Even when you have not yet visited Halong Bay, you can easily realize
how many cruises there are on the Bay. The fifty some posted elsewhere
online does not speak it all: there are as many as four hundred vessels
running daily. It cannot be denied that the best way to visit the myriad
of islets and grottos is by a cruise, but choosing one can be a
daunting tasks: so many prices, so many pictures and so many
itineraries. We are suggesting below some of the best options for a
Halong Bay Cruise:
BEST LUXURY CRUISE: PARADISE CRUISE
If
you are looking for an ultimate luxurious cruise around Halong Bay,
Paradise Cruise (including Paradise Luxury, Paradise Peak and Paradise
Privilege) is top of chart in every aspect. At first glance, the cruise
is not only aesthetically appealing but it also has amazing amenities
fitted for royalties. The cabins are spacious and spotlessly clean. It
is well worth the money to upgrade to a cabin with a lovely private
balcony so you can chill and enjoy the view. The staffs are attentive
and welcoming. Besides the superb fresh seafood platters on board, there
are unlimited Vietnamese dishes and a cooking demonstration for you to
try.
The unique 3 sails cruise and the excellent service set
Paradise Luxury Cruise one class above many other operating cruises in
the bay. By spending $200/pax for a 2 day-1night, you will definitely be
satisfied with your stay on board while visiting the magnificent Halong
Bay.
BEST DAY CRUISE: EMERAUDE DAY CRUISE
Emeraude
day cruise Emeraude Cruise has a rather different take on the
appearance as it models the French paddle steamer, probably reflecting
the origin of the French owner. This different interpretation from
Chinese junk of other boats makes cruising around Halong Bay a wholly
unique experience, especially when you only spend 1 day on board. With
the short visiting time, the cruise will take you to the finest and
widest grotto: Surprise Grotto. The hanging stalactites form various
bizarre but also intriguing shapes. After that, Hang Trong cave is next
in the destination list where you can go kayaking or take a refreshing
swim.
Considering the long drive to and from the pier, a one day
trip at Halong Bay is probably less satisfying comparing with longer
package. This may make you feel like being rushed to destinations all
the time. However, the great service and amenities by Emeraude cruise
will compensate to it.
BEST VALUE CRUISE: GLORY CRUISE
There
is probably no other cruise that can match up with Glory Cruise at the
price that it is offering its service. At approximately $110 (or even
lower during promotion period), the cruise takes you to fishing village
where you can see no busy traffic or high rise building. Instead, the
fishermen amaze you with their traditional cultures and daily
activities, carrying out mostly on herds of boats and rafts. You can
choose to take part in the on board cooking class or discovering Bat
Cave by kayaking. The night can be spent relaxing at the bar or squid
fishing on the deck. There is also a visit to Sung Sot cave on the
cruise itinerary.
While bringing you to popular Halong Bay
destinations on a budget, the cruise food can get repetitive and the
range of extra services is limited. However, this cruise is perfect for
those who want to experience the wonder of Halong Bay without the
additional cost of unnecessary frills.
BEST ITINERARY: DRAGON PEARL JUNK (by Indochina Junk)
Halong
Bay is congested with many kinds of cruises that sometimes your
precious time is wasted waiting for your cruise turn to visit a site.
That kind of poor planning is not the case at Dragon Pearl Junk. It has
the best program that plans to a tee to make sure you can visit many
attractions but also have plenty of time to just chill at the bay. The
boat anchors in a secluded area that you can freely gaze at the sky line
without being blocked by other junks. You can also enjoy a relaxing
swim at an exclusive beach and a fabulous dinner in a cave.
The
staffs are courteous when helping the tourists. All meals are served
with excellent standard; even those prepared on short notice for special
dieters. Drinks are appropriately priced.
BEST NON-WOODEN CRUISE: AU CO CRUISE
Although
most of the junks and cruises are made from wood (or most of their body
are from wood) there are some larger vessel made of steel like a cruise
one normally see. The advantage of these cruises are that they are
larger with more facilities, bigger cabins and provides more stability
while sailing.
Au Co is one of its kind as the cruise runs
exclusive 3 day 2 night program: it takes you to all 3 bays in 1
itinerary: Halong bay, Bai Tu Long bay and Lan Ha bay. Besides that, you
will get a chance to visit Cat Ba Island where you relax on the beach.
There are many exciting activities await you when you choose to cruise
with Au Co.
Kayaking, biking, swimming and cave exploring will
keep you busy all 3 days. Being one of the biggest cruises in the bay,
Au Co is well equipped with a full range of amenities. There is also a
Spa and Jacuzzi area for therapeutic massages or unwind time after a
long day of excursion. The hefty price tag $540/pax may be a splurge but
it is worth it to see many unusual locations in just one trip.
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