Exploring Halong Bay on an overnight cruise is definitely a must for any visitor to Vietnam. My husband and I went on a trip last month, and it was the standout of our 15-day trip in Vietnam.
How to Choose a Halong Bay Cruise
At first, it was not easy to find a suitable cruise on the internet, as you would have hundreds of options, from budget to midrange and luxury ships. It would take a while to do some research. What we did was contact three travel agents that we found reliable and had good reviews on Tripadvisor. After some exchanging emails and talks through WhatsApp, we finally came to a conclusion with HalongBayCruises. They advised us of a cruise trip on Catherine that fit our interests and offered us a good deal, including the cruise tour and the roundtrip transfer between Hanoi and Halong Bay. They were exceptionally helpful and responsive via WhatsApp with all the details we needed.
Catherine Cruise Overview
The cruise itself, Catherine, is brand new and we were informed that it just started its first journey in late 2023. With 39 cabins, this yacht was a bit big for our liking, but other things made us forget the point. The cruise features modern comforts like any other luxurious hotel, with an infinity pool, mini golf course, on-site restaurants, karaoke rooms, and sauna and spa rooms. All guest rooms are artistically furnished in Indochine décor style and have a private balcony, an en-suite bathroom, and necessary amenities for a comfortable stay.
Day 1 of the Catherine Cruise Trip
Before our cruise date, we received a reminder from our travel consultant about the transfer schedule, so the next day, we were ready at our hotel lobby, Tirant Hotel, at 8:15 a.m. for a smooth pickup. The shuttle bus, a limousine bus with seven seats, came after a few minutes. Our seats were amazing, with reclining massage chairs, air conditioning, USB charging ports, and bottle water. The travel time was more than 2 hours with a break en route, and overall, the transfer was comfortable.
We arrived in the Catherine Cruise’s Lounge at Tuan Chau Marina before 12:00 noon, so we needed to spend some time at the lounge. The staff nicely offered us some tea and tried to comfort us. Fortunately, the wait was not so long; we were walked to the pier by the crew, just a few steps, and we boarded the cruise. Catherine was new and bigger than the other cruise boats we saw in the marina.
After doing the check-in in the reception, we were led to the restaurant, where we met the cruise manager and the whole crew. After a short briefing and safety instructions, we had our first lunch on board at around 1:00 p.m. It was a buffet with a wide range of dishes, including different seafood. We totally enjoyed it, especially Joana, our personal butler, was extremely helpful and attentive to us throughout the meals on board to ensure we liked it or support our requests.
After lunch, we finally came to our cabin for the first look. And we had to admit that we were impressed by the large space and the elegant decoration with artful paintings. Our cabin, Premier Suite, was on the second deck, spacious with a size of 40 square meters, and had a selection of amenities, such as a private balcony, an en-suite bathroom, a bathtub overlooking the sea, a huge comfy bed, perfect pillows, a smart toilet with a heated seat, a bidet with water temperature control and remote operation, a mini refrigerator, slippers, and an in-room safe. Sitting on the balcony and watching the awe-inspiring scenery pass by; we knew already that we would love to spend more time in our cabin. So we decided to join the activities in the afternoon and skipped the one the next morning, as we had the flexibility to pass up if we didn't feel like joining.
At 2:30 p.m., we heard the announcement through the in-room speaker that it was time to explore the bay. We had a great time kayaking in Luon Cave. We could even get close and touch the stunning limestone mountains and tranquil waters before heading to Titov Island. With towels supplied by the cruise staff, we relaxed on the sandy beach and swam in the cool waters. Back on the cruise ship, we joined a small cooking demonstration about making spring rolls. It was wonderful to learn how to make a local dish and taste your fruit. We then had a dinner with a set menu at 7:00 p.m. Fancy food with beautiful décor. Joana, once again, proved her profession and made our meal comfortable and amazing. There was also beautiful music played during dinner by a player using a traditional musical instrument and a fire show by the bartender. We really appreciated the hard work of the crew to make our trip memorable.
Day 2 of the Catherine Cruise Trip
We had a good sleep and woke up late the next morning, so we missed the sunrise and the Taichi lesson on the top deck. Instead, we sat on our cabin’s balcony and stared out at the gorgeous, sparkling bay in silence. Not a word, but we were so into it. After savoring a light breakfast in the restaurant, we skipped the cave tour and set our sights on relaxing on the sundeck and immersing ourselves in the bay’s beauty.
After other passengers came back to the ship, we had a brunch buffet while the cruise sailed back to the port. We also packed our luggage and settled the bills at the reception counter. It was time to say goodbye, and Joanna made our day wonderful when she gave us a lovely farewell greeting card. We got in the car and traveled back to our hotel in Hanoi at around 2:30 p.m.
Luxurious rooms, great food, interesting activities, and modern conveniences. Our cruise trip with Catherine was perfect, with unforgettable experiences and moments. The only regret we had was that we should have taken the three-day, two-night trip, which we hope to do in the next year or two. If you’re considering a cruise tour in Halong Bay, Catherine Cruise Halong will be an awesome option.
