No Adventure on Paradise.

Trip Start Feb 13, 2011
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Trip End Feb 26, 2011


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Thursday, February 17, 2011

What a day this has been, after a horrific 3 hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay we arrived at the Paradise Cruise Centre where we allocated our cruise passes and provided with a welcome drink whilst we waited for the remaining passengers. The Paradise Junks were docked at the wharf with sails up looking magnificent and for the first time since we had been in Vietnam, the clouds opened and the sun shined upon us. We boarded and were allocated our cabins, we have a great cabin at the front with a large private balcony with sun lounges, how good is this. We all meet in the dining room prior to lunch and Johannes the Swedish, English speaking host advises us that due to an unfortunate accident at 5.00am this morning. where a boat sank with the loss of 12 lives the Harbour Authority will not allow any cruise boats to sail until further notice, please enjoy your lunch and wait for further information.

We are all shell shocked with the thought that the cruise may not happen so we have a few drinks with lunch and discuss all the possibilities and wait for further news which takes several hours
Our Paradise Cruise Boats
Our Paradise Cruise Boats
.
The news is not good there will be no sailing today and we can not stay on-board the boat whilst it is docked so we will provided with Hotel rooms in Halong Bay or provided with transport back to Hanoi. This takes another 2 hours to arrange whilst we have a few more drinks, ring travel agents re refunds etc and eventually we are offloaded. Our driver turns up out of the blue to take us to our Hotel for the night, Royal Lotus Halong, that only opened in Jan 2011. Rooms are only so so, but we make our way to dinner where we shared a table with four Canadians and a couple of bottles of Lindermans Cab Sav and commiserated on not enjoying the sights of Halong Bay that we all longed to see.

We hope that if you heard the news that you were worried for us. Just goes to show that despite the best of planning, some days just get stuffed up.

But in the end we are better off than those this morning.

 
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Comments

Chris R on

Wow, you did have us worried. I am so glad that you are OK, enjoy the Bay

Graham and Karen on

Great to hear that you are OK. Thought you might have been too heavy for the boat Richard (-:
Is a real pity that it impacted on your trip but at least you are safe.

YoYo on

Hi Richard & Julie, glad that you are both safe & OK, pity about your cruise, but it's a small price to pay when you think of what had happened earlier.

Tige & Pars on

Yes we were concerned , glad to know you are ok.

BW on

I was also concerned and kept checking the news for updates. Do hope the rest of the trip is smooth sailing with good weather. Enjoy seeing your photos and blog. BW

terry and wendy on

glad you are both ok herd it on the radio in melb rang mathew did not hear back hope the rest of the trip is all good mate

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