The couple that travels together, stays together. This mantra is especially true if the couple picks a wonderous destination to explore together. Few places can be more marvellous or exciting than Halong Bay, often called one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world. Sailing away together on a Halong Bay cruise will ensure the next chapter of your love story will be unforgettable. Find the best Halong Bay cruise here.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay provides a scenic backdrop that is unrivalled. Out of turquoise seawaters, thousands of karst formations rise, creating a rolling landscape for a romantic getaway. Discover the true meaning of paradise as the two of you enjoy a Halong Bay cruise amongst the limestone mountains. Opt for a Halong Bay overnight cruise to truly indulge yourselves and spend quality time together.
Whether you are looking to do adventurous outdoor activities together, clink cocktails glasses on a sun deck, get dirty in a cooking class, picnic on a white, sandy beach, get a couple’s massage, or simply enjoy each other’s company from the privacy of your own room, we have just the Halong Bay cruise for you. Here are 8 best Halong Bay cruise recommendations perfect for romancing:
1. Heritage Cruises
The Heritage Cruises call themselves the first boutique cruises in the Halong Bay area. This means a focus on food and beverage, ‘ultra-personal service’, and a sense of intimacy onboard. This is the best Halong Bay cruise for couples that loves to discover culinary delights.
Private Dining in the Wine Cellar
This Halong Bay cruise has a wine cellar with a winning selection of wines. Dedicated service means that the onboard sommelier or cruise director can help you to choose the best wine to complement your dinner. For that extra romantic touch, there is also private dining available in the wine cellar, where the low lighting and ambience create an intimate experience.
24 Hours Room Service
Going the extra mile for the passenger is the Heritage Cruises’ style. Outstanding service comes in the form of 24 hours room service, a rarity even for hotels onshore or other luxury cruises. Perhaps the best Halong Bay cruise for a romantic night in or a lazy breakfast in bed. Custom-order meals can be created, just contact the staff in advance, and an amazing special menu will be crafted by the executive chef.
Cooking Class
Truly the best cruise for food lovers, the Heritage Cruises include a Vietnamese cooking class with their chef onboard. When you are back home, you can easily revisit the charms of Halong Bay by recreating this meal again with your significant other.
Dark and Light Cave
Explore Halong Bay with your loved one. The Heritage Cruises will take you to the Dark and Light Cave, a very special cave system near Cat Ba Island. The Light Cave is flooded with natural light coming through holes in the ceiling, and this effect is often compared to being in a church with high windows. The Dark Cave on the other hand is a hundred metre stretch with little light, and requires a torch to explore it.
Comfortable Limousine Transfers
Start and complete your romantic getaway in style – Heritage Cruises also offers a door-to-door service for transfer from Hanoi and back. The limousine van features a leather interior, 8-seats comfortable seats, power plus to charge your electronics, and Wi-Fi.
2. Stellar of the Seas
The Stellar of the Seas is a top-of-the-line luxury cruise that tours exclusively around the Lan Ha Bay area. Lan Ha Bay is a smaller area than Halong Bay and sits to the south of Halong Bay, it is more remote and secluded than the touristy Halong Bay. Thus, of all the Halong Bay cruises, this one is the best cruise for a private, romantic getaway.
Private Balcony
This Halong Bay cruise is a 5-star cruise with only 22 cabins. Outfitted with fine furnishings, even their smallest rooms, a junior suite, are a spacious 28 square metres and come with a private balcony to view the stupendous Ha Long Bay. The president suite and the executive suites offer a full ocean view private sun terrace for the ultimate couple’s escape.
Swimming Pool Light Show
Discover Halong Bay while soaking in the outdoor pool. Nearly 50 square metres in size, this relaxing spot is located at the tip of the third deck. As the sun goes down, the swimming pool transforms into a space for a light show with romantic LED lights.
Panoramic Bar
The Stellar of the Seas is set up for you to wine and dine your lover in style. If you are looking to spark some romance, the panoramic bar is crafted to create perfect moments. Glasses in hand and the majestic Halong bay views before you – what’s not to love?
Wine Cellar
Going beyond just having a bar, this luxury cruise boat is one of the few Halong Bay cruises that has a wine cellar that truly sets the Stellar of the Seas apart. Amidst a cosy atmospheric set-up, discover a fine selection of global wines that you can toast to your love.
3. Mon Cheri Cruise
‘Mon chéri’ or ‘ma chérie’ in French is an adorable term of endearment that one can call their lover by. We are already off to a good start with the aptly named Mon Cheri Cruise.
