5 Most Expensive Cruise Ships in Vietnam for 2024

Vietnam Cruises offer a world of opulence, but finding the most expensive cruise ship in Vietnam can be a quest of its own. The true champions of luxury are few, and information can be elusive. This article uncovers the top contenders, comparing each one to reveal the most expensive cruise that offers a journey beyond expectation. 

1. 5 Most Expensive Cruise Ship In Vietnam

A. Indochine Cruise

Indochine Cruise is a cruise of luxury, amazingly blending Vietnamese and French colonial architectural flair. This most expensive cruise in Vietnam is 75 meters in length and features 43 luxuriously crafted suites that plunge travelers into the realm of traditional aesthetic taste, fully enriched with the splurge of modern luxury. Interpreted by intricate woodwork, plush bedding, and balconies framing panoramic views of surrounding waters, each room is tastefully decorated.

• Guest Experiences: Indochine offers an immersive experience with options like kayaking, tai chi sessions, and visits to the stunning caves and floating villages around Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay.
• Dining: The cruise features two upscale restaurants serving a fusion of Vietnamese and Western cuisine, with a rooftop bar that enjoys an amazing view of the bay.
• Cost: These are luxury packages that range from $200 to 1,000 per night, making this one of the premium cruise options from Vietnam.

B. Era Cruises

Era Cruises is at the forefront regarding luxury design and personalized services, slating it as one of the most expensive cruise ships in Vietnam. It offers an exclusive mix of design in modern luxury and a tinge of traditional Vietnamese touches. The suites range from 47 to 74 square meters. The Era Suite itself will have a round bed in king size with a private jacuzzi and an expansive view balcony.

• Guest Experiences: Era Cruises offers some of the best guest service in the industry, from tai chi classes at sunrise to cooking classes, and even private beaches. Full spa and wellness facilities are also available onboard true rarity among even the most expensive cruise options.
• Dining: Gala dinner with the five-star menu at the top-deck restaurant, offering "catch-of-the-day" local fresh seafood, signature Vietnamese dishes, and a selection of Western choices.
• Cost: Recognized by luxury, Era Cruises has packages starting from 150-1,200 dollars per night, which is worth paying, considering all the premium experiences.

C. Emperor Cruises Nha Trang

Taking inspiration from the lifestyle of the last Emperor of Vietnam, Emperor Cruises offers its guests an experience like no other in Nha Trang, evoking historical grandeur with ultimate luxury. Each suite on the most expensive ship in Vietnam boasts the emperor's taste of the 1930 original style with no shortage of rare furnishings and artworks.

• Guest Experiences: From scuba diving holidays offered to a handful of people in the world, snorkeling, or visits to virgin beaches, Emperor Cruises offers evening entertainment and a personal butler service fit for a king or queen.
• Dining: There is a restaurant on board serving typical Vietnamese royal cuisine and Western dishes. Guests can enjoy their dinner in the typical atmosphere of traditional Vietnamese music.
• Cost: The overnight rate starts from $60 per tour, hence making it one of the most expensive cruise ship tickets in Vietnam, meant for historical luxury.

D. Catamaran Sarita Phú Quốc

Catamaran Sarita-weekly cruises provide an elegant and exclusive way to cruise around one of Vietnam's most beautiful island destinations, Phú Quốc. Sleekly French in design, this catamaran boasts four elegant suites and a mostly designed common space to relax or hold private gatherings. Being of a smaller size, this vessel offers an intimate experience ideal for families or groups who want to charter a private luxury cruise.

• Guest Experiences: Island tours, snorkeling, sunset sails, and culinary work conducted by the best chefs are carried out on board the Catamaran Sarita. It is also the first preference for every individual who travels to keep their eyesight close to marine life in Phu Quoc.
• Dining: The Chef on board the catamaran offers a vast array of French and Vietnamese-inspired cuisine made out of locally sourced ingredients. And, of course, one can always ask for private dining on beaches.
• Cost: From US$1,500 per night for private charters, this makes it one of the most expensive options in Phú Quốc, hence falling into the most expensive cruise category.

E. Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan Cat Ba

Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan is a five-star vessel that embodies the opulence of Vietnamese seafarers during the dawn of the twentieth century. Together as one concept, the harmony of Vietnamese tradition and a hint of modernity encompass the design of the ship. The rooms in this hotel ship are designed to celebrate Vietnamese history and culture. Each suite has a different layout; however, there are 20 cabins in total, each supplied with an individual private balcony.

• Guest Experiences: The guests on this cruise that is ideal for anyone who aims to learn a thing or two about Vietnam's rich cultural heritage will enjoy a Vietnamese tea ceremony, cooking classes, and historical lectures.
• Dining: Onboard restaurant with gourmet and Valet menu, including Vietnamese and international cuisine accompanied by local wines and cocktails.
• Cost: From US$1,000 per night, Heritage Cruises offers tailored packages focused on Vietnamese culture and history.

2. Head-to-Head Comparison of Vietnam’s Most Luxurious Cruises

To help in your quest for the most expensive cruise ship in Vietnam, here’s a side-by-side comparison of these elite options:

3. What Makes a Cruise Ship Expensive in Vietnam?

Beyond the Basics: Factors Driving High Costs

Certain reasons make Vietnam cruises pretty expensive in the country and rank them in the list of  most expensive cruises:

• Special Permits and Licenses: One does not get to cruise through Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Phú Quốc so easily. Certain routes need special permits, especially those cruises that stop on private islands or routes leading to hidden beaches. This exclusivity is given by small licenses and is accountable for the most expensive cruise ship ticket price, enabling guests to explore private beaches and hidden caves.
• Import Costs for Luxury Materials: The most expensive cruise ship tickets have zero compromise on quality. The high-end materials, which range from Italian marble to French linens, are imported at great costs, thereby contributing to making this Vietnamese cruise ship the most expensive. Each piece of furniture is custom-designed, and finishings from high-quality ones are chosen with great detailing to meet international norms of luxury.
• Specialized Staff and Services: Most of the high-priced cruises boast five-star service. This includes anything from celebrity chefs to multilingual guides, even down to cultural ambassadors who ensure the experience is immersive and educational. Having various language fluencies within the staff bolsters the guest experience across the globe, while specialty chefs ensure that each dish is tailored to gourmet expectations.

The "Vietnamese Luxury" Angle

What can make this most expensive cruise ship in Vietnam stand out from other global luxury options? It's the "Vietnamese luxury" concept of fusing Vietnamese cultural elegance with upscale facilities. The cruise organizes a few cultural activities that are rather well prepared, such as tai chi at sunrise, traditional cooking classes, and authentic Vietnamese interior decor showing exclusivity and particular locality. Unlike the flashy trends of the West, Vietnamese luxury is more about serenity and immersive environments showcasing natural beauty through the depth of culture, framing each moment on board into retreats to the heart and soul of the country.

4. Conclusion

After extensive exploration, if we are to crown the most expensive cruise ship in Vietnam, Era Cruises takes the crown for its unrivaled combination of luxury suites, exclusive itineraries, and ultra-personalized service. Boasting its most expensive cruise suite, Mekong with private balconies to onboard spa services, it epitomizes what travelers look for in the top cruises of Vietnam. In the end, however, a "winner" in the case of luxury cruising is based upon personal preference.