Gondola Getaway

Gondola Ride Review: The Gondola Getaway, Long Beach I recently had the opportunity to experience The Gondola Getaway in Long Beach, and I was impressed by its unique offerings and high-quality service. Here's my review: Key Highlights: - Unique Experience: The Gondola Getaway offers a romantic and scenic gondola ride experience along the canals of Naples Island, mimicking the charm of Venice, Italy. - Expert Gondoliers: The gondoliers are trained in Venice, Italy, and provide excellent commentary and navigation throughout the ride. - Amenities: Complimentary services include a photo opportunity, blankets, and ice buckets for BYOB. Optional add-ons, such as messages in a bottle and roses, are also available. - Customer Service: The staff are friendly, attentive, and responsive to customer needs. Rating: 4.9/5 stars Recommendation: I highly recommend The Gondola Getaway for a unique and memorable experience in Long Beach. The gondola ride is suitable for all ages, and the scenic views of the canals and surrounding homes are breathtaking. Best regards, Edwin

A magical evening that felt like a scene from a movie. Our family celebrated my twin daughters’ 30th birthday with Gondola Getaways and start to finish the evening was so special, beautiful and memorable. We sailed at sunset and also ordered the pizza party package for food. Everyone enjoyed that meal so much. 3 pizzas and salad doesn’t sound like enough for a dozen people, but it was plenty…..and it was delicious. I added a vegan pasta dish for my daughter and that was the highlight of the meal. Everyone DEVOURED the pasta too. The food exceeded my expectations and made for a more carefree enjoyable night since we didn’t have to bring food for everyone. Joy and Melia both patiently answered all my questions and helped the booking and this special celebration go so smoothly. Thank you both 🙏 Everyone in our family loved the sunset cruise and we’re all already looking for another reason to return. Thanks to everyone here for making their birthday so special and meaningful. Would 100% recommend to family and friends.

Our Gondolier, Conner, was awesome! He sang two different songs in Italian, one at the beginning, (going through 1st canal, 2nd by last canal.) The entire experience was amazing and well worth it! Was peaceful, romantic, and picturesque. Was a great way to celebrate our anniversary. We would definitely do this again!

They finished off our 38 th anniversary with one of the best experiences we ever had. Shawntino was such a great skipper and navigator. One of our best memories ever

Had the pleasure of experiencing this getaway yesterday with friends. Our gondoliers, think he was Kyle was very informed on the canals and history. Pointed out interesting and historic homes. He grew up here and loves his job and singing. We went with a group and all the gondolas stopped under a bridge to sing, amazing experience! Kyle sang Frank Sinatra. Another gondolier sang Santa Lucia! You can bring food and beverages. Don’t miss this fun day or evening experience! 55 min ride around the islands and canals with entertainment! Great vibe! Thanks gondoliers!

I booked this gondola cruise as a surprise birthday gift for my husband, and it turned out to be absolutely amazing! Our gondolier, Tom Woods, was fantastic—so friendly and engaging. As we glided through the beautiful canals of Naples, he shared fascinating stories and even serenaded us with two songs (including one in Italian!). I also added the “message in a bottle” with a personalized birthday note for my husband. He was was so surprised, it made the cruise even more memorable. I highly recommend this unique and unforgettable experience for any special occasion!

Thank you so much Gondola Getaway for helping make my proposal the most special day. Nick was a wonderful gondolier and Kevin was very nice too. Everyone who I worked with there helped make this moment the most perfect moment, and I would recommend this for any occasion. Beautiful canals and views. Thanks again and 5 stars!!

Celebrating our love and our birthdays by creating beautiful memories. Our gondolier, Nick was awesome!! Thank you Gondola Getaway!

