Aphrodite Cruises
Aphrodite Cruises
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The very first luxury boutique 5 star cruises in Halong bay.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
932 reviews
Excellent
799
Very good
99
Average
24
Poor
7
Terrible
3
novelogue
Toronto, Canada931 contributions
Apr 2021
We went on a 2-night cruise with Aphrodite Cruises in April 2019 and had a great time. Our rooms were good, staff were friendly and the food was good (the food during our day-cruise on the second day when the main cruise went back to port to pick up the 1-night passengers was the best). We had a great experience.
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken W
Camarillo, CA4 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
We had an absolute wonderful time on our Ha Long Bay cruise experience. The food was outstanding, the beds were the best we had on our 3 week trip in Vietnam and the cruise staff was incredible. Everyone from the dining staff, to the activity coordinators to the bar staff were so attentive and friendly. We had the right amount of activities, sightseeing, visiting of uncrowded lagoons and caves as well as time to relax. Everything was perfect!
Written October 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ken,
Thank you for your feedback,
All of Aphrodite team is happy you had a nice experience with us.
Halong bay is a unique bay and maybe the most beautiful in the world and give you a First class experience is the reason why we are working here. All of the staff does the best for you and we are glad you felt it and spent a wonderful time on our cruise.
One more time, thank you for choosing Aphrodite cruises,
Sincerely,
Aphrodite team
Written December 12, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sandra s
Singapore, Singapore18 contributions
Booked Aphrodite cos they were the few ships with triple rooms. Customer support was fast in answering our queries. Check in was at their brand new Private terminal with their own waiting area before the ship arrived. Once ready, our luggages were brought onboard for us. I believe our ship was one of the biggest on the Bay with three floors. Our room was big with private bath. (Was very difficult to shower in the tub as it was curved for jacuzzi use). Water supply was strong. Aircon and heating both available. Beds were great. Food was fantastic. All meals were delicious. Dinner was extra special as it was cooked by their Chef Robert. Delicious and beautiful servings. Like 5 star restaurant. Complimentary wine was served. Buffet Breakfasts (there were two!) were delicious too with the second having the Vietnamese pancakes wraps. The tours were well timed and conducted. We were well taken care of. Our manager Jackie was great. Kudos to all the staff. Supper friendly and attentive and all spoke good English. Thank you Aphrodite, we had a wonderful time.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mr/Ms smyss20,
Thank you so much for such an valuable feedback!
We are so glad to know that you have had a great time with us!
Your statisfaction is always our priority! We will try our best to improve our services day by day so that other customers can also have a great time with us in Halong Bay - one of the World Natural Heritage Sites!
Above all, we wish you and your family good health, luck and happiness! Also, we do hope that we can have a chance to welcome you, your relatives and friends if they have a plan to visit Halong Bay in the future!
Once again, thank you so much for such a lovely feedback!
From Aphrodite Cruise Team!
Written February 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cathy K
New Zealand15 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
My husband & I did the 1 night 2 day trip that turned into the fire disaster. We must admit until the fire struck, we had the time of our life and had enjoyed the trip immensely. The staff were wonderful, the food fabulous & the small trips to the cave & beach great and we would have certainly come back again in the future. We hope this Fire incident helps put some much better safety precautions in place and the whole Halong Bay Boat Industry and ship designers learn that there needs to be exit points available at both ends of the boat in case or serious fire or any type of emergency. Life jackets have to be at both ends of the boat, not just the rear. Even some ladders would have helped. The lack of direction by staff to the customers could have resulted in deaths had we not taken matters in to our own hands & decided to abandon ship.
Written May 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Cathy K,
Thank you so much for cruising with us. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to you in the fire incident. We hope that you get better after the trip.
Aphrodite cruises highly appreciate your opinions. We do take strong action to rectify the safety system and procedure on board to make sure this incident will never ever happen again with other Aphrodite vessels. The authorities and industry management also revise the safety system and fire prevention for all the boat in Halong bay.
Nothing is more important than regaining your trust and all of us here hope you will give us the opportunity to welcome you on board again soon and provide you the positive Aphrodite experience you have come to expect from us.
Aphrodite team
Written May 11, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mkilo
Sydney, Australia8 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
just made it off in time
Passengers directed to the open top
deck of a wooden ship with no
obvious emergency plan or directions.We were on our own.
