FAQs

Absolutely – gondola cruises make wonderful gifts!

Gift cards are available in any amount and can be redeemed for all cruise types! Certificates can be purchased over the phone by calling 855-466-3652.

In order to make sure your gift covers the cost of a complete cruise (including tax), or if you wish to include custom items with your gift, such as a bottle of champagne, additional guests, or a pre-included gratuity, please give our office a call at 855-GONDOLA or 949-646-2067.

If you would like us to email you a customized certificate you can print and gift to your recipient, please reach out to us via phone or email.

**Please note that at this time due to high amounts of fraud, we are only accepting gift card payments in the form of Zelle or Venmo transfers, or a direct in-person bank deposit. Please call us for more information. We can provide you with a custom estimate as well as direct instructions on how to pay through any of the three available methods.**

Lake Carolyn has many areas where the gondolas can cruise.  The route is not the same every time and will vary depending on wind and weather conditions, as well as other factors on the lake (water level, prevalence of weed undergrowth, and activities on the waterway).  You may cruise the Mandalay Canals or you may visit the second or third lobe of the lake.  There are quite a few possibilities! If there’s something specific you’d like to see, please let us know in advance and we can advise if it is an option.

No, we do not provide alcohol. You are more than welcome to bring your own, and we can provide the bucket and ice, corkscrew, and glasses ($12.50 plus tax service fee applies). At this time, our liquor license only permits wine, champagne, or beer aboard. No hard liquor, please!

All of our cruises are by advance reservation only, so please call us or go online to make your reservation.

At this time, we do not allow any outside food aboard the gondolas. This is for a variety of reasons, but is mainly due to the additional clean-up time that is typically needed when clients bring food that we aren’t prepared to handle. It is often messy and our gondoliers don’t have extra time in between cruises to plan for cleaning additional crumbs, frosting, etc, in addition to the regular cleaning and turnaround time of the boats.  Additionally, we are unable to provide dishes, napkins, or cutlery for you, as these are not something we keep stocked in our office.

We offer a variety of food cruise options (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, etc) and small bite add-ons that will be sure to satisfy your snacking needs!

Please note that while we do offer individual cake slices and dessert options on our Delectable Dessert Cruise, we do not allow any birthday candles or open flame aboard the gondolas due to fire safety regulations. Your gondolier will be glad to sing “Happy Birthday” for the birthday guest if we are notified in advance!

In our Texas location, we have four different styles. Please take a look at our Cruise Upgrades page to browse the different gondolas. There is an additional charge for the uncovered, traditional style rowing, and Crystal Swan gondolas. Availability is limited.

From time to time, we receive requests from gondola clients to bring their own photographers to take photos of their special occasion from the shore. Sometimes these photographers are friends or family members, and sometimes they are professional companies. This is often followed by calls and/or emails from the clients, friends, family members, or the photographers asking us to pinpoint the specific time and location when a bottle drop will happen, when a proposal will happen, or when the gondola will pass by a landmark or bridge.

Unfortunately, this information is very difficult for us to provide, for several reasons:

• Not all clients arrive on time
• Not all gondolas travel at the same speed
• Our cruises vary from one hour to two hours, depending on cruise type
• Wind and current impact not only speed but also routing and bottle message location
• Other factors can impact routing and bottle message location, such as the other gondolas, pedal boats, SUP traffic on the waterway, weed and other growth under the water, special events on the lake, etc.
• If the cruise included food service, we can’t always predict the serving time from the restaurant

All of these factors combine to make it nearly impossible for us to provide detailed information to independent photographers about how best to capture images of special occasions. Furthermore, our phone and sales staff are not equipped to answer such questions.

We do offer professional photography services in our Irving location. The photographers have been trained and regularly interface with the gondoliers to capture special moments. However, we don’t have the time or ability to replicate this training with friends, family, and outside photographers who will only be doing one photo shoot for one customer.

Clients are always welcome to have someone along the canals to attempt to capture photos, but not only can we not guarantee a time and location where specific events will happen, but we cannot even give a 100% guarantee that the gondolier will enter the canals (sometimes the wind and weather prohibit canal cruising). Most importantly, our focus is to provide a gondola cruise, and we must emphasize to guests providing their own photography that we cannot be responsible for any outside photographer’s inability to capture great images.

The only suggestion we can make is to have your friends or photographers be at the dock location from which you sail (hiding somehow), and follow the boat. Our typical route is a one-way loop through the canals and the lake. Perhaps you can communicate with your land-based photographer via text during the cruise to advise them of important happenings.

