Here Are Stunning Photos of Day 1 - Lan Ha Bay Luxury Cruise
So what REALLY happens inwards a super luxurious yet incredibly affordable overnight cruise experience inwards Hanoi? It’s fourth dimension to endure an insider-blogger in addition to permit me create the slicing in addition to dicing of information in addition to photos for you. Can you lot believe it? I am all the same trembling from excitement fifty-fifty subsequently the Maya Cruise experience, because I had a super awesome experience amongst them. The misty Feb atmosphere of the Halong Bay, coupled amongst the translucent vibrancy of the Maya Cruise overnight packet is a large banking corporation fit inwards my bucket listing indeed. I know, I know - I am a far scream from beingness a master copy chef, but what I tin digest, based from my cruise life experience amongst Maya Cruises, is that the cultural flavors of Vietnam volition endure ane of the finest impressions you’ll e'er experience. It’s genuinely the BEST fourth dimension to endeavor this out, particularly since they are relatively a novel histrion inwards this move industry, in addition to then you lot tin facial expression a strongly progressing form of luxury Asian cruise for a toll that is way within your means.
As of the moment, at that spot are genuinely ii kinds of cruise experiences that the Maya Cruise squad offers. First is the HANOI – HAI PHONG – LAN HA BAY – HALONG BAY cruise, which takes nigh three Days in addition to 2 Nights. Another ane is the LAN HA BAY - HALONG BAY cruise, which takes nigh 2 Days in addition to 1 Night. Each of these cruise experience volition have got inclusions (such every bit an English linguistic communication speaking tour guide on boat, all meals aboard - lunches, dinners, lite breakfasts), sightseeing entrance fees, welcome drinks, mutual frigidity handkerchiefs, fresh bloom in addition to fresh fruits baskets, in addition to ii bottle of mineral H2O inwards each cabin; in addition to exclusions (such every bit beverages, tips, gratuities in addition to other personal expenses). Speaking of cabins, you lot tin genuinely select from unlike types – from 1st floor, 2nd floor, amongst a broad window amongst sum view, or amongst a individual balcony. I similar the names of the rooms though, they’re pretty "expensive": Sapphire Room, Ruby Room, and Diamond Room – floating gems inwards the vast Hanoi waterscape?
So, what happens earlier the arrival, you lot may ask? ... and, nosotros were off to a skilful start! I was picked upward from Hanoi Old Quarter expanse via their really luxurious van, where we headed to the highway to Got Port, Haiphong. It wasn’t then much every bit a long in addition to winding road, but to a greater extent than of highway amongst lots of colorful cemeteries in addition to naked rice fields. Took nigh 2 hours to larn there, amongst a stop-over, lots of stories in addition to conversations amongst the tour guide in addition to newfound friends within the van. We were genuinely asked to innovate ourselves, similar inwards a classroom, then every bit to encounter novel friends whom volition endure amongst us inwards the cruise ship! This is a large addition for me, because it gives you lot a jeopardy to brand friends inwards an instant (ie. British, German, Indian, Malaysian, etc.); multi-cultural socialization at its primal “luxury van” fashion. Lol. There are unlimited H2O bottles provided, skilful thing! Plus, band charging port! The driver was really attentive in addition to nosotros felt really comfortable throughout the whole move to in addition to from the destination.
After going through the port exchange, seamless minor boat to large boat transfer, and passing through the Cai Trap canal, nosotros received the warmest Vietnamese greeting! With a welcome imbibe on ane hand, in addition to a dangling indicate in addition to shoot photographic idiot box camera on the other, nosotros were given a thoroughly courteous cruise briefing, security instructions in addition to banking corporation fit inwards past times the Maya Cruise team. Again, I could non regurgitate this enough, but side past times side to the Nepalese in addition to Japanese every bit the most polite people inwards all of human-kind, I remember the Maya Cruise squad are every bit skilful (if not, mayhap fifty-fifty better) inwards damage of etiquette in addition to client service. They were trained well, in addition to I am sincerely impressed past times it. Even the westerner friends nosotros met were inwards awe past times the politeness in addition to all out client service of the crew; nosotros were all grinning in addition to looking at each other, doing mental telepathy maxim "we are impressed, then are you". Lol.
As nosotros started to cruise the Lan Ha Bay & Ha Long Bay, the islets slow transformed into this postcard perfect throwback in addition to my eyes were massaged into relaxation. While having our luxurious lunch, nosotros passed past times the Da Chong islet, where nosotros saw lighthouse built past times the French over 100 years ago. The limestones looked then dramatic, particularly amongst all the silk-like mist in addition to serene waters embracing it. I was happy that the route Maya Cruise offered was to a greater extent than on the less touristy path, then at that spot weren’t likewise much unnecessary boats in addition to tourists approximately the islands, which made the sentiment to a greater extent than unspoiled. We were given some costless fourth dimension to direct grip of a book, relish local coffee, in addition to merely endure inwards the instant in addition to remain still. It was absolutely perfect.
Around midafternoon to early on evening, nosotros reached the Tra Bầu expanse of Lan Hạ Bay, where nosotros were offered a jeopardy to kayak, swim, in addition to rest. Almost every ane of us decided to have got business office inwards this, despite the chilly weather, because the setting was then inviting! This is ane of the “busiest” business office of this day, because flocks of travelers from other cruise ships also dock inwards this area. It’s busy amongst laughter, H2O fights, in addition to kayak demos from the locals. The other local guides also have got their ain expanse for quick tea interruption in addition to chit chat. I remember you lot shouldn’t girlfriend this business office of the trip, because fifty-fifty though it’s considered optional (especially for the seniors inwards the group), you lot tin genuinely relish the companionship of the folks here. It’s a prissy prelude to our epic evening!
The kickoff of sundown over the Gulf of Tonkin opened inwards sum swing amongst a traditional in addition to interactive cooking class. We prepared a Vietnamese dish in addition to started the happy hr extravaganza! No ane was competitive, but everyone was inwards high spirits. So. Much. Laughter. This reached until the romantic dinner special, where we were served the BEST of the VERY BEST nutrient you’ll e'er enjoy. So. Much. Delicious. Food.
We shut the hateful solar daytime amongst some squid fishing activity in addition to a lot of siesta nether the starless nighttime sky. The flickering lights of the nearby cruise shipping in addition to the hushed sounds of the Hanoi waters made me experience similar I was slow beingness sewn into an over-the-top painting scene of some move flick. Lol. It was so surreal! Maya Cruise’s hateful solar daytime ane cruise activity is good idea of, catering to the needs of every unmarried passenger, in addition to I am glad Maya Cruises is doing a genuinely skilful job.
On to the side past times side day…
MAYA CRUISE TRIP IN HANOI, VIETNAM TRAVEL SERIES