Doris Cruise is usually sold as a Halong Bay cruise, but the ship itself sails Lan Ha Bay, the quieter karst bay east of Cat Ba Island, after checking in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long. Our verdict in one sentence: the route is good, but you cannot confirm today which ship you would board under the Doris name, so book a sister ship whose name and status are clear.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Pure Lan Ha stops after the Tuan Chau check-in
- Cabins
- 3.5/5All sea view with balcony; sizes only from agencies
- Transparency
- 1.5/5No prices, no cabin count, no policies on the site
- Value
- 2.5/5Hard to judge without a published price
- Booking flexibility
- 2.5/5One platform listing with 5 reviews
Pros
- Lan Ha route with no Ha Long cave detour
- Every cabin has a sea-view balcony
- Pool on board and a sky bar with happy hour
- 3-day programme includes Viet Hai village
Cons
- Official site not updated since 2022
- No published prices, child or cancellation policy
- Agency pages now show "Metta" at the old Doris URL
- Easy to confuse with Doria ("Doris Grand") and Dora
Doris Cruise ship and cabins
The official site describes Doris as a "newly 5 star cruise" with a pool, and every cabin with a sea view and private balcony. The cabin types are Junior Double, Junior Twin, Triple, Family Connecting, Executive and a Honeymoon cabin with a terrace. The site gives no cabin count, no sizes and no launch year.
Agencies disagree on the basics. One gives 25 cabins, a steel hull, launch in June 2022 and suites of 35–60 m²; others give 22 cabins and 2019. Treat these as unconfirmed. "5-star" is the operator's own label: Vietnam's ship rating is voluntary and no ship on this bay has a confirmed national 5-star decision.
What happened to Doris Cruise: Metta, Doria and Doris Grand
Three things make "Doris" hard to book with confidence:
- The old Doris pages now show other ships. On HalongBayTours.com, the Doris URL now displays "Metta Cruise" (with reviews that still say Doris), and HalongBayCruises.com redirects its Doris page to "Halora Metta". That looks like a rename, but no operator has announced one, so we do not call it a rename.
- Doria is not Doris. Doria markets itself as "Doris Grand Cruise", but it is sold from a different office (Lam Ha, Long Bien) and runs the Dora and Tulip programme with no cave. A Doria voucher is not a Doris cruise. See our Dora review for that family.
- A separate "Doris Grand" listing (launch 2026, 30 cabins) also appears on one agency site. Nothing on the official Doris site mentions it.
Doris, Erina, Dora, Doria and Tulip share one sales hotline, so the brands are one sales family. They are still different ships with different websites. Erina (2023, 27 cabins, Block 36 at Tuan Chau) and Rosy (2019, 22 cabins) list the same Hanoi address as Doris. Erina is also not Era: see our Era review.
Doris Cruise route: Lan Ha or Ha Long?
Lan Ha. Doris checks in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long (the official site says Dock 35; agencies say Lot 29), then sails past Con Vit (Duck) islet and Thumb islet into Lan Ha by Gia Luan harbor. The swim stop is Ba Trai Dao or Tra Bau, and Day 2 visits the Dark and Bright Caves (hang Sáng – hang Tối). No Ha Long cave is on the programme. For how the Tuan Chau check-in works, see Lan Ha piers.
A day aboard Doris Cruise (2 days 1 night)
This is the programme as the official site publishes it. Confirm it with whoever sells you the ticket.
Hanoi hotel pickupOnly if the transfer is booked
Check-in at Tuan Chau, tender to the ship at 12:00–12:30
Lunch while sailing into Lan Ha past Gia Luan, then a swim stop at Ba Trai Dao or Tra Bau
Sunset party on the sundeck
Cooking class, sky bar happy hour (2 for 1), dinner, then squid fishing
Tai chi (Day 2)
Dark and Bright Caves by kayak or local bamboo boatKayak subject to the suspension
Check-out, brunch from 10:00
Disembark at Tuan ChauHanoi about 15:00
The 3-day version spends Day 2 on a day boat to Viet Hai village (cycling or electric car), with lunch on board or in the village, a kayak stop and beaches near Ba Trai Dao. The published inclusions are the entrance and sightseeing fees, kayak, bamboo boat, an English-speaking guide and 4 meals (7 on the 3-day trip). Drinks and tips are extra. The page also lists the limousine bus as excluded while scheduling it in the itinerary, so ask.