Beautiful Bathtub
All the cabins on board are beautifully appointed with dark wood and elegant malbec hues, these are balanced out with large glass windows. All the rooms come with a private balcony and have full ocean views. What makes Mon Cheri even more special is that every single cabin is adorned with a bathtub. This rare luxury can be enjoyed with a cheeky bubble bath and a bottle of bubbly.
Special Dietary Requirements
Their cruise ships take utmost pride as the first and the only Halong Bay cruises to serve Halal food, with a Halal Certificate issued by Halal Vietnam Association. In fact, they are able to accommodate many different diets including Kosher, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free, making this the best Halong Bay cruise for the couple with special dietary needs.
Honeymoon Package
This is one of the few Halong Bay cruises that has a honeymoon package. Lovebirds looking to spend time in Hanoi and Halong Bay should consider this option. The bundle includes a private car pick-up from Hanoi airport to Silk Path Luxury Hotel, a 4-star hotel where you will spend one night. A motorbike tour around Hanoi is also included, along with a round trip luxury limousine transfer from Hanoi and back.
Supports Vietnamese Children in Crisis
An added plus for the couple that is conscious about supporting causes, by cruising with Mon Cheri Halong Bay cruises, you will also be contributing to support children in crisis in Vietnam. This Halong Bay cruise is a partner of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation which recuse street children and children trapped in slavery and forced labour.
4. Orchid Cruise
For the wanderlust couple that loves to adventure together, the Orchid Cruise is a top contender. It is the first Halong Bay cruise that sails through all three zones, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bay.
Itinerary for the Explorers
Orchid Cruise is the best Halong Bay cruise to discover more remote, secluded, untouched areas of the UNESCO heritage site. A more adventure-packed style of travel, Orchid Cruise brings to you excursions that celebrate the outdoors.
As part of the package, you can hike to hidden caves, explore fishing villages, kayak between karst limestone outcrops to isolated lagoons and swim in the blue waters of the pristine, less-visited Lan Ha region. Weather permitting, Orchid Cruise will also organise a beach BBQ.
One of the highlights is a visit to swim or kayak around Ba Trai Dao or the Three Peaches Islets, three small limestone formations that look like peaches. Ba Trai Dec is famous for emerald, clear and shallow waters surrounding the three peaks, making it an especially safe place to swim or kayak in.
Be sure to join the visit to the Viet Ha Village, located in the centre of Cat Ba National Park, which can be reached either by cycling or via electric car.
Honeymoon Package
Onboard the Orchid Cruise, expect to find luxury and comfort. There are only 14 cabins, making it one of the smaller, more exclusive Halong Bay cruises. Each cabin comes with a bathtub, and if you splash out for the executive suite, you will get your own private jacuzzi.
For the special touch, opt for the honeymoon package, and amongst other luxuries, you will get spa vouchers for the onboard spa that offers deep tissue massage, aromatherapy, or herbal oil treatments.
5. Era Cruise
Launched recently in December 2017, Era Cruise is the art-deco inspired cruise ship, it boasts upscale dining options, opulent suites with both standing showers and private whirlpool bathtubs, and stellar service. Spread across three large decks, the Era Cruise offers four different kinds of cabin options, with many reviewers noting the spacious cabins and comfortable setting.
Among the Halong cruises, Era Cruise is one of the only cruise ships that explore both Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Activities onboard and offboard the cruise ship include kayaking, taichi sessions, squid fishing, cooking classes, and more!
Wedding Onboard
For the couple ready to tie the knot, Era Cruise offers wedding services. Their expertise lie in helping you create a unique wedding experience with the entire cruise ship at your and your guest’s disposal. A special occasion menu can be planned with the chef. Enjoy a celebratory meal with your guest, or even take some time for yourself and arrange a romantic dinner alone in your suite.
Seaplane Experience
Era Cruise offers the ultimate luxury of flying from (or to) Hanoi via seaplane in addition to cruising along the majestic bay. Choose this option to take in views of Ha Long Bay in the most exhilarating way! Create a memory for the ages with your partner, glide down between karst formations, swoop over white sandy beaches, and see green islands from the bird’s eye view.
6. Capella Cruise
The Capella cruise brings together the charm of Vietnamese hospitality with the facilities of a modern superyacht. It is the best Halong cruise ship for the lovebirds that particularly enjoy the art of luxury cruising.
