Hermes Galapagos Cruise

Alia

- Ultra-modern catamaran with sumptuous modern interiors; - Private balconies and amazing panoramic windows; - Upper sun deck, jacuzzi with unlimited panoramic views; - High end luxury in a friendly and relaxing environment. The Alia is the newest catamaran to arrive in the Galápagos. This beautiful, modern vessel has been finished to the highest standards to provide you with a true luxury cruise experience. With only 16 passengers at any time, the Alia has the space to provide privacy, wonderfully comfortable communal living and panoramic vistas from its large windows. Staterooms with a view Alia boasts 9 sumptuous staterooms, 8 of which enjoy private balconies. Fully flexible, all beds can be easily converted to doubles or twins to suit your preference. Staterooms come fully air conditioned, with decadent en suite bathrooms, luxury linens and accessories such as hair dryers and speaker systems. If space is important to you, then we recommend choosing one of the lower-deck staterooms which are slightly larger than those on the upper deck. A standout benefit of the Alia’s youth and modern construction techniques are the wonderful panoramic windows adorning the outer walls of every cabin. Modern glass technology allows the Alias rooms to be flooded with light, and will allow you to wake up to the most breathtaking ocean and island views before moving out onto your private balcony to take in the sounds of the Galápagos morning. Socialize in luxury The lounge, dining area, library and outside decks all match the standard of decor and execution of craftsmanship you will experience in your stateroom with beautiful wood finishes and delightful furnishing throughout. Each deck is equipped with a well-stocked bar. The lounge area is decorated in a modern yet sumptuous style and you will feel immediately at home. Dining on board is always a special event, but the relaxed Alia atmosphere makes eating with your fellow travellers a convivial and rewarding experience. Outdoor spaces are expansive and comfortable, offering al fresco dining or relaxing under shade. Sun worshipers and star gazers will want to ascend to the upper sundeck where the panoramic jacuzzi provides a magnificent place to see the islands unfold before you. Quality service, quality cuisine Captain Jaime has 9 years experience on tourist vessels in Galápagos, and his 8 crew with certified bilingual guide will ensure you are extremely well looked after whilst discovering the hidden treasures of these wonderful islands. Hotel Manager Lissette is known for her eye for detail and she can cater for your every need. Alia’s chef, Julian, prepares amazing fresh meals every day, including barbecues on the glorious sun deck, wonderful ceviche and parrillada. All the staff work to make your trip unforgettable. Our comment Alia is virtually brand new, a really stunning catamaran. Benefiting from the extra deck width and stability of two-hull designs, her lounge and dining areas are stunning and take full advantage of the extra space available. Chef Julian has some wonderful tricks up his sleeve - make sure you try his Shrimp in Orange Sauce - we can’t get enough of it. Captain Jaime has 9 years experience skippering in Galápagos, and hotel manager Lisette is a stickler for detail. Our top tip is to take a close look at the lower deck cabins, as they are bigger. If you love modern decor and you want modern facilities, you can’t do better than Alia.

