If I were to design my dream interiors, they’d probably look a lot like the inside of the Indochine Premium. The golden age of travel is celebrated throughout spaces that could easily be the set of one of Agatha Christie's more glamorous mysteries. Nostalgic Art Deco design elements abound - my favourite design era, so I was in my element!

However rather than being confined to the usual colour scheme of golds and blacks, the ship is a jewel box of teals, emeralds, and reds. Mosaic Tiffany-esque lampshades preside over the buffet, and a haughty peacock watches over punters at the lounge bar. Another intricate chandelier made up of colourful mosaic parrots dances above the staircase. I would pack it up in my suitcase and take it home with me if it might feasibly fit!

Whilst the interiors are a decidedly maximalist, the exterior terraces are noticeably more pared back. Simple loungers line the top deck, with the odd table and chairs dotted around the perimeter. A subtle choice that lets those jaw-dropping views take centre stage.

Realistically, when you're doing a one night cruise with plenty of activities and excursions, the room is just a bed for the night. Therefore, I wasn't expecting too much. However, our suite on the Indochine Premium ended up being a real highlight of the whole experience. It was an ample space with more than enough room to spread out - from my experience, a rarity on cruises. The bed was one of the biggest I think I’ve ever slept in - it could comfortably sleep about four people!

The sleek, nostalgic design details are carried through. Mustard and forest green velvet lined rattan furniture provides a cosy seating area overlooking the floor to ceiling window, whilst golden chinoiserie birds flit across the wallpaper framing the bed. The bathroom somehow manages to be even more beautiful - green tiles, gold hardware, and a roll-top tub with a view. The suite also hosts a balcony, again a pleasantly well sized space. I’ll admit, I didn’t end up having time to enjoy it as we were kept occupied with excursions - another reason to book the 2 night trip.

There’s complimentary water, fruit, and Vietnamese snacks, refilled on request. The only amenity obviously lacking is coffee and tea making facilities, however I suspect this might be safety related, as it’s not the first time I’ve been on a ship without.

We also took a peek around the Presidential Suite, two beautifully moody rooms decorated in deep teals and rich reds. Presided over by an imposing dark wood four poster, it's a chic, timeless space. In fact, it's a room I would happily have as my dream bedroom. I was definitely making notes for my future forever home plans!

There's plenty to do, both on and off board. There's a small swimming pool - not quite enough space to do laps, but perfectly pleasant for a dip with a view. On the sun deck you'll find a bar for a sunset tipple, and there's a cosy games room tucked away in a quiet corner. The ship even has a mini-golf course. It's only a couple of holes and won't take you long, but it's fun for the novelty factor of a round of golf in such beautiful surrounds!

However the biggest draw is the itinerary of activities and excursions. There's pretty much always something on, and you're free to pick and choose what suits. You can head out to explore caves, go kayaking, morning tai chi, or simply sit on board and enjoy the views. On our first afternoon we chose to kayak. The excursion took us out by boat to the activity area, where we were seated in a kayak and headed out to explore Luon cave. If you don't fancy the exertion, there are also group sampans available. It was only around an hour, but that was more than enough time to comfortably explore, immersed in the dramatic landscapes of Ha Long Bay.

After dinner, we headed out to the deck to try our hand at squid fishing. Adam and I didn't manage to catch anything, but it was an enjoyable interlude hanging out with other guests from all over the world, chatting and lamenting our lack of fishing ability!

The next morning, we headed on a short morning hike up Ti Top mountain, which offers a viewpoint out over the bay. The morning wakeup call was unappealing, but the views were absolutely worth it. You can also swim at the small beach below, however we didn't fancy wet swimmies right before disembarking!

When it comes to service, the staff could not be faulted. There was always someone around, available to answer any questions. We felt thoroughly looked after, and most importantly, in safe hands.

We had three meals on board the Indochine Premium, lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next morning. The lunch buffet was a decent spread, but it was the set menu dinner that really blew us away. From the first mouthful of grilled lobster soup, warming and hearty yet also simultaneously fresh and light, I knew we were in for a treat.

Then New Zealand mussels with Thai cream sauce, a dish I had a major problem with. In that, I would like a whole vat of that sauce, swimming in mussels please. In fact, if they could fill up the tub with it, perhaps? It was flavours I’ve never experienced with mussels before, but worked beautifully.

Lobster Thermidor was an indulgent treat, wonderfully cooked and buttery. The following course of steak was equally well done. Which in my case means medium rare, melt in the mouth, paired with a slick of pepper sauce and confit garlic.

The dessert of “cake and fruits” feels a bit lacklustre in comparison to the more sophisticated previous courses, but equally, I was so full by that point that a little fruit was probably the best choice.

The next morning there was a small selection of coffee and pastries for the early risers, before a more comprehensive breakfast / brunch buffet before disembarking. It's a solid spread of local and international options, and a final chance to enjoy a meal with those incredible limestone rock views.

As beautiful as Ha Long Bay may be, choosing the right tour can still make or break the experience, and with so much choice, it can be daunting. Trying to decide on the perfect Ha Long Bay cruise was an agonising process, however with Indochine Premium I knew we’d made the right choice the second we set foot on the ship.

With elegant, nostalgic furnishings and ample space to roam and explore, Indochine Premium made visiting Ha Long Bay feel truly luxurious. For one night I felt like I was experiencing the Golden Age of Travel, the heroine in a fabulously glamorous silver screen movie. What's more, it was a lovely atmosphere - laidback, peaceful, yet with the hint of festivity that accompanies the experience of something special.

The only issue? Having to drag myself away to actually see Ha Long Bay! I could have happily spent several days chilling in the pool, lounging on the sun deck, and making use of our wonderful tub with a view.

As to whether we made the right decision to visit Ha Long Bay altogether? I’d seen clickbaity TikTok’s saying things like “DON’T go to Ha Long Bay”, and “Ha Long Bay is overrated”, but I strongly believe this is largely down to the tour operator you choose. If you visit on a day trip that takes you to all the main sights at the same time as a 100 other similar tours, yeah, it’s probably going to be unpleasantly busy. But at no point did any of the activities we did feel overpopulated. And yes, there are a lot of other boats on the water, but I don’t think that necessarily detracts from the experience - we quite enjoyed watching all the different ships coming and going! I imagine this also depends on what time of year you visit, but such is the nature of travel.

If you're looking for a cruise that is more than just a bed for a night, but a full blown experience in itself, then I'd certainly recommend considering Indochina Sails. All in all, I'm so glad we did a Ha Long Bay tour, and my only regret is not staying longer!

If this Indochine Premium Ha Long Bay cruise review has been helpful please do leave a comment below, and let me know if you have any questions!

Source: anoushkaprobyn.com