Halong bay is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. It is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Vietnam. This amazing bay consists of numerous islands and islets. There are different ways to explore it and one of the most popular ways to see it is via luxury Halong bay cruises.
Another great way is to head to Cat Ba Island and then take day trips to Halong bay from there. This works great if you get sea sick on the cruises and yet want to experience the wonders of the surroundings. I’ll walk you through the Halong bay day cruises that leave from Cat Ba island too.
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How To Choose A Luxury Halong Bay Cruise
Now depending on your time and your affordability, you can narrow down on the type of luxury Halong Bay cruises that are a perfect fit for you. If you are short on time, there are full day and half day cruises. These take you through the highlights of the bay.
If you have more time to spare, you can take in the sights at a slower pace. There are amazing luxury Halong Bay cruises that take you through the different parts of the bay and yet give you a chance to enjoy some indulgences. Some even have jacuzzies onboard!
Half Day Tours
Half day Halong bay cruises are insanely popular. The people who embark on these are on a tight schedule. Usually, they organize a pickup from their hotel in Hanoi so that they do not have to worry about the transit details. It is a great way to see the highlights of the gorgeous place especially if you just have a little time to spare.
Pros
- Great if you are short on time.
- Everything including transport is handled for you.
Cons
- Not one of the most luxurious cruises.
- You get just a short time in the bay.
1. Best Half Day Halong Bay Cruise: Old Quarter Travel
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (34 Reviews) Price: $39 per person Duration: 5hr 30 min 📍Meeting Point: Tuần Châu Harbor or at your hotel in Hanoi Details: Read more on Viator!
Cruise Itinerary
- Halong Bay
- Sung Sot Cave
- Ti Top Island
This is one of the top selling cruises in the market. Okay so it isn’t exactly the luxury luxury Halong Bay cruises that people talk about but it is still very comfortable.
The reason why it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles is rather simple. You wouldn’t have time to use them!
The tour was well organized and value for money. We had a wonderful time there. Old Quarter Travel was very communicative not only to accommodate my hotel changes pick up but also assisted me with my airport shuttle as we had to leave at 3 am.
Very reliable and professional as a tour agency but also as a travel agency. He was up at 3 am to ensure the driver was there to pick us up!
Kwailin (read more reviews now!)
Instead, this tour focuses on taking you through the most iconic sights in Halong Bay as comfortably as possible while still giving you some epic experiences. Trust me when I say this, half a day in the Halong bay is short and you really will want to make the most of every single minute!
Some of the interesting activities that you will have here include cruising along Halong Bay, visiting Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top island. You will also get to do a bit of kayaking or head out in a bamboo boat. Let’s not forget about the delicious seafood lunch that is served onboard which is included in the price of the trip!
Day Tour Of Halong Bay
I honestly prefer the day tours when it comes to visiting Halong bay. These are quite as rushed as the half day cruises and let you breathe a bit. You get to take in the scenery. Most of these trips leave from Hanoi. There are a couple that leave from Cat Ba island too.
Leaving from Cat Ba island means that you live in the bay without having to deal with the constant motion of a boat at night. This was particularly useful for us because Shawn gets seasick even though he loves the water.
Another thing to consider is the numerous activities in Cat Ba island that you can indulge in.
Pros
- Not as hectic as a half day trip
- You get to participate in more activities
Cons
The trip is very tiring because you still have to make your way back to Hanoi after the cruise. Luckily the transport is also covered.
2. Best Halong Day Trip All Round: Vietnam Tonkin Travel
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (939 Reviews) Price: $56 per person Duration: 6-12 hours 📍Meeting Point: Depends on the options selected Details: Read more on Viator!
Cruise Itinerary
- Halong Bay
- Titop Island
- Halong Surprise Cave
If you compare this tour with the half day tour, you will find that the itinerary on paper looks pretty much the same. The large difference however is in the number of activities that you can do and how much time you can spend doing them.
One prominent example is this tour that lets you go up to the top of Titop island to catch a view of the Halong bay from a height.
“I’m so happy I went on this tour! HaLong Bay is breathtaking, and this day was organized perfectly. We had a great group, and even though it was overcast that day – and a little chilly – it didn’t hamper the experience at all.
