Gondolas West

Came here for Unilocal Spring Break (YSB) 2015, and this was one of many excursions offered to us at a Unilocal discount. It was a toss up between the cycle party drinking or alligator swampland in the Everglades.
If I passed up alligators in Louisiana, I most definitely passed up the Everglades… mama don’t play that! The alligators would eat me first; they would drool over this phat Asian LOL! Besides, it was too humid for me to do any outdoor adventure with bikes or gators, so this was the next best thing, as the wind picked up.
A must-​do when visiting Fort Lauderdale. Our Captain’s name was Houston, do you know how many times we wanted to say «Houston, we have a problem»? Too cheesy, he problem gets that all the time.
Houston totally loves his job, as he gently steered the gondola and kicked back with his feet up, while we tourists took a gazillion pics. It was the perfect Sunday Funday to our epic 4-​day YSB getaway… so relaxing. From all the booze and partying, this was the best way to unwind. Houston offered us non-​alcoholic refreshments and said a few words every now and then. Good times with other peeps on the boat who were non-​Yelpers. I had to educate the retired couples about Unilocal =) Spreading the Unilocaly love!
Thank you Gondolas West for a great time out, especially owner Chris for being so patient with me. I was indecisive at first, glad I finally decided on this unforgettable excursion!
‘Til we meet again, SYOY!

One of my easier 5 star reviews to write… maybe previously described by T-​Pain as“I’m on a Boat!” But I will elaborate…
I heard about Gondolas West around when we took the Unilocal Spring Break Pirate Cruise. I’m a pisces, love the water and knew I had to take part. Chris the owner and I worked out the logistics, even on the first planned cruise which I had to cancel, and was helpful in explaining the tours. This Saturday I was able to actually make it and enjoyed it.
Although I went solo, the boat is a motor — powered gondola seating 6 and excellent for a date with the low lights and leisurely pace. As a single cruiser, I ended up enjoying the sights and narration. Our captain and tour guide, Captain Marty happily shared his knowledge of the area’s history and celebrity homes such as Leonard Nimoy’s and a NASCAR honcho. He also took time to answer boating questions and gladly stopped to take our pictures. Despite the weather being cloudy, we even managed to catch a glimpse of the sunset!
I would definitely recommend Gondolas West for a nice couple of hours on the water, especially with company!

Had a really great time hanging out on the boat. It’s byo so bring whatever you want to snack on while cruising the bay.

Wasn’t as advertised. While it was a relaxing ride, it wasn’t as advertised. The brochure led me to believe that we would be going to more out of the way places with more wildlife, we went up & down the canals looking at houses & yachts. Could have done a water taxi for less money.

Had a great time! Very low-​key and relaxing tour, not touristy at all and the captain (Marty) was really fun and obliging. Love that it is a smaller tour, with a max of six people, way more fun than the larger boat tours. Definitely bring a bottle of wine with you, and they’ll serve you up and put it on ice! Marty also gave us an incredible lunch recommendation which turned out to be the best meal of our trip!

This was a great experience! I proposed to my wife on a sunset cruise and it worked out very well. I contacted Chris ahead of time to prepare for it and he was super cool and easy to work with. He even took pictures for us and went out of his way to meet us at a restaurant dock so it seemed less planned and more of a surprise. I rented the whole boat so it was just us and he gave a great tour of the area and all the cool mansions. We finished up in the bay right as the sunset and it was great. The pictures turned out well and she was extremely surprised. We’ve been married for over a year now and she talks about it as the best proposal.

My wife and I have been twice, and we love it! Such a nice, low key change of pace. A beautiful sunset cruise through the Intra Coastal, and the Captain is funny, plus he knows all the gossip about some of the beautiful homes you’ll see :). A great time!

What an Amazing experience! My future mother-​in-​law was in town and we wanted to show her a wonderful time (especially since she was escaping the dreadful snow up North)… And boy, did this deliver. 10 fold!
Our tour lasted about an hour and a half; our tour guide was super friendly, knowledgable and made the experience the A+ trip that it was. This 6 seater boat is the perfect intimate setting. We met an awesome couple from Salt Lake City which also helped to make this trip so Fab!
Non-​alcoholic beverages are served, but you can bring your own drinks and snacks. Who doesn’t want a sunset boat ride with a glass of Champs (or 2)?!
Highly, highly, highly recommended for a night out! Slowly drifting through the water at sunset on a beautiful evening. What more could you want?! I will for sure be back. A «must do» with out of town visitors. Or even local friends for that matter!
P. S. Ask for Marty! Best Captain Ever!