Cormorant

- Superb suites available; - All rooms with private balcony; - Newly renovated cabins; - Fully carbon-neutral vessel. Cormorant brings the very best in modern catamaran design to the Galápagos and her luxury features make your visit to the islands even more special. Everything about Cormorant is dedicated to maximizing your experience - a limit of only 16 passengers on board with 11 crew at your service means impressive levels of guest satisfaction. Your dedicated resident “Hotel Manager” ensures attention to detail and comfort levels usually only reserved for much larger cruise vessels. A fantastic range of excursions and activities are available and Cormorant carries her own kayaks on board, offering the opportunity for some wonderful “up close” encounters with marine life. Captain Luis will welcome you on board Cormorant. He's Galápagos born and bred and tells us he's been a sailor all his life, and master of the Cormorant since 2013. The hotel manager on board to look after all your needs is Christian. In the kitchen we met chef Edison who produces superb quality, wide-ranging buffets with excellent choice. Every room has a balcony, and as well as a TV with BluRay player, we discovered that each has a hard drive player loaded with movies for you to enjoy. Our top tip - choose one of the suites and you’ll be able to enjoy the amazing showers with multiple body jets! Also, if you're travelling as a group or family note that the upper rooms can be connected together to make huge "virtual" suites. We like the fact that this boat carries 3 double kayaks on board for guests - it means those who don't want to snorkel still get some fun on the water. Ultimate space and comfort Cormorant has some of the largest staterooms in her class, and features two magnificent full suites for those who want to enjoy the ultimate luxury onboard experience. Decor throughout the catamaran is modern and clean and oozes understated class, with natural wood finishes and superb furnishings and fabrics. Her modern design means that every stateroom and communal area enjoys large panoramic windows that fill the boat with light and provide wonderful views of the ocean and islands. The passenger salon is a warm and welcoming place to socialise and to learn about these amazing islands from your qualified bilingual naturalist guide. Dining on Cormorant is a superb experience, with her two chefs serving you a mouth-watering range of Ecuadorian and world cuisine in the impressive dining room. Al fresco dining is available thanks to Cormorant’s ample outdoor decks with plenty of comfortable seating and tables. 2 bars on board mean you’re never too far away from your favourite drink to sip as you watch the sun set and the stars being to shine. Sun-worshippers and star-gazers will appreciate the upper deck’s open areas, and the jacuzzi tub gives everyone a perfect place to unwind and relax. Abundant outdoor space means you’ll always find your ideal spot to simply stop and drink in the Galápagos. Flexible accommodation to suit you Cormorant’s staterooms and suites have been designed to give you the maximum flexibility you need. All beds seamlessly convert between twin and double to suit your requirements. Upper deck rooms can be specified with a sofa bed providing triple occupancy for a child under 12. Larger families or groups travelling will appreciate the 4 interconnecting staterooms. Staterooms are fabulously appointed, and each one enjoys its own private balcony. Thoughtful touches include luxury AVEDA bath products, hair dryers, and full air conditioning. Each room has its own flat screen TV with DVD player and easy chairs and tables both inside and on your balcony Luxury with a conscience You can sail aboard Cormorant knowing that carbon emissions are offset through CanopyCo, an Ecuadorian-based organization managed by local and European professionals. CanopyCo is dedicated to replanting Ecuador’s native forests for the benefit of the climate, the local community and the amazing wildlife. Cormorant's entire operation has been included in the offsets, from the fuel used by the engines on board the catamaran to the bus rides its staff take to work. By choosing Cormorant you know that from the moment you arrive in the Galápagos Islands to the moment you leave, the entire impact of your carbon footprint will be a zero. Our comments We love the size and sense of space you get with Cormorant. If you can, we urge you to take one of the suites - they are one of our favourite places to spend time afloat in the Galápagos. A completely carbon-neutral vessel, Cormorant will bring you great luxury that doesn’t cost the Earth and a fantastic way to experience these wonderful islands.

