Cap off the awards ceremony with the Doctorate...with an exclusive celebration on the canals of the lagoon city.
A milestone deserves a legend:
A special Doctorate Deserves an extraordinary gift! It’s the moment when Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa turn their pride and joy into an unforgettable experience. Treat yourself to this exclusive highlight and enjoy the City of Love from what is surely its most beautiful vantage point.
What to expect on this special trip:
- Congratulations: A festive celebration of your success.
- Exclusivity: A chilled bottle of Prosecco on board.
- Memories: Professional guidance to help you capture the most beautiful photos of your tour.
- Safety: Personalized service and our proven quality guarantee.
Trust the Original
We’ve been organizing these very special gondola rides for over 20 years—we „invented“ this concept, so to speak. As the official sales platform, we work directly with the Consortium of Gondoliers in Venice together. Every gondola ride reservation is officially made in the gondolier's name.
Count on our decades of experience to make this moment as perfect as you deserve.
Everything for Your Special Day: The Exclusive Package
Celebrate passing the Doctorate Stylish and uncompromising. We've put together a package that celebrates this milestone:
- Personalized Support: We'll be there to assist you and your guests to ensure that everything goes smoothly during the gondola ride.
- Exclusive 30-minute gondola ride: Enjoy the romance of Venice in complete privacy. Our guarantee: Just you and your party (up to 5 people) in the gondola—no other guests.
- A toast to success: Raise a glass with a bottle of fine, select Prosecco.
- Unforgettable Memories: We capture the best moments and take professional photos throughout the entire tour.
- The big surprise: We'll prepare a festive banner with your personal message, which will be displayed during the ride.
An unforgettable moment: The congratulatory banner
Imagine the look on your loved one’s face as the gondola glides silently under one of the picturesque bridges, where a special message awaits him or her.
- The element of surprise: We'll hang a festive banner with congratulatory messages on a selected bridge along the route. A moment that will be remembered forever (and captured in photos).
- Our Services: We are lending you this standard banner for the duration of the trip.
Your very own personal message
Would you like to add an even more personalized touch? We can make it happen!
For an additional charge of 60,00 € We have it printed at our partner print shop here in Venice A very personal banner make for you.
- Custom Design: Whether it's the graduate's name, the date, or a personal message—you decide what to write.
- A lasting memento: Unlike a standard banner, the custom banner is yours to keep after the ride. You can take this special souvenir home with you as a memento.
- Important Note: To ensure high-quality printing on-site, we need a Lead time of approximately 4 business days. If you're interested, just let us know!
The Perfect Itinerary: Your Route Through the Heart of Venice
A gondola ride should be a relaxing highlight—without any hustle and bustle or long waits. Thanks to our direct connections with the gondoliers in the center of Venice, we guarantee that everything will go smoothly.
Your time advantagel: We select the best docking spot for you on a daily basis, depending on how busy it is. This way, you’ll avoid unnecessary wait times and can focus entirely on celebrating your passing of the DoctorateFocus on that. You'll receive the exact starting point conveniently in advance via email.
Our Guarantees for Your Tour:
- Central location: The tour takes place in the prestigious neighborhood of San Marco ... The starting point is just a few minutes' walk from the famous St. Mark's Square.
- The best of both worlds: The route takes you through the majestic Grand Canal as well as through Venice's enchanting, quiet, and romantic side canals.
- Time to Enjoy: The gondoliers guarantee a ride lasting approximately. 30 minutes – Plenty of time to make a toast.
- Perfect staging: We'll select a suitable bridge along the route to effectively display your banner.
- Your paparazzi on land: While you enjoy the ride, we'll accompany you from the shore and capture the most beautiful moments in numerous photos.
The result: A perfectly organized, wonderful surprise that is absolutely fitting for the occasion.
Room for Your Loved Ones: The Number of Participants on the Gondola Ride
A success like passing the Doctorate You’ll want to celebrate with just your closest friends and family. To ensure your experience on the water remains safe and comfortable, the City of Venice has clear guidelines regarding gondola occupancy.
Important information for planning your gondola ride:
- Maximum capacity: For safety reasons, the following are not permitted in a gondola: up to 5 people Please have a seat.
- Our experience: For over 20 years, we have been taking families on very special gondola rides. Even though we are often asked if an exception is possible, the gondoliers„ answer is a firm “no.” The safety of our guests comes first.
- Current policy: While up to 6 people were previously allowed, the capacity has been officially reduced to 5 people reduced. This also ensures greater comfort and freedom of movement for your photos.
- The only exception: A toddler (up to 2 years old) may also ride on a parent's lap without affecting the official headcount for the event.
Exclusivity and Security: Your Start in the Experience
A gondola ride should be a relaxing experience from the very first second. That's why we leave nothing to chance when planning your trip in the heart of Venice.
Your Location Guarantee:
- Right in the thick of things: The tour is guaranteed to take place in the prestigious neighborhood San Marco took place.
