Cruises / 3 Days / 2 Nights
Ha Long Bay · Overnight cruise
Three days on Ha Long Bay, with a day boat and the pearl farm on day two.
3 Days / 2 Nights
Ha Long Bay
3 Days / 2 Nights aboard the Athena Luxury Cruise.
The three-day programme keeps Sung Sot and Luon cave on day one, then gives day two to a day boat: Me Cung cave, the pearl farm and kayaking at Tung Sau, and the Vung Vieng water on the way back. Ti Top island comes on the final morning.
Where you'll stay aboard.
How your 3 days / 2 nights unfolds.
What makes it special.
The cabins
Ten Deluxe and six Elegance cabins have private balconies; the two Premium Terrace cabins have a sun terrace and a jacuzzi bathtub.
Up on deck
The Athena sundeck carries a heated jacuzzi pool with hydrotherapy jets, an open-air bar and a dining area.
For families
Two Family Triple cabins at 35m² take a double and a single bed, for three adults or two and a child.
Ashore
Sung Sot cave and Ti Top island on day one, then Luon cave by kayak or bamboo boat the next morning.
Every grade aboard Athena Luxury Cruise, side by side.
| Cabin | Size | Beds | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Balcony Cabin | 25m² | Double or twin | 1st deck · Private balcony · Ocean view |
| Elegance Balcony Cabin | 28m² | Double or twin | 2nd deck · Private balcony · Ocean view |
| Premium Terrace Cabin | 32m² | Double | 2nd deck · Private sun terrace · Jacuzzi bathtub |
| Family Triple Cabin | 35m² | Double and single | 1st deck · Private balcony · Ocean view |
Two days or three, on this boat.
2 days, 1 night
An afternoon and evening on the water, a night at anchor and a morning sail out. The length most travellers choose.
3 days, 2 nights
Day two is when the fleets disperse and you reach the further coves - the bay at its most peaceful.
This is the itinerary on this page
Not sure yet
We wrote a longer piece on how the two lengths actually differ once you are on the water.
Other boats on the same water, same length of trip.
See every boat on our Ha Long Bay cruises, or narrow by length: 2 days, 1 night and 3 days, 2 nights.
About this boat, and about cruising the bay.
There are 4 cabin grades aboard Athena Luxury Cruise: Deluxe Balcony Cabin, Elegance Balcony Cabin, Premium Terrace Cabin and Family Triple Cabin. Sizes run from 25m² to 35m². The full table of sizes, beds and outlook is on this page. The operator also sells a Family Connecting Suite on Athena Luxury, which we can quote on request.
Athena Luxury Cruise sails Ha Long Bay. If you are still deciding between the bays, our comparison of Ha Long, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long sets out how they differ in traffic, scenery and how far you travel to reach them.
Embarkation is at Halong International Port. Boarding starts around 12:00. The hour-by-hour itinerary above gives the timings for the day.
Both run the same boat and the same cabins. The 3 days / 2 nights adds a second full day, which is when the day boats have gone and the itinerary reaches the quieter water. The 2 days / 1 night covers the headline sights and gets you back to Hanoi a day sooner.
Road transfer from Hanoi takes roughly two and a half to four hours depending on which harbour the boat uses. We arrange the transfer with the cruise as one booking, so the timings match the boarding window rather than leaving you to work them out.
Overnight cruises in Ha Long normally include the cabin, all meals on board, the guided activities in the itinerary above and the bay entrance fees. Drinks, spa treatments and the transfer are the items that vary most between boats. We confirm exactly what is and is not included for this boat in writing before you pay, because it differs by operator and by season.
Ha Long Bay closes to cruise traffic when the harbour authority says so, usually for storms. If that happens we move the date or refund the cruise - you are never held to a sailing that cannot run. Our refund policy sets out the detail.
Yes. Most boats take children of any age and price them in bands rather than as adults, and many have family cabins or connecting rooms. Tell us the ages when you enquire and we will say which boats suit and what each one charges.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy requirements are all workable, but they need to be given at booking rather than on the day - the boat provisions before it leaves harbour and cannot restock at sea.
October to April is the settled season, with clear air and cool mornings. May to September is warmer and better for swimming, with a higher chance of a storm closing the bay. Our guide to Ha Long Bay goes into the months in more detail.
We'll build the Athena Luxury Cruise into a complete, private Northern Vietnam itinerary, planned and run for you, with the right cabin and every transfer handled.
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