Hubby booked a gondola through this company 30 years ago as a surprise for our 1st date. We never made it because back then I got seasick easily and didn't want to risk it. Fast forward...I now have sealegs (which you don't need) so I booked a gondola to see the Naples Christmas lights to get a different view. The weekend before, friends and I walked the canal after the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, so you can imagine the crowds of people going to see the Naples lights. The gondola is a much better way to see the lights. Booking online was simple. I received a confirmation email and in the email was what to expect. If you bring beverages, they provide a cooler/ice bucket with ice and cups. Connor was our gondolier and he was an absolute champ. He paddled through the canal so quickly that we had more time left on our cruise, so he took us out to the bay which was deserted, but peaceful. We had such a great time thanks to Connor! I highly recommend Gondola Getaway. Their staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. It's well worth the $267.50 (pre tip).

A group of girls with a man rowing a gindola and singing to us! Who could ask for more? It was a beautiful day. We had a great time while snacking on cheese and enjoying wine.

The customer service was exceptional- Kevin was so pleasant and helpful. Parking was a challenge but he made accommodations for me and another separate customer. Our person, Jake who took us on the tour was enthusiastic, entertaining, informative and gave positive vibes. The ride itself was comfy, and Naples itself was beautiful and the extras I purchased were spot on, who corks for with no fee! That was the cherry on top. I'm booking for December!

This is a fantastic & romantic thing to do for love ones and cost is at reasonable or you can get discount online too. Great time sailing through the channels in Naples Island. Great, friendly, attentive and patient service for sure. Took my out of town friends (couple time) to have a great experience beside in Venices. Love it, the scenics are amazing, especially at sunset time. Just a lovely experience not to forget.

Absolutely the most amazing date night we've ever had! We are two seniors who got married during Covid, and always look forward to a date night every week. I chose Gondola Getaway because of the great reviews they had, not knowing that previous reviews didn't come close to the experience we had! Our first scheduled trip unfortunately I was stuck in a hospital in Oxnard and couldn't make it. Joy, who is a true asset to the company, worked everything out for us! Originally scheduled for a night where we would have a fantastic sunset, I checked for the first day available with a full moon and rescheduled. We were greeted at the dock by Eric, the Gondolier, who is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and handed my wife a dozen red roses, then sprinkled rose petals on the walkway down to the boat. We brought our own adult type beverages, and enjoyed the cheese, salami, prosciutto, and olives, which were part of the package they have and I had included in our plans. We set out towards the canals in Naples, directly into a full moon rising over the horizon, and we're just blown away by the beauty. Eric explained how the boat worked how he experienced many travels to Europe and experienced the Italian style of Gondola. He was very knowledgeable with homes in the area and pointed out one home that had a huge Denver bronco flag and statue (as my wife and I are both huge Denver Bronco fans!) He explained the tradition of kissing under the bridges and I certainly took advantage of that! I scheduled extra time on our trip and enjoyed a very long and relaxing tour. Midway, he reached over the edge of the gondola and pulled in a bottle that was floating in the water and oh! there was a note in it for my wife! As part of their package, you can order the message in the bottle which includes a parchment with anything you'd like to say on it! Well, needless to say, when she read it, she cried like a teenager!. All in all this was the most fantastic experience we've had, not to mention how professional and accommodating Eric and Joy both were. This is a true no-brainer if you're looking for a fantastic time! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to All! Thanks to Joy , Eric and to Gondola Getaways for everything!

Such a wonderful experience! Our guide was incredibly friendly, kind, and even sang beautifully. The girl at the front was also so helpful and pleasant. We went for our anniversary, and everything was absolutely perfect. I highly recomend it.

Thank you Carson and the Gondola crew. We booked this outing thru the city of Upland and it was so fun! We had a relaxing morning cruising the harbor and enjoying the beautiful homes and waterways of Long Beach!! Beautiful!!

Pure Christmas magic! We booked a gondola ride to see the beautifully decorated homes in Naples. The large boat held 14 friends and was piloted by 2 very fun and knowledgeable gondoliers. We were able to bring our own wine and snacks. Gondola Getaway provided all the ice buckets, cups, plates and utensils. They even had giant blankets to keep us warm. This is the perfect outing for friends and family.

