Grand Pioneers Cruise (Formerly Essence Grand)
- Ultra-luxury cruise newly launched in Halong Bay
- Varied room types with large area and high-end amenities
- Unique itinerary: Cua Van Floating Fishing Village, Surprise Cave
- The largest outdoor saltwater pool on the bay
- A great variety of facilities: poker club, kid’s club, wine & cigar lounge, karaoke room, spa & treatment, 3D golf Simulator, function rooms, etc.
Cruise information
Rooms & rates
We Price MatchOcean Suite
Ocean Suite Triple
Ocean Balcony Suite
Veranda Suite
Executive Suite
Essence Suite
Oceania Suite
Owner's Suite
About Grand Pioneers Cruise (Formerly Essence Grand)
Scheduled to be launched in November 2023, Grand Pioneers is the biggest and most luxurious cruise in Halong Bay. With modern techniques and systems, premium interior, and especially heart-warming and professional service, the cruise brings a top-quality natural getaway with second-to-none experiences.
Pros
+ Spacious and well-furnished cabins
+ Many options for onboard activities with modern facilities
+ Excellent service from staff
+ Unique itinerary: Cua Van Fishing Village is the highlight
Cons
- Not all cabins have a private balcony
Bottom Line
Essence Grand Cruise - The exceptional 5-star floating hotel that surpasses adventurers' expectations in Halong Bay!
Itinerary & activities
The cruise offers 2 day and 3 day itineraries with a bunch of activities. 2-day guests will discover Surprise Cave - the most beautiful and biggest cave and visit Cua Van Village - the most ancient floating fishing village in Halong Bay. The 3-day gives you a chance to access the most pristine part - Bai Tu Long Bay. Here you will visit Vung Vieng Fishing Village and Thien Canh Son Cave.
Onboard activities are varied for you to choose from such as massage, squid fishing, poker club, singing karaoke, swimming in the outdoor pool, playing golf, etc.
Cruise quality
With the latest technologies, Grand Pioneers Cruise’s design guarantees the highest safety for all passengers. Additionally, the steel boat was constructed with high-quality materials, fuel, paint, and a sustainable interior to save resources as well as reduce the affections on the environment and marine life.
Cabin quality
Cabins are located from the 1st to the 4th deck of the vessel. There are up to 8 cabin categories that accommodate solo travelers, couples, triples, groups of 4, or families with kids. Depending on the type, cabins have a floor-to-ceiling window or balcony. However, all cabins ensure you find the most convenience and comfort with its amenities. The Owner Suite is the most luxurious cabin with an extra large area (150m2) and a private terrace (200m2).
Service & facilities
No need to look far for a place with all-in-one service like Grand Pioneers. Visitors not only stay in the premium cabin, savor Vietnamese and International quintessences but also experience the top-of-the-range facilities namely the largest 4-season saltwater swimming pool in Halong Bay, Voyage Wine & Cigar Lounges with opulent beverages, a 3D Golf Simulator, a spa center with jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms, and more. In addition, there is a kid’s club where your little ones can have fun moments with safe toys and games.
Food & Drink
Gourmets will be amazed by the Asian - European cuisine onboard. Located on the 5th floor, the Dining on the Bay restaurant is the perfect place for sumptuous meals and breathtaking views. Plenty of finest beverages are served in 2 bars, 1 indoor bar and 1 bar by the pool.
Cruise website: GrandPioneersCruises.vn
Frequently asked questions
There are a total of 55 cabins on Grand Pioneers Cruise.
Yes. Kid’s menu is available upon request.
No. Please check the exclusions below:
- Transportation: Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi
- Additional beverages not listed in the cruise price
- La Spa (spa and massage)
- Karaoke, cigar lounge, use of conference facilities, 3D golf simulator
- Tips and other personal expenses
- VAT tax & service charge
- Peak season surcharge
Yes. The cruise has Ocean Triple Rooms with ocean-view windows on the 1st deck.
Sure. All activities are optional and you can stay onboard to relax and experience other facilities onboard.
Things to know
12:15 to 12:30.
9:30 to 10:30 depending on each cruise's schedule.
Child Policy:
- Children under 5 years old: Free of charge (FOC) when sharing a cabin with 2 adults.
- Only 1 child under 5 years old per cabin is allowed for FOC.
- Children aged 5-11: 75% of the adult rate will be charged.
- Children aged 12 and above: Must pay the full adult fare.
Peak Season Surcharge:
Surcharge $50/adult for the following holidays:
- Christmas 2023 (December 24, 2023)
- New Year’s Eve 2023 (December 31, 2023)
- Lunar New Year (9,10,11,12 February 2024)
- Liberation Day (30 April, 2024)
- Labor Day (1 May, 2024)
- National Day (31 August – 2 September, 2024)
- Christmas Eve 2024 (24 December, 2024)
- New Year's Eve 2024 (31 December, 2024)
Shuttle Bus (Round Trip): (If it is not included in the cruise package)
- Shuttle bus from Hanoi to Cruise Port: $40/person (adults and children).