Luxury Cruise Facilities
The ship is decked out to not only give you creature comforts but also to entertain you with onboard facilities. The Capella Cruise has both a smaller heated pool, and an infinity-style larger swimming pool that overlooks the seascape. A really fun addition to the cruise is the inflatable water slide that allows passengers to slide from the sun deck right into the beautiful waters of Halong Bay. On the top floor, this luxury Halong Bay cruise has a massive sun deck, where you can curl up together on a sun lounger and let the clouds pass you by.
Compared to other cruises in Halong Bay, Capella manages to offer plenty of unique onboard entertainment facilities including a mini-golf arena, a karaoke room, a cigar and poker club, and a fitness room.
Sunset with Cocktails
To make the cruise, even more, special – be sure to serenade your better half with a sunset from the sea lounge. While you two sip on cocktails, watch the islets come aglow with the caresses of rays of the setting sun.
7. Emperor Cruises
The Emperor Cruises offers the first-ever all-inclusive luxury Halong Bay Cruise, and they promise that the experience will be extraordinary! For the couple that is looking for top-notch luxury without the hassle of paying bills every day, this is the cruise for you. A limousine transfer from Hanoi can also be arranged for your convenience.
All-Inclusive Luxury
The inspiration behind the all-inclusive concept is the last monarch of Vietnam, Emperor Bao Dai, and his lavish lifestyle. The cruise has been designed to be reminiscent of the high-flying 1930s and is adorned with gold leaf, plush velvet, delicate silks, and sparkling gemstones. This Halong Bay cruise has only 8 cabins, each one is equipped with its own balcony and large windows that offer glorious views of the scenic landscape.
Sunset cocktails and fine dining are all included, as are shore excursions, beach activities, and all the massages you desire at the heritage spa. Taking the all-inclusive concept to the next level, is the welcome sparkling wines, 24-hour room service, daily mini-bar replenishment, there is also a private butler service onboard.
Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise
One of the few overnight cruises around the Bai Tu Long Bay, Emperor Cruises offer a charming and elegant alternative to the well-travelled Halong Bay area. Highlights of this trip include kayaking around the beautiful, secluded Cong Do area and going on a pearl farm visit at Vung Vieng Floating Village, an ancient village that was a trade gateway between Vietnam and China.
8. Paradise Cruise – Peak
Sail away on board this top-of-the-line traditional wooden junk that combines opulence, comfort, and quality.
Intimate Luxury
A ride of exclusive prestige, the Paradise Peak Cruise is smaller than most boats in the bay with only 8 cabins and a maximum of 16 passengers. Each expansive cabin features a spacious balcony or private dining area, a jacuzzi, and comes with a butler service.
Private Dining Options Galore
The Paradise Peak menu showcases fresh, locally-sourced seafood, and in-season fruits and vegetables. Each element is hand-picked and cooked to perfection by the Peak’s resident chef.
What makes this Halong Bay cruise different is that each and every meal can be made private. Enjoy a romantic meal from the privacy of your own cabin, on the top deck, on private beaches, and even in a cave. The Peak’s staff will endeavour to create a setting that will make your hearts sing with delight!
Exciting Itinerary
The Paradise Peak Cruise offers a selection of activities and excursions that will ensure that your couple’s getaway is fulfilling and well-rounded.
Excursions include a trip to Tung Sau Pearl Farm, where you can learn about the aquaculture of pearls, understand the cultivation process, and witness the creation of jewellery. Perhaps, take this chance to gift your loved one with a pearl, an ancient symbol of love and wisdom.
Hike together to the top of Titop Island, a small island in Halong Bay only accessible by boat, known for its pristine white sand beaches. The panoramic views of Halong Bay are well worth the strenuous hike, the top of Titop Island is one of the best viewpoints of the area.
Discover Sung Sot Cave, or as the French called it, the ‘Grottes des Surprises’. Wander the two chambers and be awed by stalagmites, stalactites, and fascinating rock formations.
An incomparable way to celebrate your love is onboard a cruise ship discovering one of the most stunning places in the world. Two is better than one – whether you are just getting to know one another or celebrating a milestone in your relationship, luxury cruising around the Halong Bay Area provides a remarkable, scenic background to your love story.
Here is our list of the 8 best Halong Bay cruises for couples that we have put together for the discerning customer. Take a look here (https://www.halonghub.com/blog/best-luxury-cruises-in-halong-bay/ ) for more information on unique luxury cruise ships along Halong Bay. Visit Halong Bay knowing we have the best luxury cruise that fits your needs. So go on, relax and enjoy a beautiful sunset amongst karst limestone formations.