Last updated 7 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Family room prices checked on 27 September 2026 on our own booking pages; pool details from each ship’s programme on 4 October 2026.
The short answer, using Ava Travel’s own prices: the best Halong Bay cruise for families with young children is Capella Cruise on Lan Ha Bay: it has the most for children of any ship Ava Travel sells (a pool, a waterslide and an ocean slide), and its Harmony Family Suite sleeps five. For a lower budget, Peony sells a 56 sqm four-person family room for one room price, and Phoenix or Hera Classic put four people on the water for about $500 a night in total.
Ava Travel sells 10 Lan Ha Bay cruises with a private family room for four or five people and 11 more with a private triple cabin; the list with whole-room prices is under Family cabins on Lan Ha Bay below.
The detail that matters most for families is how the cabin is sold. On 29 of the 98 ships Ava Travel sells, family rooms are priced per cabin, not per person, so a family of four can pay less per head than a couple. This guide lists the ten we recommend most, with real family room prices.
Quick comparison: family rooms on the 10 best ships
Prices are for the whole cabin, 2 days 1 night, all meals on board included. Low season is May to September, high season October to April.
| # | Cruise | Family room | Sleeps | Low season (Ava Travel) | High season | Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella | Harmony Family Suite, 48 sqm | 5 | $900 | $1,040 | Lan Ha |
| 2 | Peony | Family Deluxe, 56 sqm | 4 | $573 | $629 | Lan Ha |
| 3 | Orchid | Family Suite, 72 sqm | 4 | $740 | $910 | Lan Ha |
| 4 | Lyra Grandeur | Oasis Family Suite, 44 sqm | 4 | $760 | $920 | Lan Ha |
| 5 | Victorious | Family Grand, 83 sqm | 4 | $830 | $920 | Halong |
| 6 | Cycad | Family Balcony, 36 sqm | 4 | $680 | $760 | Bai Tu Long |
| 7 | Swan | Family Connecting, 25 sqm | 4 | $525 | $525 | Bai Tu Long |
| 8 | Ambassador | Deluxe Triple, 30 sqm | 3 | $490 | $490 | Halong |
| 9 | Phoenix | Family Deluxe, 36 sqm | 4 | $500 | $510 | Halong |
| 10 | Hera Classic | Family Suite, 40 sqm | 4 | $465 | $505 | Halong |
How children are priced
- Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free.
- Children aged 4 to 11 pay the ship’s extra bed rate, which is added to the cabin price.
- Family rooms on the ships below are sold as one price for the room, so check the room total rather than a per-person figure.
- If you are three, a triple cabin is often cheaper than two double cabins. If you are five or six, only a few ships have a room that takes you all, so book early.
1. Capella Cruise: best for young children
Lan Ha Bay. 30 cabins, built 2020. Family rooms from $820 (4 people) and $900 (5 people) per room (Ava Travel prices).
Capella has more for children than any other ship Ava Travel sells: a pool and jacuzzi, a waterslide, and an ocean slide from the deck into the bay. For children that combination is the trip. The 48 sqm Harmony Family Suite takes five people with one king bed and three singles, which is rare on this route, and the 43 sqm Sky Family Suite takes four.
Downside: it is one of the more expensive family options, high season adds about 18 percent, and there are only a handful of four and five berth rooms on each sailing.
2. Peony: best value family room
Lan Ha Bay. 20 cabins, built 2018. Family Deluxe from $573 per room at Ava Travel.
The 56 sqm Family Deluxe sleeps four adults and can also take two children, for one room price. Worked out per person it is cheaper than Peony’s own couple cabins. The ship has a restaurant, bar, spa, jacuzzi pool and wifi, which is a full list for 20 cabins.
Downside: no swimming pool, and the hull is from 2018, older than the newest Lan Ha ships.
3. Orchid Cruise: the biggest family room
Lan Ha Bay. 14 cabins. Family Suite from $740 per room at Ava Travel.
Orchid’s Family Suite is 72 sqm, more than double a normal cabin on this route. The four-adult version also takes two children, so a family of six pays one room price. On board there is a restaurant, bar, spa, jacuzzi pool and sundeck, and with only 14 cabins it never feels crowded.