- Pick-up points: Hanoi Old Quarter area.
- Luxury cabin with air-con and en-suite bathroom
- All meals onboard as mentioned in the program
- Speedboat transfers
- Welcome drink
- Daily in-room fresh water
- Canapé during the Happy Hour
- Tai chi, gym, four-seasons and salt-water swimming pool, table soccer, kid’s club
- Activities: cave visiting, squid fishing, kayaking
- Wifi, satellite - HD LED TV onboard
- English and Vietnamese-speaking guides
- Onboard insurance
- VAT & service charge
- Transportation Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi
- Beverages
- Spa (spa and massage)
- Karaoke, cigar and wine lounge, conference facilities, 3D golf simulator
- Tips
- Personal travel/health insurance
- Other personal expenses
- VAT & service charge
- Peak season surcharge
- All other services not clearly mentioned above
Maps and Itineraries
Our guest's experiences (9)
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The trip with Essence Grand was faultless. The vessel is new and modern. We love our cabin with a lovely balcony and super clean bathroom. The scenery of Halong Bay was unbeatable. You should notice that the excursions will be crowded but we were satisfied with the view. The food onboard was great and lots of it. The staff was caring and always made sure we felt comfortable. Can't recommend it enough.
A variety of activities and a nice balance with break time to experience onboard facilities. The accommodation was spacious and comfortable. Excellent meals with lots of options. Brunch was not as good as lunch and dinner but the food was overall good.
The trip was well organized from start to finish. The room was the same as the picture and the view from the balcony was fantastic. The staff was hospitable and helpful. A shout out to Mr. K and Christina for excellent service. Would recommend Essence Grand to our friends!
We had a nice time. Halong Bay is crowded but engaging. The trip to Surprise Cave was incredible. Kayaking on the bay (through the cave) was a must-try. The food was amazing and plentiful. The staff was superb. Thank you very much!
My family booked the cruise for 2 nights. Essence Cruise was top-notch. The interiors are new and super clean. All the modern facilities made our trip more enjoyable. The staff was young and attentive. The guide Mr. K went out of his way to accommodate our needs. The bay was captivating with beautiful spots. The activities on day 2 were one of the highlights. There were fewer boats and the beach was amazing. The cons is the quality of the boat on day 2. It was old and did not match the quality of Essence Grand vessel.
Such a trip of a lifetime. Essence Grand is the biggest and newest cruise in Halong Bay. The facilities are premium. Our Veranda Suite is spotless and comfortable. Highly recommended!
Everything was great. The pick up and check in on board were smooth. The ship itself was brand new, huge, and first-class. The lunch and dinner were exceptional. The heated pool was a plus. The staff was friendly and helpful!
I was on the cruise when they were on debut, and the overall experience was great with good food, spacious, and clean cabins.
I've been on a few boats in Halong Bay, but this is the most beautiful boat I've experienced.
Likes:
- Beautiful cruise, spacious and clean cabin
- Delicious food
Dislikes:
- Excessive food
- Weak Wi-Fi in some areas
Original (Vietnamese):
Tôi đã từng đi một vài tàu ở Hạ long nhưng đây là còn tàu đẹp nhất mà tôi trải nghiệm.
Thích:
- Tàu đẹp, phòng rộng, thoáng, sạch sẽ
- Đồ ăn ngon
Không thích:
- Đồ ăn quá dư thừa
- wifi yếu ở 1 số khu vực
Questions and Answers (14)
Can you provide more information on the itinerary for 3 day/2night cruise and the price for transfer to/from Hanoi?
@Jason C, For the 3 day 2 night program, you will join more excursions. On Day 1, you explore Sung Sot cave. On Day 2, you will get on a smaller boat in the morning to join excursions in the quieter area. There, you will kayak at Dark-Bright Cave area, swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach, and visit a pearl far. You return to the main vessel in the afternoon. On Day 3, you will visit Luon Cave by sampan boat.
The transfer costs US$40/person/round trip. Should you need more information, feel free to contact us.
Regards,
Mary
Hi! Is it possible to have a transfer from Hai Phong (airport) to Halong bay? And what are the prices?
Dear Alisa Borodina, Thank you so much for contacting us. Have you booked a cruise with us already? If yes, we do offer transfer from Hai Phong (airport) to Halong bay by private car (4 seats): 45$ one-way. If not yet, which type of cruise you are interested in (budget, mid-range or luxury)? We have many different cruises with different costs so it is helpful to know your budget range? I look forward to hearing back from you so I can send you our best offer. If you have any other questions please let me know any time! Best regards, Hazel
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