The Celina of the Sea cruise is sold as a "Halong & Lan Ha" trip, but the ship itself stays in Lan Ha: guests check in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long and take a speedboat to the ship anchored at Gia Luan, on the north side of Cat Ba Island. Our verdict: big, new suites at a fair platform price, with the usual risks of a ship that has only a handful of reviews.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Lan Ha stops; the speedboat skips the slow Ha Long leg
- Cabins
- 5/5all suites 45 m² or more, balcony, bathtub, walk-in shower
- Value
- 4/5from $190 per person on GetYourGuide for a 45 m² suite
- Transparency
- 3/5full itinerary and terms published, launch date not stated
- Booking flexibility
- 3/5100% charge within 96 h direct; heavy fees for late name changes
- Track record
- 3/5new company, few reviews so far
Pros
- Every suite is 45 m² or larger, with balcony and bathtub
- Ship waits in Lan Ha, so no long sail from Ha Long
- Dark and Bright Cave by bamboo boat on day 1
- Semi-indoor pool usable all year, sky bar, mini-golf
- Clear weather refund rules if the trip is cancelled before you leave Hanoi
Cons
- Very few verified reviews: 10 on GetYourGuide, 1 on Trip.com
- Up to 180 guests, a big ship for Lan Ha
- Speedboat leg in both directions, with a surcharge if you arrive late
- Hanoi shuttle costs 1,500,000 VND per person when booked direct
- "6-star" in the listing titles is a sales label
The ship and suites
Celina of the Sea has 62 suites on 6 guest decks and takes up to 180 guests, according to the official site. Every suite has a balcony, an ocean-view bathtub and a walk-in shower.
| Suite | Size | Deck |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Balcony | 45 m² | 1 |
| Senior Balcony | 45 m² | 2 |
| Executive Balcony | 45 m² | 3 |
| Moon Suite | 60 m² | — |
| Celina President | 80 m², terrace | — |
The three entry categories are the same size and differ by deck, so the higher deck mostly buys a better view. A semi-indoor "four-season" pool, a mini-golf green and a sky bar complete the ship. The restaurant is on the 4th floor.
The launch date is not on the official site. Agencies give either 2025 or February 2026, and the operating company, Celina Cruises JSC, was registered on 6 February 2026 in Hai Phong, at Cai Beo Street in Cat Hai Special Zone (đặc khu Cát Hải, the special administrative zone that includes Cat Ba). Treat it as a new ship either way.
The route: Tuan Chau check-in, Lan Ha cruise
Most big Lan Ha lines check in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long; Celina does the same, at its lounge on Lot 41A. The difference is what happens next. Instead of sailing an hour or more through Ha Long waters, you board a speedboat from Tuan Chau to the ship anchored at Gia Luan, on the north side of Cat Ba. From there the ship is already in Lan Ha (vịnh Lan Hạ).
- 1Tuan Chau International MarinaPierDirections ↗
- 2Gia Luan ferry pierPierDirections ↗
- 3Dark & Bright caveCaveDirections ↗
- 4Cat Ba townTownDirections ↗
The named stops are Lan Ha sights: the Dark and Bright Cave (hang Sáng – hang Tối) on the first afternoon, visited by local bamboo boat, and Tra Bau for a kayak or swim on day 2. In bad weather the day-2 stop switches to a Hai Phong floating village. The ship sails past Turtle and Human Head islets at lunch. See our piers guide for what Tuan Chau and Gia Luan look like.
A day aboard: 2 days 1 night itinerary
Pickup in Hanoiuntil 08:50; limousine or private car only
Check-in, Celina lounge, Lot 41A, Tuan Chau Marinauntil 11:45
Speedboat to the ship at Gia Luanuntil 12:30; late arrivals pay a surcharge
Lunch while sailing past Turtle and Human Head islets
Dark and Bright Cave by local bamboo boat
Sunset party, cooking class, dinner in the 4th-floor restaurant, sky bar, squid fishing
Tai Chi
Tra Bau: kayak or swimfloating village in bad weather
Brunch
Tender back to Tuan Chauuntil 11:30
Back in Hanoiuntil 16:00
The full schedule is on the official 2D1N page. Day 2 is half a morning, as on every one-night cruise. The cave visit on day 1 is an advantage: if fog or weather spoils the morning, you have already seen the main sight. For more time in the bay, the 3D2N is sold on GetYourGuide from $379; see 3-day cruises.
Celina of the Sea price: GetYourGuide vs Trip.com
The operator does not publish cabin prices. On the platforms, the same ship costs:
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Halong & Lan Ha: 2D1N Celina of the Sea 6-Star Luxury Cruise · 2D1N | 4.6 (10) | $190 Lowest | See on GetYourGuide |
| Trip.com | Celina Of The Sea Overnight Cruise | Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay | Free Transportation · 2D1N | 5.0 (1) | $216 | See on Trip.com |
Lowest adult price per person in USD, checked on October 16, 2026. Cabin type, dates and what is included differ between listings: open each one before you pay.
