When I first heard about the canal at the Venetian, it struck me as odd that someone would build a river on the 2nd floor of a building. Yes, really, the 2nd floor. A close second, was the thought that I would never pay to ride such a tourist trap. You guessed it, I did ride it. It is actually quite charming. Each boat has a little gondolier that steers the little boat along the canal and sings an Italian song as you drift past the shops. Their voices really carry well in the area, and a crowd often watches as your gondolier belts their tune. You see, the canal is the median area in the Grand Canal Shoppes, the Venetian’s indoor mall. Before riding it I always wondered if the gondoliers got tired after rowing a boat all day, but they actually have little motors on the boats. The gondolier just presses on a little hole, and it senses their foot, and goes. They do, however, use their big oar to steer. The motor is essentially silent, so it seems like they are actually rowing you down the stream. I rode the boat with my husband and his brother & wife. For the 4 of us, it was $60 total. It costs $15 per person and $7.50 for kids 12 and under. You can rent the whole boat for $60. (It seats 4). There is even a special wedding gondola. It is white & looks like some Cinderella version. You buy a ticket at the starting end, and it has a time on it. Then you just get in a line about 20 minutes before your marked time, and it’s first come first served at that point. The ride lasts about 15 minutes. You go down the indoor canal and back. There is also an outside canal that you can ride. They are not linked though. The outside one is a little cheaper at $12.50 for adults, but I like the ambiance of the canal shoppes, though outside you see the facade of the Venetian’s front. You can pay extra to purchase your picture, just like amusement park rides. We took our own photos. Oh, make sure you go with someone you like, apparently it is customary to smooch every time you go under a bridge. Just a tip so you can avoid an uncomfortable moment. The Venetian’s Gondola.