Ha Long Bay Junk Boat CruiseHalong Bay Cruise Infinity Pool: The 2-Day CARNIVAL JSC Cruise
This halong bay cruise infinity pool listing from CARNIVAL JSC sells two days and one night on the water for $125 per person. The pitch is simple. Every cabin has a private balcony and a bathtub facing the bay, and the deck carries a four-season infinity pool plus a spa and sauna. The route covers Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, with kayaking at Ao Ech Lagoon and Dark and Light Cave on day two. Four meals are included, from lunch on day one to brunch before you disembark. This page sets out what the price covers, what it does not, and which travellers should compare it against other Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises before booking. Compare it with the other Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises compared.
About This Tour
CARNIVAL JSC runs this 2-day, 1-night cruise from Tuan Chau Marina through both Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Guests check in at the marina, ride a tender boat to the cruise and have lunch on board. The first day brings kayaking at Ao Ech Lagoon, swimming, a sunset party, a cooking class, dinner and night squid fishing. Day two starts with Tai Chi, visits Dark and Light Cave by kayak or bamboo boat and ends with an early lunch before the return to port.
The boat is pitched as a 6-star vessel. The listing says taxes, insurance, service charge and the peak season surcharge are included for bookings made from July 1, 2026 onward. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.
$125 per person. The Imperial Suite upgrade costs $170 per person extra.
2 days and 1 night on the bay, one night in a private balcony cabin with a bathtub.
Tuan Chau Marina. Check-in there, then a tender boat transfer to the cruise. An optional round-trip shuttle from Hanoi Old Quarter costs $25 per person.
Group size not stated. Each cabin takes up to 3 guests. English-speaking guide on the boat, with Vietnamese also spoken.
1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast and 1 brunch on board, buffet plus a set menu dinner. Vegetarian on request. Kayaking, bamboo boat, cooking class, Tai Chi, squid fishing, infinity pool and gym included.
Not included: the Hanoi or Ninh Binh transfer, the Imperial Suite, spa, beverages and personal expenses. Holiday surcharges apply on December 24, December 31 and Lunar New Year. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown on the booking calendar once you pick a date. Children up to 10 share existing beds with parents, and one child aged 0 to 4 stays free per room.
Quick answer Price, route and pool in brief
This cruise costs $125 per person for 2 days and 1 night on Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, with a four-season infinity pool, spa, sauna and a bay-view bathtub in every balcony cabin.
Key takeaways
- Taxes, insurance and the peak season surcharge are included, but the $25 Hanoi shuttle is not. See what the price covers.
- The day runs from kayaking at Ao Ech Lagoon to squid fishing after dinner. Read the stop-by-stop itinerary below.
- It is one of several overnight options. The 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise is the most reviewed overnight alternative.
- Compare it with every other listing on the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise comparison before you commit.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $125 headline is a cabin price, not the full trip cost. Here is what the listing includes, what it excludes and where the extras land.
Included in the Fare
The fare covers the night in a private balcony cabin with a bay-view bathtub, all entrance fees, four meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast and brunch), a welcome drink and a bottle of water per room. Activities are in too: kayaking, a bamboo boat ride, the cooking class, Tai Chi, squid fishing, the sunset party, the infinity pool and the gym. Service charge, on-board insurance and, for bookings from July 1, 2026 onward, taxes and the peak season surcharge are all included. Vegetarian food is available on request.
The Hanoi transfer is not part of this. A round-trip shuttle bus from the Hanoi Old Quarter costs $25 per person, and pickups in Hanoi or Ninh Binh can be mixed, for example pickup in Ninh Binh and drop-off in Hanoi.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin | Yes | Private balcony and bay-view bathtub, up to 3 guests per cabin |
| Meals | Yes | 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 brunch, buffet and set menu dinner |
| Hanoi shuttle | No | $25 per person round trip from the Old Quarter, or Ninh Binh |
| Entrance fees | Yes | All entrance fees listed as included |
| Kayaking and bamboo boat | Yes | At Ao Ech Lagoon and Dark and Light Cave |
| Imperial Suite | No | $170 per person extra |
| Drinks beyond water | No | Welcome drink and one water bottle per room only |
| Spa and sauna | No | On board but paid separately |
| Holiday surcharges | No | December 24, December 31 and Lunar New Year, amounts not stated |
Sources: UNESCO, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Ha Long Bay Management Board
Karsts line the horizon as a boat crosses Ha Long Bay on a clear day. Photo: shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The itinerary below follows the operator's own schedule. Clock times are not published for the stops, so the sequence matters more than the hours.
