Elite of the Seas cruise review: a big steel ship on a Lan Ha route

The Elite cruise in Halong Bay is really a Lan Ha Bay cruise: the ship is marketed under the "Ha Long – Lan Ha" name, but its named stops on the 2-day trip (Ao Ech lagoon and the Dark and Bright Cave) are on the Lan Ha side, in Hai Phong. Our verdict in one sentence: it is a large, well-built luxury ship that is good value on GetYourGuide and expensive if you book direct.

The ship and cabins

Elite of the Seas is 85 m long and 14.2 m wide, with a steel double hull and double bottom, according to its official factsheet. It launched in 2022 and takes up to 99 guests in 35 suites. That steel hull matters more than it sounds: wooden hulls are still legal on these bays, and both 2026 accidents in the region involved wooden boats.

Deck 1 has the spa, sauna, gym and most Junior suites; deck 2 the pool, dining room, two bars and mini-golf. The President suite is at the front of deck 3, and the basement holds a wine and cigar cellar.

Every suite has a balcony or terrace and a bathtub. A suite takes two adults plus two children under 12, or three adults. The entry-level Junior suite, at 28 m², is already larger than the standard cabin on many mid-range ships, so there is little reason to pay for an upgrade on a one-night trip unless you want the terrace.

The sister ship, Stellar of the Seas, comes from the same company. It shows up on Trip.com and on Vietnamese agency lists if Elite is full on your date.

The route: Ha Long name, Lan Ha days

The official 2-day programme is called "Discovery Halong – Lan Ha Bay" and is billed as a new itinerary with a shorter speedboat transfer between the mainland and the ship. You check in at the pier, take a speedboat to the ship and spend the afternoon and the next morning in Lan Ha (vịnh Lan Hạ, the bay east of Cat Ba Island). See the full itinerary on the operator's site.

The named stops, Ao Ech (Frog Lake) and the Dark and Bright Cave (hang Sáng – hang Tối, "hang" means cave), are both in Lan Ha. The 3-day programme adds Viet Hai, a village inside the national park that you reach by speedboat and then by bicycle or electric car.

On the pier: the official site only says "the pier". Agencies say Tuan Chau International Port in Ha Long, which is where most big Lan Ha lines check in. Because the new itinerary mentions a shorter speedboat ride, the pier may have changed. The meeting point on your voucher is the one that counts; read our piers guide for what each one looks like.

A day aboard: 2 days 1 night itinerary

As on every one-night cruise, day 2 is half a morning. If you want more time on the water, the 3D2N adds a full day with Viet Hai; see 3-day cruises for how the middle day works. Elite also sells 4D3N and 5D4N programmes.

The official inclusion list promises fireworks on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Elite of the Seas price: direct vs GetYourGuide

Elite publishes its rack rates, so the gap between channels is easy to see. Direct 2D1N prices, per cabin:

On GetYourGuide the same ship is sold as "2D1N Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool" from $125 per person, rated 4.9 from 2,817 reviews. That is the cheapest cabin on the cheapest date, per person, so it will not hold for every night. Even so, two people in a Junior suite usually pay far less on the platform than USD 803 direct. HalongBayTours.com, a Hanoi agency, lists Elite from $245 per person. Compare like with like: cabin type, date, and whether the Hanoi transfer is included.

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2D1N Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool

4.9 (2,817)

from $125Check dates

5★

GetYourGuide2D1N

2-Day Luxury Lan Ha Bay 5★ Cruise Private Balcony & Bathtub

4.9 (259)

from $181Check dates

Klook2D1N

Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

5.0 (449) · 2K+ booked

from $176Check dates

Elite of the Seas on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on October 16, 2026

What the fare includes, per the operator: all meals and 24-hour room service, the speedboat, refilled water, live music, the cooking demo, tea ceremony, Tai Chi, gym, pool, bamboo boat, cave visit, squid fishing, entrance fees, a guide, insurance and Wi-Fi. Drinks and tips are excluded. One agency package includes soft drinks, beer, cocktails, tea and coffee at lunch and dinner, so drinks depend on who sells you the trip; check the inclusion list before paying.

Other costs to know:

• Transfer. Direct bookings get a free shared limousine minivan (xe limousine, a 9-seat van) from Hanoi. A shared MPV costs USD 10 per person one way, a private car USD 50 one way. Agencies charge about $40 return.
• Tet. Elite adds 20% on Lunar New Year nights.
• Card fee. 3% on card payments, not refundable; 50% deposit when you book direct.
• Children. Under 4 free (one per cabin), 4–6 years 50%, 7–11 years 75%, 12 and over pay adult rate. Cots are free.

What travelers should check

The GetYourGuide listing carries a 4.9 average from 2,817 reviews. Before you book, check three things in recent reviews: whether kayaking actually happened, which pier the shuttle used, and whether drinks at meals were included in that package.

Also check that the listing names the ship. Elite is sold under its own name, but generic "6-star cruise with balcony" listings on the same platforms can put you on a different ship. "6-star" is a sales label: Vietnam's voluntary rating for accommodation vessels stops at 5 stars. See how to book for the full checklist.

How to book and cancel

Booking direct means a 50% deposit, a 3% card fee and this rule from the cruise policy: free cancellation until 7 days before, 100% charged inside 7 days. Your passport number is needed 24 hours before check-in, and you bring the original on the day.

On GetYourGuide most cruise listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and "reserve now, pay later". Read the terms on the product itself, because the supplier sets them. That flexibility is the honest reason to book through a platform. Our GetYourGuide vs Klook review explains how the two differ.

Check Elite of the Seas datesfrom $125Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Alternatives in the same class

• Capella: 30 cabins, launched 2020, also visits the Dark and Bright Cave on day 2.
• Celina of the Sea: the newest large ship, 62 balcony suites, anchored at Gia Luan.
• Azura: 30 cabins, launched December 2025, sold on Klook under its own name.
• Heritage Binh Chuan: 20 cabins, a calmer ship of a similar standard.

For a wider view, see our ranking of luxury Lan Ha cruises and the full cruise list.

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