It makes sense! Known as the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale has a three gondola tour operators to choose from. Each tour travels the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, sliding by massive mansions and gigantic yachts along the way. What a great way to see the city!
Two of the “gondolas” really are six-person electric boats that glide silently through the water. The third gondola also is electric, but it looks more like the boats you see in Venice, Italy. Each gondola is covered, and they all contain enough life jackets to comport with Coast Guard regulations.
In Fort Lauderdale, you can take a gondola ride with:
Riverfront Gondola Tours (754) 206-5950
http://riverfrontgondolatours.com/
Piloted by a former yacht captain and his daughter, this six-person gondola cruise sails from the New River near Las Olas Boulevard. It’s $33/person for the two-hour cruises, which departs at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The 90-minute sunset cruise, which departs at 5 p.m., is perfect for a romantic river ride! Or select the 6-person dinner cruise for only $179. You can bring your own food and drinks, or you can speak with a local restaurant about catering your cruise.
Gondolas West (877) 229-7687
Another six-passenger gondola, this 22-foot electric boat is based at Bahia Mar on the Seventeenth Street Causeway. The boat departs for regular two-hour sightseeing tours three times each day, at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. The boat also cruises the New River on a 90-minute sunset tour each evening. The sunset tour leaves at 5:30 p.m. during the summer, and at 7:30 p.m. during the winter. Adult voyages cost $39.95, while children under 8 years old are $36.95. For $240, you can rent the entire boat for two hours.
Las Olas Gondolas (800) 277-1390
http://www.gondolaman.com/gondola-tours
With upraised structures fore and aft, this boat has the appearance of an authentic gondola. The boat features padded seats that could accompany maybe four adults at the most, but this is more of a ride made for two. The boat usually puts in the Las Olas River House, the tallest building in town. Parking at the River House is $3/hour. Rides last for about an hour. Call 800-277-1390 for pricing.