Larissa Cruise

Every one of Larissa’s 28 cabins has a private balcony or, in the two suites, a terrace, and this new steel ship carries a heated plunge pool at the stern and a jacuzzi on the bow into Bai Tu Long. You board at the Bai Chay cruise terminal, kayak off Cap La Island in the afternoon and climb into Thien Canh Son Cave the next morning before brunch. On the halongbaytours.com listing read on 6 August 2026, the cheapest cabin for two was $380 for the night: from $190 per person, two sharing.

Her operator, Renea Cruises, gives her as 63.9 metres long and 13.5 wide, on four decks, for up to 89 guests. Her maiden season is October 2026.

Which cabin should you book?

The Deluxe Ocean Balcony, on the first deck. It is 30 to 35 m², like the Executive Ocean Balcony on the deck above, and on the same rate sheet it costs $20 less for the pair. The two Larissa Panorama Jacuzzi Suites on the second deck are 42 to 45 m² and swap the balcony for a terrace with its own jacuzzi.

Families have two options. Listings sell a triple configuration of 36 m², and halongbaycruises.com describes six pairs of connecting cabins, 64 m² together. Wi-Fi reaches the cabins as well as the public rooms, according to the operator. The Lotus Spa and the gym are on board; treatments cost extra.

What does Larissa cost?

The halongbaytours.com rate sheet read on 6 August 2026 prices each cabin for two. For one night: Deluxe Ocean Balcony $380, Executive Ocean Balcony $400, Panorama Jacuzzi Suite $680. The two-night trip is priced for the whole stay, at $740, $790 and $1,340. Per head, two sharing, that is $190, $200 and $340 for a night. The only decision with real money in it is the $300 step up to the suite.

The fare includes meals, a guide, entrance fees, the shared kayak, the cooking class, tai chi, squid fishing and the sunset party, with insurance, service charge and VAT. Drinks, spa treatments, karaoke and tips are extra. Meals served in your cabin cost 300,000 VND each on the listing, and the operator adds a surcharge over Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year. The car from Hanoi is arranged on request; our guide to what is not included covers the usual extras.

Where does Larissa go?

Into Bai Tu Long Bay, the quieter water east of the main channel, on a timetable the operator publishes. Lunch is served as she sails out of Bai Chay. From three until five you are at Cap La Island in the Cong Do area, with a kayak, a swim and a small beach; guests who would rather not paddle go round the area by tender. Back aboard there is a cooking class and a sunset party, then dinner on the top deck.

At 07:30 the next morning you climb into Thien Canh Son Cave. Cabins are cleared by 09:15, brunch follows on the way back, and you are ashore between 10:45 and 11:00.

The two-night trip adds a day on a smaller boat. It leaves at 08:15 for Vung Vieng, the floating fishing village, where you go round by bamboo boat. Then you walk through Trinh Nu Cave to a beach and swim. Lunch is on the day boat and you are back aboard around 14:15. Our guide to Bai Tu Long cruises sets this route against the other boats on the bay.

Where do you board, and at what time?

At Ha Long International Cruise Port, 9 Ha Long Road, Bai Chay. Be at the Larissa office in the port by 11:30; the tender takes you out at 12:30. Give your driver the full name of the terminal, because the harbours here are easy to confuse.

Who it suits

Couples and families who want a balcony, a pool and the emptier bay, and who are happy to be among the first guests on a new ship. It is on the Bai Tu Long list and the best-value list. If you have not settled the bay yet, the three are not interchangeable.

Who should look elsewhere

Anyone who books on what other travellers say about a boat. Larissa began sailing in 2026, and a ship in her first season has had little time to show how the crew handle a wet February afternoon. Boats on the same bay with several seasons behind them are on the Bai Tu Long list, most of them for less.

Cancellation terms on Larissa are set by whoever sells you the cabin, so get them in the same email as the rate. What we say here comes from larissacruise.com (read 10 August and 14 October 2026) and the halongbaytours.com and halongbaycruises.com listings read on 6 August 2026.