Please be advised that all professional photographers taking pictures of our customers or any other visitors or residents on the lake and canals require a permit per Irving’s city ordinances. Gondola Adventures has a special license that our customers can come in under, or photographers can get their own daily permit directly from DCURD if they prefer.  If you choose to purchase the license through us it will be slightly cheaper than going through the city, but either option will work for the city’s purposes.

Additionally, your photographer will need to fill out and sign the Agreement and Release of Liability and return it to us in advance of the cruise, or they will not be permitted to shoot within city limits per city regulations. Permit Rules and Regulations must be abided by, and drone operators must have a Remote Pilot Certificate and the drone must be registered with the FAA.  They must also abide by all local, state, and federal ordinances.

Current city requirements, permits, and forms can be viewed here: Photography Permits – Mandalay Canal. Everything linked on this site is what Gondola Adventures will provide if you choose to purchase through us.

All of our current photographers have their information and insurance on file and are in compliance with the city requirements.

As these are city requirements, we do not have any flexibility in this area. Thank you for your understanding.

**CLIENT-PROVIDED PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTO SHOOTS, VIDEO SHOOTS, DRONES**
If you do choose to bring your own photographer or videographer, we must be notified in advance. Prior permission is required for all photography, videography, and drone shoots.  Rules, regulations, liability forms, fees, and insurance requirements available upon request.

All professional photographers taking pictures of our customers or any other visitors or residents on the lake and canals require a permit.

All drone photographers (even if not professional) taking pictures of customers, the gondolas, the general area, or any other visitors or residents on the lake and canals require a permit.

Gondola Adventures has a special license that customers can come in under, or photographers can get their own daily permit directly from DCURD if they prefer.  All of our current photographers have their information and insurance on file and are in compliance with the requirements.

Standard Proposal, Special Celebration (personal shoot):

• Agreement and Release of Liability must be signed and notarized.
• Permit Rules and Regulations must be abided by.
• Drone operators must have a Remote Pilot Certificate and the drone must be registered with the FAA.  They must also abide by all local, state, and federal ordinances.
• License cost information available upon request.

Commercial, Music Video, Advertising (commercial shoot):

• Agreement and Release of Liability must be signed and notarized.
• Permit Rules and Regulations must be abided by.
• Proof of insurance as indicated on the permit rules in Section III is required.
• Drone operators must have a Remote Pilot Certificate and the drone must be registered with the FAA.  They must also abide by all local, state, and federal ordinances.
• License cost information available upon request.

If permission is not secured in advance and the guests arrive with a photographer or film crew, the cruise will not be able to board until the paperwork is in order.  In this situation, the cruise may be shortened and/or not happen at all due to time constraints.  No refunds will be given if a customer arranges their own photography without permission and they are not able to cruise.

As these are city requirements, we do not have any flexibility in this area. Thank you for your understanding.

Although the most popular time to cruise is during sunset, the best time can really only be determined by you. Consider a bountiful breakfast cruise, a picnic lunch cruise, or a late afternoon appetizer cruise as a great way to start your evening before a dinner reservation. Perhaps you might enjoy one of our dinner cruises on the gondola or a delicious dessert cruise under the stars.

All of our cruises are non-refundable, but they are transferrable. Once you make a reservation, that date and time are held specifically for you. If you are unable to arrive for your cruise, we suggest having a friend or family member cruise in your place.  Please call our office at 855-gondola as soon as possible to discuss the situation.

Cancellations or changes of date and/or time will incur a $35 fee but must be made at least 48-hours before the cruise and are based on availability. Reschedules requested the day of the cruise will incur a minimum $75 reschedule fee, which will increase if food and/or other consumables have been ordered. Reschedules within an hour of the cruise, after the scheduled cruise time has passed, or on days when cruises are sold out, will be significantly higher and may be forfeited entirely.

Please arrive on the dock at the time of your cruise. If you arrive early, your gondolier may not be in from a prior cruise or he may be setting up your gondola. Your cruise should depart at the appointed time.

We row by reservation, so your gondola and gondolier’s time are blocked specifically for your cruise. If you are running late, your gondolier will be waiting for you by the gondola (for at least 45 minutes into an hour cruise and 90 minutes into a two-hour cruise). Depending on the gondolier’s schedule, your cruise may need to pull in at the scheduled end time. Because all of our cruises are non-refundable, please still plan to arrive if you are running late so at least you can enjoy a portion of your cruise.

We board at several different locations around Lake Carolyn.  Each cruise type has a specific boarding location, which we send you when you book your cruise.  If you would like a different boarding location and we are able to accommodate the request, there will be an additional fee.

On the contrary, we also host families, friends, and business groups. We can also accommodate large groups. Please call for details.

