Cannot recommend this cruise company and shop enough - My husband and I had an AMAZING time on the Emperor Cruise. We had originally booked the Heritage ship for Lan Ha Bay but they likely didn't have enough people to sail so we were put on Emperor Cruises and was notified a week or so before the trip with the option of continuing with the holiday. We were given ample communication (2x) prior to the cruise starting via WhatsApp about our driver (we paid the $110usd additional for round trip transport and was well worth it - our first limousine bus had a massage chair option). The driver was a bit rude and abrupt but that was definitely a personality thing and not to do with the company. Now WHERE DO I BEGIN? From the outside the shop looked lovely and normal - nothing so amazing. But you walk in and you're greeted with this extravagant and beautifully crafted staircase with little opulently decorated rooms surrounding - a feast for your eyes if Ive seen. Will (Nam) was our tour guide and excursion leader and was amazing, informative, and funny. He was genuinely passionate about the Bay and was a Vivunam specialist. Karen was the first person we met and she was absolutely lovely, friendly and did everything she could to support us on the trip. One thing about the ship is that the staff were attentive and did EVERYTHING under the sun to make our experience lovely. There was Duy, Ben, Chi, Captain Ta, Jenny who served us food and did cooking lessons. I loved how each staff member was dedicated to something like for example Will was our overall guide but Duy did the cooking and squid fishing activities, and Jenny and Chi were the wait staff it was well organised. We were joined by one more lovely couple on the cruise and we had slight bit frequent opportunities to interact which made it so pleasant. We stayed in the King Suite (70sqm) and it had that wow effect from start to end. Never have I stayed in such an opulent room and this was definitely a nod to their 5 star reputation. I also read one of the books in the room about the Emperor Bao Dai who inspired the cruise and it's a simple easy read (maybe an hour) and if you're so inclined to read it it provides some great commentary about the last emperor and how he lived. The details in the room were screaming luxury - we had an old timey telephone (I frankly didn't know how to use it and tried to dial reception to no avail), one of those phonograms, a fancy spa jacuzzi and so many chairs I felt shy not having anyone to entertain. The food is something I have to mention - Chef Thao was a thing of legend and every dish he sent out was a favourite of mine. My husband is not one to try new things but he loved every plate and especially the jellyfish salad that we had on the first day (I changed to chicken). Even if all you do is just eat, you would have gotten your money's worth I cannot stress how amazing the food was in both quantity and quality. I spent a large time planning this holiday and especially this cruise part and looked into so many different ships and cruise companies and Emperor is not widely known but i cannot imagine anyone saying anything bad about it that's how much we enjoyed our stay. We booked via Halong Bay Tours.

Wonderful trip - My experience with Emperor Cruises was extraordinary. The first thing that impressed me was the accommodation. The rooms on Emperor Cruises are absolutely stunning. They are incredibly spacious, beautifully decorated, and thoughtfully designed with a combination of classic royal elegance and modern luxury. Every detail inside the room feels premium, from the polished wooden interiors and elegant furniture to the luxurious bedding and artistic decorations inspired by Vietnamese royal heritage. Another thing I absolutely loved about Emperor Cruises was the ship's spacious atmosphere. Every public area was designed with elegance and openness in mind, allowing guests to fully relax and enjoy the beauty of the bay in complete comfort. The sundeck was large and comfortable, offering plenty of space to sit and admire the spectacular scenery. The atmosphere on the deck was always peaceful and breathtaking. The dining area was also impressive. The restaurant had an elegant design with panoramic views of the bay, making every meal feel like a luxury dining experience. The lounges and bar areas were also spacious, beautifully decorated, and perfect for relaxing throughout the journey. The food on Emperor Cruises exceeded all my expectations. Every meal felt like dining in a fine-dining restaurant. I was especially impressed by the variety of dishes offered throughout the cruise. The menu perfectly combined Vietnamese cuisine with international flavors. From fresh seafood and flavorful Vietnamese dishes to premium steaks, soups, and desserts, every meal was memorable.

PERFECTION. The greatest experience of our honeymoon. - My husband and I had a glorious time on this cruise during our honeymoon. After having trouble finding a well-reviewed experience through TripAdvisor, we asked our hotel in Hanoi to find a suitable company for us. they really delivered. From the seamless arrival, well-curated schedule and excursions, outstanding food, and the most incredible Emperor's Suite, we could not have felt more loved. The service was over the top, by staff who religiously attended to our needs. The room itself was bonkers -- just absolutely opulent, impeccably clean and comfortable, filled with elaborate details and luxuries. We spent three weeks in Southeast Asia, but our single night aboard this ship was our most memorable experience. Loved every minute of it. My only recommendation would be to stay longer! THANK YOU to the incredible staff, guides and chefs for the experience of a lifetime.