So much fun! Highly recommend- Jack our gondolier was friendly and made the ride interesting and fun. Beautiful scenery and gorgeous homes along the canal- snacks available to preorder as well as some available at the stand. Photo included in package. Ice bucket and ice available for any drinks you choose to bring. Some beverage choices also available at stand. Snacks reasonably price. Hour long gondola ride I felt was worth price. Dog friendly- go early to look for parking- we found some nearby- free. Really good experience. Restroom located near check in booth.

Beyond great experience! I did my proposal here 7/19/25 and the staff/manager met my every need. My first encounter here, I was helped by Joy. Joy patiently walked me through the whole set up and came up with great ideas to make sure my proposal was spot on and how I wanted it. Later I booked the gondola proposal with Kevin. Kevin was very informative and ensured that everything was aligned correctly with the staff and my plans. Proposal aside, the gondola ride was super fun. We had Jake as our gondlier and he was really cool and shared with us some historical facts regarding naples and Italy. Thank you guys again for blessing me with the help and my proposal

I would like to send Rachel, Tommy, and Nick a SPECIAL thank you for making it happen yesterday. They went above and beyond to make sure that my proposal to my girlfriend was romantic and memorable. Thank you so Much!!

I loved this, unique, peaceful experience. My only regret is that it wasn't longer! Getting to have a gondalier steer you around canals outside of Venice is a pretty unique find. This business has been here since the 80's and the founder got his training in Italy. I got a great deal from Groupon. The company and staff were wonderfully easy to work with and helped me out when my car got trapped in our driveway and we were late to our reservation. The food you can order to add to your own byob picnic was tasty, the cannoli was especially delicious. Our gondolier was charming and friendly. The view of the Naples canals is so fun. It was a great way to see all these unique houses and personal watercraft. Passed a ton of SUP enthusiasts and one mallard. Highly recommend.

We did a sunset gondola and it was absolutely divine. The Gondalier was lovely and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend

We received a gift card for a couples gondola ride . We arrived and it was a peaceful early evening- the water was calm and our gondola driver put on some lovely Italian tunes. We learned about the waterways, bridges & the lovely homes. Our gondola driver was wonderful- had all sorts of interesting trivia about Naples area & treasure island. It was a great way to relax and enjoy the evening.

Micah was very interested in discussing the beautiful canals and properties and a fun gondola operator. He chatted and made sure we enjoyed ourselves. Very nice way to begin Holiday season. The only downside was the poor quality of the photo they gave us.

Beautiful ride and very relaxing! They offer ice buckets or baskets for your ride. You can bring your own snacks and drink or they will provide it for a fee. Everyone is very friendly from the check in to the gondola driver. Definitely recommend for a special occasion or just a warm summer night!

We were on time and did not wait long. Rex, our, "Pilot," was highly knowledgeable about the area and told us interesting facts. We took pictures and relaxed. What a wonderful day!

We hosted a beautiful proposal on the Gondolas. It was a bit rainy, but the gondolier provided umbrellas and cozy blankets for the ride. It was a memorable and beautiful experience. I would highly recommend for Anniversaries, Birthdays, Valentines Day or any special occasions. You can bring your own champagne and charcuterie boards. Such a pleasant experience.

such an amazing & unique experience!!! went for an anniversary we got a groupon and saved money we paid only $119 instead of $150!! the ride is around 50 minutes & you get a private cruise on a gondola through the long beach naple canals! we added on the message in the bottle which you can write your own custom message & they set up a whole scene for you to find the bottle & you can do a little surprise we also got the meat & cheese add on which i'd skip next time i'd rather bring my own next time you can BYOB & theyll provide a bucket, ice, & cups & corkage!! & bring any snacks you'd like theres blankets provided on the boat as well you get a complimentary photo as well

we were taken out on a sweet gondola, 4th of July weekend and the staff were very patient with us, as we arrived a bit late due to the holiday traffic. This was a surprise gift for my mom and her companion. They were so happy and that made us happy! We would super recommend this experience.

Highly recommend this company... The reservation was very easy. Our Gondolier provided excellent service and was very knowledgeable about the points of interest on our ride!

