The Christmas Boat Parade started with a gondola, and we are proud to carry on that century-old tradition! Our Christmas Boat Parade gondola cruises are approximately 90-minutes long and get the guests up close and personal with the Parade. We include lots of Christmas goodies (cookies and assorted treats) and provide what is akin to a sleigh ride on the water. In addition to Parade viewing, we also see many of the decorated homes around Linda and Harbor Islands. We offer two different time slots per evening, we can take up to 6 guests per boat (larger groups can book a “flotilla” where several gondolas cruise together in close proximity), and we include parking (one space for each gondola booked).
At least one authentic Venetian gondola has been in Newport Harbor since John Scarpa arrived in the early 1900s. We are the last remaining gondola company here and we have four imported Venetian boats, including the historic Curci gondola (the Lucia) and a brand-new gondola launched in mid-2022, direct from Italy (Bella).”