Le Journey Luxury Cruise — Hotel in Hạ Long City

I booked this cruise for 2 days and 1 night after checking reviews on TripAdvisor. Unfortunately, my overall experience was disappointing and far below the standard advertised. The most significant issue was the itinerary. The cruise did not take us to two of the main attractions in Halong Bay – the Light and Bright Cave and the Surprise Cave. When I inquired, I was told these caves were under maintenance. However, I later met other travelers on different cruises who confirmed that they were taken to these locations. Moreover, after posting my review on TripAdvisor, even the cruise team admitted that they did not have the necessary approvals for the Bright and Dark Cave. This clearly shows a misrepresentation, as the cruise management knowingly changed the entire itinerary while misleading guests with the excuse of “maintenance.” The accommodation and facilities were also underwhelming. The rooms were not well maintained — the toilet pot was broken, and the “junior suite” did not have a proper bathing area, unlike what most genuine 5-star cruises provide. In addition, the jacuzzi pool was unclean, which further reduced the sense of comfort and quality expected from a premium cruise. The dining experience was inconsistent. The buffet lunch on arrival was limited in variety and the food was cold by the time it was served. Dinner was the only highlight, with a candlelight setup and comparatively better food among the four courses offered. In terms of entertainment and activities, the cruise again fell short. The after-dinner program was conducted entirely by the manager, Mr. Waters, who deserves credit for his effort and professionalism. However, there were no proper Tai Chi lessons or engaging entertainment, which are normally part of a high-quality cruise experience. Overall, although this cruise is marketed as a 5-star experience, in reality it does not even meet a 3-star standard. The only positives were the candlelight dinner and the efforts of Mr. Waters. Everything else — from itinerary to facilities, food, and activities — was disappointing. In summary, the experience felt misrepresented. Future travelers should carefully verify cruise itineraries and facilities in advance, as this one did not deliver what...

This was my third time visiting Halong Bay with different groups of friends and family, and unfortunately, it was the most disappointing experience so far.

The main issue was the itinerary and activities. Perhaps part of the fault is mine, as I didn’t research thoroughly this time—I assumed the itineraries would be similar to my two previous cruises, which were both amazing. However, with this company the itinerary was very poor.

The cruise only went to crowded, busy, and even polluted areas. There was no stop at a beach, no passing by a fishing village, and no disembarkment at a viewing point. Swimming and kayaking were also restricted to very limited areas, and even then, swimming was only allowed with a life jacket. Overall, the experience felt very limited and disappointing—especially for first-time visitors who might only get one chance to experience Halong Bay.

It’s worth noting that some general restrictions in Halong Bay have gotten stricter in recent years, but even with that in mind, this itinerary was by far the weakest of my three trips.

On the positive side, the boat itself was beautiful and the rooms were excellent. The food was fantastic, and the staff were súper friendly and attentive.

Advice to future travelers: Please do your research carefully before booking. Don’t assume that all itineraries are the same. Make sure the cruise you choose actually includes the experiences you’re looking forward to—because in this case, trusting the operator left me very dissapointed.

Also, improvement note, we stopped 30 minutes on the drive to Halong Bay from Halong at rest room area, which was way too long and quite a tourist trapos. I understand the need to stop but 10 minutes would be enough. Then there is an extra 45 minutes to one hour waiting at the dock. Also unecessary, if the boat is not ready, then later arrival would be better rather than waiting. Seemed that overall there is a lot of time wasted that could be better siento enjoying the wonders and...

I do not recommended this provider and activity, the quality is below basic expectations and not even close to the premium image advertised. I believe the ratings on Tripadvisor and Booking.com are inflated by fake reviews.

🤷‍♀️The tour manager lady was passive aggressive, spoke broken English and did not communicate changes to the original schedule

📆There was a change in the second day activity vs what was in original schedule, change was not adequately communicated. The new inland activity was poor and very bad quality buses transported us there

😬Some other guests were charged for having a stain on a bed duvet. They probably don’t wash any duvets and covers..

💲All prices are in USD and are inflated vs elsewhere in Vietnam

⏳Upon arrival you need to wait an hour before a small boat takes you to the cruise for 40 minutes. Be aware, this is ~half of the total time you will be sailing..

⛵️ On the cruise you sail total of 1-2 hour on the first day and that’s it. No more sailing, just anchored in same place. We never went to Ha Long Bay, stayed in 5km proximity of the original location

📢In the evening at the beautiful sunset, the crew played extremely loud music on the terrace despite multiple requests from different guests. All guests left the terrace area

⛱️No shade or umbrella on terrace (like on other cruises)

🧹The room was not well cleaned and maintained - it was ok condition, this was a minor problem vs rest

😆 Funnily, their self-made feedback form allows you to rate from excellent to average. Nothing possible to rate below average 🤣

On the positive side: most importantly, the boat didn’t sink; the view in the evening was beautiful (although this has nothing to do w the cruise) and the food was good (although not Vietnamese traditional food but we liked the change)

I recommend choosing a different provider as the area...