Twenty to forty-four — one ship, one deck, one group
The simplest and best-value programme we run. Everybody sleeps on the same hull, eats in the same room and stands on the same deck. Every operational complication above this band comes from the group no longer fitting on one ship.
Why this band is the sweet spot
- One hull means one operation. One coordinator, one galley, one manifest, one anchorage assignment. Nothing has to be synchronised across water.
- The deck gala works at its best. Forty guests on a deck built for seventy is comfortable, not crowded. There is room for a stage and room to move.
- Full charter is affordable. At thirty-six to forty-four guests, exclusive use of a Premium hull costs little more per head than a cabin block, and buys you the schedule, the deck and the dining room.
- Lead time is short. Forty-five days is usually enough outside the October–November peak. Above this band it doubles.
- A single coach. Forty-five seats. The forty-fifth guest breaks this too, on the road as well as on the water.
Vessel choice inside the band
| Guests | Vessel | Charter or block | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 – 26 | Deluxe | Either | Charter a Deluxe hull rather than half-filling a Premium. Cheaper and feels fuller. |
| 26 – 34 | Premium | Block, or charter if the evening matters | The one band where the block-versus-charter decision is genuinely close. |
| 34 – 44 | Premium | Charter | You are taking most of the ship anyway. Exclusive use costs little more and gives you everything. |
Twenty-two guests chartering a 22-cabin Premium hull is a strange experience — a large vessel with eleven cabins dark and a deck built for seventy holding a small dinner. It reads as underpopulated rather than exclusive. Match the hull to the group; we will steer you there even though the Deluxe charter is the smaller sale.
A typical 2D1N programme at this size
| Time | Element | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Depart Hanoi | One coach, 45 seats. Water and a short briefing on board. |
| 11:00 | Board and depart | Welcome drinks on the deck as the ship clears the port. |
| 12:30 | Lunch under way | Single sitting, one room, whole group. |
| 14:30 | Anchorage, activity block | Kayak relay or cave navigation. Assigned teams. |
| 17:00 | Free | Deck, swim, spa. |
| 18:30 | Gala on the deck | Stage forward, sunset behind. The full group, seated. |
| 21:45 | Amplified music ends | Anchorage curfew. Deck stays open. |
| 07:00 | Tai chi and brunch | Optional; attendance is usually better than expected. |
| 09:00 | Cave or second anchorage | Short. Nobody wants a full morning. |
| 11:00 | Alongside, depart | Central Hanoi by 14:00. |
Questions we are asked most often
What if we end up at 46?
Then you are a two-vessel programme with the cost structure of the next band up, and the honest advice is to look hard at whether the two extra people are essential. Cutting to 44 is the largest single saving available in the whole programme. If they are essential, the next band explains what changes.
Can we get a private dinner without chartering?
Sometimes, on a quiet sailing, at a separate sitting. It is not a private room and there is no stage. If the dinner carries the programme, charter.
Do we need a coordinator for a group this small?
Yes, and one comes as standard. Mobile coverage on the bay is unreliable and a group of thirty with no single point of contact loses somebody at the cave. It is included, not optional.
Can we do two nights on the bay at this size?
Yes, and it is a good use of the extra day — a different anchorage, a longer route east, a second activity set. See itineraries.
Where to go next
Four fields and you can send
Tell us the basics and we will come back within eight working hours with feasibility — including how many hulls your headcount actually needs — and within three working days with a detailed quote.