Orchid Cruise Halong Bay 3days 2night On 5 Star Cruise

What a brilliant cruise, last year we went to Halong Bay, but this year we wanted something different which Orchid offers the Lan Hai bay as well. The boat was beautiful as were the staff and amenities, especially the massage! The cabins are huge and beautifully appointed with roll top baths and huge shower. Only 14 cabins on Classic 2 which allows for plenty of space and with 24 staff it’s almost 2:1. Interesting excursions but the main village excursion tbh you can miss (we did it last year). The kayaking was brilliant especially to the caves. Thoroughly recommend Orchid as a company

Wonderful experience in beautiful Halong Bay! Attentive service by Mel, Win and the crew. The rooms were spacious (with connecting rooms for families), food was delicious and activities were fun for all ages. Loved kayaking in the bay and the excursion to Viet Hai island.

Had a fantastic couple of days aboard this cruise - room was a good size with a lovely balcony even though it was the lower level so one of the cheaper ones. Service on the boat was outstanding- everyone was so friendly and helpful. The activities and excursions were well organised- it was amazing to do t’ai chi on the deck at 6.30am. Food was excellent and so fresh. Two slight negatives - the rubbish floating in the water and at the water’s edge was unsightly and the sheer number of boats around was staggering. Orchids cruises did however find quiet and peaceful places so neither of the negatives detracted from an excellent couple of days.

My daughter, niece and I went on this cruise for my birthday in November 2025. It was amazing and the service was outstanding by everyone but we had even more extraordinary service from the tai chi instructor in the morning who is also head of housekeeping Lei (I am sure I am spelling that wrong). Just make sure not to miss it....it's an incredible experience to be doing tai chi with this lovely lady while the sun is rising and you are cruising Halong Bay. I was also blown away by our waitstaff, Annie. She treated us like royalty every meal but totally went out of her way to make my birthday very special and memorable. The decorations were incredible and she even made me a handmade card. I won't post pics to spoil it but if you have a special occasion, let them know. Lily was the cruise manager and she did an outstanding job taking care of everyone on board and making us all feel special

This was an amazing experience. Very comfortable accommodation and the service from all staff was fantastic. A special mention to Chris who went above all expectations to make our time aboard very memorable.

We had a wonderful 3-day, 2-night cruise in Ha Long Bay and would absolutely recommend it to family and friends. Everything from the service to the excursions was exceptional — truly one of the highlights of our trip to Vietnam. The service was outstanding. Our tour guide, Tien, was incredibly detail-oriented and seemed to remember everything about our group from the very first day. He made us feel at home right away — it honestly felt like he’d known us for a week by the first evening! The food was excellent, with plenty of variety and always served promptly. We especially want to recognize Elle, who went above and beyond to make our dining experience comfortable and safe. I avoid shellfish, and my wife has celiac disease (gluten free) — Elle personally explained every dish, confirmed ingredients, and made sure all of my wife’s meals were prepared gluten free. It was the best gluten-free service we’ve experienced anywhere in our travels. The excursions were well-planned and memorable. We loved the day on the day boat, kayaking and visiting Viet Hai village, and on another day we got to swim and kayak around a beautiful island. Every activity was well organized, relaxed, and fun. Overall, this cruise was an unforgettable experience — seamless service, thoughtful staff, delicious food, and breathtaking scenery. We left feeling cared for and amazed. Highly recommend!

A really good way to explore the Halong Bay area. The boat is spacious, clean and comfortable. Food is excellent. Varied activities allow you to explore on the land and water as part of guided tours or independently kayaking around. Staff are exceptional. We were lucky to have Eric around who brought a great sense of humour as well as a bright smile every time we interacted.

The cruise and the views were stunning. The crew was very helpful. Colada served us well with all our needs. The massage at the spa was very relaxing and enjoyable.

The whole cruise was amazing. Outstanding scenery and service. All the staff on board made the trip extra special however Colada went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. The food was superb with plenty of both meat and vegetarian options. Would highly recommend!

Great few days. The team were all very helpful and professional, all went above and beyond. Massive thanks to Chris for looking after us during our stay. Bang for his organising and Colada for his cocktails. Thank you all.

