Miami International Boat Show and the Miami Yacht Show: Highlights you Can’t-Miss

The 2018 Miami International Boat Show and the Miami Yacht Show is happening now through February 19th in sites at Virginia Key in Miami and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. Approximately 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the five-day event to check out thousands of featured boats, yachts, and marine accessories. In exchange, the city should expect hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact.

Attendees will also sharpen their sailing skills in the dozens of seminars taught by certified professionals, and enjoy the vast variety of catering options, including several local restaurants. All of these exhibits and activities take place in an area that spans nearly one million square feet over land and sea. It took construction crews ten weeks from December to February to assemble and prepare the seven-enormous air-conditioned tents and four miles worth of temporary docks.

Here’s an overview of what experienced sailors and landlubbers alike can experience during the Miami International Boat Show and the Miami Yacht Show:

Megayacht
Here Comes The Sun, from Amels, the Dutch yacht builder, is making its worldwide debut. At 272-feet, the enormous vessel will occupy the show’s prevalent dock.

Amels’ 272-foot “HERE COMES THE SUN” Is the Largest Yacht at the Miami Yacht Show

Sail
A sailing event will feature more than 70 sailboats at the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin as part of the Miami International Boat Show on Virginia Key.

Buy tickets for both shows
This year, attendees are allowed to purchase entrance to both the Miami International Boat Show at Miami’s Virginia Key and the Miami Yacht Show in Miami Beach thanks to a new ticket partnership. Tickets cost $50 a day to go to both shows or $25 for individual tickets in the last days of the exhibition.

The VIP Experience
Both shows have VIP experiences with tickets selling at $125 for one day of admission at the Miami International Boat Show (which includes complimentary food drinks, entertainment and access to an air-conditioned lounge). At the Miami Yacht Show, VIPs pay $150 per day to get access to private yacht tours and a shuttle service to Watches & Wonders Miami.

Dining options
Great Performance, a New York-based catering company returned as the official provider of food and beverage to Miami International Boat Show; the company has partnerships with local food trucks for the event including The Knife Steakhouse, Latin Café, Killer Melts, Moty’s, and more.