Absolutely not! Our bottle messages are presented on beautiful parchment paper, rolled tightly and tied with a ribbon, placed all the way into a brand new clear glass wine bottle, and sealed tightly with a cork. The cork keeps the message 100% dry until the guest of honor retrieves it. Removal from the bottle is accomplished by popping the cork and tugging on the ribbon.

Please send bottle messages to [email protected] and put your event number, last name, and date of your cruise in the subject line. Please consult your receipt for your event number. You also have the option of submitting your message text through your Cruise Customization Form, which is automatically sent to you in your booking confirmation email.

If you don’t have the event number handy, please at least include your last name and the date of your cruise so we can be sure to get the right message to you on your cruise.

Some of our gondoliers sing, while others do not. All of our gondoliers play soft romantic music. If you would like a singing gondolier, please note it in your comments (please be advised requests cannot be guaranteed).

All of our gondolas have life jackets under the deck. It is our policy that children age 13 and under wear a life jacket. Please know that our gondolas are very safe; however, if an adult would like to wear a life jacket as well, please notify the gondolier when you arrive.

Our policy for inclement weather is that we issue a rain check/gift certificate to the guest, who can redeem it at a time of their convenience.

All of our cruises are non-refundable. In case of inclement weather – if it is hazardous, unsafe, or unpleasant to cruise (due to storms, wind, or other lake conditions) – we will contact you and either reschedule as soon as possible to a date of your choosing, or issue you a gift certificate redeemable at any point in the future. Your credit does not expire and will always be on file in our system. Please contact us for additional information regarding rain check redemption.

All of our cruises are private for you and your guest(s). Your gondolier will be driving/rowing the boat at all times.

Our larger gondolas (canopy-covered electric, Stargazer, and Coral) hold up to 10 passengers, so if you are booking for 2-6 guests, there is no weight limit.  That being said, some of our gondolas handle larger guests better, so please advise us when you book your cruise if there are weight or height considerations as that will help us ensure the best gondola is scheduled for that cruise.

You can certainly bring your children aboard our gondolas! Children under 5 ride for free. Children ages 13 and under ride for half price aboard the Classic Cruise, and the full price on any cruises that involve food (as they will receive their own full meal.) Any children under 13 will be fitted with required life jackets upon arrival.

While some guests prefer to dress up for the occasion, we always recommend that you dress comfortably and season appropriate (for example: dress warmly in winter, feel free to bring your own blankets; dress cool in the summer, feel free to bring an umbrella for shade). We find our guests generally dress in a nice but casual fashion, as they would to go to a restaurant.

Small dogs are allowed aboard, as long as they are under 10 pounds and are able to remain calm throughout the duration of the cruise (many of our gondolas are antiques and can be damaged by a dogs nails on the paint!) Please do not bring your dog if they are not used to being on the water. If you have a service dog that is over 10 pounds, please contact us in advance advance of booking to ensure we can accommodate your request.

Two complimentary beverage options (Sparkling Apple Cider and Bottled Flat Water) are vegan.

Our Classic Cruise includes complimentary gourmet truffles, which contain milk and are not vegan.

Our Lunch Cruise includes vegan salad options, and several pasta options which may be customized to be vegan upon request. At this time our partner restaurant does not carry any vegan cheese options. Full current menu available for viewing in the cruise description on our website. Specific customizations may be made when choosing your menu selections after booking your cruise.

Our evening dinner cruises (Italian Dinner Cruise, Exquisite Dinner Cruise) include appetizer, salad and entree options which may be customized to be vegan. Full current menus available for viewing in the cruise descriptions on our website. At this time our partner restaurant does not carry any vegan cheese options. Please contact us by phone or email to inquire about specific customizations. We also offer a vegan Brownie Parfait-in-a-Jar option for dessert selection.

Our Breakfast Cruise has several main course and side selections that are vegan. Full current menu available for viewing in the cruise description on our website. Specific customizations may be made when choosing your menu selections after booking your cruise.

Our Delectable Dessert Cruise includes a vegan Brownie Parfait-in-a-Jar selection as a menu option. Full current menu available for viewing in the cruise description on our website. At this time we cannot offer any additional customizations on menu selections for this cruise.

At this time, we do not have any vegan friendly options on our Casual Pizza Cruise as our partner restaurant does not carry any vegan cheese options.

Please be aware that any appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts will be prepared in the same facility as products containing animal products.

As we are limited to the available options from our partnering restaurants, we are unable to add any additional food selections (appetizers, salads, entrees, or desserts) even by specific request. We thank you for your understanding!

No. Some of our gondolas are made completely out of wood, and some have many wood and flammable elements.