This cruise was the highlight of our Vietnam trip. The cabins were stunning and spacious with huge windows providing magnificent views. Wonderful and attentive staff, a special mention for the manager Huan, whose respect and love for his country was very moving. Also wonderful service from Elle and James. The food was superb. Be aware alcohol is very expensive and wi fi extremely weak. This was a memorable experience taking in one of the world’s most beautiful bays. Highly recommend.

This experience was incredible. The boat was excellent, the food was exceptional and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Win was our waiter and he gave us an excellent personal service and made us feel very well looked after. The rooms were superb. This is an excellent way to marvel at the sights in the bay and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend Orchid.

First class cruise. The rooms were large, well appointed and offered great panoramic views of the bay. The meals were delicious with a good selection to choose from. Lamb chop, Beef tenderloin, Sea Bass, Salmon, soups and salads, etc. They were perfectly prepared with good presentation. It was a 5 star dining experience. The staff, host Mr. Dong and Bennie, Hardy, Bobby and the rest of the crew, were very friendly, organized and attentive. The staff went above and beyond in helping us celebrate our anniversary. Our side trips including kayaking, hiking and trip to a remote village on Cat Ba island were well planned and worked in to still allow time to relax and enjoy a Happy hour drink in the hot tub on the top deck and one of the best message my wife and I ever had.

We had a wonderful experience on this cruise. The transfer was arranged and coordinated. Janet from Best Price Travel was so helpful and supportive in getting this booked for us, helping whenever there were questions or when we mixed up our dates. The boat was so comfortable and staff was amazing and friendly. Rose attended to all our needs, always smiling, joking with us, ensuring that we all had a great time. We never lacked for delicious food or drink, fun activities (including cooking demonstrations!) Lily, our guide, was very well informed and gave us so much history and information. The views are stunning, and we were able to relax and enjoy it all while making new friends, enjoying the jacuzzi and happy hour, sharing smiles. Our only regret is that we didn’t book the three night cruise.

Not sure which Orchid Cruises I have done as our cruise was canceled 24h before the start and we have been rebooked on another boat of Orchid Cruises! Service was perfect and Mina in the restaurant was really great with us at any moment. Lunches and dinners were all perfect in quality and diversity, the breakfast was unfortunately not at an expected level in compare to the other meal and you need to pay extra if you want an expresso or a green tea! The room was perfect, big and clean The excursions were not very interesting, in particular the one of the second day when we were brought to a village of the sandy women island. A village without any interest only created to push people to buy souvenirs, if we knew we had to wait 1h30 in this village who would have skipped this excursion. I would recommend a cruise of 2 days and 1 night, it is largely enough

Beautiful scenery. Even more spectacular than I thought it would be. A very relaxing 2 night cruise with excellent activities. Small boat with only 14 cabins. We had a lovely suite on deck 1 with balcony. Only comment would be the food there is alot of seafood however food on boat very good quality. Special mention to staff member Colada, he made our stay on board extra special. He's a credit to the boat company. Highly recommend this boat & company!!

I booked the cruise through Amber Hoang sales representative of orchid cruise. She is awesome, helpful, and a quick responder her contact through WhatsApp +84 169 632 9682. They also celebrated our anniversary very nicely. The staff are super nice and friendly especially Ðat (Peter) , Loi (Rum). The managers Lyly, also tour guide David are helpful. The room was nice and the food is awesome Highly recommend 3 days/2 nights on the cruise.

We are not a cruise family, but this has been a fantastic experience. Scenery, calm blue green water is just magnificent. We are a family of 3 and had two connecting rooms. They are comfortable, good sized, lovely bathroom with a claw bath looking out to the fantastic views of Ha Long bay. Top deck is very big, set up with lounge, tables & chairs, and a very well stocked bar, we enjoyed a few cocktails at Happy Hour each day. Impeccable services provided by staff, they are polite and friendly. Special mention to Lyly, looked after us each meal, very efficient & friendly, nothing is too much trouble. I definitely recommend it if you ever get a chance.

We were astounded with the quality of food and drinks, the cabin and the large range of activities available on board; we thoroughly enjoyed the kayaking trips around the beautiful coves and mountains, along with early morning tai chi, and swimming in the ocean off the back of the boat. Laura made a lasting impression on us as a family, with her very attentive accommodation to us during meals and also on the day cruise to Cát Bà island, who the tour guide, David was incredibly informative. The cruise was all together an amazing experience, made all the better by the staff on board!