Getting to the Boat
If you book the transfer, a shuttle collects you from the Hanoi Old Quarter or from Ninh Binh. Otherwise you make your own way to Tuan Chau Marina, which sits on Tuan Chau Island linked to the mainland by a causeway. You check in at the marina and take a tender boat out to the cruise, where a welcome drink is waiting while the crew runs through the safety policy and the plan for the two days.
Lunch is served in the restaurant on the cruise.
Day One on the Water
The first activity is kayaking at Ao Ech Lagoon, described as calm water and a peaceful paddle. After that there is a swim stop in the open sea, with life vests available, or a dip in the panoramic floating pool. The sunset party and happy hour follow, with hot tea on the sundeck, a jacuzzi up top and a bar deal of buy two drinks, get one free.
Then comes a cooking class where you learn a traditional Vietnamese dish, dinner in the restaurant and evening entertainment. Karaoke runs in the restaurant, and you can try night squid fishing, a drink at the bar or the spa and sauna. You sleep on board, surrounded by the bay.
Day Two and the Return
Day two opens with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, or a workout in the gym, then breakfast with Lan Ha Bay going past. The main stop is Dark and Light Cave, where you choose between kayaking on your own or a bamboo boat rowed by local people. You return to the cruise for check-out and settle any extra charges, then eat a light early lunch before the tender back to Tuan Chau Marina.
The day ends at the marina waiting lounge, where transfer guests are escorted to their vehicle with luggage help.
Who This Tour Rules Out
No tour fits everyone. These are the limits written into the listing, and where to look instead.
No Hotel Pickup Unless You Pay
The cruise starts at Tuan Chau Marina. There is no free hotel pickup, so if you want a door-to-deck day trip, look at the Day Cruise with Kayaking or the Luxury Day Cruise with Buffet, both of which offer pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels.
Two Days or Nothing
This is an overnight product. If you have one day only, any of the day trips on the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise will do, and if two nights on the water sound better than one, the 3-Day Lan Ha Bay Cruise adds a bike ride to Viet Hai village and a beach afternoon.
Cabin Sharing and Children
Each cabin holds up to 3 guests, so a party of 4 books two cabins. Children up to 10 share existing beds with parents, one child aged 0 to 4 is free per room and a second in that age band is charged 50 percent of the adult price. Solo travellers are not quoted a single supplement in the listing, though the Imperial Suite costs $170 per person extra for anyone wanting the top room.
Weather and Crowds
The itinerary can change without notice because of weather, tides or operating conditions. The Ha Long Bay Management Board and the port authority decide on suspensions, not the operator, and cancellations are cited at winds of Beaufort level 6 or higher. The listing does not state a group size.
If you want a small-boat feel, the Bai Tu Long Bay Small Boat Cruise caps at 25 guests and the Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise at 10.
Early morning mist on the karsts with junk boats on the water. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
If you skip the $25 shuttle, you can reach Tuan Chau Marina yourself, and the bay has plenty to add before or after the cruise.
Reaching Tuan Chau Marina
Tuan Chau International Marina sits on Tuan Chau Island, linked by a causeway. From Hanoi the drive is roughly 150 to 170 km depending on the route, about 2 to 2.5 hours by car or limousine on the expressway, or 2.5 to 3.5 hours by bus. A private transfer runs about USD 60 to 90 per car from Noi Bai airport, which is about 165 km away.
Overnight cruises use Port 2, the International Passenger Port, which can hold about 2,000 boats. The full route options are on the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide.
Adding Days Around the Cruise
The route names neither Sung Sot Cave nor Ti Top Island, so a day cruise before or after fills that gap. Sung Sot Cave sits on Bo Hon Island. Lan Ha Bay itself has about 400 karst islands, and Cat Ba Island is next door with a national park.
A night in Ha Long city or on Cat Ba either side of the cruise works well. See the Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island guides for what to do there.
The Itinerary in Order
Taken from the operator listing. The exact clock times are not published, so phases are shown instead.
-
Start
Transfer and check-in
Pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh if the transfer is booked. Check in at Tuan Chau Marina and take the tender boat to the cruise.
