Ha Long Bay cruise ships compared: our five, side by side
Five cruise ships, two bays, one table. See where each ship leaves from, its size, entry cabin and from price, and how to tell which boat you saw in a video.
Hoang Anh, host at Rustic House · · 7 min read
Photo: Valeria Drozdova on Pexels
The short answer
Ha Long Bay cruise ships compared, in short: we sell places on five, and this guide sets them side by side. Tulip and Celina of the Sea spend the night in Lan Ha Bay. Catherine, Grand Pioneers and Ambassador follow the Ha Long loop. Two days and one night starts from $155 to $210 per guest, sharing a cabin. If you have a screenshot or a video and want to know which boat it is, send it to us on WhatsApp and we will help you narrow it down by pier, bay and size.
A word on who we are. We are a family who live on Cat Ba. We book places on these ships, so this guide is built from our cabin data and the ships' own pages, not from nights we spent on board. Ship prices are the ship's own price, never higher.
Every price here is a "from" price: the entry cabin, per guest, sharing a cabin, for 2 days 1 night. Ships set their rates in Vietnamese dong, so we confirm today's price for your date.
Ha Long Bay cruise ships compared: the five at a glance
First the practical side that is easy to miss: where each ship leaves from and when you are back on land.
| Ship | Bay for the night | Pier | Check in | Back ashore on day 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulip | Lan Ha | Tuan Chau port | About 12:15 | Around 12:15 |
| Celina of the Sea | Lan Ha | Lot 41A, Tuan Chau marina | By 11:45 | Around 11:00 |
| Catherine | Ha Long | Pier 42, Tuan Chau port | By 11:30, with passport | Around 11:00 |
| Grand Pioneers | Ha Long | Port 1 lounge, Tuan Chau marina | 11:00 | About 10:30 |
| Ambassador | Ha Long | Halong International Cruise Port, Bai Chay | Opens 11:00 | Around 10:15, at Bai Chay |
Now size, entry cabin and one facility from each ship's onboard list.
| Ship | Size | Entry cabin | From | On board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulip | 43 cabins, 6 decks | Junior or Senior, up to 32 m², balcony and bathtub | $155 | Outdoor jacuzzi on the sundeck, no pool |
| Celina of the Sea | 62 suites, 180 guests | Ocean Balcony Suite, 45 m² | $165 | Semi indoor pool |
| Catherine | Ask us | Premier Suite, 40 m², balcony and bathtub | $210 | Outdoor pool and children's play area |
| Grand Pioneers | Two sister ships, up to 160 guests each | Ocean Suite, 30 m², window, no balcony | $210 | Kids club and saltwater pool |
| Ambassador | Ambassador Cruise I: 45 cabins | Deluxe, 30 m², private balcony | $170 | Live band every evening except Mondays |
To see what the price includes and what costs extra, read our breakdown of what a Ha Long cruise really costs, or ask us for your date. For the cabin-by-cabin detail, read our guide to Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise cabins explained.
Lan Ha or Ha Long: choose the bay before the ship
Our advice is simple. If you want quiet water, kayaking and swimming, pick a ship that spends the night in Lan Ha. If the famous caves of Ha Long matter more, pick a Ha Long route. Many ships now cross both in two days.
On the Ha Long loop, we find Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top among the busiest stops, with many steps and many boats. Paddling is at Luon Cave on Catherine and Grand Pioneers, at Tra Bau on Celina and near Ba Trai Dao on Tulip.
Every ship record lists a 3 days 2 nights programme, but we have no itinerary or price for it. Travelling between December and February? Ask us which stops run for your date, and read our note on swimming in the bay in winter. Our guide to how to choose a small cruise in Lan Ha Bay covers the questions that come before the ship.
Tulip and Celina of the Sea: the two Lan Ha ships
Tulip has 43 cabins on 6 decks. Its Junior and Senior rooms have a balcony with seating and a bathtub facing the bay. There are eight Family Connecting Suites, which are two cabins joined by a lockable door for families of three to six. The Royal Suite has a terrace and jacuzzi at the bow. The onboard list has a jacuzzi on the sundeck and no swimming pool. You are back ashore around 12:15.
Celina of the Sea is new in 2026, with 62 suites on 6 guest decks and 180 guests. Its Ocean, Senior and Executive grades are each 45 m² with a private balcony and a bathtub. It has a semi indoor pool and mini golf. Day one includes the Bright Cave by bamboo boat.
The company itself says phone signal and Wi-Fi can drop between the high cliffs, and that engine and generator noise can be heard at times. We would rather you read that now than find out at night. Celina has you back ashore around 11:00.
Catherine, Grand Pioneers and Ambassador: the three Ha Long ships
Catherine is all suites. Each has a private balcony and a bathtub facing the water. According to the company, both its restaurants have been Halal certified since February 2025, and there is a Halal prayer room. It has an outdoor pool and a children's play area. We do not have a confirmed cabin count, so ask us.
Grand Pioneers is two near identical sister ships of about 110 metres, with room for up to 160 guests each. It has a kids club and a saltwater pool. Be aware that the entry Ocean Suite, and the Ocean Suite Triple, have a large window and no balcony.
Ambassador Cruise I has 45 cabins. It boards at Halong International Cruise Port in Bai Chay, not at Tuan Chau, so your driver needs the right pier. Even the entry Deluxe cabin has a private balcony. The itinerary asks for smart clothes at dinner, while the ship's own FAQ says there is no dress code. The kayak at Luon Cave costs extra, about 460,000 dong per two person kayak.
Which ship suits you, by our reading
These lines come from our reading of the ships' pages and our cabin data, not from nights on board.
- You want quiet water and a large suite: Tulip or Celina of the Sea, both in Lan Ha Bay.
- You travel with young children: Grand Pioneers has a kids club, and Tulip's connecting suites suit families of three to six.
- You travel with older children: Celina's own answers say it suits families with older children best.
- You need Halal food: Catherine, whose restaurants are Halal certified according to the company.
- It is your first visit and you want the famous caves: Ambassador or Grand Pioneers.
- You need to stay online, or you sleep lightly: read Celina's own warning about signal and engine noise first.
For families we go further in our Ha Long Bay cruise with kids guide, and for couples in our romantic Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise guide.
Which boat is that? Telling the ships apart
A booking confirmation gives you three clues. The pier and check-in time: Tuan Chau for four ships and Bai Chay for Ambassador. The bay for the night: Lan Ha for Tulip and Celina, the Ha Long loop for the other three. And the size: 43 cabins for Tulip, 62 suites for Celina, 45 cabins on Ambassador Cruise I, up to 160 guests on each Grand Pioneers ship.
We do not guess a ship from a clip. Send us the screenshot or the video title on WhatsApp and we will help you narrow it down by pier, bay and size.
Before you book: what we confirm in writing
We confirm the ship, cabin, deck and price in writing before you pay. The price is the ship's own price, never higher. Catherine's port checks passports at boarding and can refuse guests without one. If you are thinking of 3 days 2 nights, ask us.
If you would rather have a smaller boat from Cat Ba itself, our Lan Ha Bay overnight on a small boat takes up to 12 guests and includes hotel pickup in Cat Ba Town. Ask us for a quote. Message us on WhatsApp +84 961 737 103 with your dates and group, and we will say which ship fits.
Hoang Anh, host at Rustic House
Written on Cat Ba, from Rustic House at 70 Tung Dinh. Questions about your own dates? Ask on WhatsApp.