Today GetYourGuide is the cheaper of the two: Halong & Lan Ha: 2D1N Celina of the Sea from $190 per person, rated 4.6 from 10 reviews, against $216 on Trip.com, whose listing advertises free transportation. Cabin type and inclusions can differ between the two, so compare what each fare covers before you pick. HalongBayTours.com, a Hanoi agency, lists Celina from $170 per person.
GetYourGuide2D1N
Halong & Lan Ha: 2D1N Celina of the Sea 6-Star Luxury Cruise
4.6 (10)
from $190Check dates
GetYourGuide3D2N
Halong & Lan Ha: 3D2N Celina of the Sea 6-Star Luxury Cruise
4.5 (2)
from $379Check dates
Trip.com2D1N
Celina Of The Sea Overnight Cruise | Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay | Free Transportation
5.0 (1) · 8+ booked
from $216Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay: 6-Star Cruise on Celina of The Sea
No reviews yet
from $246Check dates
Celina of the Sea on GetYourGuide →Celina of the Sea on Trip.com →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
What the fare includes on the official programme: entrance fees, an English or Vietnamese guide, 4 meals, Tai Chi, sunset party, cooking class, kayak or bamboo boat, squid fishing, mini-golf, pool and insurance. Drinks, tips and the Hanoi transfer are extra.
Other costs to know:
- Transfer. The official shuttle from Hanoi to Ha Long and back, with lunch, costs 1,500,000 VND per person. Some platform listings include transport; read the listing.
- Children. One child aged 0–4 free, a second child 50%; 5–10 years 75% (85% on an extra bed); 11 and over pay adult rate.
- Holidays. The operator mentions holiday and peak surcharges without amounts. One agency lists $60 per person for the gala dinners on 24 and 31 December and $40 per person on 30 April, 1 May, 2 September and Tet (the Lunar New Year); confirm with your seller.
- Name changes. Passport details are due 24 hours before boarding (72 hours for charters). Late changes cost 2,500,000 VND between 09:00 and 10:00 and 3,500,000 VND after 10:00 on the day.
What travelers should check
With 10 reviews on GetYourGuide and 1 on Trip.com, there is not yet a reliable picture of service on board, and we will not pretend otherwise. Before booking, check recent reviews for the speedboat transfer (time, comfort, life jackets), whether the cave visit happened on day 1, and whether kayaking was offered. Also confirm that the voucher names Celina of the Sea: generic "6-star cruise" listings on the same platforms can put you on a different ship. "6-star" is a marketing label; Vietnam's voluntary rating for accommodation vessels stops at 5 stars. Our how to book guide has the full checklist.
How to book and cancel
Booking direct, the terms let you cancel 1–3 suites free 61 days or more before departure; within 96 hours or for a no-show you pay 100%. The tiers in between are poorly formatted on the site, so ask for them in writing. On GetYourGuide most cruise listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start; read the window on the product.
Check Celina of the Sea datesfrom $190Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Alternatives in the same class
- Elite of the Seas: 35 balcony suites, steel double hull, 4.9 from more than 2,800 GetYourGuide reviews.
- Paradise Grand: 39 cabins, also anchored at Gia Luan with a speedboat from Tuan Chau.
- Azura: 30 cabins, launched December 2025, sold on Klook under its own name.
- Capella: 30 cabins, Dark and Bright Cave on day 2.
All luxury ships are compared in luxury Lan Ha cruises.
FAQ
Where does Celina of the Sea depart from?
Check-in is at the Celina lounge, Lot 41A, Tuan Chau Marina in Ha Long. A speedboat then takes you to the ship, which is anchored at Gia Luan on Cat Ba.
Is Celina of the Sea in Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
The listings say "Halong & Lan Ha", but the ship anchors at Gia Luan and its named stops, the Dark and Bright Cave and Tra Bau, are in Lan Ha. Ha Long is where you check in.
How much does Celina of the Sea cost?
From $190 per person on GetYourGuide and $216 on Trip.com for 2 days 1 night. The 3D2N starts from $379 on GetYourGuide.
When was Celina of the Sea launched?
The official site does not say. Agencies give 2025 or February 2026; the operating company was registered on 6 February 2026.
Is Celina of the Sea a 6-star cruise?
"6-star" is a marketing label. Vietnam's rating for accommodation vessels is voluntary and stops at 5 stars.
Is celinacruise.com the official website?
No. The official site is celinaofthesea.com.
