If you are planning a first time Halong Bay cruise and have never slept on a ship, an overnight sailing raises practical questions. Where do you meet the crew, how do you get to the ship, what happens after lunch, and what do you do with your bags on the last morning?
This guide follows a 2 days 1 night sailing from boarding to check-out, using the published programme of Hermes Premium Cruises. It explains each stage, what is included, and how to prepare, so your first time on the bay holds no surprises.
On a first time Halong Bay cruise, you meet the crew at the pier lounge around midday, take a tender to the ship, visit caves in the afternoon, enjoy sunset and dinner on board, then wake for Tai Chi, a morning island stop and brunch before disembarking at about 10:30. The 2 days 1 night programme of Hermes Premium follows this pattern.
What happens on a first time Halong Bay cruise, step by step?
A first overnight cruise follows one clear sequence: lounge, tender, caves, sunset, dinner, an evening on deck, then Tai Chi, an island stop, brunch and disembarkation. The table shows the Hermes Premium 2 Days 1 Night programme.
| Stage | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Arrive at the lounge | 11:15 – 11:30 | Welcome drink and quick check-in at the Hermes lounge, Lot 20, Tuan Chau |
| Tender to the ship | 12:00 | Welcome aboard, Cruise Manager’s briefing on the programme, activities and safety |
| Lunch | After boarding | Lunch on board while the ship sails through the bay |
| Caves | 14:30 | Sung Sot Cave, then Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat |
| Sunset | 17:00 | Afternoon tea at sunset and a cooking class |
| Evening | Dinner, then 20:00 and 21:00 | Dinner with traditional music, Ao Dai and music on the Sundeck, night squid fishing |
| Morning | About 06:00 and 07:15 | Tai Chi on the Sundeck, then Titov Island |
| Check-out | 10:30 – 10:45 | Brunch while the ship returns, then disembark at Tuan Chau |
Weather and tide can adjust the programme, and Hermes states that changes may be made without prior notice. The rest of this guide takes the stages in order.
How do you board, check in and settle into your cabin?
You meet at a private lounge on shore, check in, and take a small transfer boat, called a tender, to the ship at 12:00. A tender is the small boat that carries guests from the pier to the ship.
Hermes Premium berths at G112, opposite No. 20, Tuan Chau International Port, and its private lounge is at Lot 20. Guests arrive between 11:15 and 11:30, receive a welcome drink and complete a quick check-in before boarding. If you are still deciding how to get there, see our guides to getting from Hanoi to Halong Bay and where Halong Bay is. The road transfer from Hanoi is not part of the cruise price.
On board, a welcome drink and the Cruise Manager’s briefing introduce the programme, the activities and the safety rules. Then you go to your cabin. The ship shown here is 57 m long, with 26 cabins and room for up to 89 guests. Every cabin has a private bathroom, a mini bar, two complimentary water bottles a day, a safe, bathrobes, slippers and a hair dryer, as published for Hermes Premium. Guests can also sail on our sister 18-cabin vessel Hermes Cruises — where every suite on the Hermes Cruises cabins & suites page includes a private balcony and jacuzzi bathtub, and the 2 Days 1 Night itinerary on Hermes Cruises visits Luon Cave and Titov Island on Day 1 afternoon and Sung Sot Cave on Day 2 morning. Wi-Fi is listed for the public areas.
🧭 Cruise Director’s Insider Tip:
Keep a small day bag ready before the tender, with your passport, medication, sun protection and a light layer. Larger bags go to the cabin, and a bag you can reach in the first hour makes the afternoon easier.
What do you do on board in the afternoon and evening?
The afternoon is for the caves, the late afternoon is for sunset on deck, and the evening is for dinner and music. Join what you like and rest between the parts.
At 14:30, guests visit Sung Sot Cave, a large limestone cave, and then go to Luon Cave by bamboo boat paddled by locals or by kayak, with monkeys to watch in their natural habitat. The ship returns for afternoon tea at 17:00 and a cooking class with the onboard chef.
Dinner comes next, with a choice of Asian or European cooking and traditional Vietnamese music played during the meal. At 20:00 guests can try the Ao Dai, the traditional Vietnamese dress, enjoy music on the Sundeck with a cocktail and use the karaoke facilities. At 21:00, the crew leads night squid fishing at the stern. Movies are also listed in the programme.
The ship also has an Infinity Pool, which our guide to a Halong Bay cruise with an infinity pool describes in detail. Swimming and fishing equipment is available on board.