- No waiting times: As an experienced tour operator, we are in direct contact with all major docking stations. For your desired date, we’ll select the exact operator that guarantees a gondola will be available for you. That way, the boat will be waiting for you—not the other way around.
Arrive and Enjoy: The First Few Meters of the Gondola Ride
For many guests, the moment they step aboard is a truly special experience. A gondola is an elegant yet lively work of art on the water.
- A Safe Start: After boarding, take a moment to get your bearings in the gondola. It’s perfectly normal for things to feel a bit „wobbly“ at first as you settle into your spot between the bow and the gondolier’s seat.
- A Gentle Start: To ensure that you can fully enjoy the ride and the special atmosphere right from the start, the route deliberately takes you through peaceful, romantic, and quiet Channels.
- Pure Romance: Enjoy the dreamy atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle before the ride takes you to Venice’s magnificent facades. It’s the perfect, quiet moment for your first congratulations.
The Goosebumps Moment: The Big Surprise
As the gondola glides gently along the tranquil waterways, the highlight of your ride draws near. It’s a moment that no one on board will soon forget.
A scene straight out of a movie: Suddenly, the gondolier rounds the corner of a building, and a picturesque little bridge appears right in front of you. There, festively displayed, is your personal message: a banner visible from afar with your personalized congratulatory message.
We showcase what you're proud of
To ensure this moment is perfect, we take care of all the logistics:
- To be arranged individually: We'll work with you in advance to finalize the exact wording for the banner. It's especially effective to address the graduate directly by name.
- Custom Manufacturing: We'll have the banner made for you—high-quality and festive.
- Precise placement: We'll make sure the banner is hanging from the right bridge—the one your gondola will pass under—at the exact time of your scheduled gondola ride.
Surprise your loved ones: There’s hardly a more beautiful way to show your appreciation than with this exclusive gesture against the backdrop of Venice.
The Magic of Venice: A Feast for All the Senses
In Venice's narrow canals, a scene unfolds that seems tailor-made for your celebrated Doctorate seems to have created. It's the small, unplanned moments that make this trip so unforgettable.
- Venetian charm: With a little luck, another gondola carrying musicians and singers will glide past you at the same time. When the strains of „O Sole Mio,“ „Volare,“ or „Che sarà“ echo off the historic walls, the congratulations take on a whole new emotional depth.
- Your personalized concert: Would you like to have music exclusively for your own gondola ride? We can make it happen! From a private singer to special musical accompaniment—we can make almost anything you can imagine for this special day a reality.
A Moment of Eternity
When the gentle lapping of the water blends with Italian melodies, it creates a very special feeling: you find yourself wishing that time would just stand still.
This gondola ride is more than just a gift—it’s a promise that this milestone in life will never be forgotten. May the ride never end—at least in your fondest memories.
The Perfect Itinerary: the Grand Canal and Its Hidden Treasures
We’re often asked whether a gondola ride can take you exclusively along the Grand Canal. As experts on the lagoon city, we’ll give you an honest look at what life in Venice is really like.
Why the mix is what makes the experience so special:
- Logistics of the Lagoon: If all 400 of Venice’s gondolas were to occupy the Grand Canal at the same time, all traffic would come to a standstill—from the water buses (vaporetti) to the water taxis and the craftsmen’s boats. Therefore, a trip across the Grand Canal for the sole purpose of sightseeing is not officially permitted.
- The best of both worlds: We've selected the most beautiful routes for you in the heart of the Old Town. Your ride will, of course, take you past the impressive Grand Canal, so you can fully enjoy the magnificent scenery and world-famous atmosphere.
- Quality over quantity: We make sure that the amount of time spent on the Grand Canal is just right. That way, you can experience the splendor of the palaces without being exposed for too long to the diesel fumes from the large motorboats or the rough waves.
Pure romance in the side canals
However, the true magic of congratulations unfolds in the quiet, dreamy canals. As the gondola glides silently under the many small bridges, far away from the hustle and bustle, you’ll experience the most atmospheric moments and capture the best photos of your tour.
Our customers tell us time and again: it is precisely this contrast between the vastness of the Grand Canal and the intimate tranquility of the small waterways that makes this gift so perfect.
The Perfect Lighting for Your Memories
A gondola ride through Venice also takes you through narrow, romantic canals—often just two meters wide, flanked by tall palazzi. For your photos, this means that lighting is the key factor.
Why the time matters for the commemorative photo: As experts, we know that the later it gets, the harder it is for cameras to produce sharp images in low light. In the dark, cameras open the aperture wider, which reduces the depth of field, and increase the exposure time, which often leads to camera shake when the gondola is moving.
Our recommendation for your experience:
- Optimal lighting conditions: To ensure that the photos from your big day turn out brilliant and sharp, we strongly recommend that you plan your trip during daylight hours.
- Orientation: The lighting conditions in Venice are the same as those at your home. Just use the twilight in your hometown as a guide.
- Good to know: Please note that gondoliers in Venice charge a starting rate of 6:00 p.m. an official night shift premium of 20,00 € collect.