Downside: high season is steep on the big rooms, from $740 to $910. Families save the most by avoiding December and January.
4. Lyra Grandeur: newest ship, most family room choice
Lan Ha Bay. 33 cabins, built 2025. Family rooms from $760 per room at Ava Travel.
Lyra has four family room types: the 44 sqm Oasis Family Suite for four, the 48 sqm Harmony Family Suite for four or five, and a 64 sqm Duplex Family over two levels, the largest family room Ava Travel sells. It also has a 60 sqm four-season infinity pool with a heated jacuzzi, an inflatable water slide and floating sea pool, a spa and a Nordic-style sauna.
Downside: it costs more than Capella, and family rooms rise sharply in high season (the Duplex goes from $1,070 to $1,300).
5. Victorious: most space for four on a new ship
Halong Bay. 36 cabins, built 2026. Family Grand from $830 per room at Ava Travel.
The Family Grand is 83 sqm with a balcony and sleeps four, which works out at about $208 a head on a brand-new ship. Day one visits Luon Cave and Ti Top Island; day two is Sung Sot Cave, the largest in Halong Bay.
Downside: it sails the busier main Halong Bay route rather than Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long.
6. Cycad: new ship on the quietest bay
Bai Tu Long Bay. 24 cabins, launched 2025. Family Balcony from $680 per room at Ava Travel.
Four-berth cabins are rare on Bai Tu Long Bay, and this 36 sqm Family Balcony is one of the few on a new ship. Day two goes into Vung Vieng fishing village by rowing boat, which older children tend to remember.
Downside: you board by tender from Halong International Harbour, about 2.5 hours from Hanoi, and transfer is charged separately.
7. Swan: best for Christmas and New Year
Bai Tu Long Bay. 18 cabins, built 2018. Family Connecting from $525 per room at Ava Travel, the same price all year.
Swan does not raise prices in high season, so over the holidays it is often the cheapest way to put a family on a quiet bay. The family option is two rooms joined by an interconnecting door, 25 sqm for four, which suits families with older children who want a door between them.
Downside: the rooms are small, and there is no spa or pool.
8. Ambassador: best for a family of three
Halong Bay. 46 cabins, built 2021. Deluxe Triple $490 per room at Ava Travel, the same price all year.
A 30 sqm triple for three people at one flat price in every season. Ambassador is a large, lively ship with a cooking class and kayaking, which suits families who want activity around them.
Downside: 46 cabins means a busy ship with meals in sittings, and spa treatments cost extra.
9. Phoenix: cheapest four-berth room
Halong Bay. 22 cabins, wooden junk sailing since 2014. Family Deluxe for four from $500 per room at Ava Travel.
Phoenix has two genuine family cabins, 36 sqm for three at $450 and for four at $500. Day one kayaks at the Pearl Farm, day two is Ti Top Island, where children can swim off the beach or climb to the viewpoint.
Downside: the family cabins have no balcony, and there is no spa.
10. Hera Classic: family room on a wooden junk
Halong Bay. 19 cabins, built 2017. Family Suite for four from $465 per room at Ava Travel.
The lowest four-berth room price we sell: 40 sqm for four people on a timber junk rather than a steel ship. Meals, entrance fees, kayaking, Tai Chi and a cooking class are included, and day two visits Sung Sot Cave.
Downside: the Family Suite has no balcony, the spa is charged on board, and transfer from Hanoi is separate.
Family cabins on Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay, south of Halong Bay near Cat Ba Island, is where most family rooms are. These are the Lan Ha Bay ships Ava Travel sells with a private family room for four or more, cheapest first. Prices are Ava Travel’s price for the whole room, 2 days 1 night, all meals included.
