My first impressions of Via Natura’s MY Hermes are conflicted, but in a good way. Is it a superyacht? Is it a small cruise ship? Is it an expedition ship? Well, my first impression is that it is a bit of all three!
MY Hermes is drop-dead gorgeous, but she does have her quirks. She is intimate yet spacious, luxurious yet understated. Cuisine has been outstanding, as has the service. The expedition team of two so far has been excellent (especially Erwin, who might have sailed with me back in 2017…still to be determined). Now, let’s get into the details.
I was met at the Quito airport, my bag was tagged for both the airline and the ship, and I was handed my boarding pass and needed Galapagos tax confirmation. I was then personally escorted through the environmental check (the line was long, but moved fairly quickly) and then check-in, with instructions to go to the VIP entrance when I arrive in Baltra, Galapagos. Nice! (For this, my fourth trip to the Galapagos, I forwent the really mandatory overnight in Quito and traveled about 23 hours nonstop.) Fortunately, United Airlines did not let me down, and both I and my luggage arrived, so I had about four hours until my flight to this paradise. I do not recommend doing this!)
After security, I spent some time in the Priority Pass Lounge and then flew on LATAM to Baltra, after a 40-minute stop in Guayaquil, headed to the VIP entrance, and into a lounge for an appreciated no-line/no-touch experience. Greeted by one of our naturalists, I was asked for my passport, tax form, QR code (environmental attestation), and boarding pass with my baggage tag receipt. He coordinated everything, including claiming our luggage. While we were waiting (including for a guest who missed the memo about heading to the VIP lounge and getting a QR code, which our naturalist adeptly helped correct), we were offered some cool drinks, airport empanadas, and pizza (OK, they weren’t good). It was then to a van and off to the zodiacs to take us to the ship…almost. Two other guests were staying in Baltra and were 30 minutes late. Ugh. Then we were off the zodiacs (locally called pangas) and MY Hermes.
We were immediately offered introductions to the staff and then lunch. Meanwhile, our luggage was delivered to our suites. Sweet!
My suite is definitely more cruise ship than yacht, as it is incredibly spacious. But the finishes are more yacht-like. A true king-size bed, walk-in closet, huge bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, rainfall shower, stocked mini-frig with proper glassware, proper desk, occasional chair, and balcony where you can have your breakfast each morning. (Both intimate and bright lighting on the balcony is a nice touch.) And the floor to Jacuzzi window has a privacy mode so you have the option of a view or an opaque window.
The suite service has been outstanding and, again, more yacht-like. Two butlers attend to pretty much your every wish. For me, it has merely consisted of leaving the curtains open at night and not curling up my charging cable. But for others, it is drawing your Jacuzzi with four different bath salts, serving breakfast, etc. But the unrequested things, such as having your room serviced three times (not twice) a day, mean that you come back from your morning experiences with your room in perfect order… and then again after your afternoon nap and experiences… and then again after your dinner.
It also means others on staff greet you after a hike with a snack, cool hand towel and a cool drink (which varies each time) and after a snorkel with a snack, warm towel and a warm drink (which also varies). After that, there is no need to head to one of the two bars, because the butlers and bartender are waiting to take your order…and deliver it to wherever you desire: In the Lounge, in your suite, Deck 1 aft, Deck 2 aft, Deck 3 under cover, or Deck 4 in the hot tub or on a lounger.
MY Hermes Deck 4 is dedicated to a hot tub overlooking the bow and loungers overlooking the stern
The public spaces basically consist of the main lounge on Deck 1, the restaurant on Deck 2, a covered area with tables and comfortable chairs under cover with a small bar (and home to al fresco BBQs) on Deck 3, and the hot tub and loungers on Deck 4. There is a tiny (useless?) “Fitness Center” with a Technogym, a Library (with a TV, video and regular games), and a small Spa with a hammam (but really a lower-temperature steam bath) and a treatment room. Each space is extremely well done…other than the fitness center.