Three levels above a fire
no lifejackets utilised or fire fighting
in evidence above deck
Miracle no one was killed
Overnight cruises have their days
numbered apparently
The whole Halong Bay operation is
dependant on nothing going wrong
It does and they cannot cope when
there is a problem
Passengers directed to the open top
deck of a wooden ship with no
obvious emergency plan or directions.We were on our own.
Three levels above a fire
no lifejackets utilised or fire fighting
in evidence above deck
Miracle no one was killed
Overnight cruises have their days
numbered apparently
The whole Halong Bay operation is
dependant on nothing going wrong
It does and they cannot cope when
there is a problem
Written May 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear M. Kilo,
We would like to express our sincere regret and apology for this traumatic event. The fire hit us by surprise in the last 10 minutes of the cruise as we were preparing to dock. Passengers had to go up to the top deck as the fire was originating from the lower deck and black smoke made it impossible for us to use the stern exit.
Our crew did their best to jump into action and escort guests from the 3rd level to the dock. A few passengers who were too late to climb down, including myself, had to jump into the water.
We are now optimizing our facilities with new automatic fire prevention systems in the Engine Room and life jacket stations for every possible case of emergency. For now, we would like to remain in private contact with you concerning reimbursement for your losses.
We appreciate everyone’s support in the wake of these events and want to make it up to all of our passengers. We hope to one day welcome you back so you may testify to the improvements we are making.
Aphrodite Team
Written May 30, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Colin M
Riddells Creek, Australia5 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Our days on the Aphrodite were too short! Our large extremely comfortable cabin with ensuite, the endless sensational food & the well organised day trips made for an exciting yet relaxing experience. The staff were faultless.
This cruise was the highlight of our Vietnam trip & one which we would recommend to all our friends / family.
This cruise was the highlight of our Vietnam trip & one which we would recommend to all our friends / family.
Written October 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Colin,
Thank you for your feedback,
All of Aphrodite team is happy you had a nice stay with us.
I am really glad you spent nice time on our cruise, all time we try to offer the best to our guests to enjoy most as possible these unique moments. Halong have to be the highlight of a trip, we have offered you it and it’s the best gift for all of the staff.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures and one more time, thank you for choosing Aphrodite cruises,
Sincerely,
Aphrodite team
Written December 12, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HPT Owner
Hanoi, Vietnam123 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
I have been here 3 times, each duration was amazing time. Facility is modern and super new interior design. Bathroom seem like 5 star hotel. Nothing went wrong with staff and service, breakfast was excellent with Vietnamese noodle in quick serve. The route was upgraded by cruise manager, you will visit further and more than previous journey.
Let come to enjoy !!! Highly recommend to the one who are looking for Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay.
Let come to enjoy !!! Highly recommend to the one who are looking for Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay.
Written October 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear HanaBr,
Thank you for your feedback,
All of the Aphrodite team is really happy than you had an amazing stay on our cruise.
Our beautiful lady would like also to say thank you for your comment. She is the biggest luxurious wooden boat of the bay and enjoyed to welcome you each time!
Thank you for sharing your pictures and one more time, thank you for choosing Aphrodite cruises,
Sincerely,
Aphrodite team
Written December 12, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LJackson
Glasgow, UK24 contributions
Oct 2019
Before I begin, in case you do not want to read my entire review, I want to be very clear.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU WASTE YOUR MONEY WITH THIS OPERATOR.
There are hundreds of operators as I will explain later – this is NOT 4*, 5* and most definitely not 6*.
I did plenty of research before I booked this cruise.
This luxurious trip was meant to be our decadent night of our 2-week holiday in Vietnam. At US$297(£240) (excluding excursions or drinks) for one night.
I had booked the Aphrodite boat which was 5 star – my expectations from the photos had been set pretty high. So, imagine my delight when I received an email less than 24 hours before we were due to set sail saying… we had been upgraded to a ‘new 6 star cruise’.
"As your check in date is tomorrow. I have a good news for you, with great joy, I would like to announce that your cabins will be upgraded to our very new 6-star Hera Cruise with the same service standard as promised in Aphrodite Cruises.
The only difference is that your cabins namely Hera Earth Suite will be more spacious ( 50m2) and more beautiful with a Private Terrace which didn't include in your initial booking, but you won't have to pay any surcharges for the upgrade."
Well that was exciting…. Until we boarded.
