THE GRAND FLORIDIAN YACHT FAQs

Where do you sail from?
The Grand Floridian’s home dock is The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood. With advanced notice, we can schedule your departure from a number of private and public dock locations from West Palm Beach to the Florida Keys.

Where do you sail to?
The Grand Floridian Yacht sails the calm protected Intracoastal waterways. On a typical chartered event, our captain will navigate both north and south before returning to the dock to allow our guests a diversity of views.

What is the standard length of a charter?
Typically, a chartered event will run 3 – 4 hours, with the ship remaining dockside for the first and last half hour to allow ample time for guests to board and depart. However, The Grand Floridian is available for shorter and longer charters based on your special requirements.

Can we charter the yacht and not leave the dock?
Yes. The Grand Floridian Charter Yacht is a venue first and foremost. Unlike a hotel ballroom however, it does not matter where you wish to host your event, because we can bring The Grand Floridian to you. In addition to saving on fuel charges, dockside affairs have other benefits, such as larger guest attendance and the ability to come and go as they choose.

How many guests can you accommodate?
The Grand Floridian Yacht is United Stated Coast Guard certified for up to 400 guests plus crew, although we can accommodate larger groups for dockside affairs.

Can you accommodate guests with disabilities?
Yes. The Grand Floridian is one of the few luxury charter yachts which have a private elevator to transport guests with disabilities to all five public decks.

Will my group of 100 feel comfortable given the size of the yacht?
Yes, in fact even groups of 50 are quite comfortable, as The Grand Floridian features intimate spaces on each deck for smaller groups to congregate. In fact, groups of 75-125 are as common as those of 250-400.

How many people can you seat for dinner?
Our main dining room can seat up to 240 guests comfortably, and still allows ample room for elegantly appointed and accessible buffet stations. We have on occasion transformed other decks into a secondary dining rooms for larger events, and can offer stationed menus for dining on all decks throughout the yacht.

Do you offer special dietary menus?
Yes. While you can view sample menus on our website, our accomplished chef will happily accommodate the special dietary needs of our guests and items not viewed on our menus.

Do you allow outside caterers?
One of the hallmarks of The Grand Floridian Yacht is our fine cuisine. Occasionally we will make a consideration for caterers of special ethnic cuisine, but for the most part do not allow outside caterers or food vendors to utilize our galley.

Do you allow any other outside vendors, such as florists and decorators?
Yes. While our professional event planners are happy to recommend or coordinate your décor with vendors who have knowledge of The Grand Floridian and meet our discriminating standards, we will happily allow outside florist, entertainers, and decorators access to the yacht if they were contracted in advance. We do require a separate signed waiver and proof of insurance from all outside vendors however, so prior to booking you would be required to provide a list of all vendors you plan to use.

If I am getting married on The Grand Floridian, can your captain perform the ceremony?
Yes. Our captain is licensed in the state of Florida to perform wedding ceremonies; it is however the responsibility of the couple to obtain all paperwork from the county courthouse.

Am I permitted to board prior to my event start time?
Yes. Our captain makes every effort to be at your specified dock location three (3) hours prior to the scheduled event start time to allow outside vendors or the host ample time to set up. Brides who wish to schedule hair and makeup on board will especially appreciate the large bridal suite with private shower, dressing area, ample makeup tables for the entire party to get ready. Decorators requiring more than three (3) hours, or the scheduling of special deliveries is also available with advanced notice.