By: Torben Lonne
Mermaid II is a luxury liveaboard measuring 33 meters or about 108 feet. It was built in 2000 and has since then taken its guests to amazing over and under water experiences with memorable encounters of marine species – some of which are only in the Indonesian waters to see. For exploration of Indonesia’s amazing marine life, the vessel capitalizes on its cruising speed of 9.5 knots reaching 12 knots on the ship’s top speed, which it owes toits Hino engines of 450 HP. During this experience guests can witness corals,fishes, sponges, crabs, mollusks and a whole lot more of marine plants and animals in their mightiest forms and in their natural habitat.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Many people said the itinerary was well organised and the entire trip was a pleasure. -
Some people stated that the crew was friendly and very professional.
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Several divers commended that divers on delivering a stellar brief that covered most of the concerns of the divers.
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Several people reported that they liked the travel to the island and seeing komodo dragons.
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A couple of people said they would get together after dinner and start singing.
Things we don't like:
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Many people stated that the weather was really bad on their stay. -
A couple of divers said the visibility was not that great in the water and this hampered sightings of bigger marine life.
Diving on the Mermaid II in Indonesia
Boat Features
The guests aboard this vessel are not only treated to the best experiences when it comes to diving. Yet, for times when not in water, the Mermaid II is a sanctuary of leisure and comfort as provided by its various areas.
The Main saloon serves as a general melting pot for guests to converse about the day’s dives. It is fully air conditioned and thus provides a very comfortable atmosphere for narratives and discussions. There are beautiful panoramic windows. It also has a TV and DVD, which guests can use for watching movies or perhaps listening to music.
For some other purposes of unwinding, there is a bar with cold drinks. There are also facilities to make great coffee and tea to accompany the chats. It is even equipped with a library, where some great books are up for reading or perhaps entertaining yourself with the fish ID book to see which of them have you encountered already.
The ship has also two outside decks, one of which is shaded and furnished with lounge chairs for comfortable rests. Cushioned sun beds are also located on the sun deck, where guests can work on their tans. This is also an ideal spot to try the massage.
The Cabins
The Mermaid II showcases budget cabins and deluxe cabins, where guests can find comfort and luxury on their own.
The budget cabin is situated on the lower deck and has twin bunks.It has an air conditioning unit and has a bathroom shared with another budget cabin.
The eight deluxe cabins are on the ship’s main deck and can accommodate a maximum of 2 guests each through double beds. All have provisions of air conditioning as well as en-suite bathrooms.
All cabins have TV sets, that guests can use to watch movies. There are also hair dryers.
Food & Beverage
Luxurious food galore aboard Mermaid II. Menu comes from Western and local recipes for guests to try the taste of the East and West. Full meals are served in buffet style with options available for vegans and vegetarians.
Snacks are served all-day ensuring ample body energy to perform other activities allotted for the day. Hot and cold drinks are also available, whichever is preferred by the guest to accompany the snacks. Alcoholic beverages like beer and a selection of fine wines can also be availed.
For guests with special dietary restrictions, such as those conforming to religious beliefs and allergies, it should be notified upon booking.This is to ensure that the right kind of food will be served to everyone.
Itinerary
With renovations finished in 2018, guests are assured of safe travels for years to come. Offering year-round cruises to the best parts of the Indonesian archipelago, such as Sorong, Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, and Bali, guests are to witness the most diverse marine life imaginable. With cruises running on an average of 8 nights, luxury diving experiences are guaranteed for the guests of Mermaid II.
Comments
We did this trip to Raja ampat, and it was great. Big thank to jimmy who was our guide for the trip, he was able to find the most amazing things underwater.