The boat looks 30 years old, and not 5 years old.
The upgrade meant a larger cabin, which I agree was beautiful except the bed was at a sideways angle, the plug in the bath did not work and the bedside light was broken.
Unfortunately this suite was also underneath the kitchen. The noise from the kitchen was loud and constant and we were woken the next morning at 5.30am – not the romantic long lie we were looking for.
The private terrace was bigger – but it was not private at all. You shared it with the cabin on the other side. There was an ashtray left on the table on the terrace which was full of cigarette ends.
And if you looked up – guess what – the kitchen was there which was open to the elements, so you got the chatter, the clatter of the plates, the chopping, the cleaver sounds and of course the smells.
Underneath the “private” terrace was where the staff congregated when they were off duty – again the noise of the chatter and the cigarette smells too. (please see photos to see what I am talking about)
The lunch was pleasant – but not what we paid for or were expecting. Remember – we had been upgraded to a 6-star cruise. From the photos, we were expecting to be eating outside to enjoy the incredible views. No, we were stuck inside with staff standing hovering over you and watching every move you made. At one point there were 6 staff standing watching from the middle of the floor – and they were watching 6 tables eat.
And of course, we were expecting 6-star food having been upgraded to this ‘new 6 star cruise’. No, all those that were upgraded 4 out of the 6 tables were given a different standard of food, different food and different service to those unfortunate people who had paid full price.
The food was ok (not brilliant) and served on plates were all broken and chipped.
After lunch we thought it would be nice to go upstairs and lie down on the sunbeds and watch the views and relax underneath the sails that you see in all the promotional pictures on their website.
The sunbeds were not out in any orderly fashion and there were no cushions on the sunbeds or cushions on the chairs to sit on. There was no bar open upstairs and the sails were not out either. The crew had not bothered themselves with anything up there.
Again, nothing like the brochure or the website.
In the afternoon I decided to relax and have a bath as we had an hour and a bit before dinner. The bath looked amazing – it took ages to fill and I mean ages. I then washed, etc, etc and thought now I can relax.
Literally 2 mins later, the boat engine started to slow and all if a sudden we are in the middle of a boat car park. There were boats everywhere. We could see in their windows and they could see in ours. There were at least 300 if not 400 (as I was told by a member of staff) boats in this tiny tiny bay. Not great when you are sitting the bath and there are other boats looking straight in your window.
Because we were in a tiny bay, we had to listen to a disco on one boat and then karaoke (these singers were certainly not in the local choir) from another board.
Again, not the romantic, exclusive 5 or 6 star cruise you were believed to expect.
The pearl farm – interesting.
The cooking class – enjoyable.
The squid fishing – no that did not happen as the staff were in a meeting. (I did ask, but they seemed annoyed that someone had remembered).
The internet was off by 10.30pm – and when I went down to find out what had happened – all the staff had gone to bed. I guess they had expected the entire boat to have gone to bed but everyone was still up.(It was 2pm GMT for us)
Now, let me get to the wine.
Again, our expectations were of a “new 6-star cruise.” The wine list was quite extensive, and I took a while browsing through all the white wines. It looked like a great choice.
I chose one to be told that it was not on board (fair enough I thought), then I chose a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and eventually I asked what white wines have you got on board. The answer was NONE from the list.
They then proceeded to show me the TWO white wines that they did actually have onboard. A chardonnay (not my cup of tea personally) and a sauvignon blanc. I chose the Gato Negro Sauvignon Blanc 2018 from Chile. The wine tasted like cooking wine. It was awful (photo attached). I looked up the reviews online and they were pretty poor too. You can buy it from a shop (not a wholesaler) for US$4 (£3.00) a bottle and the boat charged VND 1,250,000 (approx. £45.00).
There was also a tip box at the end for the staff. There was a sign on the box saying that the suggested tip was US$10 per person. I can tell you, that not one guest on our boat left a tip.
Overall, very disappointing, a bit of a con and not worth the money or your time.
There are plenty of other operators out there to spend your well earned money and time with.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU WASTE YOUR MONEY WITH THIS OPERATOR.
There are hundreds of operators as I will explain later – this is NOT 4*, 5* and most definitely not 6*.
I did plenty of research before I booked this cruise.
This luxurious trip was meant to be our decadent night of our 2-week holiday in Vietnam. At US$297(£240) (excluding excursions or drinks) for one night.
