Excellent service on shore and at sea. Food was decent, a bounty of options and they accommodated my vegetarian diet nicely. Bus transfers from Hanoi very well-managed. Staterooms are comfortable but basic and dated. This is a budget-friendly tour and I was personally happy, but by no means is this a luxury cruise or an high-end experience. The beach and cave excursions had painfully long queues, so I waited by the boat docks for my group to return. The setting is incomparable but under incredible assault from excessive tourism. I counted 37 overnight ships in the bay where we anchored an equal number of day boats and visitors. Plastic garbage floating everywhere, shorelines strewn with rubbish that has washed ashore. A bittersweet experience. Go for it, just temper your expectations.