Mind blowing authentic experience, excellent hospitality - Chi, Karen, Ben, Dug were amazing the service and hospitality is great. You truly feel like an emperor and the views around halong ba were spectacular from our panoramic queen room I highly recommend thank you very much

Perfection on water. ❤️ - Dear Emperor Cruise, Steve and I wanted to let you know how blessed we feel. From the start to the finish your guidance and help on choosing the best cruise for us was invaluable. Emperor Cruises was a perfect match for us, Karen, Nam, Chi, Duy, Ben and Chef Sang the dream team were professional, caring and extremely kind to us every day. We love the feeling of being safe with family and that is exactly what they did. Karens bright and cheerful disposition, her organisational skills and attention to detail, Nam's excursion knowledge, story telling kind nature and keeping us safe. The list goes on we also want to mention our beautiful Chi serving our meals, Duy's evening cooking class, coffee Master Ben and lastly but definitely a major part of the team "Chef Sang" his food was perfection. We loved every dish. Plus behind the scene captain, crew and cleaners keeping everything safe and spotless for our stay. So with all that said we, thankyou all from the bottom of our hearts. You have given us a memory that will last us a lifetime of our first trip to Veitnam. Best wishes always Lesley and Stephen Rowe Melbourne Australia. 💕

Fantastic! Felt like royalties - Fantastic experience. Fantastic room. Fantastic staff. Would recommend!

40 th anniversary - My wife and I celebrated our 40th anniversary on the Emperor cruise boat. The whole experience was incredible. From the very beginning to the end. The staff, food and activities were great. The first lunch to last breakfast was amazing. They made our anniversary very special. Thanks all at Emperor.

Float to paradise - Fantastic 2 days experience on the boat. The whole crew was amazing and super attentive to all our needs and desires. Thank you Karen, Chiem, Dai, Dy, and special mention to our Angel Chi who helped my parents through the hike and chef Nam for the AMAZING food!

A peaceful journey through Halong Bay - My husband and I had a peaceful time aboard the Emperor. Karen, Chi, Will, Chef Nam, and Chiem were all a delight, very warm, courteous and professional staff. We enjoyed the food and excursions, and also took advantage of various amenities offered such as massage and Vovinam at dawn. Coming from Canada in winter it was quite humid for us but our room was well climatized for comfortable sleeping.

Emperor Cruise - Horrible Experience and Customer Service - AVOID Emperor Cruises or Heritage Cruises for Halong Bay. I had booked the 2 day-1 night option for Emperor Cruise after months of saving money to spend a part of my honeymoon in Halong Bay. Our booking was for Apr 22nd. They had a storm coming in that evening and couldn't receive a permit to sail so I thought we would get lunch and the rest of the trip would be cancelled and we would get a refund. However, they said they would transfer us to their sister ship and give us equivalent rooms and an equivalent experience to the one we booked and that corporate had already sent us an email informing us of the changes. However, no email ever arrived. There was only a brief announcement to everyone that we were being transferred. After our lunch on the Emperor Cruise, they had us board a transfer boat with all our luggage. Arriving at the new ship, Heritage Cruises, it was clear that it was a much lower quality ship and the room my husband and I were given was 1/3 the size of the room that was provided on the Emperor Cruise. The service was much poorer, and the walls, furnishings, and dishware were damaged and dirty on the Heritage Cruise. There were leaks in the ceiling of the Heritage that was causing puddles on the ground. I understand that the unpredictable weather can cause changes in the itinerary but they switched our entire ship, giving us a lower quality experience, and did not give us proper information to make a decision to cancel prior to the transfer. The cruise overall has good reviews and I believe that our cruise on the Emperor would have been great if the weather was better. Looking at the negative reviews from other people, though, I can see that if anything goes wrong, Lux Cruises Group will not take any responsibility and will blame the customer despite issues caused by their lack of communication and disorganization. From my personal experience while trying to receive a refund, they will make misleading and false statements to deny any accountability. I hope this saves someone else from a disappointing experience and losing money.