Sharm: Pirates Sailing Boat cruise with transfers & lunch

The best part of this Sharm El Sheikh day trip is the boat itself: a three-masted wooden sailing ship with marble and wood interiors, three decks, and a proper air-conditioned dining salon. You cruise the Red Sea toward Ras Mohammed and White Island, then swim above coral reefs with a guide.

I like the two separate snorkeling stops, which give you a better chance to see marine life than a single short swim. I also like the generous lunch, hotel transfers, national park entry, and family-friendly layout. The main caution is that the advertised pirate entertainment for children may be limited or absent, so I would not book this mainly for the kids’ program.

Key points at a glance

• Three decks and two air-conditioned salons: You get shade, indoor seating, and a spacious upper sun deck.
• Two 45-minute snorkeling stops: The day includes guided swimming at reef sites near Ras Mohammed and in the Red Sea.
• White Island visit: You reach the pale sandbar by smaller boat, but the stop may feel brief.
• Fresh buffet lunch aboard: Expect soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, seafood, chicken, kofta, and fruit.
• Family facilities with a warning: A lower-deck animation area is advertised, but children’s activities were not reliably provided.
• Extra costs matter: Snorkeling gear is listed at €5 per piece, wetsuits at €10, and marina entry at €5 per person unless prepaid.

A pirate ship with a practical side

At $80 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get onto the Red Sea. You are paying for more than a basic boat transfer, though. The fare includes hotel pickup and return, national park entry, lunch, life jackets, guided snorkeling, and the themed vessel.

The ship has the look of a storybook pirate boat, but the useful part is its size and layout. The upper deck gives you sun and open views. The two lower salons offer air conditioning, and one is used for lunch. Marble and wood trim make the interior feel more polished than a simple day boat.

That matters in the heat. You can sit outside when the sea breeze feels good, then retreat indoors for lunch or a break. On a seven-hour outing, that choice is worth something.

The boat leaves the marina at about 9 a.m. and returns around 4 p.m. Your hotel pickup normally comes roughly an hour before departure, and the exact time is sent through WhatsApp about 24 hours before the trip. A short vehicle transfer from Sharm El Sheikh to the marina is listed at about 25 minutes, though your actual pickup time depends on your hotel.

The ride to Ras Mohammed

The first part of the day is a long cruise along the Sinai coast toward Ras Mohammed National Park. The published schedule allows about 2.5 hours for the sailing portion, while the shorter trip description describes roughly an hour to reach the park. In practical terms, plan for a substantial morning on the boat before the first water stop.

This is not wasted time if you enjoy being on the sea. You can move between the upper sun deck and the air-conditioned salons, watch the coastline, and settle into the slower pace of a full-day cruise. It is also when the ship’s design makes the greatest difference. A cramped excursion boat can make a long crossing tiring. This vessel gives you more room to spread out.

If you want the best views, claim a place on the upper deck early, then remember that shade is limited there. Bring sunscreen, a towel, and water-friendly clothing. The boat provides soft drinks with the meal, but your own water bottle is still useful during the day.

Ras Mohammed is the main natural attraction. The park is known for coral reefs and clear Red Sea water, and this trip gives you a guided 45-minute snorkeling session there. You receive a life jacket, and the guide helps direct you toward the reef and marine life.

Forty-five minutes is long enough for a meaningful look without making the first swim exhausting. Still, conditions can affect visibility and comfort. If you are not a confident swimmer, stay close to the guide and use the life jacket. The tour is not simply a scenic cruise, so you should be comfortable entering the sea with supervision.

Two snorkeling stops, not one rushed swim

The second water session gives the outing a better rhythm. After the Ras Mohammed stop and the visit to White Island, you have another guided 45-minute snorkeling period in the Red Sea.

I like this arrangement because a single reef stop can be spoiled by wind, choppy water, or low visibility. Two chances give you a better shot at seeing coral and fish. The locations may feel different, and you can use the first stop to get comfortable with the equipment and the water.

There is an important equipment detail. Snorkeling gear is not included in the base price and is listed at €5 per piece. Wetsuits are listed at €10 per item. Confirm how you want to handle this before boarding, especially if several people in your group need masks, snorkels, fins, or thermal protection.

Bring your own mask if you have one that fits well. One family had a serious problem when a parent entered the water without a mask to supervise a five-year-old, and the child then missed the swim after becoming nervous. The information provided does not clearly state that every adult must wear a mask, but the incident shows why you should clarify the rule in advance and pack the right equipment.

The snorkeling is the heart of the outing, not the pirate theme. If you book this, set your expectations around Red Sea reefs, swimming, and the boat ride. The pirate styling adds atmosphere, but it does not replace a well-run water activity.

White Island is beautiful but brief

White Island is one of the day’s most photogenic stops. It is a pale sandbar surrounded by clear Red Sea water, and the contrast with the darker sea makes it a natural place for photographs and a short walk in shallow water.

The listed visit lasts about 45 minutes. That sounds reasonable, but you may spend part of the time transferring between the large ship and a smaller boat. One account of the day found that the actual time on the island felt short because of the repeated boarding and disembarking.

I would treat White Island as a scenic bonus rather than the main reason to book. You get a memorable setting, but not a long beach stay. If you want a slow afternoon on sand, this is the wrong type of excursion. If you like combining a reef swim with a quick, unusual stop, it fits well.

Conditions at the island can also affect the experience. The route and access depend on sea conditions and the operating plan for the day. Keep your belongings secure and wear footwear that is easy to remove if you need to enter shallow water.