If you're looking for a boat tour through Naples that's part history, part comedy, and 100% charm -- Tom's your gondolier. Within five minutes, we were laughing, learning, and secretly hoping he'd narrate our whole vacation. His storytelling could make a puddle sound romantic, and his steering skills? Let's just say the man could parallel park a gondola in a teacup. Highly recommend booking with Tom -- you'll learn all the ways you can keep little Timmy safe, be serenaded into an unforgettable evening, and walk away with an affinity for striped shirts.

Jake was our gondolier. He did a fantastic job. Very nice one hour ride around the harbor. Please note parking is difficult and we recommend getting there 30 minutes early to ensure you can find.

My partner and I had an amazing time celebrating her birthday. The weather forecast called for rain, thankfully that did not happen, but it was cold, once we got going it was hardly noticeable. I surprised her with her favorite champagne and ordered a charcuterie board when I made the reservation. They provided blankets and good conversation with none other than Josh LaCount our amazing Gondolier! He has a great personality and makes you feel welcome and safe. He gives you the history of the homes and interacts with you if you are open to conversation. We were open and it was awesome!! He sang a song by Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. He sounded amazing! He was extremely modest. Josh, you have a beautiful voice! From the ease of making a reservation online to just showing up and enjoying the moment, it was a beautiful day. No pics, this was a private affair ;) Be sure to show some love and tip your Gondolier.

What a fun experience!! I definitely did not expect it to be this fun! The whole experience was around 1 hour, which seems like a long time, but it passes by fast. The gondola goes through the canal and passes by tons of cool decorated houses (which normally people have to walk through). It's BYOB and you can bring food as well. We opted to bring a bottle of wine and charcutterie board. They have cups, speakers, blankets, and ice buckets available. There's a small parking lot next to the dock, which is very convenient and checkin was fast/easy. They also have snacks available for purchase and a bathroom! Overall I highly recommend this for couples or even friends/family since they can accomodate 6? people.

A charming experience, made a birthday extra special! It was unusually warm for a fall evening, and the Halloween lights were fun to look at.

I have worked with Gondola Getaways for our group tours for over 20 years and each experience has been wonderful!!! I truly appreciate the staff that handle our bookings. Joy and Sam are so kind and professional. I hope to continue to keep bring our patrons to them for years to come :)

Great experience, it was well arranged the way I requested. Thank you, will recommend everyone

Although I rode these gondolas over 20 years ago, I had my daughter, her bf and my person included on this trip...so we treated it as our first time. Check-in was a breeze, everyone exuded friendliness and holiday cheer. When our gondola was ready, Micah greeted us, and had cannolis ready for us. Though extra charge, they were worth every bite, with a delightful crispness, light sweet filling, and a hint of lemon. Micah expertly navigated the canals, providing a smooth ride on the chilly but perfect evening. Armed with blankets, it made for a cozy experience, including our significant others Micah's wealth of knowledge about the canals' history and houses was a bonus to our night ride!. Despite living nearby and frequenting the canals, his insights were an extra treat. With 15 years of gondolier experience, Micah's passion shone through, making the night memorable. We're already planning a summer sunset ride and will definitely request Micah again; his singing was an amazing bonus! He has a rich voice and I was so happy to have a singing gondolier! Whether cruising the decorated houses at Christmas or enjoying a sunset canal ride, I highly recommend Gondola Getaway and specifically request Micah as your gondolier!

What a wonderful way to see the holiday lights in Naples!! Tom was charming and professional. He tactfully aided us old folks into and out of the gondola, and skilfully guided it through canals that were inexplicably teeming with kayaks. He has a fantastic voice, and "Santa Lucia" under the bridge was breathtaking! This may become an annual tradition!

It was a wonderfully relaxing gondola trip. sunset was amazing ". Our Gondolier was amazing wit great information. Highly recommend .