I had a wonderful experience with my fiancé and parents. The captains were very knowledgable and gave us a full refund after the boat had a little issue. This just goes to show the business is all about customer satisfaction. I highly recommended them and when I revisit fort lauderdale I will definitely be going back!

Exceeded expectations! We were a party of 4 but ended up with the boat to ourselves. We chose this company because it sounded much better to be able to BYOB and be in a small setting than on a large boat with a bunch of people. It was so relaxing to enjoy our drinks and snacks, an take in the sights.
We also enjoyed being conversational with the captain — no pre-​scripted agenda; instead it was very interactive. We would definitely do this again!

Was a great and realizing sunset tour w me and my girlfriend and our pug. They were kind enough to allow a small «well trained» dog and it was not a problem at all. The ride was quiet and really nice. The captain was friendly and professional. They offered waters and sodas however I brought my own snacks and beverages (alcoholic ones are permitted). Plenty of room on the boat and comfortable seating. I would have given 5 stars however I was told when I booked the tour I’d get a free parking voucher and when the time came to get it they were «out of vouchers» so other than that it was excellent.

We did this on our last night in Florida before heading on to our Caribbean cruise and are so glad we did. It was like a friend taking you out on their boat and giving you a local’s insider on the who’s who in the canals. Add in the fact that you could bring on a bottle of champagne, wine or whatever you want to drink as you cruise along. Truly was the perfect ending to a great stay in Fort Lauderdale. I’d highly recommend doing this if you’re in town!

We took a cruise earlier this week with Gondolas West. Chris was great. We didn’t have time to get drinks or food for our cruise and he suggested that we run over to All About Food (next to the Bahia Mar Hotel) to grab something. We came back with a bottle of wine and snacks. When we got on board we settled into comfortable cushioned bench seats surrounding a table. Chris got out wine glasses for us as well as plates and napkins. He had maps on the table so we could better understand where we were, as well as a bird watching guide. The ride was nice, smooth and quiet. It was great having an electric motor and a small vessel because we were able to wind up and down little inlets that bigger boats couldn’t fit in and in which louder boats would likely not be welcome.
You should know that this is not a scripted tour. Chris doesn’t have a set plan for the tour. You ask questions and he answers them. It seems like he was letting our conversation with him determine where we should head next. I liked this approach very much. He’s very knowledgeable about the history of the area, the real estate in the area, the wildlife and the current events.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone who want a casual and informative tour of the area.

We did this on our last night in Florida and it was the hightlight of our trip! My sister and I surprised our mom with the sunset cruise and we brought champagne and cheese on board. Dan was our captain and he had glasses and plates to use and it was a perfect ride. We had the boat to ourselves and he took us down to see the beautiful homes along the canals. Truly was the perfect ending to a great trip I highly recommend this over other boat tours I’ve taken down in fort lauderdale!

We went to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and a Caribbean cruise for vacation. While the entire trip was fun, our afternoon cruise on Gondolas West was definitely a top highlight. The owner guided us through the canals as we sipped some beers and chatted. It was so relaxing. We got a glimpse of what it’s like to chill out in FL. Next time we are back in Fort Lauderdale, we will book the afternoon and sunset cruise back to back because we didn’t want the day to end.
Tip: Grab some beer or wine to enjoy on board, they’re cool with that and have a fridge, wine/​bottle openers on board.

It’s going to be hard to put into words how great this experience was. Right from the start Chris, the owner, was quick to respond to emails and calls. He answered all of my questions, got rid of any concerns I had, didn’t pressure me in any way and it definitely seemed like him and his crew were passionate about what they do. He gave me a great deal on a sunset boat cruise in October. My father was visiting from NY so I wanted to do something that he would really enjoy and this was THE best decision.
I loved the fact that it was a private tour. However, we could have invited up to 6 other people. We were able to bring our own alcoholic beverages (we didn’t since my father doesn’t drink) and I was able to plug in my iPod which made a fabulous touch. Our guide, Bryan, was extremely personable and informative while we went on the tour. We went past gorgeous homes, stunning boats and even got to see them setting up for the boat show. To top it off, we ended the tour with a beautiful sunset. I highly recommend this boat tour if someone is looking for a nice, relaxing evening.

