Ha Long Bay 2D1N Hermes Cruise: An In-Depth Luxury Review

So, you’re possibly considering a cruise in Ha Long Bay and the Hermes Luxury Cruise keeps popping up? It looks great, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to drift between those karstic limestone formations in total comfort for a couple of days? Well, let’s go through what my experience was like on the 2-day, 1-night Hermes Cruise. Hopefully, this helps you decide if it’s the right fit for your vacation.

Booking and Initial Impressions

I actually booked my cruise through a well-known travel website. You know, the usual places where travel dreams actually start to materialize. The online process seemed really straightforward and they actually confirmed my booking right away. All that being said, I had to double-check, very closely that the itinerary matched what I was hoping for, especially when it comes to included activities and the specifics about transportation to and from Hanoi.

The thing about getting picked up in Hanoi is this: the shuttle was, alright, fine. Maybe expect the drive to take close to three and a half to four hours, so be prepared to be sat down for quite some time. When you eventually get to the harbor and actually step on the Hermes Cruise, that is almost when the experience really starts to feel kinda luxurious. The boat seemed very well-maintained, it looked impressively clean and the staff did appear ready to help and offer service right away. Like your favorite hotel, but, you know, floating.

The Cabin Experience

My cabin, a ‘Deluxe Sea View’ was actually pretty impressive. Like a decent hotel room that doesn’t make you think too much. The room seemed plenty spacious, there was big enough windows offering wonderful views, and, actually, an en-suite bathroom made it way comfortable. Honestly, what really made the cabin feel special for me were the little touches: a welcome fruit platter, free bottles of water and quality toiletries. Like you had actually splurged on something a bit luxurious. Is that a big deal? It might be.

That is to say that the air conditioning worked alright and, of course, it was adjustable, which you, like your, probably want in the muggy heat of Vietnam. So, that’s a must. Also, I noticed that the soundproofing was alright – that said, that is, you could still faintly hear some noise from the hallway, especially when other tourists were heading to their cabins, yet it was never really an issue. So, a good thing.

Food and Dining

Meals that I ate onboard were basically served in the cruise’s dining area, and were served as a set menu – actually, more often than not, it included a selection of Vietnamese and a few, arguably bland, international dishes. You could usually find fresh seafood, flavorful spring rolls and, like, classic noodle dishes. Like your classic Vietnamese fare, you see. To be perfectly frank, some dishes I ate were tastier than others, and while the food overall was pretty good, it seemed perhaps not ‘ultra-luxury’ experience some people talk of.

Breakfast was kinda the typical buffet style thing, serving eggs, bread and pastries along with a, basically alright, selection of local options. I, too, found the coffee to be especially pretty weak. You know, it might not have been freshly brewed and, therefore, it lacked strength. I mean, who wants terrible coffee, really?

The service within the dining area, alright, it varied. Sometimes the staff were clearly very responsive and helpful, making sure that my drinks were filled up, and quickly removing finished plates, while at other times, they seemed a bit too stretched and less attentive. The onboard bar seemed adequately stocked. Very often there were cocktails, beers, and a couple of alright wine options which is, really, what you want on vacation. In other words, it’s all perfectly fine and average, I’d argue.

Activities and Itinerary

So, one of the major highlights, basically, had to be the planned activities and excursions, which, by and large, tended to showcase all of Ha Long Bay’s stunning views. I remember stopping at the Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), arguably one of the biggest caves within the bay, and getting some pretty spectacular photo opportunities. The cave had very incredible formations which did look striking, that I’ll give it.

Also, I got the chance to kayak round a small area, so it was basically just floating and having the ability to properly absorb the surrounding environment from ground level. I also loved this as it did not feel overcrowded, like I could properly just be present. Swimming was a really enjoyable option, and while you should possibly be aware, Ha Long Bay is, in general, kinda known for having problems regarding water quality, you will like it or dislike it, very simple. Keep your expectations at an appropriate level. Alright?

In terms of on-board activities, there were Tai Chi classes offered in the mornings which did have the bay as a scenic background, although it might be best to take that with a grain of salt because, in short, I slept in so missed those completely. Even so, that evening, the staff hosted a quick cooking demonstration showing you ways to make classic Vietnamese spring rolls. Still, there was very little in the method of entertainment available; for many tourists this might mean relaxing out on deck, staring right at those amazing views, so in some respects that’s probably fine.

Service and Staff

The quality of the service you got on the Hermes Cruise honestly seemed like it varied during my trip. While the team always did seem mostly polite, there definitely were times when language seemed a barrier and, obviously, a few requests did require a bit more explaining than really expected.

I think the cruise director did their job just fine in keeping things properly organized and they very often gave helpful details regarding the schedule. Like the timings, upcoming events, plus giving historical insights when visiting locations in the bay. Generally speaking, the staff were just fine – helpful, most times happy to actually assist and address questions, yet rarely going beyond what you would actually call typical.

Value for Money

Whether this cruise represents good value, more or less, comes down to the amount you would probably weigh what you’re getting compared to the price. Hermes Luxury Cruise probably isn’t going to be the budget option by any means. Also, for me, I thought the cabin that I stayed in, and the vistas that the trip actually afforded were mostly very incredible.

Yet, aspects just like the dining, onboard activities, and just the ‘sometimes ok, sometimes bad’ level of service did keep the journey from feeling *genuinely* luxurious. Therefore, if perhaps you are alright with settling for a little compromise on aspects that go past accommodation and those amazing natural wonders and you are looking to, generally, cut the price of that authentic 5-star experience, that is, that could probably prove to be alright in some respects. I mean, this cruise hits a level that meets standards, but probably not the level that blows standards out of the water.

Key Takeaways:

• Cabins feature beautiful views and come with a couple of alright touches
• Food can be average, I guess, if being honest, breakfast could use an upgrade.
• Activities allow for wonderful scenery
• You could probably consider the variable nature of what the level of service might look like at times.

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