Doris Cruise price and where to book
The official site shows no prices, only "Request Custom Price". One agency listed Doris from $128 per person before its page switched to Metta. On GetYourGuide, one listing uses the Doris name: 2/3-Day Lan Ha Bay Doris cruise, from $220 with only 5 reviews. If you book it, message the supplier through the platform and ask for the ship's name, pier lot and cabin type in writing before you pay.
The safer choice is a sister ship from the same Hanoi office with clear listings:
GetYourGuide2D1N
2/3-Day LanHaBay Erina 5*Cruise kayak,swimming &cookingclass
4.5 (117)
from $158Check dates
Klook2D1N
2D1N Halong & Lan Ha Bay Tour by 5 Stars Rosy Cruise, Ha Long
4.7 (19) · 200+ booked
from $178Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
2/3-Day LanHaBay Doris 5*Cruise Swimming,Kayak& CookingClass
4.3 (5)
from $220Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
2/3-Day Lan Ha Bay Tulip 5* Cruise Hiking,Biking,Kayaking
4.8 (82)
from $231Check dates
Doris Cruise on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
Erina's Lan Ha listing on GetYourGuide is from $158 with over 100 reviews. Rosy is from $178 on Klook.
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klook | 2D1N Halong & Lan Ha Bay Tour by 5 Stars Rosy Cruise, Ha Long · 2D1N | 4.7 (19) | $178 Lowest | See on Klook |
| GetYourGuide | Halong Bay:2D1N 5 star Rosy Cruises- Lan Ha Bay area · 2D1N | — | $201 | See on GetYourGuide |
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.
What travelers say about Doris
Agency reviews under the Doris name stop in early 2025, and some now sit on a page for a different ship. Old reviews of a renamed or replaced ship tell you little about what sails today. Before booking, check that recent reviews (the last few months) name the ship you are buying, that the photos show the same hull, and that the cabin count in the listing matches.
How to book and cancel
No cancellation or child policy is published on the Doris site, so the platform's terms are the only written ones you will get. On GetYourGuide most cruise listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before; read the exact rule on the product. Booking direct with any Lan Ha operator is usually stricter, with fees from 30 days out and 100% inside 7 days. Bring your passport: operators register passengers and most ask for passport details 24 hours ahead. Full steps in how to book.
Alternatives to Doris Cruise
- Rosy: same Hanoi address, 2019, 22 balcony suites with bathtubs, the same Dark and Bright Caves Day 2.
- Erina: same sales family, 2023, 27 cabins, Lan Ha, Tuan Chau. Erina is not Era.
- Elite of the Seas: bigger, steel, launched 2022, with many reviews.
- Venezia: small boats starting on Cat Ba, if you prefer fewer guests.
For more, compare ships on the Lan Ha Bay cruises hub or in the cruise finder.
Is Doris Cruise still operating?
It is unconfirmed. The official site still lists a Lan Ha programme but has not been updated since 2022, and two agencies now show a ship called Metta at their old Doris pages. Ask the seller for the ship name in writing.
Does Doris Cruise sail Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
It checks in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long, then sails into Lan Ha Bay: Gia Luan, Ba Trai Dao or Tra Bau and the Dark and Bright Caves. No Ha Long cave is on the programme.
Is Doria Cruise the same as Doris Cruise?
No. Doria calls itself "Doris Grand Cruise" but is sold from a different office and follows the Dora and Tulip programme. A Doria booking is not a Doris booking.
How much does Doris Cruise cost?
The official site publishes no price. One GetYourGuide listing under the Doris name starts at $220 per person; sister ships Erina and Rosy start at about $158 and $178.
Is Erina the same as Era Cruise?
No. Erina belongs to the Doris sales family and launched in 2023 with 27 cabins. Era Premium Cruises is a separate company with its own ships.
