Scarlet Pearl Cruises - Wonder on Lan Ha Bay

Overall, I found this experience underwhelming. There were only a few activities, and two of the three were scheduled early in the morning (before 9 a.m.), which made them effectively unavailable for anyone who isn’t an early riser. The remaining activities were brief and not particularly engaging — it felt more like a dining cruise than a full excursion. From that perspective, the experience fell short of expectations. The service also left room for improvement. The wait staff didn’t seem properly trained — for example, they struggled with something as simple as pouring a beer. The food prioritized quantity over quality, and I was surprised to see that different tables were served different dishes without ever being given menus or options. It seemed that choices were made for us based solely on allergies or dietary restrictions. The cruise itself was stationary for much of the time, and the 50-minute tender ride each way made the journey feel unnecessarily long. When I tried to relax on the balcony, local vendors repeatedly approached the boat in small craft to sell items, which disrupted the atmosphere. All in all, the experience did not feel worth the price, and I wouldn’t recommend it to others.

The Scarlet Cruise was an outstanding experience. The hospitality we felt was unrivaled. This journey through the bay will always be one of the fondest memories I have. Thanks to all the staff for their remarkable efforts to make us want to come back!

The Scarlet Pearl Cruise team were wonderful. The boat and food were excellent and family friendly as you explore the beautiful Ha Long Bay Area.

We were a little apprehensive about booking our bucket list Ha Long Bay cruise with Scarlet Pearl after reading mixed reviews in various platforms but we went ahead with it and went with no expectations. We were very pleasantly surprised. The pick from our hotel in Hanoi was on time and in a luxury van which was very comfortable. We did stop at a pearl store on the way but there was zero pressure to buy anything. Check in was smooth and so was the transportation to the boat itself. Upon arrival we received a very warm welcome. The boat looked very classy and the staff very friendly. We were celebrating our wedding announcement and they went out of the way to make us feel special. Wendy is an excellent cruise manager. Her entire crew is super friendly and helpful. Very attentive to the passengers’ needs at all times. Food on the cruise is excellent and so are the drinks. They are very reasonably priced considering this is a cruise ship. Excursions are all well planned and excellent. Chris, the assistant manager is very knowledgeable and is very involved. We also took a private sunset cruise with another couple and that is just fantastic. Tony accompanied us on this cruise and showed off his smart phone camera skills by taking amazing photos. I can go on and on but this should give you an idea. I don’t understand the negative reviews. There is nothing negative about this cruise. All positive. Special shout out to Wendy, Chris, Jessica, James and Tony. Amazing people.

The whole trip was great experience for a two night package to see Ha Long Bay. The Cruise ship was well appointed and a great base to see the UNECO Heritage site. A few small concerns: the beaches we visited had a lot of rubbish, all boats/ships should invite customers to pick-up the rubbish to help preserve this special environment. Also the ship should have videos and other media which better present the site and environmental goals etc., as this was poring covered by staff.