to private docks, and yachts parked in boat slips.

The waterside perimeter of Star Island is public navigable water under federal maritime law, which means your captain can cruise the shoreline at idle speed without restriction. Most captains loop the island clockwise, calling out landmarks and slowing near notable properties so guests can take photos. The route is calm year-round—Star Island sits in the protected center of Biscayne Bay, sheltered from ocean swell by Miami Beach.

What You'll Actually See: The Star Island Loop

The clockwise loop starts at the southern tip of the island and follows the western shore north, then curves east around the top and returns down the bay side. Here are the landmarks your captain will point out:

Diddy's former compound sits at the southern point—a sprawling white modern estate with multiple structures, a pool visible from the water, and a long private dock. Sean Combs sold the property in 2021, but it remains one of the most recognizable homes on the island due to its stark white architecture and prominent location.

Shaquille O'Neal's former estate is a blue-and-white Mediterranean Revival mansion on the western shore. Shaq sold the house years ago, but captains still call it out because the architecture—arched windows, barrel tile roof, and a basketball court visible from certain angles—remains iconic.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan's estate is one of the largest properties on the island, occupying a double lot on the northern curve. The main house is a sprawling Mediterranean compound with coral stone walls, lush tropical landscaping, and a guest house near the water. The Estefans have owned the property for decades and it remains their primary Miami residence.

Rosie O'Donnell's former home sits mid-island on the eastern bay side—a more understated Mediterranean with pastel stucco and a red tile roof. O'Donnell sold the property in the early 2000s, but it remains a talking point on most tours.