For those wondering if and how to book a cruise in Halong Bay? Should you book online before your trip or upon arrival with a local travel agency?
This article will help you by giving the pros and cons of both cruise booking approaches and how to choose the best Halong cruise.
Most travelers must have already been accustomed to booking their accommodation and transportation independently during their trip to Vietnam. However, it is more complicated in terms of booking a Halong Bay cruise since you have to choose the most suitable ships, itineraries, cabin categories, etc.
Most incoming tourists are increasingly wondering how to book a cruise . Therefore, there is always a struggle between booking online in advance and booking on arrival through a local travel agency.
Depending on availability, transparency and budget, some people want to book online through a travel agency or on their own, while others feel more reliable booking on arrival because they can meet the travel advisor in person.
The following guide will outline the pros and cons of these two booking methods to suggest how to book a Halong Bay cruise.
1. The reputation of Halong Bay Reserve
One of the key factors to consider when finding a travel agency is their reputation and transparency. To find a trustworthy and professional one, you need to research carefully and check customer reviews to check their reputation.
Be aware of unscrupulous companies and Vietnam travel scams if you don’t want to waste time listening to bad advice or trying to track down the agent when you get into trouble.
- Booking a cruise online
Online sources offer the best approach to see how trustworthy a travel agency is. The Internet is a great source for finding comments and reviews from previous customers. There are many review sites and forums where you can get travel experiences on how to book a Halong Bay cruise. In most cases, TripAdvisor ratings can be very useful.
After looking at several reputable names, you’d better check out their official websites. Go with the sites listing the price, basic information, activities, itinerary and what is included in the package. When it comes to cancellation and refund policies, a reliable company will publish cancellation cases and refund rates.
- Booking your Halong cruise upon arrival
It can be confusing to check a travel agent’s reputation when booking upon arrival. Word spreads quickly if a company is unscrupulous. So, take a recommendation from your hotel because no hotel wants its guests to have terrible experiences while on vacation.
Make sure you don’t get cheated by fraudulent travel agents without any research. Sometimes you might be unlucky to encounter an agent who ends customer service once they receive your purchase.
2. Halong Bay Cruise Booking Availability
- Online reservation
It goes without saying that online cruise booking brings you much more convenience with a wide variety of choices. Along with the remarkable development of online services, you can easily search online and make a purchase with just a few clicks whenever you find the most suitable Halong tour booking.
When it comes to availability, online booking offers you different selections, from budget to luxury cruise, along with your specific requirements on cabin size, amenities, special diet, etc. Therefore, you will have plenty of time to choose the best solution for your Halong cruise without any worries about availability.
If you plan ahead a month or two before your trip, you can even make changes to other options that weren’t initially available. When you arrive in Halong Bay, all you have to do is head to the boat and embark on the cruise.
- Reservation on arrival
Above all, it is quite difficult to start looking for a cruise when you arrive in Vietnam because most cruises have been sold out or booked in advance. Despite some cruise deals available at the last minute, you should keep in mind that there are few Halong tour booking options to opt for in no time.
On the other hand, booking a Halong Bay cruise upon arrival with a travel agency can work best for you with personalized advice from a knowledgeable source.
A Halong Bay travel agent will discuss your preferences, budget and specific requests in more detail to recommend the Halong Bay boats that will suit you best. Therefore, if you have a lot of time in Vietnam, it will be acceptable to book upon arrival before a few days.
3. The Flexibility of Halong Bay Booking
- Online Booking
To begin with, the online process can provide you with essential information including deck plans, cabin layouts, cruise ship amenities and port activities before booking your Halong tours.
You can discover many combos outside of Halong cruises, and then online booking can open up more possibilities to arrange flights, pre- or post-cruise stays, port excursions and special arrangements such as onboard celebrations or dietary and medical arrangements. As far as we are concerned, planning is important.
Moreover, those who book online through a Halong Bay travel agency can enjoy many advantages when it comes to contingencies. If you are confused about the weather, culture shock, exchange rate, travel visa procedure, necessary vaccinations, etc., a travel advisor can act as a holiday advocate and give you insights on what to know before your Halong cruise booking.
- Booking on Arrival
The first disadvantage of booking on arrival is that you don’t have much time to research cruise recommendations. Unless you have decided on a specific cruise, you will be overwhelmed by an abundance of choices. Be careful before making a decision.
Additionally, last-minute bookings cannot be flexible if there are chances of canceled deals or missed connections due to bad weather during Typhoon Halong season.
In this case, we strongly recommend booking with a Halong Bay travel agent who will frequently update the booking, remind you of the factors to consider and avoid further travel hassles of some cruises . Finally, they will help clean up the mess, if something bad happens.
4. Halong Tour Booking Price
- Price for online booking
When you book a Halong Bay tour online, it allows you to better compare prices and special offers across multiple sites.
Additionally, you can follow the email subscription to notify you about last minute deals, special offers as well as limited time promotions. There is always a way to frequently check updated prices and be the first to book a Halong cruise as soon as prices drop.
- Price for reservation upon arrival
Firstly, booking on arrival can cost more because you don’t have time to research and then miss out on specific promotions that could give you additional benefits and savings. In different circumstances, you can be deceived by low-cost offers that cost half the price compared to the costs on the Internet.
Not to mention that booking Halong Bay upon arrival becomes murkier as last minute deals must cloud your judgement. One thing to remember, you get what you pay for.