Endemic

The Endemic is an exquisitely crafted catamaran designed exclusively for the Galápagos Islands expedition. She has been designed to offer unrivalled luxury alongside sustainable operations, and has one of the best crew-to-guest ratios in the archipelago. Because she has been designed for Galápagos cruises and not converted from a general purpose design, Endemic offers remarkable features you can't find on other vessels, including stunning full height, full width panoramic windows and a private balcony for every suite. Thanks to her twin-hull design, she is much more stable on the water than traditional yachts, making her a perfect choice of Galápagos cruise vessel for those prone to motion sickness. Endemic's interiors have been designed in a modern style, and her decor makes the most of the huge amounts of natural light that enters the cabins and communal spaces. Accommodating a maximum of only 16 guests, her gorgeous cabins feature king-size beds (or two full singles, to your choice), as well as a mini lounge area. The en suite bathrooms are sumptuous, with spacious showers and the highest quality linens and eco-friendly toiletries. Every cabin suite features independent air conditioning controls, and plenty of storage. The design has been modelled on a home bedroom and not a hotel room, giving the accommodations a wonderfully comfortable and relaxed feel. This is a Galápagos cruise ship that instantly makes you feel at home. For those travelling as a family or in a group, be sure to inquire about suites on the upper deck. These all feature interconnecting doors, which means you can enjoy a huge amount of living space as a group and yet have privacy for sleeping. This makes an Endemic cruise perfect for families travelling with older children or young adults. The communal areas on Endemic have been designed with just as much thought and care. Beautiful natural finishes throughout reflect the light that spills in from the panoramic windows that line the indoor spaces. The dining room has a relaxing, informal layout, which carries over to the lounge area with its gorgeous sofas and armchairs. Uniquely, Endemic has a dedicated briefing area in the bow, which allows your expert naturalist guide to give you knowledgeable and intimate presentations about the flora and fauna of the islands and what you can expect to see on your next Galápagos cruise adventure. This area also doubles as a more intimate lounge area where you can enjoy some peaceful indoor relaxation. Outside, the experience is nothing short of magnificent. The main deck platform also doubles as a beautiful shaded terrace with comfortable seating, while the equivalent area in the upper deck is a little more exposed to the sun and has sofas and coffee tables to enjoy a cocktail or two as another exciting day of your Galápagos cruise turns to night. For sun worshipers and those who want to enjoy the best views in the Galápagos, the Endemic's "Sky Deck" will be perfect for you! Featuring a huge circular jacuzzi, luxurious loungers, a bar, barbecue and al fresco dining area, this is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy some equatorial sunshine. You can't truly say you have been on a Galápagos cruise unless you have watched sea lions play from a top-deck hot tub! Food on board is of the highest international standard. Despite the luxury that Endemic offers, the Galápagos has a relaxed vibe, and this is reflected in the service of delicious buffet-style breakfasts and lunches where you can help yourself to wonderful local and international dishes during your cruise. Dinners are a mixture of buffet or menu choices, and everything is prepared on board with the freshest local ingredients. All dietary requirements can be taken care of - simply notify us when you book. Endemic has a dedicated Service Officer who will make sure everything is taken care of to give you the best experience possible. With 11 crew for a maximum of 16 guests, you will enjoy unrivalled levels of service, and the crew have been hand-picked for their attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction. An Endemic Galápagos cruise means you'll be accompanied by a fully bilingual expert naturalist guide on all excursions, giving you the benefit of their immense knowledge and experience of these amazing islands and their habitats. Endemic offers a wide choice of itineraries. The operator has carefully planned six different options that really maximize the amount that you will be able to see during your Galápagos cruise. The itineraries have also been designed to easily allow you to combine two and create a superb "see it all" trip of a lifetime that doesn't repeat any visitor points or excursions. Unusually for a vessel of this class, Endemic also offers a selection of short Galápagos cruise itineraries for those who wish to enjoy a shorter time on the water, or who are combining a cruise with other accommodations on the islands. All on board equipment is first class, and guests can enjoy complimentary use of sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel masks, fins, and short or long wetsuits. You will also be given a re-usable water bottle and a buff to help protect you from the sun. An intimate and personal experience is guaranteed on all your excursions thanks to the small number of guests Endemic takes on each Galápagos cruise The Galápagos Endemic is a senior-friendly vessel that has relatively few stairs, cabins located on the most accessible deck, and public areas situated near the sleeping areas. Special accommodations, such as meals served in cabins, are possible. In some cases, special excursion options are available for those who do not wish to hike or swim. The attention to detail on this ship is amazing - her interiors are simply stunning, and completely up to date, as you'd expect from a purpose-built ship. Her crew are all keen to make a reputation as the best ship in the fleet, and this shows in the service you get here. We love the additional stability offered by such a large catamaran, and the additional space this design offers. The standout features for us are the floor-to-ceiling windows in your suite and the absolutely stunning Sky Deck. To cap it all, she has some of the most interesting itineraries in Galápagos cruising - her operators have put in a lot of effort to make sure your Endemic experience is breathtaking.

Sirius

The Galaxy Sirius, named after the brightest star in the sky, combines luxury and exclusivity with service and activities. The stunning vessel has nine elegant and spacious cabins, each with a balcony, a king-size or twin bed, a private bathroom, and large windows that offer spectacular views of the islands. Guests can enjoy the comfort and amenities of this floating palace, where every detail has been carefully designed to ensure their satisfaction. But what sets the Galaxy Sirius apart from other 16 passengers ships is not only its beauty and comfort, but also its service and activities. The Galaxy Sirius has **two certified naturalist guides** who accompany guests on every excursion and share their extensive knowledge and passion for this unique destination. Guests have more personalized attention, more flexibility, and more opportunities to learn and interact with the amazing wildlife of the Galapagos. The Galaxy Sirius also offers a variety of activities to suit guests' preferences and mood, such as kayaking, paddle-boarding, snorkeling, and guided walks. Guests can explore the islands at their own pace and discover their secrets and wonders. And after a day full of adventure, guests can relax and enjoy the exquisite cuisine prepared by the expert chefs in the dining room or the alfresco lounge, or unwind in the sun deck, which features a solarium, a Jacuzzi, and lazy chairs. The Galaxy Sirius is more than just a ship; it is a dream come true. And anyone can make that dream come true by booking a cruise on this magnificent vessel. For more information, visit [siriusonboard.com]. It is an opportunity not to be missed.