Halong Deluxe 1 Cruise

The guide and crew were excellent and helpful, but the old ship and even the best room were nowhere near nice. It was advertised as four stars but would barely make one. We paid a four-star price for nothing.

We booked three rooms with two beds each for six people, but were given only two rooms. They made it up to us with one drink each, but when we ordered juice, we were told we had to pay before we got off because it wasn't a soft drink. We booked 3D2N, and the itinerary didn't match what the website said. The windows were broken, the doors were old and needed a bodycheck to open, the showers were cold, and the food was bland. Wouldn't recommend it.

Dui made the excursions enjoyable, sharing jokes, teaching us some language, and giving a great spring roll lesson. The food was plentiful and decent, though nothing memorable. Our last meal at the port was poorly organized, and the setting was far from attractive. The bartender’s constant drink offers, about every ten minutes, also felt pushy. The boat itself was a letdown. Despite the Vietnam 2024 travel guide recommendation, it felt like a rust bucket, with a tiny cabin and parts that were worn out or falling apart. €120 per person is way too much for that condition. I’d choose a day trip to save money and time. Excursions also meant getting stuck in traffic. The bay’s boat management seems shamefully unregulated, though that isn’t this company’s fault.

We paid 3800 NTD per person, including attraction tickets, for a really difficult trip. We had booked three rooms for four people, but once aboard we were told only two rooms were available. They offered just 700 NTD back. The dining space was cramped, and the room had no hairdryer. We had to share one by the second-floor restaurant, where staff said using it could cause a power outage. Even the toilet door was a problem, its crooked frame kept it from closing properly. We didn’t get to relax at all.