We came to Gondola Getaway for my sister's surprise birthday party! This was a extremely hot summer day! I purchased our tickets and food online. The food is prosciutto and cheese. We decided to bring wine and crackers. This is an romantic and unique date experience . Looking for something different for an anniversary? This is something to consider. How about an retirement party? Why not.... Or just because life is to short! Rachel greeted me when I walked up and explained our tour which is a hour long tour. She also told me, there are blanks for our usage aboard the gondola if we got cold. Not in this heatwave. She asked if we needed to put anything on ice while we wait on our Gondolier to return. She had a relaxing vibe that affectionately welcoming. She is the best person for this job. Our Gondolier was Jos and he was amazing. Josh had our finger food and drink with cups in hand. We were a group of six. He is very well knowledgeable about the area. He has an amazing voice as he sang happy birthday to my sister under the bridge. Jos shared with us some of history of Naples Canal. As he rowed through the canals. He chatted with us as if we were good friends. We had our Italian music playing and some of the homeowner greeted us as he rowed through the canal. This was such amazing relaxing vibe. This is a highly recommended company for your gondola experience. You will not be disappointed. Thank you to the amazing team here! Parking is scarce. So I recommend you get arrival two hours before your launching time.

Giorno perfetto!!! Yes, it was a perfect day when my husband took me on my first ever Gondola ride around the waterways of Naples to celebrate our wedding anniversary along with my birthday...thank you my love! Who knew that tucked away in our pristine waters of Long Beach, throughout the Naples canals, was the perfect, romantic and absolutely lovely getaway on a Gondola? Our Gondolier, Tommy, was top notch wonderful!!! He shared the history of the beautifully manicured homes along the route, along with some funny anecdotes about his interactions with some of the interesting characters he's come across. He even rescued hubby's hat that got caught in a sudden burst of wind and went straight into the water- fast acting and quick reflexes- good looking out Tommy!!! I am so thankful for another beautiful experience with my husband traversing the canals of Naples. Truly it was a romantic getaway with the sites, the energy of the summer day, and the gentle wind keeping us moving freely (and of course Tommy expertly guiding us around the water). This is a wonderful hidden gem that we had no idea has been in our backyard for all of these years. Thank you, Gondola Getaway. Thank you, Tommy, for being an amazing Gondolier- truly this was a memorable experience, and we look forward to coming back again.

I surprised my husband with the Gondola ride for Father's day and he loved it. I also opted for the message in a bottle it was wonderful. From the moment we got there we were greeted with smiles. Our Gondolier's was Sam, he is the BEST! You can bring your own snacks and drinks on the Gondola. They provide the ice and bucket to keep your drinks cold. Thank you Gondola Getaway Long Beach for an amazing experience. We will definitely be going back. I'd give it more stars if I could.

Our gondoliers, Jake and Josh, were the absolute best. They made our trip even more special than it already was. While it was a joy to go down the canal and see really great houses, our gondoliers just made it so much better. Worth the money, awesome for a cool 1 hour ride with your friends! Bring extra drinks and snacks if you'd like. We felt really taken care of!

I was thrilled to find Gondola Getaway as an option for our wedding ceremony! We had a small group of 12 so the Carolina (which seats 14) was perfect for us! We all boarded and cruised over to the Colonnade where the ceremony was performed, then the officiant was picked up and we proceeded to finish the ride around the canals. Was a perfect day and such a special and romantic way to get married. Definitely recommend this as an option for your wedding!

This is a must do in Long Beach. Such a great experience. We loved learning facts about Naples and our gondolier was incredible. You won't be sorry!

On August 8, my friends and I went for a sunset gondola cruise to celebrate our 60th birthdays. We had an amazing experience. Our gondolier, Jack, was fun and engaging. It was a perfect day with a beautiful sunset. It was truly a memorable event.

A beautiful Tuesday evening was spent with donors and friends of Long Beach State University. Joshua James, one of our students was one of the gondoliers for the evening and he and the other gondolier were excellent. They had a lot of information to share and were both warm and hospitable to our guests. They could both really sing too! The only complaint that I have was that 50 minutes was just too short. We could have traversed through the beautiful canals for hours.

What a wonderful time. Jake was fantastic and really made it special for my wife and I.

