Venice and a gondola - independent or organised trip?

[NoTimeToDillyDally]

DH says we can take a vaparetto (spelling?) to the Plaza place in Venice. How easy is it to take a gondola out when there? Is this do-able from cruise ship port?

Not sure what the Plaza place is, but it's pretty easy to get a vaparetto from the cruise port to lots of places in Venice, and you can also get the Alilaguna boat which has various stops for about €7 I think.

You can't get a gondola from the cruise port, but they are all over the main island, so it's easy to find on. However , they are very expensive, around €80 for half an hour

Do you mean St Marks Square? If so, then yes, it is easy to get a vaparetto there.
Venice is really walkable too. We stayed a 10 min walk from St. Marks Square for a week and only used a vaparetto once!
There are numerous gondola stops throughout Venice. If you do choose to take a trip it's worth asking to go on the smaller canals.You will see the view of the grand canal from the vaparetto.

Essentially the vaporetto is a water bus. And yes, it'll drop you off right at Piazza San Marco (i suppose that's the Plaza place you mean). There are lots of gondolas for rent over there, but as always they will be massively overpriced (as are all other gondolas, wherever you take them).

Depending on the route though, vaporetti can take you all down the Grand Canal and there is one that does every single stop in Venice which takes an hour. This used to be the number 1, but you should check first.

Though please be aware that they hate tourists clogging up the standing space on vaporetti, so either get a seat at the back outside, get a seat inside and move or get off regularly.

Thank you. Such helpful responses.