Excellent way to see Ft. Lauderdale’s mansions, yachts and canals. Boat is roomy, clean and new. Only six people plus the captain. Very pleasant evening.

We opted for the sunset cruise (7:30). Because of weather being drizzly and overcast I had concerns. Chris greeted us and was relaxed. When my wife saw the boat and said it was «Cute» I was relaxed. Lol.
The rain stopped, the wind blew some of the humidity away, and we preceded to see wonderful Americana! Gorgeous homes, opulence of the caliber that makes one proud of this old «Red, White,& Blue». Tina was beside herself as the flora was in full bloom. As it darkened the landscape lighting brought the scene alive. Chris lite some candles and Tina was very impressed.
We truly had a great experience.
We stopped at Jaxons for a scoop of coconut ice cream on the way home. But thats a different review.

I recently purchased a Groupon for Gondolas West, as the idea of a «silent» boat ride appealed to me! I also liked the fact that the maximum passenger count was six, as I figured this would offer a more intimate and personalized experience than those offered by larger tour operators.
Making a reservation was easy. I left a message and received a call back on the same day. I booked a Saturday tour at 3pm. I provided my Groupon # at that time, and was glad I didn’t have to worry about printing it out.
I decide to take my Mom with me. On the day of the cruise, we headed over to the marina. I thought leaving home an hour prior would give me enough time to get there, but the traffic on A1A was horrendous! We were in traffic for over 30 mins, and I ended up getting there at 3:15. I left the car with the valet so we could get inside quickly. Thankfully, (the owner and captain) Chris, was kind enough to wait for us. I felt really bad about being late, and was grateful that Chris and the couple that sailed with us didn’t make a big deal about it.
We headed out to the marina, and boarded eCHO. The boat was clean, comfortable, and nicely appointed. Chris immediately offered us sodas and water once we were onboard. He turned on the «Best of the 70’s» music (which I loved), and we headed out of the marina. We toured the various canals and waterways of Ft Lauderdale. It was a busy day on the water and we saw lots of other boats, a few birds, an iguana, and lots of lovely homes and yachts! eCHO is really quiet. It was nice to be able to hear the music and converse without difficulty. Most of the homeowners we passed were pleasant and waved, so they also seemed to appreciate eCHO’s silence too! While Chris is knowledgeable, and can answer whatever questions you may have, this tour is not the typical tour where the operator babbles nonstop. I really liked the fact that it was relaxing and low key. We returned to the marina at 5. Chris gave us stickers to validate our parking. He wasn’t sure the valet would accept it, but they did! We said our goodbyes, and headed out to Coconut’s (recommended by Chris) for dinner.
During the course of the cruise, I found out you can bring your own beverages and snacks. Chris has a fridge, cooler, glasses, plates, silverware etc onboard. I thought that was pretty awesome, and I plan to return with stone crabs and wine! Chris also offers private tours! Overall, this was a great experience, and I can’t wait to return for a sunset cruise! I highly recommend Gondolas West!

My boyfriend and I decided to do the Gondolas West tour Valentine’s Day (ahh how sweet)! We opted for the 10:00AM two-​hour cruise because I was hoping to see a manatee or two. Although we ended up not seeing any, I still had a great time. Our tour included two other couples and our tour guide Chris (he is also the owner and operator). Everyone was great! It was a very relaxing coasting along the tranquil waters.
Althought it was a very beautiful day, the boat is fulled shaded (on the top and sides); perfect for any weather. The captain provided water, soda and some deliciously sweet oranges, but you also have the option to bring your own drinks.
I grew up in Fort Lauderdale and I must say, it was an experience well worth it. Even if your take this tour only once, it is a must do for the tourist and the non-​tourist alike. Gondolas West is perfect for families, small groups, or for couples.