I had booked the Aphrodite boat which was 5 star – my expectations from the photos had been set pretty high. So, imagine my delight when I received an email less than 24 hours before we were due to set sail saying… we had been upgraded to a ‘new 6 star cruise’.
"As your check in date is tomorrow. I have a good news for you, with great joy, I would like to announce that your cabins will be upgraded to our very new 6-star Hera Cruise with the same service standard as promised in Aphrodite Cruises.
The only difference is that your cabins namely Hera Earth Suite will be more spacious ( 50m2) and more beautiful with a Private Terrace which didn't include in your initial booking, but you won't have to pay any surcharges for the upgrade."
Well that was exciting…. Until we boarded.
The boat looks 30 years old, and not 5 years old.
The upgrade meant a larger cabin, which I agree was beautiful except the bed was at a sideways angle, the plug in the bath did not work and the bedside light was broken.
Unfortunately this suite was also underneath the kitchen. The noise from the kitchen was loud and constant and we were woken the next morning at 5.30am – not the romantic long lie we were looking for.
The private terrace was bigger – but it was not private at all. You shared it with the cabin on the other side. There was an ashtray left on the table on the terrace which was full of cigarette ends.
And if you looked up – guess what – the kitchen was there which was open to the elements, so you got the chatter, the clatter of the plates, the chopping, the cleaver sounds and of course the smells.
Underneath the “private” terrace was where the staff congregated when they were off duty – again the noise of the chatter and the cigarette smells too. (please see photos to see what I am talking about)
The lunch was pleasant – but not what we paid for or were expecting. Remember – we had been upgraded to a 6-star cruise. From the photos, we were expecting to be eating outside to enjoy the incredible views. No, we were stuck inside with staff standing hovering over you and watching every move you made. At one point there were 6 staff standing watching from the middle of the floor – and they were watching 6 tables eat.
And of course, we were expecting 6-star food having been upgraded to this ‘new 6 star cruise’. No, all those that were upgraded 4 out of the 6 tables were given a different standard of food, different food and different service to those unfortunate people who had paid full price.
The food was ok (not brilliant) and served on plates were all broken and chipped.
After lunch we thought it would be nice to go upstairs and lie down on the sunbeds and watch the views and relax underneath the sails that you see in all the promotional pictures on their website.
The sunbeds were not out in any orderly fashion and there were no cushions on the sunbeds or cushions on the chairs to sit on. There was no bar open upstairs and the sails were not out either. The crew had not bothered themselves with anything up there.
Again, nothing like the brochure or the website.
In the afternoon I decided to relax and have a bath as we had an hour and a bit before dinner. The bath looked amazing – it took ages to fill and I mean ages. I then washed, etc, etc and thought now I can relax.
Literally 2 mins later, the boat engine started to slow and all if a sudden we are in the middle of a boat car park. There were boats everywhere. We could see in their windows and they could see in ours. There were at least 300 if not 400 (as I was told by a member of staff) boats in this tiny tiny bay. Not great when you are sitting the bath and there are other boats looking straight in your window.
Because we were in a tiny bay, we had to listen to a disco on one boat and then karaoke (these singers were certainly not in the local choir) from another board.
Again, not the romantic, exclusive 5 or 6 star cruise you were believed to expect.
The pearl farm – interesting.
The cooking class – enjoyable.
The squid fishing – no that did not happen as the staff were in a meeting. (I did ask, but they seemed annoyed that someone had remembered).
The internet was off by 10.30pm – and when I went down to find out what had happened – all the staff had gone to bed. I guess they had expected the entire boat to have gone to bed but everyone was still up.(It was 2pm GMT for us)
Now, let me get to the wine.
Again, our expectations were of a “new 6-star cruise.” The wine list was quite extensive, and I took a while browsing through all the white wines. It looked like a great choice.
I chose one to be told that it was not on board (fair enough I thought), then I chose a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and eventually I asked what white wines have you got on board. The answer was NONE from the list.
They then proceeded to show me the TWO white wines that they did actually have onboard. A chardonnay (not my cup of tea personally) and a sauvignon blanc. I chose the Gato Negro Sauvignon Blanc 2018 from Chile. The wine tasted like cooking wine. It was awful (photo attached). I looked up the reviews online and they were pretty poor too. You can buy it from a shop (not a wholesaler) for US$4 (£3.00) a bottle and the boat charged VND 1,250,000 (approx. £45.00).
