Serenity Cruises review: Premium and Grandeur day boats from Cat Ba

Serenity Cruises are the strongest Cat Ba-side day cruises we have checked: both boats leave from Ben Beo pier and never touch Ha Long, so your whole day is spent in Lan Ha Bay instead of on a bus to Tuan Chau. Premium is one of the cheapest day cruises into the bay sold direct; Grandeur adds pools, a slide and a stop at Viet Hai village.

Serenity Cruise Halong Bay: who runs it

Serenity Cruises are sold directly by Cat Ba Express, the trading name of Green Lan Ha International Tourism JSC, which also runs the Hanoi–Cat Ba bus. It has a head office in Hanoi and an office at No. 191, 1/4 Street in Cat Ba town. There is no separate Serenity website: serenitycruises.com is parked, so book through catbaexpress.com or a platform.

Serenity is often sold as a "Halong Bay" cruise, but these are Cat Ba boats: they start at Ben Beo (also called Beo pier), 2 km from Cat Ba town, and sail Lan Ha. Of the well-known day cruises, they are the true Cat Ba departures; Taliya, Jade Sails and Cozy Bay's Tropical leave from Tuan Chau.

The boats: Premium and Grandeur

Serenity Premium is styled in neoclassical Indochine fashion with a restaurant, a panoramic lounge and a rooftop. Capacity is 99, with groups kept under 45.

Serenity Grandeur is a bigger day ship with an outdoor jacuzzi, a deck pool, an inflatable pool, a long water slide from the top deck, a rooftop bar and two restaurants. It is the livelier choice for families and groups.

Serenity Explorer still appears on Klook but is no longer listed by Cat Ba Express. Treat it as possibly discontinued and ask before booking.

Cat Ba Climbing in town also resells both boats: Premium at 980,000 VND and Grandeur at 1,450,000 VND.

The route: Lan Ha only, changing by season

Premium runs two seasonal itineraries:

• 1 September – 27 April: Cai Beo village, the Dark and Bright Caves with about 1.5 hours of kayaking, lunch, a swim or boat jump at Ba Trai Dao, sunset, back at 17:00.
• 28 April – 31 August: kayak through Tai Keo cave (outside it at high tide), lunch, swim, back at 15:00. Viet Hai cycling is offered May–September only.

Grandeur goes to Viet Hai: you land at Viet Hai port and ride a bicycle or electric car into the village, then spend the afternoon in a lagoon.

The caveat: kayaking in the Cat Ba bays has been under an official suspension since November 2024, re-confirmed in late 2025. Some ships offer it only in a designated area or replace it with a bamboo boat, tender or swim. Ask the operator in writing. A mid-2026 cruise-company report says kayaking is no longer allowed at the Dark and Bright Caves or Ba Trai Dao, and Ba Trai Dao access itself is disputed. Background: https://vnexpress.net/dung-cheo-kayak-tren-vinh-lan-ha-4818664.html

A day aboard Serenity Grandeur

Premium starts earlier: check-in at Ben Beo at 09:00 (08:30 in summer). From Hanoi, the bus crosses on the Dong Bai car ferry, then drives about 40 minutes to Ben Beo. See how to get to Lan Ha Bay.

Serenity Cruises price: direct vs Klook

Direct prices from Cat Ba Express (list price / sale price, USD per person):

Prices include the transfer for the chosen route, lunch, guide, entrance tickets, kayak and water; tips and bar drinks are extra. Children under 2 travel free with two adults, ages 3–8 pay the adult price minus about USD 4, and 9 and over pay full price.

On the platforms, Klook sells Serenity Grandeur from $41, below the direct sale price of USD 52, so check whether its listing includes your transfer. The other Serenity listings compare like this today:

These three listings are not identical products: the boat, pickup point and inclusions differ, so compare the full description, not only the price.

KlookDay trip

Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Day Tour by Serenity Grandeur Cruise

5.0 (390) · 3K+ booked

from $41Check dates

KlookDay trip

Serenity Explorer Day Cruise: Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Day Tour

4.9 (264) · 2K+ booked

from $75Check dates

KlookDay trip

Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Day Tour by Serenity Cruise

4.8 (102) · 1K+ booked

from $33Check dates

Serenity Cruises on GetYourGuide →Serenity Cruises on Klook →Serenity Cruises on Trip.com →Prices checked on October 16, 2026

What travelers should check

We do not have a reliable summary of guest reviews for Serenity yet. Before you book:

1. Which boat: Premium or Grandeur. Listings titled only "Serenity Cruise" may not say.
2. Pickup point: Cat Ba town, Hanoi, Hai Phong or Ninh Binh change the price a lot.
3. What replaces kayaking on your date.
4. Registration: the port authority needs each guest's name, birth date and address at least 24 hours before departure.

How to book and cancel

Booking direct gives you the published sale price, but unused services are not refunded, and an agency selling the same boat applies stricter terms (free only more than 21 days out, 100% inside 7 days). Weather or government cancellations are refunded or rescheduled. On Klook, the cancellation rule is set per activity, so read it before paying. Sailing stops in storms are ordered by the authorities; in storm season keep a spare day. More: how to book.

Alternatives to Serenity

• Smaller local boat: the Beka Travel day boat (max 25 guests, USD 35) or Cat Ba Expedition at 900,000 VND.
• Coming from Hanoi for one day only: Taliya Cruise from Tuan Chau avoids the Cat Ba ferry.
• Viet Hai on foot or by bike: see our Viet Hai village guide.
• All options side by side: Lan Ha Bay day cruises.