It was really nice. The service was soooo lovely and attentive. The staff were so welcoming, warm and friendly. Two of the staff service us, Louis and Lily were so amazing and made our trip that much more enjoyable. The views were AMAZING as well. Had a lovely time and would definitely recommend to anyone. 10000/10.

Wow. What a fantastic cruise. The boat is beautiful. was there on our 40th wedding anniversary and all the crew made it a very special time, especially Alex, who was brilliant. Food was first class and the scenery spectacular. Had a great time with many other travelers, happy hour which stretched for about 4 was a great way to end each day.

Great service on the boat, everyone was very attentive and friendly from the moment we arrived. We disconnected a bit, enjoying the scenery and excursions on the boat.

We did the 3 day 2 night and was on Orchid 2. The check in was very straight forward on the quayside and then a 40 shuttle boat out to the boat for our stay. We had Tai Chi offered in the Morning (I did this one morning and it was relaxing taking part) we also did the boat trip in the light and dark cave (this I have to say was a bit manic, but it was a national holiday in Vietnam) and we did the island tour which you could cycle to the village or take the electric car. The food on the boat was very good and the cabins spacious, there was Happy Hour twice in the evening and the staff were all very friendly, Tien was our guide/host who was great as was Smiley in the restaurant and bar. I would recommend this trip.

Reccomendation: Went as a couple. Incredible experience, please do the 3d2n, the 2d1n would have been too short given how long you need to travel from Hanoi to get to Ha Long Bay and Back. Also, pack sunscreen Food: Was very impressed by the food and plenty of options at the buffet. No issues and no hesitation for Vegan / Vegetarians. Drinks: I'm an Aussie and cocktails are generally $5 a piece during happy hour. Really good and only reccomendation is to bring hydralyte to offset the alcohol you'll undoubtedly drink. Staff: During the introductions, they told us there are 26 staff for 25 people (this was on the Orchid Cruise Classic). Really amazing service and would reccomend. Specifically, Vy Vy and Sunny were very attentive, kind and exceeded our expectations in every way. These two staff members made the cruise an even more incredible and memorable experience. Ages: No problem for all ages. I'm in my 30's and cross section of all ages so no problem with sharing drinks and socialising with people in your age bracket. But ages on the boat likely also luck of the draw. Room: Room had air-conditioning. Had a great view from room. No issues and great suites with instagramable rooms. Overall experience: Definitely 5/5 (or 10/10, however you want to rate it). Would reccomend and the boat was a higher quality than others going around Ha Long Bay so no issues with any amenities, Room, staff. Loved it.

Beautiful suite, fine dining, excellent waitress (Mina). Could have been 5* rated BUT on day 2 we were transferred to a "day boat" which was just a shabby ferry boat with insufficient furniture, no comfort, inattentive staff and disgusting lunch. We could not believe how Orchid could subject us to this and not return us to our boat until 5 pm. Very disappointed indeed and this spoiled what would have been a wonderful experience. Get your act together Orchid!

We took the Orchid Classic Cruise in a balcony suite. 3 days / 2 nights from 24th to 26th March. We were initially very pleased with the boat, the balcony suite and the restaurant. Our evening meal was excellent and our waitress Mina was very efficient and friendly. However, day 2 of the cruise was dreadful. We were transferred to a "day boat" which we were assured had all the facilities of the main boat. This was not the case! The day boat did not have enough outdoor seating or sun loungers for all the passengers. This is despite us being advised there were only half the number of passengers than usual. The toilet/ shower facilities were very basic and barely adequate for the number of passengers. The lunch served on the boat was dreadful ! Nothing like the standard on the main boat. The trip to the village was fun on the bicycles but really nothing to see when we got there. When we returned to the main boat we were told by two members of staff that customers often complain about the day boat. Had we known about this we would have forgone the trip to the village and remained on the main boat relaxing on the balcony which we had little opportunity to use. This was a "bucket list " trip for us. There is no doubt Halong Bay is beautiful. Unfortunately it is also overcrowded with boats and heavily polluted. My advice to anyone considering this cruise is to do one night or seek assurance that you will not spend a day on a smaller much less luxurious boat.