There was also a tip box at the end for the staff. There was a sign on the box saying that the suggested tip was US$10 per person. I can tell you, that not one guest on our boat left a tip.
Overall, very disappointing, a bit of a con and not worth the money or your time.
There are plenty of other operators out there to spend your well earned money and time with.
Written November 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LouiseQTravels
London, UK30 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
We stayed aboard the Aphrodite for one night. Prior to coming to Vietnam from England, we had researched extensively which boat would be best for us (we wanted it to be decent inside/great facilities, great food, great service, and good activities) and have a luxury feel without the expensive price tag that we can’t afford.
And sure enough, it did not disappoint and we were really happy with our stay!
The food is so delicious, we didn’t have a single average meal because it was like Asian contemporary fine dining. The breakfast was a feast for a king (we got two breakfasts on our second day!). A place can really be judged by the quality of the food and it was exceptional. I didn’t expect such great food on any boat here so was very happy with this.
The room was clean and decent, like a hotel room and so much better in decor and cleanliness than what we were expecting (perhaps we had a strange expectation of boats as neither of us had stayed on one before!). There was a bathroom with shower and we had our own balcony. If we had stayed one more night we would have had more time to enjoy our own balcony. The cabin is cosy, so definitely do not bring your suitcase as there will be a lack of space as to where to store it and open it. We bought a rucksack/backpack each for overnight stay and it was sufficient.
There was a schedule and options for activities e.g. kayaking, exploring a cave, hiking etc which was great but it’s flexible so if there’s anything you don’t want to do, then you don’t have to. If you want some souvenirs though, do bring some cash as there is a little souvenir shop outside the cave etc. For all activities, do opt for comfortable and practical clothing (shorts, leggings) and footwear (trainers). If you want to bring a small bag to the caves etc then leave the handbag on the boat and make sure you opt for a small practical one (e.g. across the body or a bum/waist bag). The trip to the caves themselves were great, a little busy sometimes due to footfall but nothing to worry about.
At night we enjoyed happy hour and also the cooking lesson demonstration. In the evening there was definitely time to chill out and do our own thing which was nice.
Halong Bay is absolutely beautiful and a must-see. It really is such a magical place. But what makes it a truly great experience also is the standard with the accommodation of which you’re staying and I can safely say that I recommend Aphrodite Cruises!
Last but not least, the welcoming staff were exceptional. They were so friendly and this really helped our experience!
In particular, Victor was really great, he showed us around and got talking to us and was really nice. Also Jack, Jayz and Kim, Phillip... in fact all the staff! The reception team, waiters, waitresses and definitely the Chef and Captain :)
If we return to Halong Bay we will definitely be choosing Aphrodite Cruises again and would like to thank you everyone there for a great welcome onboard and a great time.
And sure enough, it did not disappoint and we were really happy with our stay!
The food is so delicious, we didn’t have a single average meal because it was like Asian contemporary fine dining. The breakfast was a feast for a king (we got two breakfasts on our second day!). A place can really be judged by the quality of the food and it was exceptional. I didn’t expect such great food on any boat here so was very happy with this.
The room was clean and decent, like a hotel room and so much better in decor and cleanliness than what we were expecting (perhaps we had a strange expectation of boats as neither of us had stayed on one before!). There was a bathroom with shower and we had our own balcony. If we had stayed one more night we would have had more time to enjoy our own balcony. The cabin is cosy, so definitely do not bring your suitcase as there will be a lack of space as to where to store it and open it. We bought a rucksack/backpack each for overnight stay and it was sufficient.
There was a schedule and options for activities e.g. kayaking, exploring a cave, hiking etc which was great but it’s flexible so if there’s anything you don’t want to do, then you don’t have to. If you want some souvenirs though, do bring some cash as there is a little souvenir shop outside the cave etc. For all activities, do opt for comfortable and practical clothing (shorts, leggings) and footwear (trainers). If you want to bring a small bag to the caves etc then leave the handbag on the boat and make sure you opt for a small practical one (e.g. across the body or a bum/waist bag). The trip to the caves themselves were great, a little busy sometimes due to footfall but nothing to worry about.
At night we enjoyed happy hour and also the cooking lesson demonstration. In the evening there was definitely time to chill out and do our own thing which was nice.