Lunch in the air-conditioned salon

Lunch is served indoors in one of the air-conditioned salons, which is a sensible choice after time in the sun. The open buffet includes:

• Seafood soup
• Three fresh salads
• Rice, pasta, and potatoes
• Shrimp, calamari, and fish
• Chicken and Egyptian kofta
• Seasonal fresh fruit

This is a broad menu rather than a small snack. You can choose seafood, meat, starches, and salad, which helps when a group has different tastes. The food is freshly prepared according to the supplied details, and soft drinks are included.

I would not book this as a gourmet cruise. The value is the combination of a full meal, a comfortable place to eat, and a break from the sun. Compared with buying food separately on a boat, the included buffet makes the $80 price easier to justify.

Be careful with extra food requests for children. One family was charged a high additional amount for chopped melon and yogurt. The exact price of any special order should be confirmed before accepting it. The standard buffet already includes fruit, so most people should not need to purchase extras.

What the children’s program really means

The tour is presented as suitable for families, with a lower-deck animation area and a stated entertainment program for children. The setup sounds convenient: children can spend time with the animation team while adults enjoy the upper deck and the sea.

This is where I would be cautious. Several accounts found no real children’s activities and no staff dressed as pirates. The boat may have pirate-themed decorations and photo opportunities, but that is not the same as a scheduled program with games, costumes, or supervised entertainment.

If your children are happy with a boat ride, lunch, swimming, and pictures, the outing may work well. If the children’s program is the main reason you are paying the premium, ask the operator to confirm exactly what will run on your date.

For a five-year-old or another child who is nervous in the water, bring a properly fitting mask and make sure an adult can enter the water under the boat’s rules. The supplied information confirms life jackets, but it does not promise flotation devices beyond those jackets or special support for young children.

How the $80 price measures up

The price is reasonable if you want a full-service boat day rather than a bare-bones snorkeling transfer. Hotel transportation, national park entry, lunch, life jackets, a large themed boat, two water stops, and the White Island visit are all part of the package.

The extras can change the final cost. Allow for:

• €5 per snorkeling item
• €10 per wetsuit
• €5 per person for the mandatory marina entrance fee, unless you prepay it through the available add-on

That marina charge is easy to overlook. Check the booking choices carefully, or carry the fee for payment on arrival. The listing says the activity accepts payment later and allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, which is useful if your plans are still shifting.

The price feels strongest for adults and older children who will use both snorkeling sessions and appreciate the boat’s indoor comfort. It is less convincing for a family paying mainly for pirate games, costume activities, or a long stay on White Island.

Service, languages, and comfort

English, German, and Russian support is available. The crew is described as courteous and hardworking in the supplied feedback, and the overall rating is 4.4 from 26 ratings. That points to a generally solid operation, but not one without weak spots.

The strongest praise centers on the crew, the organization, the boat, the food, and the snorkeling. One highly positive account singled out the team and a staff member named Mr. Antar for making the day feel special. Since individual crew assignments can change, I would not book on the expectation of meeting one particular person, but the comment gives a useful sense of where the service tends to earn goodwill.

The main complaints are specific rather than broad. The children’s entertainment did not meet the advertised expectation for some families. White Island felt too short for one group. Another family had a difficult dispute about mask use and access to the water.

The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. That is helpful, but the day still includes boarding, movement between decks, and access to swimming areas. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the practical details of transfers and the route to the snorkeling points before paying.

Who should book this cruise?

I would choose this outing if you want:

• A polished boat with indoor air conditioning
• Two substantial snorkeling sessions
• A full buffet lunch rather than packed snacks
• Hotel transport from Sharm El Sheikh
• A scenic stop at White Island
• A slower, more comfortable alternative to a small speedboat

I would think twice if you want:

• A long stay on White Island
• A guaranteed pirate costume and children’s activity program
• A low-cost snorkeling trip
• Complete freedom to enter the water without snorkeling equipment
• A quiet day with very little boarding or group movement

The seven-hour length is another key factor. It gives you time for the park, two swims, lunch, and the island, but it also means a full day in a group setting. You should enjoy boat time, not merely tolerate it.

Should you book the Pirates Sailing Boat cruise?

Book it if the main appeal is a comfortable Red Sea cruise with two guided snorkeling stops, a substantial lunch, and a distinctive wooden boat. The included transfers and park entry make the $80 price fair for an adult who plans to use the whole package.

Book with caution if you are traveling with small children. The advertised animation may not appear, and the pirate theme may amount to decoration rather than live entertainment. Ask about the children’s program, mask requirements, marina fee, and equipment before departure.

For most adults, couples, and families with older children, this is a pleasant full-day introduction to Ras Mohammed and White Island. Just make the snorkeling, not the pirate show, the reason you go.

FAQ

How long is the Pirates Sailing Boat cruise?

The activity lasts about seven hours. It normally departs around 9 a.m. and returns to the marina at approximately 4 p.m., with hotel pickup roughly one hour before departure.

Does the tour include hotel transfers?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from Sharm El Sheikh hotels are included. The exact pickup time is sent through WhatsApp about 24 hours before the trip.

How many snorkeling stops are included?

Two guided snorkeling stops are included, each lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling equipment is listed at €5 per piece. Wetsuits are listed at €10 per item.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is an open buffet served in an air-conditioned salon. The menu includes soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit.

Is there an extra marina entrance fee?

Yes. A mandatory marina entrance fee of €5 per person applies unless it is prepaid through the available add-on.

What languages are available on the tour?

Instruction and tour support are available in English, German, and Russian.