We had a wonderful experience on this cruise. The boat is beautiful and the staff are so personable. We particularly enjoyed meeting Benny and Dong. Professional and accommodating. HIghly recommend this cruise.

I loved the old fashioned vibe of the boat. We were greeted warmly by the staff as soon as we boarded and this set the tone for exceptional service throughout the trip. The bedroom and bathroom were wonderful, and the freestanding bathtub was a particular favourite. Every room has a balcony which was the height of luxury. As others have said, the enormous windows throughout the vessel mean you are assured of great views. My husband took part in the tai chi class and enjoyed it immensely. We all did the cave trip which was interesting, not too demanding although at some points, you are required to bend quite a lot. The village trip was much as others have described. A little upsetting to see a dog with an injured leg but vet bills are a luxury many of us find challenging. The food on board was wonderful. I have no idea why anyone could find fault. There was a lot of fish but there was a LOT of food so no need to go hungry. Kayacking was fun and we got to explore the nearby beaches. I wasn't aware of pollution but perhaps we were fortunate. The staff were eager to please and I want to mention Win in particular who was always attentive and kind. I recommend joining in o e of the cookery demos...lovely food, a great way to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine and meet up with fellow passengers. An amazing once in a lifetime trip.

Embarking on the Orchid Cruise for a 2-night, 3-day journey through the breathtaking Halong Bay was an experience that left us in awe. The cruise offered a truly beautiful setting, where limestone karsts emerged from the emerald waters, creating a surreal landscape. The itinerary was well-planned, allowing us to explore some of the bay's most iconic spots while also providing moments of relaxation and leisure on the sundeck. The onboard activities, such as cooking classes and tai chi sessions at sunrise, added a touch of cultural enrichment to the trip. What truly made this cruise stand out was the extraordinary staff, particularly Nilo and Sky. From the moment we stepped aboard, their warm smiles and genuine care made us feel like valued guests. Whether it was assisting with excursion arrangements, providing insightful information about the bay's history and ecology, or attending to any special requests, Nilo and Sky went above and beyond to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for us and everyone on board. However, despite the enchanting beauty of Halong Bay, I must address my concerns about the environmental impact. Due to the evident contamination of the waters with visible plastics and oils/gasoline, my husband and I made the difficult decision to refrain from swimming and participating in other aquatic activities during our time in Halong Bay. While we were captivated by the stunning scenery, the unfortunate environmental condition of the bay gave us cause for concern. The cruise operators and local authorities need to take more aggressive measures to preserve this natural wonder and ensure a sustainable future for Halong Bay. While I would gladly give a perfect score for their exceptional service, I have deducted one star due to my concerns about the environmental issues in the bay. I genuinely hope that steps will be taken to address this matter, so future travelers can continue to appreciate the magnificence of Halong Bay without compromising its beauty.

What a great excursion. I am glad we decided to stay 2 nights as opposed to 1 night on the cruise. The crew members were very attentive. The cuisine was different but we enjoyed trying many different dishes. They fed us so much. We enjoyed doing Thai Chi in the morning & cooking lessons in the evening. The bike ride & even the fish pedicure was fun. The cabin rooms were big with balconies.

Cruise was amazing experience We enjoyed a lot because of crew members Staff members were fully guiding and helpful Their service were best specially tony and Ellie from dining room We have never experienced this in any other place Thank you so much

Orchid cruise and Halong bay did not disappoint. Fabulous boat, room, cuisine, staff! Trang esp was so amazing as cruise and tour director with such personal attention to us. She’s a keeper!

Beautiful boat, cabin with floor to ceiling windows and very spacious. Amazing food, spotlessly clean throughout and plenty of chairs and loungers on deck. But most outstanding were the wonderful staff whose friendliness and efficiency were second to none. Most impressed by our waiter Colada with his ever ready smile and helpfulness and Tian, the ship manager who worked tirelessly to ensure everyone was well looked after and making time to talk to all passengers to confirm itineraries and ensure that everything was up to scratch. Highly recommend this trip.