-
Day 1
Welcome drink and lunch
A welcome drink with the safety briefing and itinerary introduction, then lunch in the restaurant on the cruise.
-
Afternoon
Ao Ech Lagoon and swimming
Kayaking in the calm water of Ao Ech Lagoon, then a swim in the open sea or the floating pool, with the panoramic pool on deck as a third option.
-
Late afternoon
Sunset party and cooking class
Tea on the sundeck, the jacuzzi and a buy two drinks, get one free bar deal at sunset, then a cooking class on a traditional Vietnamese dish.
-
Evening
Dinner and night on board
Dinner in the restaurant, then karaoke, squid fishing, the bar, spa and sauna. Overnight in your balcony cabin.
-
Early morning, day 2
Tai Chi and breakfast
A Tai Chi session on the sundeck or the gym, then breakfast while Lan Ha Bay slides past.
-
Morning, day 2
Dark and Light Cave, then home
Kayak or ride a bamboo boat at Dark and Light Cave. Check out, settle extra charges, eat an early lunch and take the tender back to Tuan Chau Marina waiting lounge.
What Works and What Does Not
An honest read of this listing against the others on the comparison.
What we genuinely like
- The infinity pool, spa and sauna are on board
- A bay-view bathtub and private balcony come in the base $125 cabin price
- Taxes, insurance, service charge and the peak surcharge are included for bookings from July 1, 2026 onward
- Free cancellation 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- Four meals included with vegetarian options, plus kayaking, bamboo boat, Tai Chi, squid fishing and a cooking class
The honest downsides
- The $25 Hanoi shuttle, drinks beyond the welcome drink and water, spa treatments and the $170 Imperial Suite all land on top
- The listing does not describe a traditional junk, so expect a resort-style cruise rather than a sailing boat
- Karaoke is part of the evening entertainment, which some guests will find loud
- Wi-Fi may be weak among the karsts
- Holiday surcharges on December 24, December 31 and Lunar New Year are charged, amounts not stated
Who it's NOT for: Anyone wanting a small traditional junk with sails and a quiet deck should read about the Oriental Sails Junk Cruise instead, and day trippers should start at the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise.
Questions About This Cruise
Does the price include the bus from Hanoi?
No. A round-trip shuttle bus from the Hanoi Old Quarter costs $25 per person on top of the $125 fare, and pickups in Hanoi or Ninh Binh can be combined. Day trips with the transfer built in are listed on the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise.
Is the infinity pool heated?
The listing calls it a four-season outdoor pool and pairs it with a spa and sauna, but it does not state whether the water is heated. Air temperatures at Hai Phong run coolest from December to February, at about 15 to 22 degrees C. Weather detail is on the Halong Bay weather guide.
Can I visit Sung Sot Cave on this cruise?
No. The route covers Ao Ech Lagoon and Dark and Light Cave only. To see Sung Sot Cave, add a day cruise or read the Sung Sot Cave guide.
How many people share a cabin?
Each cabin takes up to 3 guests, so a group of 4 books two private cabins. Children up to 10 share existing beds with parents. Other room sizes appear in the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise listings on the homepage.
What happens if a storm closes the bay?
The itinerary can change without notice for weather, and the Ha Long Bay Management Board and port authority suspend boats at Beaufort level 6 winds or higher, not the operator. The listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. More detail is on the Halong Bay weather page.
Is there a cheaper overnight option?
At $125 this is among the lowest-priced 2-day cruises in the comparison, but surcharges matter. The Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise lists at $120. The Balcony Suite Overnight Cruise at $150 adds a $10 peak surcharge from October 1 to April 30, and the 2-Day Junior Suite Cruise at $146 adds a $25 transfer. Weigh the totals.
Can the cruise start in Ninh Binh?
Yes. The listing offers pickup in Hanoi or Ninh Binh, and you can mix them, for example pickup in Ninh Binh and drop-off in Hanoi. The shuttle costs $25 per person. Background on the road from Hanoi is in the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide.
What Travelers Said
This cruise was amazing, wish we stayed more than one night! Such a luxurious boat
All the staff on the cruise ship were very friendly and attentive. I am extremely satisfied with my experience. 🧡
We were very happy with the trip! The boat was very nice, and the food was very good! All the staff were very nice.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure