California has a funny way of making the world feel smaller: within a few miles, you can go from Mediterranean-inspired architecture to Mexican food, Japanese gardens, or Scandinavian architecture. The state is so cosmopolitan that entire corners of the planet seem to coexist along the same stretch of coastline.
And one of the most romantic places in the world, Venice, can make an appearance here, too… You just don’t need to cross the Atlantic to experience it!
A gondola cruise straight out of Venice in the heart of Coronado
In the Coronado Cays, a waterfront community on the Silver Strand about four miles south of downtown Coronado, you can spend 50 minutes gliding through a network of canals in an authentic, handcrafted gondola shipped directly from Venice.
The cruises are private, with each gondola accommodating up to six people. You can also choose an evening departure or a sunset ride, when the canals take on a different atmosphere as the light fades over the water.
9 September 2026 00:00 + more dates
The route winds past waterfront homes, yachts, private docks, bridges and the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, with views toward San Diego Bay and (weather permitting), the Coronado Bridge, Silver Strand and Hotel del Coronado.
The story behind Coronado’s Venetian fleet
The Venetian connection goes beyond the scenery. The company operating these cruises was founded in 1999 by Sean “Saverio” Jamieson, who became fascinated with gondolas after traveling to Venice to participate in the Vogalonga, the city’s annual noncompetitive rowing event. He later learned to build replica gondolas with a boat builder in Seal Beach before importing a fleet of 12 gondolas directly from Venice.
The gondoliers also wear traditional attire, keeping some of the visual details associated with a ride through Venice while navigating the much more modern canals of the Coronado Cays.
