HALONG BAY, Vietnam – The five-star line behind Halong Bay’s most remarkable cruise experiences, Ambassador Cruise, has clinched two national records due to the ‘Ambassador Cruise II’ vessel’s huge capacity and compelling entertainment setup.

The Vietnam Record Association recently announced that Ambassador Cruise II, which hosts lavish day and dinner cruises of Halong Bay with a 600-guest capacity, has been recognized in the Vietnam Book of Records as the country’s “highest capacity” cruise ship.

Anchored by a singer and dramatic light show, to a backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed bay’s silhouetted limestone karsts, Ambassador Cruise II’s 1.5-hour evening “mini-show” “Love in the Bay” on the dinner cruise took out the second national record. With its newly updated 100sqm stage area, advanced technical setup including a lighting system with more than 150 specialized devices, and an audience of up to 600 guests, “Love in the Bay” was deemed the “largest scale music program on a cruise in Vietnam”. The show features performances by renowned Vietnamese singers Phuong Thanh, Luong Bich Huu, and Vicky Nhung.

Since its debut in February 2023, Ambassador Cruise II, which offers a luxurious eight-hour day cruise followed by an exquisite four-hour dinner cruise, has welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests. The 500-ton, five-floor steel craft with a basement measures 90 meters long, 16 meters wide, and 19 meters high, making it the largest and most luxurious ship to ever ply Halong Bay’s waters with a total of 10,000sqm of lettable space. Ambassador Cruise is the only Halong Bay cruise line to include an elevator system for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Elegantly designed, Ambassador Cruise II features spacious sundecks across two floors that total 324sqm and 250sqm, affording 360-degree vistas of Halong Bay and its myriad limestone karsts. Two restaurants, two bars, an entertainment area for live music, and a large open-air jacuzzi are among the vessel’s top-notch facilities. The five-meter glass bridge jutting from the vessel’s bow inspires compelling photographs.

The Ambassador Cruise II’s daytime voyage, known as ‘Ambassador Day Cruise’, takes passengers on a sublime journey through the UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its plethora of limestone karsts dotting its emerald waters. The itinerary includes exploration of Sung Sot Cave and swimming off Titov Island, whose scalable heights offer panoramic views of the bay. After a premium buffet lunch onboard, passengers take in Luon Cave by either kayak or in a bamboo boat rowed by a local, followed by a cooking class and live band on the ship. Designed for travelers who cannot squeeze an overnight trip to Halong Bay into their schedules, the itinerary covers the same ground as an overnight cruise within a shorter timeframe.

By night, Ambassador Cruise II transforms into the ‘Ambassador Dinner Cruise’, a first for the bay, underpinned by premium dining and live entertainment. To a backdrop of Halong Bay’s awe-inspiring sunset, guests indulge in a delectable meal of Asian and European delicacies accompanied by a cabaret show, performances by Vietnamese singers, and a live band. The Asia Hospitality Awards also recognized the Ambassador Dinner Cruise as “Asia’s Finest Dinner Cruise”.

“For our independent luxury boutique cruise line to land not one but two national records is a remarkable achievement,” said Nguyen Cao Son, chairman of Asia Premier Cruises (APC) Corporation, which owns Ambassador Cruise. “Ambassador Cruise II has been a game changer for Halong Bay and beyond, and a tourism bonanza for Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province, contributing significant traffic to Halong International Cruise Port.”

Since launching its first vessel in 2021, Ambassador Cruise has made a name for itself as the leading luxury cruise operator on Halong Bay. Its vessels include Ambassador I, Ambassador II, Ambassador Signature, and Lavoya Boutique Day Cruise. Guests choose from a variety of journeys, including overnight cruises of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Ambassador Cruise has also launched a “Dining Under the Stars” concept. APC Corporation last month launched a spectacular cave dining experience at Dragon Pearl Cave, a 30-minute drive from Halong City.

For more information or to book a cruise, visit the Ambassador Cruise website.