Era Cruise review: Lan Ha suites, status and alternatives

Era Cruise is usually sold as a Halong Bay cruise, but the ship actually spends its time in Lan Ha Bay: it checks in at Tuan Chau, sails through Ha Long waters and spends the afternoon at Tra Bau, with the Dark and Bright Caves on Day 2. Our verdict: a well-designed suite ship with transparent written policies, but no published prices and a doubtful operating status, so most travelers will do better with a comparable ship they can book on a platform today.

Era Cruise ship and suites

The official site describes ships built at the Damen Song Cam shipyard (a joint venture with the Dutch Damen group) with a double hull, though it names no individual vessels. The suite list: Terrace Suite of 47 m² (twin beds convertible), King Suite of 52 m², Family Suite of 55 m² and a Royal Suite at the stern with a terrace. All have a balcony or terrace and a private jacuzzi bathtub; the homepage gives "30 m²" per suite, which contradicts the room pages. There is also a four-season swim spa.

The site states neither a cabin count nor a launch year. Agencies give 18 cabins, a steel hull and launch in late December 2017; Trip.com lists it as renovated in 2024. Treat these as agency figures. Era calls itself "premium" rather than claiming an official star class, which is honest: Vietnam's ship rating is voluntary and tops out at 5 stars.

Era vs Erina: two different ships

Klook sells a ship called Erina, and it is often taken for Era. They are unrelated: Erina has its own site, a different Hanoi office (23 Hang Voi, shared with Doris and Rosy), different phone numbers, and launched in 2023 with 27 cabins. An Erina booking is not an Era booking. See our Doris review for the Erina sales family.

Era Cruise route: Lan Ha Bay

Guests meet at Tuan Chau International Port between 12:00 and 12:30 and take a tender to the ship. Lunch is served while sailing from Ha Long waters into Lan Ha, and the afternoon is spent at Tra Bau, one of the main Lan Ha anchorages. Day 2 visits the Dark and Bright Caves (hang Sáng – hang Tối) by local rowing boat. That makes Era a Lan Ha cruise in every named stop, even though it boards in Ha Long. How the Tuan Chau check-in works: Lan Ha piers.

A day aboard Era Cruise (2 days 1 night)

The published programme:

The 3-day programme spends Day 2 on a trip to Viet Hai village (cycling, lunch) and a swim at Ba Trai Dao beach, back on board around 16:30; Day 3 returns to the Dark and Bright Caves. Era also runs a 1-day tour. For the village, see Viet Hai.

Era Cruise price: what is included and what is extra

The suite pages show "from $0.00", a placeholder, so there is no published price. HalongBayTours.com shows Era as "check price" with a 9.7 score from 94 reviews. Era is not sold on GetYourGuide or Klook.

Included: entrance and sightseeing fees, full board, an English-speaking guide, kayak, cooking demo, squid fishing, and a bottle of wine in the family and top suites.

Extra: transfers (the shuttle is $40 per person return, Old Quarter hotels only, pickup 09:00–09:30; under-5s free, one per booking), drinks, spa, tips, VAT, and a surcharge on the nights of 24 and 31 December. Children: up to 2 adults per cabin, an extra fold-up bed for under-12s, and cots on request.

For a ship of the same type with clear platform prices, compare these:

5★

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Prices checked on October 16, 2026

What travelers say about Era

Agency reviews are positive (9.7 from 94 on one agency), but they do not tell you whether the ship sails today. Before booking, check that the newest reviews are recent and that the operator confirms your date in writing. If an agency shows Era as closed, believe it until the operator says otherwise.

How to book and cancel Era Cruise

Book direct by email. Payment by cash (USD or VND), card, PayPal or bank transfer, with a deposit. The written cancellation terms for fewer than 5 cabins:

Groups of 5–10 cabins pay 50%, 70% and 100% in the same windows. Date changes are not allowed. If Era cancels, you get a refund or a credit valid 12 months. Storm cancellations are ordered by the port authority, not the cruise line. These terms are much stricter than platform listings, which often allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before. More in how to book.

Alternatives to Era Cruise

• Rosy: 2019, 22 balcony suites with bathtubs, same Dark and Bright Caves Day 2, bookable on Klook.
• Capella: 30 cabins, launched 2020, Lan Ha route from Tuan Chau 20B.
• Elite of the Seas: larger steel ship with free cancellation until 7 days direct and many platform reviews.

Every ship side by side on the Lan Ha Bay cruises hub, or by budget in luxury cruises.