Beautiful boat with very nicely furnished rooms -- we had adjacent rooms for our family which was especially nice. Staff was fantastic: always ensuring we were enjoying our activities and very attentive during daily dining experiences which included excellent food. Crew and boat operations were very professional and the boat was well-maintained. Day trip excursions (biking, cave excursion, beach time, kayaking) were very enjoyable to see the island and beautiful Ha Long Bay. Evening cooking demonstration was a very enjoyable way to learn more about the culture and cuisine, while also enjoying a cocktail and the food we prepared. Morning sunrise was magical -- definitely wake up early if the weather is clear.

Wonderful stay -- given the many activities to do in a relatively short time -- even with 2 nights -- the schedule was a bit rushed at times between one activity and the next. Ha Long Bay is beautiful, but it was surprising and disturbing to see the large amount of floating plastic and other debris that drifts in with the winds and tide. We understand that can vary with prevailing winds, tides, and storms but there was unfortunately a lot of floating debris in the water and on the few beach areas while we were there.

I recently enjoyed an overnight stay on the Orchid Premium cruise and was thoroughly impressed with the amneties on board and the spacious cabin. From the moment we boarded, the crew went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction. The attention to detail and friendly demeanor of the staff created a welcoming atmosphere throughout the cruise. Overall, the cruise was not just a journey at sea but a delightful experience made memorable by the exceptional staff Benny, Lucas and our tour guide Dong. Will definetely recommend this cruise to family and friends.

What a dream! After years of imagining Ha Long, I am so grateful to have been able to take this trip and grateful to Orchid for everything they do to make the experience outstanding! My room was gorgeous, the pictures didn't lie. I work with a fine-tuned machine in Switzerland and Orchid is even better than we are- everything was smoother than silk. I don't know if I was just lucky but the other guests were awesome- especially as a solo traveler I really appreciated the great company. Food was also outstanding. A very special, memorable experience; I would definitely recommend Orchid to friends.

Quickest, low-cost easy improvement- please print an itinerary for guests staying 2 nights. I was surprised and confused some people were staying 1 night, the itinerary for those staying 2 was not clear (for others too). I would have preferred a boat that I could see more things AND enjoy my gorgeous room- I want it all. Second, the prices for wine at the restaurant are absolutely outrageous. I've never seen such high prices- even in the ME- AND the wine was not good.

Room huge, and excellent, the balcony fantastic. Loved the decor. Air Con excellent. All meals very generous, good selection to cover different races, cooking quality not quite consistent. Scenery incredible, mesmerising.

As a 2N3D trip did not appreciate the lost afternoon, as the 1N2D folk changed over, had to dawdle for hours until 5pm link up. While it might be a good business decision, it was enough to kill a very good experience for me.

Amazing from the beginning to the end. We did the 3 day/2 night cruise. We were my parents and me and my brother. The cruise is extreamly luxurious, the room was even better in person than in the photos. The bed was super comfy. the room very spacious, the bath overlooking the sea was incredible. What surprised me the most was the quality and quantity of the meals, the food was delicious and the portions were super big, considering that I eat a lot and ended up always satisfied. Also worth to highlight the attitude of the crew, they made our trip even more special with their attention to each small detail. We did all the activities (taichi, kayaking, cooking class, Cat Ba biking and Caves), and would recommend to everyone to do them.

Nothing that we didnt like, eveything was amazing

We chose the Exclusive Suite on the Orchid Classic. There are 3 different types of ships in the Orchid fleet so look them over closely to select the one that fits your needs (Trendy has more, smaller rooms and Premium has less, larger rooms). The boat was well kept and furnishings were well cared for. The staff was great and ready for any requests made, very accommodating, most liked having conversations with the guests about their life onboard as well as how/why they choose to work for Orchid. Our room was exceptional and we spent a good amount of time on our aft balcony (be aware, you will smell some diesel at times and you will hear the engines start up between 6-7am depending on the day). We did a 3day/2night cruise and were so glad that we did as it didn't feel rushed yet there were activities morning and afternoon, which left plenty of relaxation time as well. The meals were well thought out and diverse though were set and not easily modified so contact the ship early if you have special dietary needs. We were happy with the activities provided to be able to see the most of the Bay - bamboo boat tour, kayaking, bike ride to local village on Cat Ba and visit to cave from different port on Cat Ba and the evening cooking classes onboard before dinner were a highlight as was the night squid fishing.

The only feedback I have would be to provide a little more time between the final day's activity and the check-out time...maybe starting the final day's activity (cave visit on Cat Ba) a little earlier. The cave is humid so it's nice to get a shower in before departure.

We stayed in the suite at the end of the boat, the room was spacious and beautiful with amazing views out of the back. The staff were fantastic, they were super friendly and helpful which really elevated the experience for us. Elle in particular was so lovely and attentive and made us feel special. The food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was great and they provided a really wide choice of foods each day. We had lots of cocktails, wines and beer which were all great quality and a reasonable price considering the location. There was a packed itinerary of things to see and do which was made really clear and easy to understand, but if you wanted to stay on the boat or keep to yourself and relax you could also do this.

Overall very nice. The staff made it special. They really went out of their way to make it special. They were so proud of their ship and connected with each passenger. The cruise ship was nice. The beds were very comfortable. I slept like a baby. The only complaint I’d have and it’s not with this cruise line, is that I just don’t like cruises. I don’t like being stuck on a ship. And there’s not that much to do in halong Bay so if you’re okay just cruising around and doing some kayaking that’s great. The facilities were beautiful and the people are very nice.

Nothing

Overall the cruise was fantastic. Happy, the boat manager was a great personality and led his team really well with lots of energy and always with a smile. The rooms are fantastic and the overall organisation of the tours and activities also great. We would definitely recommend the 3 day, 2 night cruise as the visit to Cat Ba island was fun with the fish nibbling your feet. It is worth pointing out that you do spend nearly the whole of the second day when you visit the island on a different boat though to the main boat with a different group (you are transferred over by launch), so you cannot just lounge in your bedrooms or on your balcony, if that was your plan. We weren't sure if this was a temporary measure due to Covid and the fact not everyone on our boat was doing the 3-day tour, but this could probably be made a bit better clearer in the tour itinerary.

These are very minor criticisms, but be prepared for some early mornings. We were woken by the sound of the anchor being raised at 6am on the second morning. Also not a criticism, but the overall quantity of food was a bit too much for us, particularly the set lunch on the second day. We like our food but as a family of four it was way too much food for us and it seemed such a waste to leave so much. The quality of the food is excellent though. The smell of petrol / diesel can get a bit overwhelming too on deck sometimes from the launch boat, but these are every minor things to hopefully improve the experience even more for suture visitors. We cannot recommend it highly enough...

The cruise was beautiful, we were a couple on honeymoon and we were treated like VIP, they upgraded us to the best room, they even prepared special song and present for us. The food is phenomenal, the schedule was carefully and thoughtfully organised. The crew was very nice, polite and professional, especially Bang and Sky were helpful and kind. The Bay it self is polluted because of the years of distraction by nan kind, Lan ha Bay is a bit better but still the water smells like oil and I do not recommend the go inside. The trip to Cat Ba and bicycle was great. The nature is so beautiful we recommend a visit.