Is Elite of the Seas Halong Bay Cruise Worth it – Review

Based on the 2 Days, 1 Night (2D/1N) Overnight Cruise

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Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

First Impressions

From Hanoi to Halong Bay

The tour started with a morning hotel pick-up from our Hanoi Old Quarter hotel. We boarded a luxury shuttle van with comfortable reclining (!!!) seats and water. Others are picked up in the area and then we made our way to Tuan Chau Marina. The drive was about 2-3 hours long, but we slept the entire way since the chairs were so comfortable! I was already loving the intro ride to the marina lol.

Once at the marina, we went inside the check-in building, checked in, and were told to wait at one of the patio tables, where a waiter comes by to take our drink order. We got a refreshing drink, enjoyed the marina views, and also had time to buy some bottled waters from the shop across the street.

Speedboat Ride to Elite of the Seas Ship

It wasn’t long before our ship was being called to board the small speedboat that will transport us to the ship. We were all given life jackets and we were on our way! The boat was a bit fast so we zipped by all the beautiful cliffs, but it was just a taste of what our next day and a half would be. The excitement was really building up at this point.

Boarding Elite of the Seas Ship

Then we saw our ship from afar and it was so much bigger (and nicer) than I originally thought. We can also immediately see staff members waving at us from the docking point at the back of the ship.

As we boarded the small boat, we were seriously just transported into another mini world. Live music was playing as we entered, staff members pointed the way every step of the way, we had rose petals showering us from a deck above, and a rose was given to me!! AMAZING!!!! We were all ultimately led into the main dining area, where we were directed to our table, given a welcome drink, and shown the lunch menu.

2 Day, 1 Night Experience:

Day 1: Sailing into Lan Ha Bay

Lunch

For lunch we were served a 5 course meal: soul, salad, lobster (!!), meat, and a dessert. It was also at this time that we were introduced to our personal butler who will serve us for every meal, and be our main POC staff member during the cruise.

Settled In

After lunch, we were then shown to our room. We booked the Deluxe corner room that had a huge balcony and we were also treated to a complimentary welcome wine ;). If I weren’t already in love with this experience… the wine really toppled me over into ABSOLUTELY in LOVE!!

We settled in, relaxed a bit, and changed so that we can explore the boat and go into the pool

Exploring the Boat

After settling in, we wanted to get to know our boat a bit better, so we explored each of the decks so we understood where everything was at. The infinity pool was located at the back of the boat, right next to the bar (hehe) and main dining area. The top deck had incredible panoramic views of the bay, the bottom deck had the spa, and the front of the boat had the mini golf.

Infinity Pool Lounging, Sunbathing, & Bay Swimming

After getting the boat a bit better, than we decided to head to the pool to relax, sunbathe and just enjoy the views. We were really just soaking in the fact that we were on such a nice cruise, in a beautiful infinity pool, in the world-famous Halong Bay. Incredible.

Drone Photography Session

Then after we got a great soak, then we decided to head to the top deck to do the free drone photography session! This was so cool, where we were able to get amazing photos of us, the cruise, and the Halong Bay landscape behind us. We loved how the photos came out.

Afternoon Tea During Sunset

Around sunset time, we met by the pool again and joined the rest of the visitors for afternoon tea. Tea and cookies were served all while the sun was dipping below the horizon. Such a beautiful way to watch and enjoy the sunset.

Cooking Demo

The cooking demo then started while it was beginning to get a bit dark, and this was so much fun!! Of course, it’s optional to participate, but we were being taught how to make spring rolls. It was a bit hard for me, but it still turned out to be delicious. Definitely a must try.

Night 1: Dinner, Music & Night Fishing

Happy Hour

Then as the sun was completely gone, it was time for happy hour! We all got and enjoyed our drinks by the pool, chatted, and took pictures.

Dinner & Drinks

When it was time, we were all told that it was time for dinner, so we made our way to the dining room and were asked if we wanted a Vietnamese dinner or a western dinner. Of course, since we were in Vietnam, we had to get the Vietnamese dinner, and oh man was it DELICIOUS!! So many dishes came out (like maybe 10???) and we weren’t sure if we were going to even eat all of it. Surprisingly we made a pretty big dent in it though because it was that good.

Live Music

After dinner, we went back to the swimming pool area where the live band had set up, ordered our drinks, and enjoying the atmosphere. Since we had booked a massage, we couldn’t stay for this for too long.

