Cruzeiro Athena 2D1N: Baía de Ha Long, Sung Sot, Ti Top

The tour guide was very diligent in their introductions and activities on the itinerary, and also very attentive, going table by table during meals to check in. The service staff on the cruise ship were also excellent; when guiding us through the itinerary, their explanations of the attractions were very detailed, and they answered all passenger questions clearly without being vague. The facilities on the cruise ship were good. This was my first time experiencing a cruise, and the overall feeling was excellent 👍👍👍👍👍👍.

The price is quite reasonable, and the two-day, one-night itinerary isn't too rushed. We had lunch after boarding, then immediately went ashore to see Surprise Cave. While we weren't too tired, we could also play on a nearby beach for a while. We returned to the boat around sunset, then showered before a spring roll making class. We ate spring rolls while watching the sunset. If spring rolls weren't enough, dinner was served on board shortly after. After dinner, there was a night squid fishing activity (it was more for the experience, we didn't catch anything). The next morning, after waking up, we went kayaking. If you didn't want to get wet, you could take a boat, but it cost extra. After brunch, we returned to Hanoi city. The itinerary was quite full, but not overly rushed. The room was spacious, but the TV was broken and couldn't be watched, and the shower water pressure wasn't very strong, which was a minor inconvenience. However, overall, it was worth the price, and the food quality was also okay. Value for money: Quite good. Service: Good service.

The experience of this trip was excellent. Both the customer service and the cruise staff had very good English, making communication smooth. They often checked in on our experience. Because I only had Line and not WhatsApp, the customer service specially instructed the cruise staff to provide us with extra assistance. The facilities on the cruise were clean and complete, and all the meals were delicious. Watching the sunset from the cruise in the evening was incredibly beautiful! I'm very happy to have participated in this itinerary.

The entire experience, from pick-up until departure, was excellent. The whole Athena team did their best to ensure we had an incredible stay and experience. The cabin is comfortable. Food is plentiful, with buffets for lunch and brunch. The set dinner was well-presented and tasty. The kayaking itinerary is good too. I loved the Tai Chi exercise in the morning. Overall, it is a luxury experience.

The Athena I originally booked was pending, and I was worried if the trip would happen. SSTtravel in Vietnam immediately contacted me using the contact information I provided on their website. Ms. Mie, the staff member who assisted me, was professional and efficient throughout our communication. She clearly explained the arrangements and used various methods to reassure me and ensure I understood everything. Concerned that I might not be able to go, she suggested changing cruises. I initially worried it was a sales tactic, but it turned out I was overly concerned. The cruise Mie changed for me was excellent value for money, and she didn't even charge me the price difference. Both the transportation arrangements and the service on the cruise were truly perfect. I thought I'd have to wake up early to go to a meeting point, but they sent a car to pick us up at the hotel. Another pleasant surprise was that they originally said the return transportation would drop us off in the Old Quarter, but they ended up taking us directly back to our hotel entrance. I truly recommend everyone to use this tour and service. Thank you again, Mie and all the staff, for your thoughtfulness towards customers. I will definitely choose such a high-quality travel agency again next time.

I was actually changed from Athena to Alisa. I was concerned with the pre-trip change, but it was handled well. The transfer was excellent, faster getting there than getting back. Coach was clean and good temp. As far as the Alisa itself, words cannot express the quality and service of this cruise. The rooms (private balconies) and public areas were immaculate, and the food and beverages top quality. What really made this booking the best was the people. From the man in charge to the women keeping the boat clean and the rooms nice, everything was top notch. The actual staff we interacted with the most were so personal and inclusive, it was as if friends were accommodating us. We had the opportunity to sit down a bit with one of the staff members, Viet, who gave us some background on his life in Vietnam, from growing up to current. To me, this is what makes a holiday so special, learning about and interacting with people. I was hoping we didn't get him in trouble in our conversation, but it's things like this that make the difference from other service providers. I want to thank Viet and all the staff for making this such a special overnight trip away from the city. We opted not to go kayaking or hiking, but stayed on the boat and put our feet up and relaxed. I loved that this was an option, and I truly needed the quiet time. Thank you to the staff on the ALISA for such a great trip! Not sure why the request for review was not changed from the Athena to the Alisa.

This genuinely felt like a VIP cruise, not a standard tourist tour. The ship, service, and overall organization were on a very high level. The entire staff was extremely kind, attentive, and professional. As a vegan, I was honestly impressed by how large and thoughtful the food selection was. Important: make sure to inform them in advance, it really makes a difference. The only minor downside is that we didn’t sail that much. We reached the main spot within 1–2 hours and then stayed anchored there until the next day. Still, the overall experience easily outweighs this nuance. Highly recommended.

Service: 1. The local travel shuttle service is very thoughtful. As long as you stay in the Old Quarter, the shuttle is very convenient, and the tour leader even helps with luggage, reducing your burden. 2. The food on the cruise ship should actually appeal to Asians as well, blending Western, Vietnamese, and some Chinese elements. 3. During explanations at each attraction, the English explanations are deliberately slowed down, and you can ask questions and consult again. Even with basic English listening skills, you can have a great time. 4. The evening spent on the ship was the most beautiful experience of this Ha Long Bay trip, releasing a lot of work stress. Even on a rainy day, it was still very beautiful. Itinerary arrangement: Although it was a rainy day this time, the itinerary for the Surprise Cave indoors was particularly well-cared for, with raincoats provided. The detailed explanations were full of novelty and imagination. The cruise tour leader and relevant staff also assisted every passenger with boarding and disembarking, and paid special attention to each passenger in more dangerous areas, providing practical care. Value for money: After booking the itinerary, the travel agency immediately began assisting and caring for passengers. Vietnam's service quality, in my opinion, exceeded expectations and was even better than Taiwan's. Coupled with the advantage of natural scenery, I feel it's well worth coming again and entrusting their services.

This was an amazing and value for money experience. Our guide was cheerful and had clear communication. The team did a good job getting us to all the attractions first ahead of other tour boats, allowing us to enjoy them before they got flooded by a hoard of other tourists. Food was fresh and had a good variety too.

The driver only informed us of the pick-up time after 9 PM the night before, but arrived punctually on the morning of the trip. Many thanks to Chien, Son, Kelvin, and the rest of the crew on Athena for giving us such a relaxing holiday at sea; they were all very friendly! The bus transfer from Hanoi was very comfortable, with a 30-minute rest stop halfway, so the journey wasn't difficult. The food on board was delicious and good, and the activities were not too tightly scheduled, allowing for sufficient rest time between them. There was a queue to go up to Surprise Cave, and climbing on Ti Top Island was a bit tiring, but the scenery was beautiful. In the evening, there was a Happy Hour on the boat with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on drinks, and we also learned to make rice paper rolls on deck while watching the sunset, which was truly delightful. The kayaking session on the second morning started early, around 7 AM, which was good because it wasn't too sunny. On the return journey, the bus dropped us off right at our hotel entrance, which was very thoughtful. I highly recommend Athena!