Orchid Cruise Halong Bay

11 September, 2019

"Best staff and cruise in Halong"

Everything about our 2 day / 1 night cruise in the Orchid was simple fantastical! Cruise was great, it has the perfect balance of size, number of rooms, etc to ofer a luxury and almost private experience through Halong.

The rooms were phenomenal, food is also very very good and on top of all that,… MoreEverything about our 2 day / 1 night cruise in the Orchid was simple fantastical! Cruise was great, it has the perfect balance of size, number of rooms, etc to ofer a luxury and almost private experience through Halong.

The rooms were phenomenal, food is also very very good and on top of all that, the staff. Rolando, the cruise manager and his staff really shine in offering us a very especial experience in Halong. Less

10 September, 2019

"Had an Amazing experience"

We stayed for 2 nights with Orchid cruise lines. The boat was very beautiful with a classic feel to it. Our room was very nice and comfortable and woke up with stunning views of Ha Long Bay. Both days we opted to go on the excursions, one was a cave walk on Dao Cat Ba island which was Hosted by Hugo,… MoreWe stayed for 2 nights with Orchid cruise lines. The boat was very beautiful with a classic feel to it. Our room was very nice and comfortable and woke up with stunning views of Ha Long Bay. Both days we opted to go on the excursions, one was a cave walk on Dao Cat Ba island which was Hosted by Hugo, our cruise ship manager. it was a very cool experience and Hugo was extremely informative on the history and culture of Vietnam and the island. The second excursion was a beautiful bicycle ride on the other side of the island into a small town. It was followed up by a nice kayak into a small private beach where we swam and relaxed, our host Bang was incredible and we really enjoyed our day. Overall the experience was amazing, Ha Long Bay and Dao Cat Ba Island were stunning, the food and service on the boat were top notch. The staff on our boat, specifically Hugo the Cruise manager and David our main server both took care of us at all times and really made our experience incredible, we thank them both for everything! Tim and Rum our bartenders were amazing as well, the staff couldn’t have been better and we will miss them all!!! Less

9 September, 2019

"Fabulous Cruise & Immense Fun..!!!"

What do you expect from a cruise? Luxury, scenic beauty, efficient/courteous staff, delicious food or all of the above? If you said all of the above, then this is the cruise to be on. I was there for 2 days and 1 night and I wish we had stayed for longer. It far exceeded my expectations.

Although the… MoreWhat do you expect from a cruise? Luxury, scenic beauty, efficient/courteous staff, delicious food or all of the above? If you said all of the above, then this is the cruise to be on. I was there for 2 days and 1 night and I wish we had stayed for longer. It far exceeded my expectations.

Although the entire itinerary was pre-planned, it did not feel rushed one bit and there was a good balance of activities lined up, being the walk though a cave or swimming in the open waters or kayaking around the islands in the morning.

And of-course you could choose to skip some of them and relax in the spacious room with your own little balcony overlooking the water. It was interesting when a lady came by in a small little boat to sell items (snacks/local jewellery/drinks, etc). Never had I experienced a floating shop! (don't forget to bargain with her though, she initially quotes high prices)

The food they served was fabulous, with a good spread to choose from. A big thumbs-up to the staff, lead by Ronald, who made us feel very comfortable and ensured we had a good laugh with his sense of humour.

All in all a fantastic experience and would love to go back and stay for longer next time! Less

9 September, 2019

"Amazing scenery"

Our cabin was lovely with a balcony and gorgeous bathroom. The food was delicious and Lee our waiter very attentive.
The only downside was the tour manager overplayed the difficulty of the the island tour to the caves. Saying how hard the climb was and made it sound like more of a potholing expedition.… MoreOur cabin was lovely with a balcony and gorgeous bathroom. The food was delicious and Lee our waiter very attentive.
The only downside was the tour manager overplayed the difficulty of the the island tour to the caves. Saying how hard the climb was and made it sound like more of a potholing expedition. This put my wife off going as she only had flip flops with her.
This didn't mar what was a truly spectacular experience. The scenery is epic.
We did the 2 day/1 night cruise. Definitely go for 2 nights Less

9 September, 2019

"Far Better Than Expected!"

I did so much research trying the find the best cruise for me before visiting Hanoi and Halong. I came across EHG travel and after lots of research decided to book my entire Hanoi trip with them (Hotel La Siesta Trendy, Hanoi / Orchid Cruise, Halong, Sapa overnight trip).

