Fort Lauderdale's Venice of America Tour

Nice boat and great tour guide

We boarded the boat on time, sat for nearly 25 minutes before there was an announcement that something was wrong with the boat. They did not have the part to fix it and they cancelled the cruise. They said we could wait for the next cruise in two hours, but could NOT guarantee the boat would be repaired! This was on the 4th of July and we had driven a signifcant distance for this trip. 1/2 day of our vacation was wasted.

Because of a short term change of our tour plan, we could'nt take part in the booked cruise! So I hope, on my next trip to the US, there will be another opportunity to see the riverfront... Best regards, Dr. Kaminski/Germany

Was shorter than the 1.5 hours advertised (left 5 min late, returned about 10 min early) Free drinks are a nice touch. Staff is courteous. Difficult to hear the speakers. Views and ride itself are beautiful and relaxing.

Clean, comfortable, pleasant way to see unique area of Ft. Lauderdale. Helpful staff.

This was a fun time for me and my mom who was coming in from out of town. The tour guide talked a bit too fast, but he was comical and fun. Since my mom and I were younger (under 50), we did not know many of the "famous" people. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful homes in the riverfront!

The "Good"---Take the Riverfront tour and bring your sunscreen! It's a nice, relaxing ride....not quite long enough to plan your whole day around, but well worth the price. Daytime tours are sun-filled, so bring water! The crew is nice and the Captain is knowledgeable, however, if you are so busy talking to other passengers, you'll miss the humor the Captain relates in his tour narration. Paying attention is half the fun! Just feet away from the ship are good, outdoor eateries, but food and drink are also available on board. Again, if you pay attention to the narration, you'll have the opportunity to win a free drink with a guessing game. My tour was on Wednesday at half-price, with drinks not included but tours with included drinks are also available for a few dollars more, without breaking the bank! Either way, it's fun. The "Bad"---Know where you are going when you drive to the boat! This location is not easy to find. Your can park on either side of the river but you'll take a hike if you choose the side near the jail. Bring a good pair of sneakers and have have plenty of change on hand for parking meters! If you park on the same side of the river as the tour is located, there is a parking deck but bring a hand-held GPS unit to get you to the ticket booth! All-in-all, it's a good time for all. Bring a few dollars to tip the crew and have a good, digital camera in hand and ready to use. Say thanks to the Captain! Remember, don't be sooooo busy talking that you miss the narration and keep in mind that others will miss what is said because you are talking! As an added bonus, if you have some free time, watch how long it takes for the train to come across the bridge once the warning sounds and the bridge lowers! Hint, bring a deck of cards or a scrabble board while waiting for the train!

The service was ok. I bought the tickets online, but they don't tell you that the boat doesn't leave if there isn't at least 10 people going on the tour. I got to the booth in Las Olas and the man says they don't have enough people to leave and told us to wait around. My advice is to purchase your tickets at the booth. Thankfully there was just enough people who decided to go on the tour, a total of 12. The tour itself wasn't so bad, especially since the boat show was also taking place at that time. We also saw an Obama sailboat, it was pretty hot looking!!! They take your picture when you board and you have the option of purchasing a picture w/ keychain ($10). Take extra on board cash if you plan on buying a drink in addition to the one thats included or photo, no credit/debit card purchases. The chairs on the boat are cheap plastic, I feel they could do better than some dollar store chairs, with all the money they make from touring.

The water front boat tour included views of numerous multi-million dollar homes, private yachts, and other points of interest. The guide's narrative was very informative and interesting. Highly recommend this tour.

The river cruise was all that we had hoped it would be. Clean, comfortable vessel. Clear, articulate narration delivered in an educational yet interesting manner, through (importantly) clear speakers throughout the vessel. The route was very scenic and interesting. Not a disappointing moment in the entire trip.