Starting with an amazing lunch, we saw amazing islands, got to swim, hike, kayak and go through ‘Surprising Cave’ (I hate to admit it, but the name fits!). Phong, our tour guide, was wonderful and kept us all on track. I would recommend this to everyone!”
Erin (read more reviews now!)
This is one of the most coveted views of the bay. In fact, many of the panoramic photographs that are taken of the bay, are taken from vantage points like this.
You can also go swimming in the bay. Let’s not forget about the chance to see the sealife of the bay if you have a snorkel like we did!
This tour also provides lunch aboard. Food tastes so good after all the activities. Trust me, these are experiences that you really should add onto your bucket list!
3. Best Luxury Halong Bay Day Cruises With Catamaran: Viland Travel
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (54 Reviews) Price: $99 per person Duration: 12 hours 📍Meeting Point: From your hotel in Hanoi. Details: Read more on Viator!
Cruise Itinerary
- Halong Bay
- Lan Ha Bay
- Sunset Ceremony
“Perfect day with friendly caring guide Tommy . The service on the boat was excellent ! So friendly!”
Glen (read more reviews now!)
So all the cruises that we talked about weren’t really the luxury Halong cruises that people search for. To be fair, they are pretty comfortable but they focus more on experiencing the scenic beauty of Halong bay than the comforts and luxuries of the cruise ship itself.
I haven’t really seen a luxury half day cruise but if you are looking for luxury Halong bay cruises that cover a full day, you are in luck. You can take this Catamaran premium cruise which comes with all the bells and whistles!
Unlike most of the other boats, the Catamaran is super luxurious. It has stunning interior décor and has a lot of interesting attractions. The top viewing deck is perfect for catching the sights as well as lounging in the sun.
If you want to be closer to the water you can choose the hammock-like loft nets that are suspended over the water. Did I mention that the interiors are air conditioned?
It also has a lot of activities that you can choose to take part in. Kayaking, folklore and stories from the area, trampolines for adults, water slides into the bay, bamboo boat experiences, a cooking demonstration and so much more!
4. Best Wheelchair Accessible Luxury Halong Bay Day Cruises: Ambassador
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (96 Reviews) Price: $130 per person Duration: 6 hours 30 min 📍Meeting Point: Du Thuyền Ambassador Cruise Hạ Long Details: Read more on Viator!
Cruise Itinerary
- Ti Top Island
- Sung Sot Cave
- Halong Bay
Not a catamaran but if you are looking for luxury Halong Bay cruises then this is one that you should consider. The Ambassador Luxury day cruise is one of the largest luxury cruises in the area. It can take as many as 500 people aboard. Don’t worry, it does not get crowded because the ship is huge!
“Food very good variety, my room is okay very clean. I love Ha Long Bay. We find it very strange they don’t offer free water. Overall, Ambassador Cruise is very good.
We are very full with the foods. The Cruise is very big and beautiful. The staff is very good, and very polite her name is Camille. Nice view and wonderful.”
Anonymous (read more reviews)
With a two floor sun deck, there is space for everyone. One of the top attractions of this tour is the open air jacuzzi. Have you heard how the weather in Halong bay is unpredictable? Well, if the temperature drops, you can just soak yourself in the jacuzzi and enjoy! Like all the other luxury Halong bay cruises, this one too offers lunch onboard.
The only downside that I see and one that would concern me is the number of people aboard. I get that the ship is huge but I feel that during peak season the crowds would be a deterrent. So maybe this is a cruise that you should consider more during shoulder season or off season times.
On the flipside, since this is a big ship, it is wheelchair accessible. This is a big difference when compared to the other luxury Halong bay cruises. It means that it is also easier for parents with very young children.
Overnight Luxury Halong Bay Cruises
Nothing quite compares to spending the night in a UNESCO heritage site. Luckily for us there are loads of luxury Halong bay cruises that head out to the area almost everyday. It can get so overwhelming. That’s why I’m going to take you through some of the best rated cruises in the market.
Pros
- You can relax and enjoy the bay. There is no hurry to get anywhere.
- Loads of activities.
- No need of micro planning your time.
Cons
- Not the greatest if you get seasick.
- You need a longer itinerary in Vietnam for this. Highly worth planning it out though.
