Sena Cruise is sold as a Ha Long Bay cruise, but after boarding at Tuan Chau it spends its sightseeing in Lan Ha: the Dark and Bright caves by local rowing boat in the afternoon and Tra Bau the next morning. Our verdict: a well-reviewed, fairly priced boutique ship with clear published terms, but with fewer facts about the ship itself than its rivals, and cancellation fees from 14 days out if you book direct.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Dark and Bright caves and Tra Bau, both Lan Ha
- Cabins
- 3.5/5balcony and terrace cabins; sizes and count not published
- Value
- 4/5from $140 at agencies; $30 return shuttle
- Transparency
- 4/5detailed terms; few ship facts
- Booking flexibility
- 3.5/5free until 15 days out direct; platform terms vary
Pros
- Genuine Lan Ha route with the Dark and Bright caves by local rowing boat
- Standard fare includes a balcony cabin
- Clear published weather-refund rules
- Cheap Hanoi shuttle: $30 per person return
Cons
- No cabin count, cabin sizes or launch year published
- 50% fee from 14 days out, 100% inside 7 days when booked direct
- Only one small listing on the big platforms
- A look-alike domain sells under the Sena name (see below)
The ship and cabins
Sena markets itself as a "traditional boutique cruise" and is run by Swan Cruises, which also operates ships in Bai Tu Long Bay. The official site lists five cabin types:
- Sena Terrace Suite on the upper deck, with a private terrace
- Executive Balcony and Executive Connecting
- Deluxe Balcony on the first deck and Deluxe Connecting
Sizes, the number of cabins, the number of decks and the launch year are not published. The group's own listing calls Sena four-star; in Vietnam, star ratings for cruise ships are voluntary and none is confirmed for Lan Ha ships, so treat it as marketing. Ask about hull material and year built before you book.
The route: Lan Ha Bay from Tuan Chau
Sena checks in at Tuan Chau Harbour in Ha Long. A tender takes you to the ship, and lunch is served while it sails into Lan Ha. The two sightseeing stops are both on the Lan Ha side:
- the Dark and Bright caves (hang Sáng – hang Tối) by sampan rowed by a local, or by kayak
- Tra Bau, for kayaking and swimming; the operator says scenes of Kong: Skull Island were filmed in the area
On request, Sena can tender guests from Gia Luan on Cat Ba if you are already on the island. The 3D2N adds Viet Hai, the car-free village inside Cat Ba National Park (Viet Hai guide). Sena also offers a private day cruise.
A day aboard: Sena 2 days 1 night itinerary
Hanoi pickup07:45–08:30; exact time sent the evening before
Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbour, tender to the ship11:30–12:00, lunch while sailing into Lan Ha
Dark and Bright caves by local rowing boat (or kayak where allowed)
Sunset party and spring-roll class
Dinnerkaraoke and squid fishing after
Day 2: tai chi
Kayak and swim at Tra Bauwhere allowed
Check-out, then lunch on board
Disembark at Tuan Chau11:30–12:00; Hanoi about 15:00–15:30
Sena Cruise price: direct, agencies and GetYourGuide
Sena does not show a public per-person fare for the standard 2D1N. The published extras are clear:
- Hanoi shuttle: $30 per person return between the Old Quarter and Ha Long, one of the cheaper shuttles on Lan Ha ships.
- Private packages: "from $650, now $425 per night" for multi-day combinations (Hanoi and Lan Ha 3D2N; Ninh Binh and Lan Ha 5D4N; Sapa and Lan Ha 5D4N).
Included on the 2D1N: balcony cabin, guide, four meals, two bottles of water, sightseeing fees, kayak (two people per kayak) and the cooking demo. Excluded: transfer, spa, drinks, tips, and surcharges at Christmas, New Year and Tết (the Lunar New Year).
On the platforms, GetYourGuide sells the Sena Lan Ha Bay boutique tour, all inclusive, from $188, rated 5.0 from 8 reviews; check the listing for what "all inclusive" covers. Sena is not on Klook under its own name. HalongBayTours.com lists it from $140 with a 9.8 score from 120 reviews.
What travelers say
Sena's 9.8 from 120 reviews on HalongBayTours.com is one of the highest on that site's Lan Ha list, and the GetYourGuide listing has a perfect score from a small number of reviews. Since Sena does not publish cabin sizes, look in reviews and photos for the cabin type you are considering, and for whether recent guests kayaked or took the rowing boat.
How to book and cancel
Direct cancellation (1–5 cabins): free more than 15 days out; 50% at 7–14 days; 100% inside 7 days or for no-shows. Six cabins or more have stricter terms. A 50% deposit applies if you book 45 days or more ahead, and card payments carry a non-refundable 4% fee.
Weather: if the cruise is cancelled before your arrival date, you get a full refund. If it is cancelled on the day, before 12:00 at the harbour, you are refunded minus $70 per person (transport and lunch used), or $100 per person if a shared day trip replaced the cruise. Sailing bans come from the port authority, not from Sena.
Children: 0–4 free (one per cabin, sharing a bed), 5–11 pay 75%, 12 and over pay the adult rate; an extra bed is charged at the adult rate.
Bring your original passport: operators register every guest. If your dates may change, a platform booking with free cancellation up to 24 hours before is more flexible; see how to book a Lan Ha cruise.
Alternatives
- La Pandora for a cheaper Lan Ha night from Tuan Chau, from $104 on Klook: La Pandora review.
- Rosy, a 22-cabin ship on a similar Dark and Bright cave programme: Rosy review.
- Aspira for guaranteed balcony suites and a pool: Aspira review.
- Venezia if you would rather start on Cat Ba: Venezia review.
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Sena Cruises on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
Does Sena Cruise go to Lan Ha Bay or Ha Long Bay?
It boards at Tuan Chau in Ha Long, but its sightseeing is in Lan Ha: the Dark and Bright caves on day 1 and Tra Bau on day 2.
How much is Sena Cruise for 2 days 1 night?
GetYourGuide sells it from $188. Agencies list it from $140. The Hanoi shuttle costs $30 per person return when booked with Sena.
What is the official Sena Cruise website?
senacruises.com, with an "s" at the end. A similar domain without the final "s" is not the operator's site.
Who operates Sena Cruise?
Swan Cruises, which also runs Swan Cruises Bai Tu Long and Swan Boutique Cruises.
What is Sena's cancellation policy?
Booked direct, it is free more than 15 days before departure, 50% at 7–14 days and 100% inside 7 days. Weather cancellations before your arrival date are refunded in full.