Another missed adventure Because of bad planning. We just figured we'd be able to get on A gondola like nothing. . Well that's just not the way life works. Of course we had a specific time slot we needed to leave by. The a boat just happen to leave right when we got there. Next time ! The romantic couple did let us take a picture of them. I don't know if I should pray to God to become a better planner or if it's God's plan for me to save money . Either way, I'm still on a mission to do this.

Had a beautiful experience at Gondola Getaway! My husband surprised me with a gondola trip around Naples Island on a beautiful crisp evening this week. Our gondolier was Josh and he was pure joy! Josh knew so much about Naples Island, it's history, the homes, and residents. He serenaded us under a bridge and his song choice and voice were perfection. Making our way through the canals there was a beautiful sense of peace and quiet and tranquility. It truly felt as if we were somewhere far far away. As we made our way back to shore the sun was setting and the colors of the Christmas lights and sunset were glorious. If you've not been... give them a go.

Great time. My girlfriend absolutely loved it. Our gondolier was very knowledgeable. She was blown away by the message in the bottle, it was the icing on the cake for her. She loved her 46th bday gift I gave her.

It was my wife's birthday, and she had the best time over there, with Nick at the helm, I requested that a Note be given to my wife and he was so smart with the surprise he pulled that even I myself was outsmarted, Big ups Nick!!!! Thank you so much, we will definitely return!!! 100/10

My family and I had an amazing time in early Jan! We ordered the gondola for up to 10 people along with a pizza party. The pizza is from Long Beach's oldest Italian restaurant... Domenicos. The food was delicious, and we highly recommend this gondola package!!

I feel gyped considering half of the Naples holidays lights were shut off at 10:30pm which was our tour time. This company fails to mention that so our ride was quiet, pretty dark and uneventful. Our gondolier didn't say a word the whole tour. Not a single song sang or not even a nice conversation or explanation as we expected a traditional gondolier tour to go. I was so disappointed. My family and I made the best of it so we started playing music off our phone but yea, def not worth it especially if you're booking after 9pm. The "photo" they provide is taken on an iPhone 12, no flash, and you can't even see our faces in the photo. Lol what a joke. I hate wasting my money especially wasting $240 on an hour boat ride that we normally do on a regular night on a Duffy or on our paddle boards. It's funny how they expect a 20% tip on top of it all. Smh

Deff check it out. My wife and I showed up and were given a nice rose petal walk to our gondola. Our guide was the best. I'm sorry but I can remember her name but she was very informative and it was a perfect day out. Great place to come for a nice date before the date. Bring your drinks! Also offer your guides a drink!

We came here 23yrs ago on our first anniversary. Today is our 23rd! There's some truth in kissing under the bridges! Tonight was such a beautiful night! The sunset was GORGEOUS! Our Gondolier Sam was very nice and friendly. I added on the message in a bottle to our ride and it went over very well! I was afraid he wouldn't pick the bottle up outta the water at first, but he did. The ride itself is super peaceful and relaxing. Make a reservation for a ride and you will not be disappointed. Recommend 10/10!

Had a wonderful experience on 12/21 with our gondolier Tom! Due to the boat parade earlier in the evening, I placed our reservation for 9:30pm. My aunt bought the gift certificate, for my husband and I, 3 years ago when we got married. And I was able to easily schedule our ride over the phone for December. The price was a little higher than normal for the Christmas lights, but it was still amazing. Tom was very helpful when we got in and out of the boat. He was funny, friendly, and he shared lots of interesting information about the canal houses. He was patient with my questions about the area during the ride (I tend to talk more when I'm nervous - was initially worried the ride would feel awkward). Tom sang us a couple of pretty songs - Volare and I don't know the name of the other one. We even saw some pretty blue herons hanging out on the rafts with the lit up Christmas trees. I loved the complimentary photo we received too. We brought our own blanket (they also provide one if needed) and Prosecco, and we were given cups to use and a bucket for the alcohol. I really enjoyed looking at the houses and seeing all the people walking during the first half, and the latter half of the 50 minute boat ride was super pretty and peaceful. Thank you Tom for taking good care of us! Be sure to tip your gondoliers, they are fabulous and deserve all the praise and more!