Cruises / 2 Days / 1 Night
Bai Tu Long Bay · Overnight cruise
Twenty-Two Balconies on the Quiet Side of the Bay
2 Days / 1 Night
Bai Tu Long Bay2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Athena Royal Cruise.
A sixty-metre ship launched in 2019 that works Bai Tu Long rather than the crowded Ha Long core - Vung Vieng floating village, the Cong Do anchorage and Thien Canh Son Cave, with a spa, sauna and sundeck jacuzzi onboard.
Where you'll stay aboard.
2 Days / 1 Night, hour by hour.
The same boat, a different length of trip.
What makes it special.
The suites
Every one of the twenty-two suites opens onto a private balcony, so the bay is in view from inside the cabin.
Where it sails
The itinerary calls at Vung Vieng floating village, the Cong Do anchorage and Thien Canh Son Cave in Bai Tu Long.
Up on deck
The sundeck carries a jacuzzi and an open-air cinema, with a spa and sauna elsewhere on board.
The ship
A sixty-metre ship in service since 2019, working Bai Tu Long rather than the crowded Ha Long core.
Every grade aboard Athena Royal Cruise, side by side.
| Cabin | Size | Beds | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Suite | 25m² | 1 Double or 2 Single beds | 1st deck · Private balcony · Sea view |
| Elegance Suite | 28m² | 1 Double or 2 Single beds | 2nd deck · Private balcony · Sea view |
| Premium Terrace | 30m² | 1 Double bed | 2nd deck · Private balcony · Sea view |
| Royal Suite | 45m² | 1 Double bed | 3rd deck · Private balcony · Sea view |
| Family Connecting | 50m² | Double or twin beds for up to 4 guests | 1st deck · Private balcony · Sea 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.
This is the itinerary on this page
3 days, 2 nights
Day two is when the fleets disperse and you reach the further coves - the bay at its most peaceful.
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 5 cabin grades aboard Athena Royal Cruise: Deluxe Suite, Elegance Suite, Premium Terrace, Royal Suite and Family Connecting. Sizes run from 25m² to 50m². The full table of sizes, beds and outlook is on this page.
Athena Royal Cruise sails Bai Tu 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 Ha Long International Cruise Port. Boarding starts around 11:45-12:00. 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 Royal 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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