This cruise was beautiful the boat was 5* the room and bath room were beautiful and clean and comfortable and it was beautiful to lie on the bed and look out over the fantastic scenery. The food was also beautiful and we never stopped eating there are many many courses. Please be advised to inform in advance if you don’t like fish. The staff were very nice and provided excellent friendly service. The activities provided were not really to our taste… there is tai chi but this is very early in the morning and squid fishing for all of you fishermen types. There was a walk described as a hike so we gave this a miss and the day trip was to a village which really only shows the poverty and did not inform of anything else really. There was an option to bike ride on the village trip but beware there is hills and no gears on the bikes. The weather on the halong bay in March was grey and drizzled rather like Manchester so maybe we didn’t see it at its best it was fairly warm and we only needed a cardigan/ light weight waterproof ( the water proof coats are provided) . Please be informed that parts of the bay suffer from pollution and therefore swimming in it is not appealing. Given the correct weather and less pollution this would have been beautiful.

We have returned from our cruise, which was excellent in most respects. There is one issue which was not good, and this relates to the balcony. For medical reasons I cannot be undressed to any extent in public areas, and so I had paid extra to book the Exclusive suite as this had a large private terrace. Unfortunately, it turned out that we could not use this because of the smell of, presumably, diesel at the rear of the boat. This wasn’t just whilst the boat was moving, and was present when the boat was anchored in the evening. Whilst the cruise wasn’t spoilt unduly, it was still annoying not to have been able to use the terrace we’d paid for. With that in mind, I have asked the company for an appropriate refund to cover its unavailability. I will edit this review once I have heard back from them. To be fair, the cruise was exactly as described and the accommodation on the boat was otherwise excellent.

Unique views, many activities (kayaks, cave tour, fishing, morning tai-chi) and a very helpful and pleasant crew. The rooms are very nice and face the water. The food is so-so.

Most beautiful cruise. Extremely helpful staff, lovely accommodation, food was par excellence and prepared to your taste, served with fanfare. Makes you feel great. Some of the staff like Mr Kent and Mr Thien went out of their way to make it special for us, Worth a repeat visit.

I had $350 stolen from our room during our daytrip. I was asked if we wanted our room cleaned and I said no. When we came back to the room after the daytrip I noticed the bed had been made up and later discovered the money was missing. We had multiple torn bills that we couldnt change in Thailand due to the imperfections and they were missing, among 2 other $100 bills. We reported the theft immediately and the manager assured me in multiple txts that we would be compensated. i received an email today that they will not compensate me. Aside from the theft, the food is terrible. Very disappointing. The presentation is great, but the food tasted canned and the vegetarian option had zero protein. Halong Bay is full of plastic trash floating around. Nobody wants to take any responsibility for this. it is heartbreaking. The day trip to the village was nothing special. Though the room was very nice, in the circumstances of the theft and the disgusting food we are very disappointed and will certainly not recommend this cruise to anybody ever.

We booked a 3D2N Exclusive Suite Balcony Cabin with Orchid Classic Cruise for 2 in early March 2023. The room was spectacular and view from the toilet and bath til the spacious bedroom was beyond words. The staff was exceptional since day one and our personal waiters during the meals, Smile and Kent, were very attentive to our needs. My boyfriend and I didn't particularly join the first day activities and just enjoyed the cabin. Food was top notch and the cruise manager, Mr Tien, was very pleasant as well. We cycled and kayaked on the 2nd day and enjoyed it. My boyfriend proposed to me on the 2nd night and they went above and beyond with the set-up and gimmicks to make the surprise proposal unnnforgetable. Two thumbs up! It was a truly amazing experience.

Of course the scenery is magnificent and we highly recommend a 3 day 2 nt cruise over the one night version. Our cabin (Suite Balcony Cabin) on the boat was larger and more luxurious than our hotel in Hanoi.. We liked the lower deck 1 room 104 which is closer to the waterline for our chairs on the balcony.. the weather during our February trip was a bit cloudy and cool, but the warm family feel of the staff and great food made up for the lack of sunshine. A shoutout to Elle who looked after us personally and all of the staff were well trained, attentive and friendly. Very welcoming. We did not join the adventurous outings that were offered but instead relaxed and enjoyed the boat and each other on this Valentines Day cruise! Recommended!

Firstly let me say that the HaLong Bay area is one of the most beautiful and spectacular seascapes you'll ever see - I thoroughly recommend going to see it. I would also add that despite my criticisms raised below referring to our operator, Orchid Cruises, from what I could see, I expect all operators will be very similar. We booked the 2 night, 3 day cruise package and the best room on the boat (Orchid Exclusive Suite). Our suite was absolutely lovely and was just as described in the advertisement. Our transport from Hanoi was by executive minibus and that too was faultless. Where I have criticism is as follows: 1. It isn't really a cruise. You take a small boat to join the main vessel that will be moored up to the NE of Cat Ba Island. It will then travel for around an hour, to the SE part of the island. That's it. 2. If you book the 2 nights on board, on the second day you are shipped off the boat to Cat Ba on a small day boat. On our trip which lasted 8.5 hours it took us nearly 3 hours to get back (at an average speed of 1.5mph), literally an excrutiatingly slow journey. So instead of enjoying our lovely cabin we got to sit on a hard day boat seat instead. My advice is to avoid the 2 night option, or stay on-board on day 2. I also found the cost of alcohol exorbitant on board, for example a bottle of Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc was being sold for over 2million Dong, which is roughly £75 in UK pounds. We buy this wine in the UK for less than £10 a bottle. Other drinks were also very expensive - you're a captive audience. On the whole, despite being in a lovely cabin, the negatives really took the shine off this trip. I would not recommend this to others.

Everything about the Orchid Cruise #2 was phenomenal.....from the beautiful ship itself & its lovely accommodations to the delicious food, the fun- filled activities cruise director Mr Tien organized, & the friendly, helpful staff overall. Very highly recommended!

activities were planned well, tour guide was friendly, food buffet was amazing! The room (classic suite) was very clean, spacious and the view was amazing! The staff were also very helpful and kind, I had a memorable time there. For those who are looking for cruise, highly recommend orchid cruise. The view and wind was amazing. I stayed with my family 2 day 1 night but it gave me many memories! We went canoeing, hiking, visited a cave, and chilled out in the room. Love it there.

This is a must-do when visiting the Hanoi area! And 2 nights is minimum otherwise, you’ll just miss a lot of beautiful scenery and experiences. The boat crew and waitstaff aboard were all very friendly, attentive, and accommodating. We experienced wonderful, thoughtful services from the food to the guided tours! One star off because the boat itself is needing some attention, some things are in disrepair, wear and tear is quite apparent, and as other reviewers have mentioned, better attention needed to cleaning and tidiness around the boat. Overall, the cruise is highly recommended, the staff and crew wonderful, but the boat itself could use a revamp.

Beautiful boat with spacious room for 3 people. Largest bathroom on a cruise ship complete with free standing whirlpool tub and separate rain shower! 180 degree views of the ever changing Bay and private balcony! Great itinerary even though it was cool and misty ( actually added to the mystique of the islands)! Loved the kayaking… and a dip in the water on our own private beach! The staff was exemplary! So friendly and accommodating! Special shout out to our cruise director Chang who took care of all of us but especially went out of her way to help us when we had a mix up with our luggage. Another shout out to Bingh our waiter who kept us well fed and hydrated! The food was delicious and so beautifully plated at every meal! Halong Bay is a must see in Vietnam and a 3 day cruise with Orchard cruise line is a splurge worth every cent!

Sailed on the Orchid 2. Danny was a great host on board and for the excursions. Eric was the BEST server! Always so happy and helpful! We really enjoyed our time and would recommend it for others.

Spent a wonderful night on the Orchid Premium Cruise boat expertly hosted by Mr Dong and the team. Very friendly staff delivering great customer service.

Lovely boat, fantastic crew and really great Minh our boat manager who made the experience very entertaining! The spa booking system was a little disorganised and could be better but packed agenda made it hard to find time. Rooms nice and spacious but attention to detail on cleaning could be a little improved. Beds comfortable and stunning lying in bed watching the stunning scenery. Would encourage all activities, caves really good as well as bike ride to the village. Breakfast good choice and nice fresh omelettes. Dinner 4/5 courses and catered for gluten free well. Dinner was sometimes a bit cold and was ok but could be improved.

Not easy to describe how beautiful Halong Bay is. This is a most when visiting Vietnam. Among so many cruise options we choose Orchid. Staff was absolutely amazing, friendly, always helpful. Spacious and comfortable rooms, very nice food. Boat (Orchid Classic 1) has seen better times and could use a revamp.