Halong Bay is absolutely beautiful and a must-see. It really is such a magical place. But what makes it a truly great experience also is the standard with the accommodation of which you’re staying and I can safely say that I recommend Aphrodite Cruises!
Last but not least, the welcoming staff were exceptional. They were so friendly and this really helped our experience!
In particular, Victor was really great, he showed us around and got talking to us and was really nice. Also Jack, Jayz and Kim, Phillip... in fact all the staff! The reception team, waiters, waitresses and definitely the Chef and Captain :)
If we return to Halong Bay we will definitely be choosing Aphrodite Cruises again and would like to thank you everyone there for a great welcome onboard and a great time.
Written December 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manjuswamy
Singapore, Singapore14 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
My husband and I were in Vietnam in April 2015 and chose Aphrodite Cruises for a short 1 night 2 day cruise to Halong Bay. The Manager of our crew was Hershey.
Excellent customer service. The entire crew was very courteous and always quick to attend to any of our requests.
Very good facilities onboard. We got a room at one end of the boat with a balcony/ patio. We noticed that all rooms do not have patios. The rooms are nice, clean and spacious enough for two. Hot water in the shower. A good sun deck on top and pretty large dining area (with patio seating).
Well planned and timed iterinary. We were guided to a limestone grotto with good views of the entire bay, a beach (extremely overcrowded) and floating village. Each trip was well planned and executed I should say.
Good vegetarian food! We are both vegetarians and were pleasantly surprized to have a wide variety of tasty meals aboard. We were extremely happy to see the lunch and dinner menu customized to our requirements. I also noticed that they took specific care about each person's food allergies and requirements.
Our biggest surprize came after dinner when they brought a special birthday cake and drink for my husband! I'm extremely pleased to see their attention to detail. They had noticed the date of birth from the booking details and planned a surprise for him. This totally made our trip!!
We had an excellent view of sunrise around 5:45 in the morning. Again I appreciate the captain who steered the boat to an appropriate position noticing that we were trying to capture the sunrise. None of the other boats moved out of their anchored position.
Overall it was a very pleasant experience and I would recommend aphrodite cruises to anybody visiting Halong Bay!
Excellent customer service. The entire crew was very courteous and always quick to attend to any of our requests.
Very good facilities onboard. We got a room at one end of the boat with a balcony/ patio. We noticed that all rooms do not have patios. The rooms are nice, clean and spacious enough for two. Hot water in the shower. A good sun deck on top and pretty large dining area (with patio seating).
Well planned and timed iterinary. We were guided to a limestone grotto with good views of the entire bay, a beach (extremely overcrowded) and floating village. Each trip was well planned and executed I should say.
Good vegetarian food! We are both vegetarians and were pleasantly surprized to have a wide variety of tasty meals aboard. We were extremely happy to see the lunch and dinner menu customized to our requirements. I also noticed that they took specific care about each person's food allergies and requirements.
Our biggest surprize came after dinner when they brought a special birthday cake and drink for my husband! I'm extremely pleased to see their attention to detail. They had noticed the date of birth from the booking details and planned a surprise for him. This totally made our trip!!
We had an excellent view of sunrise around 5:45 in the morning. Again I appreciate the captain who steered the boat to an appropriate position noticing that we were trying to capture the sunrise. None of the other boats moved out of their anchored position.
Overall it was a very pleasant experience and I would recommend aphrodite cruises to anybody visiting Halong Bay!
Written May 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, do you offer hotel pick-up from the old quarter in Hanoi? Is this included in the 3D2N tour package or does it come at an extra charge? Thanks!
Written September 19, 2019
Gastronomist51
Ontario, Canada
40 contributions
Hello, is the Aphrodite cruise intended to be more like a couples' / honeymoon cruise line?
Or is it also suitable or singles or families?
Thank you.
Written July 28, 2019
I went with my husband, there were couples and friends and 1 family on board
thanks Selena
Written July 31, 2019
Im thinking about booking this boat in June with my family. Can you tell me a bit more about your experience. You said they upgraded you to different boat? This will be my first time in Vietnam so I am a little skeptical so many reviews are so different for the same boats.
Thanks,
Written March 31, 2019
Hi, as you are travelling with your family, I would strongly recommend the Family Suite which can accommodate 2 adults and 2 under-12 children. A 3-day trip would be so much better when you would have more time to relax and visit caves, fishing villages without being in a rush.
