Page 51 - SLO Visitors Guide - Fall 2024

slovisitorsguide.com FALL 2024 51
Morro Bay
(805) 900-6000
1170 Front St., Morro Bay Book Now! Book Now!
Experience romance on the water
with a Venetian gondola cruise
You don’t have to be in Venice to
experience a spectacular cruise
in a gondola. Stefano Anastasia grew
up on the Central Coast and when
he attended college in Southern
California, he worked rowing for
gondola service companies.
He told the owner of Gianna, a
wedding gondola, that he planned
to one day purchase the boat and
launch his own company. Sixteen
years later, in 2023, Stefano did just
that.
Gianna is one of only five au-
thentic Venetian wedding gondolas
in the United States and guests can
now enjoy cruises all year round in
Morro Bay.
The company recently celebrated
its first anniversary and offers several
different cruises with its small fleet
of gondolas.
Stefano has over 23 years of expe-
rience rowing gondolas and he was
delighted to bring his passion for
Italian culture, Venetian boats, and
romance to the Central Coast. He is
an expert gondolier and is happy to
share stories and history with guests.
He dresses in a traditional striped
shirt and maneuvers the gondola
around the bay using a single row
while standing.
Central Coast Gondola Service
offers 60–90-minute cruises for up to
six people in addition to a two-hour
elegant dinner cruise for up to four
people, with a prix fixe three-course
meal. Guests can book custom add-
on services such as flowers, char-
cuterie, cannoli, and even a message
in a bottle. A pre-arranged message
is written on parchment and placed
in a clear corked wine bottle that
mysteriously appears in the water for
guests to find.
Fleet features
an authentic
Venetian wedding
gondola
Although the cruises can
be very romantic, especially at
sunset, children and pets are
also welcome aboard. Stefano
has witnessed proposals, hosted
weddings, anniversaries, gradu-
ations, birthdays, and rowed for
ash scatterings. Gondola cruises
are perfect for special occasions,
or just a great way to get out and
enjoy the ocean air to create a
lasting memory.
Guests may also bring picnics
and alcohol on board. Stefano rec-
ommends neighboring businesses
for those who want to purchase
items just before boarding. Wine
from Absolution Cellars and a
champagne/chocolate pairing
from Kickers are popular items to
bring along.
Stefano says the fall is an ideal
time for a cruise, “During the
fall season, there tends to be less
wind and fog, not to mention the
sunsets earlier. Book a cruise,
come out, and have some fun with
us! If you have any special needs
or want to arrange surprises, just
let us know and we will make all
the arrangements. We can even
arrange a romantic serenade by
the gondolier.”
Take a romantic gondola ride around Morro Bay.