Croisière de luxe Aqua Halong – Lan Ha Bay

The ship is new, it is beautiful, the cabins are gorgeous, the food quality is excellent and the staff is wonderful. So what could be any problem? Well, we cannot call this a Ha Long Bay Cruise but more of a hotel on the bay. Be aware that when you arrive at the port, the ship is not anchored there. They put all of the passengers and their luggage on a small tender boat and the tender rides for about 30-40 minutes until you arrive at the ship anchored at some distant location on the bay. It is the same for the return to port at the end of the cruise, about a 30 minute tender ride. Once you arrive on the ship, you are served lunch and the ship sales for maybe an hour or two. It then stops for about another 2 hours to allow for kayaking. It then sails a little more then anchors itself for dinner the night and the remainder of the cruise. If you are expecting a cruise to see many of the islands in Ha Long Bay you should skip this ship and sail on one which leaves from the port. If you want a wonderful ship and do not care about sailing, then this is the ship for you. This is the our third Ha Long Bay cruise. The first was with a different company, did an overnight and it left from port. We saw a lot more of Ha Long Bay. The second was a day trip with lunch and it sailed pretty much the entire cruise. We were wondering if Aqua was doing this to save on fuel?

There are so many cruises to Ha Long Bay - how to choose which is the right one for you? Here are some things that make Aqua Luxury Cruise distinctive. 1) They cruise Lan Ha Bay, the nearby, less touristy bay to Ha Long Bay. For me, Lan Ha is just as naturally beautiful and is preferable for being less crowded. It’s kind of the secret to doing Ha Long Bay - to go to Lan Ha Bay. 2) Amenities-wise, the vessel is new (started in November 2025). It has a swimming pool, an elevator, every cabin has a balcony. My cabin even had a bathtub where I could soak with a view of the bay. 3) Where this cruise really earns its 6 stars is in the superb attention to the needs of guests. There are many examples to cite. I was most touched by cruise manager Mr Ly (also spelt Lee) personally taking my elderly mother on a kayaking trip. That’s the kind of thing many of her age and physical limitations might not think possible anymore. Overall, my sense is that this is a crew that will go out of their way to make your dream trip happen, even if you have some reason to think that a trip to Ha Long/Lan Ha might not be suitable for you. I am sincerely grateful to the Aquarium Luxury team for giving my elderly mother a wonderful experience. And me too!

I had a great time on the cruise. The scenery was breathtaking with towering limestone islands, crystal clear water and a peaceful atmosphere. We stopped several times to explore caves, take photos and enjoy the scenery. There was also the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear water - it was amazing!

The experience was fantastic overall, with a lot to do, and we never felt like we were in a hurry or running out of time. The boat was great, and the food was excellent. In summary, the experience in Along Bay was exceptional, and I highly recommend it!

What a fantastic cruise for the whole family! The food was delicious, and the staff were attentive to every detail. I would absolutely recommend this cruise!