Gondolas are very stable boats so there will probably be less rocking then you might expect. You don't need to worry about the boat tipping over or getting wet. Your gondolier is your guide and will handle the boat during the ride.

While it is extremely rare for a Venetian gondola to tip over, it can happen if passengers do not follow safety instructions. Gondolas are designed with a specific asymmetrical shape to counter-balance the weight of the gondolier standing on the back, making them surprisingly stable for such narrow vessels. However, they rely on a delicate balance of weight onboard. In December 2023, a famous incident occurred where a gondola capsized near St. Mark’s Square because a group of tourists refused to sit down and stop moving around for selfies while the gondolier was performing a tricky maneuver under a bridge. Because of such incidents, the gondoliers' association has strictly enforced capacity limits (reduced from 6 to 5 people for standard tours). As long as you remain seated and follow your gondolier’s guidance—especially during boarding and when passing through narrow canals—the chance of a gondola tipping over is virtually zero.