- Venus: Family Suite, 55 sqm, sleeps 4, $544 for the whole room in high season ($500 May to September)
- Sena: Balcony Deluxe Connecting, 50 sqm, sleeps 4, $600 for the whole room in high season ($572 May to September)
- Peony: Family Deluxe, 56 sqm, sleeps 4, $628 for the whole room in high season ($572 May to September)
- Orchid Trendy: Family Deluxe Balcony, 56 sqm, sleeps 4, $816 for the whole room in high season ($816 May to September)
- Orchid: Family Suite, 72 sqm, sleeps 4, $912 for the whole room in high season ($912 May to September)
- Venezia: Family Connecting Cabin, sleeps 4, $916 for the whole room in high season ($820 May to September)
- Lyra Grandeur: Oasis Family Suite, 44 sqm, sleeps 4 (a room for five is also sold), $920 for the whole room in high season ($760 May to September)
- Capella: Sky Family Suite, 43 sqm, sleeps 4 (a room for five is also sold), $944 for the whole room in high season ($820 May to September)
- Orchid Luxury: Family Suite Balcony, 72 sqm, sleeps 4, $952 for the whole room in high season ($952 May to September)
- Orchid Premium: Family Terrace Suite, 90 sqm, sleeps 4, $1,592 for the whole room in high season ($1,592 May to September)
Private triple cabins (two adults and one child, or three adults) on Lan Ha Bay: Aqua Of The Seas, Erina, Genesis Luxury Regal, Halora Nova, La Casta, La Pandora, Le Journey Elegance, Mila Grand, Mon Cheri, Rita, V’Spirit.
Which Halong Bay cruises have a swimming pool?
The short answer: for children, Capella has the most on board of any ship Ava Travel sells: a pool and jacuzzi, a waterslide and an ocean slide from the deck into the bay. If you want a pool but a different style of ship, the programmes of Velar of the Seas (from $165 per person), Elite of the Seas (from $350) and Stellar of the Seas (from $310) on Lan Ha Bay all include time at the ship’s own pool, and Catherine on Halong Bay adds a kids’ club. Velar is the mid-range choice; Elite and Stellar are the two most expensive ships we sell, with the best service and food but no dedicated family rooms, so a family of four books two cabins. Many other boats, including Peony and Orchid, have a jacuzzi pool on the sundeck rather than a pool children can swim in. Prices are per person, two sharing, high season (October to April), 2 days 1 night with all meals.
| Ship | Bay | From, per person (Ava Travel) | Pool on board (from the ship’s own programme) | Family room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capella | Lan Ha | $225 | Pool, jacuzzi, waterslide, ocean slide, floating sea pool | Yes, for 4 and for 5 |
| Lyra Grandeur | Lan Ha | $245 | 60 sqm four-season infinity pool, heated jacuzzi, inflatable slide, floating sea pool, sauna | Yes, 4 family suites and a duplex |
| Velar of the Seas | Lan Ha | $165 | Small pool on the first deck | No, book 2 cabins |
| Harmony Boutique | Lan Ha | $235 | Four-season pool | No |
| Stellar of the Seas | Lan Ha | $310 | Panoramic pool | No |
| Elite of the Seas | Lan Ha | $350 | Panoramic pool | No |
| L’amour | Halong | $190 | Four-season mineral pool | No |
| Catherine | Halong | $215 | Pool and kids’ club | No |
Which cruise for which age?
Children under 4 sail free on the cruises we sell, ages 4 to 11 pay the ship’s extra bed rate and 12 and over pay the adult fare. Full child prices are in our guide to Halong Bay with kids.
| Child’s age | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 | Peony family room | They sail free, so a family room sold per cabin keeps the cost down; choose 2 days 1 night |
| 4 to 7 | Capella | Pool, waterslide and ocean slide; a suite for five |
| 8 to 12 | Velar of the Seas or Capella | Old enough to kayak; a pool on board for the afternoon |
| 13 and over | Stellar of the Seas or Elite of the Seas | Kayaking and caves, and a ship parents enjoy too; book two cabins |
Tips for cruising Halong Bay with children
- Choose 2 days 1 night for children under about eight. It gives them the caves, kayaking and a night on the boat without a long second day.
- Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long are quieter than the main Halong route, with fewer boats at the swimming and kayak stops.
- Bigger ships move less at anchor, which helps if anyone gets seasick.
- Tell us ages when you book so the ship prepares the right beds and we price the extra bed correctly.
- Book family rooms early. Each ship has only a few, and they sell out before double cabins.
- Travelling with grandparents? Celina and Lyra Grandeur have a lift as well as family cabins. See Halong Bay cruises for seniors for all four ships with a lift.
Are Halong Bay cruises suitable for toddlers?
