Cruises / 2 Days / 1 Night
Ha Long Bay · Overnight cruise
Fifty-five suites over seven decks, with a four-season pool and a kids club.
2 Days / 1 Night
Ha Long Bay
2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Grand Pioneers I Cruise.
Grand Pioneers I is 110 metres long, with fifty-five suites over seven guest decks, sailing Ha Long Bay out of Tuan Chau. There is a four-season pool, a sky bar, a sea spa, a kids club and a fitness centre, and Sung Sot cave comes on the first afternoon.
Where you'll stay aboard.
How your 2 days / 1 night unfolds.
What makes it special.
The ship
One hundred and ten metres with fifty-five suites across seven guest decks, and room for a hundred and sixty guests.
Up on deck
A four-season pool and bar, the Rhythm of the Bay sky bar, a sea spa and a fitness centre sit on the upper decks.
For families
A kids club, a family entertainment room, table football, and triple and quadruple suites for families travelling together.
The suites
Ten bookable grades, from the 30m² Ocean Suite up to the Owner's Suite, most of them king or twin.
Every grade aboard Grand Pioneers I Cruise, side by side.
| Cabin | Size | Beds | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Suite | 30m² | Double/Twin | Deck 1 |
| Ocean Suite (3 guests) | 30m² | Double/Twin, sleeps 3 | Deck 1 |
| Ocean Balcony Suite | 40m² | Double/Twin | Decks 2 to 4 · Balcony |
| Veranda Suite | 40m² | Double/Twin | Deck 2 · Veranda |
| Executive Suite | 40m² | Double/Twin | Decks 3 and 4 |
| Essence Suite | 60m² | Double/Twin | Deck 4 |
| Oceania Suite | 100m² | Double | Deck 3 · Round bed |
| Owner's Suite | 150m² | Double | Deck 3 |
| Owner's Suite (3 guests) | 150m² | Double, sleeps 3 | Deck 3 |
| Owner's Suite (4 guests) | 150m² | Double, sleeps 4 | Deck 3 |
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 10 cabin grades aboard Grand Pioneers I Cruise: Ocean Suite, Ocean Suite (3 guests), Ocean Balcony Suite, Veranda Suite, Executive Suite, Essence Suite, Oceania Suite, Owner's Suite, Owner's Suite (3 guests) and Owner's Suite (4 guests). Sizes run from 30m² to 150m². The full table of sizes, beds and outlook is on this page. Grand Pioneers run a second ship as well, which we list separately as Grand Pioneers Cruise, so do check which hull you are booking.
Grand Pioneers I 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 Port 1, Tuan Chau International Marina, Ha Long. Boarding starts around 11:00-12:00. 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 Grand Pioneers I Cruise into a complete, private Northern Vietnam itinerary, planned and run for you, with the right cabin and every transfer handled.
Get your free personalised itinerary ›