Honestly I was totally taken… MoreI did so much research trying the find the best cruise for me before visiting Hanoi and Halong. I came across EHG travel and after lots of research decided to book my entire Hanoi trip with them (Hotel La Siesta Trendy, Hanoi / Orchid Cruise, Halong, Sapa overnight trip).

Honestly I was totally taken back by primarily the service on board the Orchid Cruise. From the moment I arrived I felt so at home and totally cared for. I am a 32 year old single traveller and was quite apprehensive about going on the cruise alone but this vanished the moment I stepped on board. I was onboard the HP4669.

I must compliment Henry above all for his perfect balance of professionalism, charm, good humour, attention to detail and above all his genuine warmth and care towards me. He took such good care of me at all meals and in the bar after dinner. He greeted me by name very naturally every time I saw him and really made me feel like he cared. Henry made this experience the perfect trip that it was for me. Overall the food was great, rooms beautifully decorated and super clean, great entertainment and such a relaxed yet luxurious feel.

Tip upgrade yourself to the 2nd Floor rooms as better view and simply stunning bath tubs. I would highly recommend this tour.... Look out for Henry if you do visit.

Henry if you read this please do get in touch as id love to keep in touch with you and see how your career progresses. Less

7 September, 2019

"Awesome cruise"

Just did a 2 day 1 night cruise aboard orchid cruises - amazing boat and hospitality from the cruise , especially Mr bean (food and beverage manager for our table ) and Mr Ronald ( cruise manager) who were fantastic. Highly recommended

7 September, 2019

"Fantastic experience which far exceeded our expectations and amazed us!!"

Wow - what an experience. We and our fellow travelers were amazed throughout - it really exceeded our expectations and was the standout experience in our trip. Very glad that we did this given we werent really sure if it's worth spending a night onboard.

We did the 2 days, 1 night cruise on Orchard… MoreWow - what an experience. We and our fellow travelers were amazed throughout - it really exceeded our expectations and was the standout experience in our trip. Very glad that we did this given we werent really sure if it's worth spending a night onboard.

We did the 2 days, 1 night cruise on Orchard 01. There were 3 of us so we chose the connecting family suite, which are effectively 2 individual rooms adjoined with an interconnecting door (which looks like a wardrobe). The room was amazing - Orchid have done really well to make it an amazing experience. They are all air conditioned with a king sized bed overlooking an outside sitting area so you can enjoy the cruise while just sitting in bed if you so wish. The bathroom was also very big - with a decent sized tub.

As for the cruise itself, we checked in at 1145am (we chose our own transport) and were made to wait till 1215 when we were transported to the cruise on a small boat. Note that Orchid Cruise has a max capacity of 28 people Vs around 23 staff members - they limit the numbers so you get a very good experience overall. They also have a less crowded ferry terminal unlike most other cruises.

The staff were amazing throughout. The key staff members remembered all our names - which made the experience feel personalized. Special mentions to Ronald, the head team member/captain and his trainee, Jerry for making sure we had an amazing time - Ronald's humour made whatever he had to say more interesting. Also worth mentioning F&B manager Jenny and Tim for keeping us engaged throughout. The food was very good - especially the lunch and dinner - very tasty and well presented although we felt that the breakfast and brunch could have been better. Also dinner entertainment was not that entertaining so that is also one area for improvement but again very minor issues.

As part of the experience, we did a cave tour, kayaking and squid fishing. All were good but we didn't catch any squid. We also jumped into the water for a quick swim (we jumped in with lifejackets as we couldn't swim but others swam without) and also used the hot tub/jacuzzi to mingle with other guests. A friend also went for the morning Tai Chi session which he thought was wonderful. Unfortunately we didnt go to the cooking class or the wine tasting as we wanted to chill but heard these were good as well. There are 2 happy hours (630-730pm and 930-1030pm - worth getting a Pina Colada while in the jacuzzi as they were well prepared).

Overall we had an amazing time but felt that we should have done the 3 day, 2 night tour as we really wanted to stay onboard. Maybe next time! Really recommend Orchid cruises though...slightly more expensive than others, but when you consider what you get - the quality of staff, the room, facilities and food quality - it is very much worth it. Less