Usually some lucky-draw guests are upgraded to a Aphrodite's sister boat named Hera cruise as it's definitely at a higher scale than Aphrodite Cruise in terms of services which are of 6 stars standards. But the complimentary upgrade does not include 6-star services so 5-star service standards would be provided as they are for the Aphrodite, alternatively the only difference is that your upgraded cabin would be a spacious Family connecting room - 56m2.
Written April 1, 2019
Hi, the disembarkation is usually around 11:00am so you would arrive back in your hotel in Hanoi at around 3:30pm if you use the shared Dcar Limousine transfer.
Written October 22, 2018
Do you charge 300,000dong per each time we use the kayak? Or you only charge for the kayak on the first day. And day 2, kayak is included in the room's charge?
Written September 20, 2018
Aphrodite C
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dear Andy,
Warmest greetings from Aphrodite Cruise!
We would like to kindly explain that if you take a 3-day cruise trip, the kayak fee of VD300,000 is included on the second day though it's optional fee/ a surcharge on the third day of the trip.
Kind regards,
Aphrodite team
Written September 21, 2018
How do you ensure safety of young children on the cruise?
Written August 13, 2018
Aphrodite C
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hi Beekay11, we would like to share that the ship itself is designed to guarantee the safety for all passengers with 80cm to 100cm height of balcony in rooms and in sundeck. Normally for family with young children we would advise to stay in 1st deck with window (room type Luxury window or Family suite) rather than Luxury Balcony in the second deck. Child life vest is available on board (in restaurant, reception area and in rooms, in tender). Our staffs are trained to take care and keep their eyes on passengers safety especially children's safety. Baby seat is available on shuttle bus, restaurant as well as baby cot can be set up in room upon availability and request.
I hope this is some information for your concern. If anything need to be clearer, feel free to let us know. We are more than happy to assist you.
Aphrodite cruise
Written August 15, 2018
If tour is cancelled due to weather do we get refund.? We have booked 2 night cruise in August do quite expensive
Written July 9, 2018
Aphrodite C
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dear Libby,
Warmest greetings from Aphrodite cruise and thank you very much for your interest in choosing us to be your travel partner exploring the untouched beauty of Halong.
As per your concern, I would like to kindly explain that normally there are 3 time frames when it’s announced by the Halong authority about any typhoons. They are 7:00am, 11:00am and 3:00pm, so our crew will inform you accordingly.
If the cruise is cancelled due to bad weather conditions, you will be fully refunded if there is no service used. Otherwise, only the transfer service (If you are already on the way to Halong), lunch on board (If you would like to have lunch before going back to Hanoi) and day tour (If the tour is allowed to be operated until 5:00pm) are charged.
I hope you find the information above helpful.
Best regards,
Aphrodite cruise
Written July 10, 2018
I'd like to know what is included in the price on the agoda website. Are all meals included? it says free breakfast and a tick next to lunch and dinner but not clear. Could you tell me exact inclusions thanks!
Written July 6, 2018
We did not book thru Agoda; we chose Aphrodite thru a concierge's advise, and boy were we glad. Yes, everything including all (breakfast, lunch, dinner) the meals were included -- it's like all the inclusions given at a cruise ship. They are full course meals: appetizer, main, dessert. The excursions are also included, and on some of them, we were fed a light meal there. However, at the ship itself, we were always served complete meals... at least this was what we booked. You may want to check with them or your booking agent directly to see if there are variances. Good luck and happy travels!
Written July 10, 2018
What time is check-in and what time does the ship leave the harbor? We are arriving by air in the morning to Hanoi airport and are wondering if we will make it if we come straight from the airport.
Written June 6, 2018
We left our hotel in Hanoi about 7:30am and it took about three hours for our van to get to Halong Bay. We also met other people who said they came straight from the airport in Hanoi. Aphrodite waited for them to arrive before we all boarded the ship. They have good staff and I believe that if you let them know your itinerary ahead of time, they will work with your vacation schedule.
Wish you much luck and happy travels. 😎
Written June 13, 2018
Hi
Does the cost include hotel transfers and all activities?
Cheers
Rob
Written March 24, 2018
Hi rob
I got it as part of a tour so a tour guide picked me from the hotel and then stay included a cave tour.
Thanks
Doreen
Written March 25, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.