Riverfront Gondola Tours — Attraction in Fort Lauderdale

One of my most Unforgettable romantic Gondola Tours at Fort Lauderdale's Waterways

My Review:

As a local Google guide, I've had the pleasure of experiencing many attractions our city offers, but the Riverfront Gondola Tours are an absolute must for both tourists and locals alike. Imagine gliding through the picturesque canals of Fort Lauderdale, often dubbed "the Venice of America," in a luxurious American gondola that comfortably accommodates up to six guests. This intimate setting ensures you can stretch out and enjoy the serenity with just your companions and the knowledgeable captain.

Adhering to Coast Guard regulations a maximum of 6 persons (Only Six People), each tour is exclusive to your party, ensuring a private and personalized experience. With a duration of approximately 90 minutes, you'll be taken on a leisurely journey past majestic yachts, opulent mansions, and you'll even soak in a bit of local history.

The tranquility of the electric-powered gondolas enhances the experience, providing a noise-free, vibration-less ride without any unpleasant fumes – an eco-friendly choice for the environmentally conscious.

The versatility of the tour makes it an ideal choice for a variety of occasions, including anniversaries, date nights, entertaining out-of-town guests, birthdays, or simply for an exceptional sightseeing adventure. Opt for a daytime tour to witness the awe-inspiring waterfront of Fort Lauderdale, catch a sunset tour for a dazzling display, or select an after-dusk excursion to bask in the romance of the city's illuminated beauty.

Guests are welcome to bring their own refreshments on board; however, for those seeking to elevate their experience:

Dinner Cruise Option:

Turn your tour into a gastronomic delight with the Dinner Cruise option. In partnership with Casa Sensei restaurant, you can indulge in a sumptuous meal served directly aboard your gondola just before you set sail. This delightful addition is perfect for those special moments, combining gourmet dining with the enchanting backdrop of Fort Lauderdale's waterways.

In summary, whether you're looking for a unique way to celebrate a special occasion or simply want to experience the city from a new perspective, Riverfront Gondola Tours offers an unmatched, tranquil, and romantic adventure on the water. I’ll be going back on the tour as many...

Disappointed doesn’t even begin to cover it. We booked a 5:15 pm ride for our anniversary. 10 minutes prior to departure time (after paying for parking and as we were walking up), I received a call from a particularly rude woman, stating “we are cancelling your trip, the money is being refunded.” No explanation. Any reasonable person would be confused given that weather conditions were perfect all day. I tried to ask why, she stated with an attitude “I’m sorry but I have a lot of other people to call and cancel, I can’t stay on the phone” …… we were already walking up to the pier at this point and approached the same woman who had called. Felt like, “hey, I’m here, maybe I can talk to someone and figure this out.” I just wanted to understand why we got canceled on (and seemingly all of the other boats for the day were canceled from the point as well) for no apparent reason.

The woman basically shooed us away and kept repeating “I already told you on the phone, you’re being refunded, that’s it” with an “I don’t know what to tell you” attitude, shrugging us off, when she could have at least tried to apologize, give some sort of reason or explanation, even offer a solution for a future trip, etc. At the end she mumbled unforeseen circumstances and walked away. I was highly upset at this jarring experience, and very taken aback at the lack of professionalism, courtesy and compassion.

Definitely not what I was expecting as a way to kick off a special occasion…… At the very least, customer service was nonexistent to remedy a situation for a couple who was very much looking forward to what should have been a happy and memorable moment and could have been repeat customers. Instead I was left feeling extremely shaken up at the whole encounter and zero chance we would recommend this experience to anyone.

It wasn’t about the refund, it’s about how you handle a situation as a business when people are visibly let down. Especially if you’re going to cancel on someone on their anniversary not even 10 minutes before the boat was scheduled to depart and making it feel like I’m inconveniencing you by asking why. Just not cool....

Y'all, oh-em-gee, how have I been living in Fort Lauderdale this long and only now experiencing Riverfront Gondola Tours?!? I was looking for the perfect dinner experience to enjoy with my husband for our 30th anniversary, and this surpassed all my expectations. Book it, don't think about it, and book the dinner option too!!!

The gondolas are docked right in front of Casa Sensei which lends itself to the perfect pairing. You simply call Casa Sensei on the special phone number provided at booking, and place your order a few hours prior to departure. You will find your food has been delivered fresh and ready to eat when you board your gondola. We ordered the chicken pad Thai and the sesame chicken with a slice of almond cake for dessert. Everything was seriously so delicious.

As we cruised the breathtaking canals of Fort Lauderdale, our super-friendly Captain David provided the most interesting narrative about the scenery. He was so hospitable, clearing our dishes when we finished and providing to-go boxes for our left overs. The weather was perfect. I also loved the timeframe we booked of 7:30pm to 9:00pm because we had the benefit of daylight, catching the sunset and a lovely evening ride. Additionally there is typically less boat traffic in the evening David shared.

We ended our evening feeling fulfilled and stomachs filled! I'm already contemplating our next booking which we will share with...