5. Best 2D/1N Luxury Halong Bay Cruises: Halong Bay Cruise Hunters
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (2,178 Reviews) Price: $55 per person Duration: 2 days 📍Meeting Point: Numerous pick up locations including Hanoi and Cat Ba Details: Read more on Viator!
Cruise Itinerary
- Halong Bay
- Lan Ha Bay
- Bai Tu Long Bay
- Cat Ba Island
Overnight luxury Halong bay cruises are all the rage. These give you a chance to stay in the UNESCO heritage site and experience the sights at a slow pace.
You also get to enjoy the luxury accommodation on board. The 2 days and one night Halong bay cruise is one of the most popular options.
“As a couple we chose this tour to experience it Ha Long Bay and it well exceeded our expectations. This ship was spacious clean and my God the food was so amazing.
Organisation of activities and communication was clear and prompt and waking up to that view wow. I highly recommend this tour to anyone we even had great spring roll making demonstration class and watching the sunset on deck with drinks.
The staff were just amazing. Thank you for helping us make lifetime memories”
Sahar (read more reviews now!)
This particular cruise is by Halong Bay Cruise hunters and is one of the highly rated cruises in the area.There are various types of luxury accommodation that you can choose from. This will help you tailor the cruise to your budget.
Experiences that you will also be able to get on the boat include swimming in the Halong Bay, kayaking, a bamboo boat trip, cooking demonstrations and sunny beaches! If you are too tired, you can also choose to stay onboard and just enjoy the bay.
Did I mention that the luxury Halong bay cruises also include meals onboard?
6. Best Luxury 3D/2N Luxury Halong Bay Cruises: Indochina Today Travel
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (76 Reviews) Price: $298 per person Duration: 3 days 📍Meeting Point: Numerous pick up locations Details: Read more on Viator!
Cruise Itinerary:
- Bai Tu Long Bay
- Ha Long Bay
- Lan Ha Bay
If you have more time on your hands then why not spend longer in the bay? The 3 day and 2 night luxury Halong bay cruises are perfect for this. Not only are they extremely luxurious, you also get a chance to enjoy the luxurious rooms. The whole trip isn’t about one experience or another. It is also about relaxing and enjoying the stunning views from your room onboard.
Activities that this luxury Halong bay cruise provides includes kayaking, sunbathing, swimming, cooking class, visiting gorgeous beaches, cycling, hiking, squid fishing, an epic sunset party and even visiting a floating fishing village. Yes! This cruise is certainly different!
Along the way you will be served up delicious food and they even have multiple cuisines on offer so you will definitely find something that you enjoy. This includes vegetarian options too!
And there you have it. These are some of the top rated luxury Halong bay cruises that are currently available. I highly recommend double checking the pick up and drop off points when you book you cruise.
If you are booking overnight luxury Halong bay cruises, make sure to note what kind of cabin you book. That way you will not be disappointed.
Also, make sure to inform the cruise in advance if you have any dietary preferences. That way you will have food available for you when you reach.
Cynthia/Adventuring Woman
Saturday 10th of June 2023
I appreciate your alternative for people who get sea sick! While I'd love a luxe cruise, my partner gets seasick airsick carsick and so this is a great option for us. These photos are absolutely stunning, certainly worth a splurge!
Penny
Sunday 11th of June 2023
My husband loves the water but he gets seasick. It really worked for us. :)
Marya
Saturday 10th of June 2023
I joined a cruise and spent 2D1N at something called Annam Junk, and I'd totally recommend it though I'm not sure if the tour is available since I did it in 2016. Although I definitely want to do Halong Bay Cruise again one more time, especially with my partner given the idea I did my first time as a solo traveler and I feel like traveling with a partner would enhance the experience for sure!
Penny
Sunday 11th of June 2023
I think the Halong bay cruises are pretty spectacular. It is so peaceful on the water and if you get a good group, it really heightens the experience. Like you, I want to head back. This time with kids though.
Lina
Saturday 10th of June 2023
I would absolutely love to do a Halong Bay Cruise and all of these 6 sound incredibly amazing! I think it's hard to decide which one to book :D
anukrati
Saturday 10th of June 2023
Thank you for sharing this. I have been to Halong Bay and had recommended a company (the one I booked) to my sister who is going there for a bachelorette. I can give her more options now.