⚓ Captain’s Maritime Log:
Evening activities happen on open deck, so the weather shapes how they run. Hermes states that the programme can change with weather and tide, so follow the crew’s lead and keep to the areas they open.
What happens on the last morning, and how does check-out work?
The last morning starts with Tai Chi on the Sundeck, continues with a Titov Island stop, and ends with brunch while the ship returns to Tuan Chau. Disembarkation is between 10:30 and 10:45.
Tai Chi begins around 06:00 with tea or coffee in the fresh air. A light breakfast follows, with Vietnamese dishes such as pho bo and pho ga alongside European-style snacks. At 07:15 guests visit Titov Island, where they choose between climbing 424 steps to the summit and swimming at the beach, with sun loungers, coconut drinks and beach volleyball also listed. Titov Island is also known as Ti Top.
Back on board, you pack and check out with the crew. Leave your luggage outside your cabin door, and the crew carries it ashore after the trip. While the ship sails to Tuan Chau, a buffet brunch is served, and staff process any payments for personal expenses after the meal. At the pier, guests can wait in the Hermes waiting area. Ask the team about onward transfers when you book.
What is included, and what costs extra?
The cruise price covers the cabin, the meals on the programme and most activities, while transport from Hanoi, massage and personal expenses are extra. Ask for the same list from any operator you compare.
| Included in the cruise price | Not included |
|---|---|
| Cabin and facilities for the category booked | Hanoi to Ha Long road transfer (a luxury bus can be booked) |
| Meals on board as in the itinerary | Massage (book in advance; a spa room is on board) |
| Kayaking, bamboo boat, cooking demonstration, Tai Chi, squid fishing, movies, music | Personal expenses |
| Beach visit in good weather | |
| English-speaking guide and onboard service fee | |
| Welcome drink and two bottles of water in the cabin | |
| Onboard insurance, sightseeing fees and VAT |
How should you prepare, and is it right for you?
Prepare for weather, sun and paperwork, and a first-timer of almost any age can enjoy the programme. Plan on a light layer, closed shoes for the caves and a small day bag.
Entry rules differ by nationality. As one example, GOV.UK guidance for British travellers says a passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival, so check your own government’s advice and keep your passport handy. The CDC’s advice for Vietnam recommends sun protection, plenty of water, swimming only in designated areas and medical evacuation insurance.
Season matters as well. Vietnam’s tourism authority names September to November as the best months, with clear, calm days in autumn and spring, and our guide to the best time to visit Halong Bay compares the months. Families can note that each cabin is listed for two adults and one child under five. Active guests can choose the 424-step climb, and others can take the beach. For more days on the bay, the 3 Days 2 Nights itinerary adds a Lan Ha Bay day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time do you board a Halong Bay cruise?
On Hermes Premium, check-in is between 11:15 and 11:30, and the tender leaves at 12:00. Guests arrive at the private lounge at Lot 20, Tuan Chau, receive a welcome drink and complete a quick check-in. Ask the team for your road-transfer time before you travel.
What do you do on a Halong Bay overnight cruise?
You visit caves, watch the sunset, dine on board and join an evening on the Sundeck. The programme lists Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, a cooking class, traditional music, Ao Dai, karaoke and night squid fishing. The next morning has Tai Chi and Titov Island.
What happens to your luggage on the last morning?
You leave your bags outside your cabin door after check-out. The crew carries luggage ashore once the trip ends. Keep a small bag with your passport, medication and a layer for the brunch and disembarkation.
Is a first Halong Bay cruise suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes, with the right choices. Each Hermes cabin is listed for two adults and one child under five. Titov Island offers a 424-step climb or a beach, so older travellers can take the beach. Tell the crew about any mobility needs before the cave visit.
What is not included in the cruise price?
The Hanoi to Ha Long road transfer, massage and personal expenses. A luxury bus can be booked for the transfer, and massage must be booked in advance. Sightseeing fees, meals on the itinerary, kayaking, onboard insurance and VAT are included.
What if the weather changes?
The programme may be adjusted for weather and tide. Hermes states that changes can be made without prior notice, and the Cruise Manager briefs guests on safety at embarkation. Ask the team at booking how a change would be explained and handled.
To plan your first overnight cruise on Hermes Cruises or Hermes Premium Cruises, write to the team at [email protected] or start from the Hermes Cruises reservation page and the Hermes Premium reservation page.