So, for your exclusive gift, please choose a time in the bright afternoon. That way, we can guarantee not only a romantic ride, but also crystal-clear photos that perfectly capture the pride of the moment.
Timing is everything: With the sunset in view
To ensure your photos turn out brilliantly, we should plan our shoot around the natural light. We've compiled the exact times of sunset in Venice for you.
To that end, the website www.sonnenverlauf.de The following information for Venice:
21.12 – 16:30:34
21.01 – 17:02:19
21.02 – 17:46:53
21.03 – 18:24:53
21.04 – 20:04:57
21.05 – 20:41:37
21.06 – 21:03:13
21.07 – 20:51:17
21.08 – 20:08:13
21.09 – 19:10:21
21.10 – 18:15:13
21.11 – 16:35:23
Important Note from Experts: Please be sure to plan your gondola ride well ahead of the times listed below. As soon as the sun sets, it suddenly gets too dark in Venice’s narrow alleys to take sharp, brilliant photos.
Plan with foresight
Use these guidelines to ensure the best possible image quality for your congratulatory message. Also, keep in mind that the gondoliers’ evening rate applies starting at 6:00 p.m. So, taking a ride earlier will save you money and make for better photos!
Plan with Peace of Mind: Your Gondola Ride in Any Weather
Venice has its own unique charm no matter the weather. Generally, gondolas operate year-round. Should the weather not cooperate on your special day, we offer you maximum flexibility and clear alternatives:
Your options when it rains:
- The Venetian Experience: You decide to go on the boat ride despite the rain. With an umbrella or a handy rain cape, the canal cruise becomes a particularly atmospheric experience.
- Flexible scheduling: We check the weather forecast together. Often, all it takes is to move the gondola ride up or back by one to three hours to time it with a break in the rain.
- Date Change: If the forecast allows, we can move the celebration up or back by a full day.
- Guaranteed Cancellation: If the conditions are absolutely unsuitable, you have the option to cancel the gondola ride in advance.
Our Experience for Your Gift
Over the past 20 years, we've found a solution for almost every kind of weather. We work closely with the gondoliers to ensure that your celebration is a complete success, even if it rains.
Planning Confidence for Your Gift: It's That Easy
The photo shows the bridge with the banner. Copyright: Engelbert Steinbach
We want everything to be perfectly prepared for the big day. Our experience shows that prompt coordination is the best way to ensure a stress-free celebration.
Two ways to enjoy your perfect gondola ride:
- The Express Route: Many of our customers already have a clear idea of what they want. They book the ride, send us the text they’d like on the banner, and complete the payment. In this case, we take care of everything within a few days—your personal highlight So that's settled.
- The Counseling Process: If you're still unsure about the date, time, or exact text for the banner, we'd be happy to take the time to answer your questions. Keep in mind, however, that valuable time is being lost while details are being clarified via email.
Important Note on the Time Factor in the Gondola Ride
While we can almost always guarantee a date and an available gondola for your event thanks to our contacts, there is one external factor: The printing shop in Venice.
- Production time: The company that manufactures our custom banners needs approximately. 4 workdays Introduction.
- Procedure: We will not approve the print job until payment has been received.
- Our advice: To ensure that your personalized banner is hung on the bridge on time, we recommend booking early. This will give you plenty of time to celebrate your success properly and without any time pressure.
A festive toast to the Doctorate
For a special occasion like passing the Doctorate A glass of Prosecco is simply a must. That's why a bottle of high-quality Prosecco is already included in your all-inclusive price.
Your benefits as a Venedig.com customer: Local gondoliers are officially prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages directly. However, since we are Venice.com Since we are officially authorized, we are permitted to provide you with this bottle for your trip. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of a comprehensive service that fully complies with all of Venice’s official regulations.
Since your well-being and your individual preferences are important to us, we naturally also offer a first-class non-alcoholic alternative We have it ready for you. Please feel free to discuss this with us in advance.
Safety Information for Your Experience: To ensure safety on the canals and prevent the risk of broken glass, glass drinking vessels are strictly prohibited on board. We therefore provide you with high-quality plastic cups so you can toast in style.
Your All-Inclusive Package for Doctorate: All-inclusive for €245.00
We want you to be able to focus entirely on your child’s or grandchild’s special moment. That’s why we offer a truly all-inclusive package with no hidden costs:
- Professional Organization & On-Site Support: We take care of the entire process, including personalized support and assistance with getting started.
- Exclusive Gondola Ride: Enjoy about 30 minutes of pure pleasure. Our guarantee: The gondola is reserved exclusively for you and your party (up to 5 people).
- Festive Toast: A bottle of premium Prosecco is already chilled for you on board.
- Memories to Last a Lifetime: We'll accompany you ashore to take the best photos of the entire tour. These will then be conveniently mailed to you on a CD.
- Their congratulatory banner: Our standard banner with warm congratulations is already hanging on the bridge, ready to make your trip a unique experience.
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The photos we take during the gondola ride are intended solely as your personal keepsakes. We guarantee that these photos will be sent only to you and will not be used by us for promotional purposes or posted on social media platforms.