Breakfast and lunch are buffet, with dinner being plated with nice options. I really like that the buffets are served and the chef and hotel director are doing the serving, which makes things a bit more personal and sanitary. (I did speak with the chef, and when he noticed I had a Silversea Expedition shirt on, he mentioned that he spent an Antarctica season on the Silver Cloud which he loved, but really likes working on a more yachty ship, as there are more opportunities to be creative and personal, and feel fresh as the contracts are much shorter.) It is early days, but so far, I am impressed with the quality of the cuisine.
After lunch and a few minutes to settle in, it was basically a walk on a beach. Initially disappointing because there were many groups from other ships there, it wasn’t exactly a sexy beginning. However, upon reflection (it’s what I do!), we saw a lot: Blue-footed Boobies, Marine Iguanas, Frigate Birds, Pelicans, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Yellow Warblers, Sea Turtle nests, and more… but no Flamingos. Oh, and a chance to swim if you wanted to.
We sailed overnight, and while it was definitely worth it, MY Hermes’ big quirk came to the fore. But as explain below, most of it is being addressed in September. In the aft section, she is loud, vibrates, and lists just a bit to starboard. I am staying in the most aft suite on Deck 1. It was loud and rumbling all night. For me, being one who loves ships, it was fine… the bed is great, the sheets are crisp, and the air conditioning is cold. But I would recommend requesting a suite further forward or on Deck 2, with midship being the sweet spot. (I have heard no complaints from anyone.)
Basically, without getting too technical, MY Hermes is only a year old and has a unique design, but it results in her being a bit heavy…and top-heavy. She rides a bit low in the bow, which in turn brings the stern up a bit too much. So bulbous bows, which you see as round things on the bow of most cruise ships, are being installed to make her ride higher t the bow and increase her speed above the current 9 knots. This will also lower the stern (which will also have her twin swim platforms raised, as they sit a bit too low).
While the quirks are probably not noticed by the vast majority of guests and are welcomed, I would not delay experiencing MY Hermes if you want to enjoy her prior to her drydock. Note, however, while those modifications will definitely assist, and upgraded engine mounts and sound insulation being installed, with the generator being below my suite, the constant background noise may remain, so choosing another suite will remain the way to go…just in case.
With the ship movement gently rocking me to sleep, I was up early at about 6:00 AM. I was expecting to use the Nespresso machine in my suite. However, when I went up to Deck 2, I was greeted with “Would you like a coffee? Please sit, I will bring it to you.” So, I sat outside in a comfortable oversized loveseat, and almost instantly it was delivered. Nice!
After a light breakfast in the Paradiso (main) Restaurant, it was time for a two-hour, nicely paced hike after a short zodiac ride. I was impressed by how the naturalists managed the different capabilities (and that one guest recognized that the hike would be too much for her. Bravo!)
More impressive was Edwin’s passion and in-depth explanation of what we were seeing from geological, environmental, and wildlife perspectives…and the Galapagos overall. (More on that in another article.) Before we headed back to the ship, it was a short zodiac ride to see a Galapagos penguin.
After a half-hour break, it was back to the zodiac to see flightless cormorants, and then a great hour-long snorkel with a huge number of fish, corals, seaweeds, shellfish and brief visits by a very fast sea lion and an even faster Galapagos penguin. (On returning to the ship, a Galapagos penguin was calmly swimming around.)
After lunch and repositioning the ship, it was an afternoon slow walk where we saw Galapagos tortoises in the wild (rather than at a breeding center or farm), some land iguanas (including a huge one that happily munched on leaves without a care in the world), and a couple of rare-to-find Galapagos (or Dark-billed) Cuckoos.
One of my big questions before boarding MY Hermes was whether the expedition portion of the experience would be either overshadowed or compromised by the level of promised luxury. While it is early days (OK, only one day), it sure appears to be neither. And that is a very good thing!
Next Up: Another Day in Paradise (I mean MY Hermes), including the Cuisine, the Spa and More Galapagos Wildlife!