Yes, with care. On the cruises Ava Travel sells, infants under 4 travel free and children aged 4 to 11 are added to the room price. Decks are open and there are stairs between them, so a toddler needs a hand all the time, and kayaking is for older children. Ships with a family room and a pool, such as Capella, make the day easier.
Best Halong Bay cruise for a family with teenagers
Teenagers want something to do, so look at the programme as much as the cabin. Capella has a waterslide and an ocean slide from the deck into the bay; Lyra Grandeur has a pool, a jacuzzi and an inflatable water slide (from its factsheet); and 71 of the 96 cruises Ava Travel sells have kayaking in the programme. Lan Ha Bay ships do the most kayaking and swimming.
Halong Bay cruises with a kids club
Few ships have one. Of the cruises Ava Travel sells, Celina’s factsheet lists a kids’ club and an indoor play area, and Catherine’s programme mentions a kids’ club. Capella’s deck plan shows a playground on the sundeck.
For family suites for four, triple cabins and connecting cabins on every ship, see our Halong Bay cruise cabin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are Halong Bay cruises suitable for toddlers?
Yes, with care: infants under 4 travel free on the cruises Ava Travel sells, but decks are open and have stairs, so keep a hand on small children.
Which Halong Bay cruise has a kids club?
Celina and Catherine, among the ships Ava Travel sells. Capella has a playground on the sundeck.
Which Halong Bay cruises have connecting or triple cabins?
See the cabin guide: it lists every connecting, triple and family cabin Ava Travel sells, with sizes.
Is a Halong Bay cruise suitable for young children?
Yes. Overnight cruises are calm, meals are included and most activities, such as cave visits, bamboo boat rides and swimming stops, suit children. Pick a ship with a family room so you can all sleep together, and a 2 day 1 night trip for younger children.
Do babies and toddlers travel free?
Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free. Children aged 4 to 11 pay the ship’s extra bed rate.
Which Halong Bay cruise has a swimming pool?
Capella (a 40 sqm pool, a waterslide and an ocean slide) and its newer sister Lyra Grandeur (a 60 sqm infinity pool, an inflatable slide and a floating sea pool) have the most for children. Velar of the Seas, Elite of the Seas, Stellar of the Seas, Harmony Boutique and L’amour also list a pool in their programmes, and Catherine has a pool and a kids’ club. Many others, including Peony and Orchid, have a jacuzzi pool on the sundeck.
How much does a Halong Bay cruise cost for a family of four?
In one family room for 2 days 1 night, from about $465 to $505 on Hera Classic, $573 to $629 on Peony, and $820 to $945 on Capella, depending on season (Ava Travel prices). Add transfer from Hanoi if you need it, usually about $35 per person round trip by shuttle or about $180 for a private MPV for up to six people. See the full Halong Bay cruise cost guide.
Which Halong Bay cruises have connecting cabins?
Three ships Ava Travel sells list connecting cabins. Sena on Lan Ha Bay: Balcony Deluxe Connecting, two connecting balcony cabins of 50 sqm in total for up to 4 adults, $600 for the pair October to April and $572 May to September. Swan on Bai Tu Long Bay: Family Connecting Door for up to 4, $525 all year, with a rollaway bed or crib as the extra bed. Venezia on Lan Ha Bay: Family Connecting Cabin for 4, $916 October to April and $820 May to September; Ava Travel confirms the exact layout before you pay. Prices are Ava Travel’s, per room, 2 days 1 night. On other ships, one of the family rooms above is the alternative.
Are Halong Bay cruises safe for toddlers?
Yes, with the same care you would take on any boat. Decks have railings, but small children need to be watched on deck and on the stairs at all times. Kayaking and bamboo boat rides are done with a life jacket; tell Ava Travel your child’s age when you book and we ask the ship about a child-size life jacket and a cot. Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free, and a 2 day 1 night trip is usually enough for very young children. More in is a Halong Bay cruise safe.
Book a family cruise with Ava Travel
Choose your date and family room on the cruise page and pay securely online, and we confirm your cabin and Hanoi pickup within one hour. Not sure which room fits your family? Message us on WhatsApp (+84 904 251 545) with the number of adults, the children’s ages and your dates, and we will suggest two options. For couples and other travel styles, see the 10 best Halong Bay cruises for 2026, or compare every ship on our Halong Bay cruise page.