Spa Massage

On the bottom deck was the spa, and I just had to take advantage of it so we booked a massage. It lasted for an hour and was a great way to wind down the day.

Night Squid Fishing

But actually, since we felt the night was still young, after the massage, we decided to check out the squid fishing at the back of the boat. Staff members showed us how to squid fish, and the experience REALLY taught us how to be patient lol. There are lights that shine on the water, which the squids are attracted to, and it’s pretty cool to see them dart by. Unfortunately, even after being out on the deck for 1.5 hours, I never caught a squid, but the staff members caught so many in that timeframe! They were pros for sure.

Day 2: Sunrise & Dark and Bright Cave

Sunrise

On the morning of the Day 2, we woke up early to catch the sun rise over the Halong Bay mountains. Some people also opted to partake in the tai chi lesson on the top deck. We were a bit too tired to do that so we decided to just enjoy the sunrise and the scenery.

Breakfast

For breakfast, pastries, eggs, sausage and pho were served to give us energy for the main activity today at the Dark and Bright Caves.

Dark & Bright Cave

When it was time to head to the Dark & Bright Caves, we boarded the small speedboat and made our way there. We then decided if we wanted to kayak the area on our own, or hop on a local rowing boat.

We opted to do the kayak so we can explore on our own, except we aren’t given too long of a time here so we did have to plan out our time in each area. Kayaking here and through the caves was so much fun but also tiring lol. We also saw the local monkeys hanging on the cliffsides and little baby ones too!

Buffet

Once we made it back on the boat, we packed up our things, said bye to our amazing room, and headed back to the main dining room where a buffet was served. This was much needed after all the kayaking we just did.

Farewells

After the buffet, we were directed to pay any outstanding balances, then it was time to say our farewells to the staff, our butler, and fellow cruise goers. What a wonderful time we all had!!

Return to Hanoi

We hopped back on the speedboat, back into the luxury shuttle van, and headed back to our Hanoi hotel. Sad for the overnight cruise to be over but so glad we got to experience it.

If this post has helped you, feel free to support me on:

Thank you!-Jeanie

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Cabins: A Luxurious Stay

The cruise feels ultra-comfortable, modern, and chic. The cabins were super spacious and we even had our only private balcony, which was ideal for sunbathing and watching the scenery roll past. I also loved how the bed was adorned with roses to spell out Welcome on our first day arriving. The bathroom was also so spacious and even had a view looking out at the water and mountains. Who knew you needed a great view in your bathroom!

Amenities: Ultimate Relaxation

All the amenities, including the infinity pool, the stocked bar, the spa, and mini golf course were all amazing! You really can’t beat that infinity pool view with an incredible backdrop of Halong Bay, paired with a drink in hand from the nearby pool, and also be able to have an relaxing massage – all in one cruise!

Food: Top Notch

So everything we ate on the cruise was TOP NOTCH! From our welcome drink and 5 course lunch, to the buffet brunch on our last day really was just so delicious. The 100 dishes at dinner though was probably the best. There was so much food, and everything was so delicious! I wish I could have taken some of the leftovers back home with me since we couldn’t finish everything.

Service: Impeccable!

Okay, so the service alone would make me go on this cruise over and over again. We literally have never felt so welcome and experienced such A++++ hospitality ever before. Our personal butler, Ryan, was always there for every question and request, but he also just had a great personality! He gave us so many tips and “secrets” so that we can really optimize our time on this short cruise. Whenever I wanted a drink he would also always grab one for me. I have never felt so taken care of, the service was truly incredible.

Even the lead staff member was fantastic. It seemed like he knew all the guests’ names, and would always say hi and ask us if we were going to participate in whatever the next activity was.

Ah so yeah, I’m dreaming of the day I can return to Elite of the Seas and Halong Bay.

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Is It Worth It?

👍Pros	⚠️Cons
Luxury cabins with private balconies	It’s a shorter cruise — only 1 night
Excellent food and drink options	Drinks and cocktails are extra
Activities like kayaking and drone photos	Fewer activities on a shorter itinerary
Relaxing moments (sunset, Tai Chi, spa)
Staff are attentive and service is top-notch
Hotel pick-up/drop-off from Hanoi Old Quarter

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If this post has helped you, feel free to support me on:

Thank you!-Jeanie

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