Le Journey Calypso & Boutique Pool Cruises

The staff were lovely. Although we had so Amy i

Trip from the wharf on the tender (boat big enough to fit 40 or so people) took about 40 minutes to get out to the boat moored out in Halong Bay. Had set menu lunch and dinner tasting menu food was good. Room was comfortable and air conditioning worked well. Bathroom nice with porthole window in the shower. Activities were good including kayaking, squid fishing and visit to cave. Favourite activity for the family was the karaoke. Pool was a very big spa that was well utilised. Shuttle transfer back to old quarter in Hanoi was about AU$15 each. Fantastic value for money.

This is difficult to write, as I clearly expected more for €215 for a single night – however, I want to emphasize that the service was excellent throughout! The staff were incredibly kind and helpful, and the food was also very good. What I was especially looking forward to was the experience of staying in a room with a view of the bay – something that was supposed to feel a bit exclusive and that I felt I was paying extra for. Unfortunately, our cabin was located at the end of the boat, which meant we were bothered by both noise and smell from the engine/generator. When we turned on the A/C, it became almost impossible to stay in the cabin due to the strong odor – it felt suffocating. The boat sails for about 30–60 minutes and then stays docked for the rest of the day, but the engine/generator continues to run most of the time, making it hard to enjoy the room. There was also a large brown stain of something unidentifiable on the balcony – it might have been chocolate, or it might not – either way, it didn't make the space feel very inviting. Overall, the cabin showed signs of being cleaned in a rush, with just fresh sheets and towels but not much else. We were also sharing the trip with a large group that made up about three-quarters of the guests. Of course, that’s hard to control, but it did affect the overall atmosphere. All in all, it wasn’t the peaceful and exclusive experience I had hoped for – and I can’t recommend this trip.