Ha Long Bay cruise ships we put groups on.
Six vessels, 24–158 guests, three different stretches of water. We know these boats and their crews, so we can tell you which one fits before you commit to anything — and say plainly when none of them does.
Start with how many people you have.
It is nearly always the question that decides the vessel. Narrow by headcount and by which water you want — the table and the cards below both follow.
Nothing matches that combination — the quieter bays are served by the smaller ships. Widen one of the two filters, or tell us what you need and we will say whether it exists.
| Aspira Most reviewed | Azura Most facilities | Athena Royal Bai Tu Long | Athena Luxury Classic route | Signature Halong Smallest | Athena Premium From 1 Oct 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class claimed by operator | 5-star | 6-star | 5-star | 5-star | 5-star | 6-star |
| In service | Since 2022 | Since December 2025 | 2017 or 2019 | Since July 2017 | Since 2013 | From 1 October 2026 |
| Cabins | 22 | 30 | 22 | 21 | 12 | 41 |
| Departs from | Tuan Chau Harbour | Tuan Chau Marina | Ha Long International Port | Ha Long International Port | Ha Long International Port | Ha Long International Port |
| Comfortable charter size | 40–50 guests | 65–70 guests | 44 adults | 42 adults | 24 adults | 158 guests |
| Pool | Jacuzzi, seasonal pool | Infinity pool | Sundeck jacuzzi | Sundeck jacuzzi | None on deck | Four-season infinity pool |
| Wellness | Spa and gym | Spa, sauna and gym | Spa and sauna | Spa, sauna on request | Spa, in-room massage | Japanese onsen, sauna, spa, yoga and gym |
| Largest cabin | Presidential Suite, 55m², sun terrace | Imperial Suite, ocean-view bathtub | Royal Suite, 45m², painted mural | Connecting cabin, 45m², sleeps 6 | Elite Family Suite, 45m², sleeps 6 | Imperial Athena Suite, 400m², private pool |
| Bathtubs | Listed for Executive suites | In every cabin | In the upper grades | Standing shower | Jacuzzi tub in every cabin | In cabins and suites |
| Cruising area | Ha Long, Lan Ha and Cat Ba Island | Lan Ha Bay | Bai Tu Long, or Ha Long | Ha Long Bay — Sung Sot, Ti Top, Luon Cave | Bai Tu Long Bay | Ha Long Bay — Sung Sot, Ti Top, Luon Cave |
| Hanoi transfers | Round trip included | Not included — quoted separately | Not included — quoted separately | Shuttle daily at 07:30, charged | Shuttle daily at 07:30, charged | Not included — quoted separately |
| Public review history | 1,900+ on TripAdvisor | 740+ on TripAdvisor | 160+ on TripAdvisor | 314 on TripAdvisor | 1,400+ on TripAdvisor | None yet |
| Formats | 2D1N / 3D2N | 2D1N / 3D2N | 2D1N / 3D2N | 2D1N / 3D2N | 2D1N / 3D2N | 2D1N / 3D2N |
| See the ship | See the ship | See the ship | See the ship | See the ship | See the ship |
Ratings come from the public platforms listed on each ship's page, and every score links out so you can read it yourself. TripAdvisor was read by hand on 18 September 2026. Athena Luxury's figure is its own product listing, not the much larger Athena listing on the same site — that one is an operator listing covering several boats and its 2,687 reviews are not attributable to any single hull, so we do not use it. Athena Premium has no score because it has not sailed. Star classes are the wording each operator uses on its own site; there is no independent six-star standard for cruises, so treat them as positioning rather than certification.
Aspira Cruise
- 50 guests
- 22 cabins
- 5-star
Four years of sailings, more public reviews than any other ship here, and Hanoi transfers already in the price.
Azura Cruise
- 70 guests
- 30 cabins
- 6-star
The newest ship on Lan Ha: an infinity pool rather than a jacuzzi, a sauna beside the spa, and a bathtub facing the water in every cabin.
Athena Royal Cruise
- 44 guests
- 22 cabins
- 5-star
The larger of two ships on Bai Tu Long: quieter water, fewer day boats, and caves most visitors never reach.
Athena Luxury Cruise
- 42 guests
- 21 cabins
- 5-star
The classic Ha Long circuit, a 50-seat restaurant with a projector, and event packages already on the books.
Signature Halong Cruise
- 24 guests
- 12 cabins
- 5-star
Small enough that one party takes the whole ship, with a jacuzzi bathtub in every cabin rather than just the suites.
Athena Premium Cruise
- 158 guests
- 41 cabins
- 6-star
The bay's first Japanese onsen and an 800m² sundeck that takes a 400-guest reception. Enters service 1 October 2026.
One thing each of them does that the others cannot.
Before you pick a ship.
How many guests can a Ha Long Bay cruise hold?
Across the six ships we work with, between 24 and 158. Signature Halong is the smallest at 24 adults, which means a party of twenty takes the whole vessel rather than sharing it. Athena Premium is the largest at 158, and its 800m² sundeck is rated for a 400-guest reception while the ship is at anchor.
Which Ha Long Bay cruise is best for a wedding?
Headcount decides it more than anything else. Under 25 guests, Signature Halong lets one party take the whole ship. Up to about 50, Aspira has four years of sailings and far more public reviews than any other vessel here. Past 50, Azura is larger and billed by its operator as six-star. Over 100, Athena Premium is the only option, and it enters service on 1 October 2026.
What is the difference between Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay?
The same limestone karst landscape, but different water. Ha Long is the famous stretch with Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island, and the busiest. Lan Ha sits south towards Cat Ba Island and is quieter. Bai Tu Long is quieter still, with a fraction of the day boats — Athena Royal and Signature Halong are the only ships on this page that sail it.
Are transfers from Hanoi included in a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Only on Aspira, which includes the round trip in its fare. Azura, Athena Royal, Athena Luxury and Signature Halong all quote transfers separately — the Athena Group ships run a daily shuttle at 07:30 and a 15-seat limousine bus on request. Ha Long is about 169km from Hanoi, roughly two and three-quarter hours by road.
Which pier does each ship leave from?
Two different piers, which matters when timing a transfer and matters a great deal if a guest list is split across two vessels. Aspira and Azura sail from Tuan Chau. All four Athena Group ships — Athena Royal, Athena Luxury, Signature Halong and Athena Premium — work out of Ha Long International Port instead.
Can you charter a whole cruise ship in Ha Long Bay?
Yes, and on the smaller vessels it is the normal way to run a private event. Signature Halong at 24 adult berths and Athena Luxury at 42 are the two where a realistic guest list fills the ship. On the larger vessels a full charter is possible but costs several times more than filling most of it.
Five steps from first message to sail away.
No mystery pricing, no vendor roulette. You see the full plan before you commit to anything.
Goals, guest count, dates, and whether this is a wedding or a company retreat.
We recommend a vessel and a 2D1N or 3D2N itinerary that fits your group.
Run of show, space planning, vendor scope and transparent pricing, in writing.
Logistics, vendors, guest flow and styling, including the cruise-specific constraints.
Onboard coordination from arrival to departure. You get to be a guest.
Not sure which ship?
Tell us your headcount, dates and rough budget. We will tell you plainly which vessel fits, and say so if none of them does.
Rather just message us?
WhatsApp is the fastest way to reach the planning team. Same reply window, less typing.
WhatsApp us- Response time24 to 48 hours, Singapore business days
- Where we operateHa Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam
- Formats2D1N and 3D2N, cabin block or full charter
- Email[email protected]
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