Sharm: Pirates Sailing Boat cruise with transfers & lunch

Pirates, reefs, and a white island await. This seven-hour cruise gives you two guided snorkeling stops, a buffet lunch, and a memorable ride aboard a three-masted wooden ship. I especially like the air-conditioned dining salon and the chance to visit both Ras Mohammed and White Island in one day. The main catch is that the advertised children’s entertainment may be missing, so families should set expectations carefully.

The boat itself is the star. Its marble and wood interiors, three decks, and pirate styling feel more special than a basic snorkeling transfer. I also like the hardworking, friendly crew and the easy hotel pickup. At $80 per person, though, the value depends on how much you care about the ship, lunch, and included transport, since snorkeling gear and a marina fee cost extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Three-deck wooden pirate ship: You get a large sun deck plus two air-conditioned salons, with lunch served indoors.
• Two 45-minute snorkeling stops: The program includes guided time at Red Sea reefs near Ras Mohammed and another Red Sea stop.
• White Island visit: The island is scenic but the stop can feel short, especially when transfers by smaller boat eat into your time.
• Buffet lunch included: Soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit are served onboard.
• Children’s program is uncertain: Some families found no organized pirate activities, despite the advertised entertainment.
• Budget for extras: Snorkeling gear costs €5 per piece, wetsuits cost €10 each, and the marina fee is €5 per person unless prepaid as an add-on.

A pirate ship with a proper indoor salon

The Egypt Sun Marine Fleet’s ship is not a simple day boat with a few plastic seats. It is a three-masted wooden vessel designed around a pirate theme, with a wide upper sun deck and two lower salons.

The styling includes marble, wood, and pirate decorations. That gives the day a sense of occasion, especially if you want something more memorable than a standard reef excursion. You can sit in the sun, find shade, or retreat to air conditioning when the heat becomes too much.

The main salon is where lunch is served. This matters in South Sinai, where several hours under strong sun can turn a pleasant outing into a tiring one. I like having a proper indoor place to eat rather than balancing a plate on a bench.

The pirate character is strongest in the boat’s design. Do not assume the crew will be dressed as pirates or that a full theatrical show will take place. The family entertainment advertised for children was not available on several recent departures, and that is the clearest weakness in the experience.

Getting from Sharm to the marina

Pickup begins roughly one hour before the boat leaves. The actual road transfer from Sharm El Sheikh takes about 25 minutes, but the early pickup allows time for hotel collections and marina arrangements.

You should receive your exact pickup time by WhatsApp about 24 hours before departure. Keep your passport with you, although a copy is accepted. Bring a towel and sunscreen, and pack your own snorkeling equipment if you already have it.

The boat is scheduled to leave the marina at about 9:00 am and return around 4:00 pm. That makes this a full day rather than a quick morning outing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which adds real value if you do not have your own transport.

One cost deserves attention: the mandatory marina entrance fee is €5 per person. You can pay it on arrival or prepay it through the available add-on. This is easy to overlook when comparing the $80 headline price with other boat trips.

Sailing toward Ras Mohammed National Park

The cruise begins with a long ride along the Sinai coast toward Ras Mohammed National Park. The sailing section is listed as about 2.5 hours in total, including the outward and return movement around the day’s stops.

That length is both a benefit and a warning. If you enjoy being on a large wooden ship, watching the coast, and moving between the sun deck and air-conditioned salon, the journey becomes part of the experience. If your main goal is snorkeling, two and a half hours of boat time may feel substantial.

Ras Mohammed is one of the main reasons to choose this cruise. The park is known for its coral reefs and marine life, and the first guided snorkeling stop lasts about 45 minutes. Life jackets are provided, and a professional guide leads the water activity.

You will need a mask to snorkel properly. The operator charges €5 per snorkeling item, and wetsuits cost €10 each. One serious family complaint centered on a parent entering the water without a mask to supervise a young child. The practical lesson is simple: bring or rent the required equipment for every person who plans to enter the water.

The 45-minute stop is long enough to see reef scenery without making the water session exhausting. Still, conditions can affect how much you see. The tour promises access to attractive reef areas, not guaranteed sightings of particular fish or other sea life.

White Island, the day’s prettiest pause

White Island is the cruise’s most distinctive stop. Its pale sand and shallow-water setting create a sharp contrast with the open Red Sea, and it gives you a chance to leave the boat and enjoy a different kind of scenery.

The scheduled visit lasts about 45 minutes. That sounds generous on paper, but the actual time on the island may be reduced by transfers from the main boat to a smaller speedboat and back. One family found that too much of the stop was spent getting on and off the transfer boat.

This is worth knowing if White Island is your main reason for booking. You will see it, but do not expect a long beach stay. The stop is best treated as a scenic interlude between water activities rather than a full island excursion.

Some people would gladly trade a few minutes of snorkeling for more time on the island. If that sounds like you, the short stop may be frustrating. If you want a varied day with reefs, sailing, lunch, and a quick visit to a striking location, the format works better.

The second snorkeling stop in the Red Sea

After White Island, the boat continues to another snorkeling area. This second session also lasts about 45 minutes and is guided, giving you another chance to see coral and marine life from the water.

Two separate stops are useful because conditions and visibility can differ. If the first site is busy or less clear, the second gives you another opportunity. It also breaks up the long time onboard and lets confident swimmers choose how much time they want in the water.

Life jackets are included. Snorkeling gear is not, unless you rent it for €5 per piece. The supplied information does not specify the exact equipment included in that price, so check what you are receiving before entering the water.

The water sessions are not designed as scuba excursions. This is a surface snorkeling day with guided viewing, suitable for people who want a straightforward introduction to Red Sea reefs. You should be comfortable following the crew’s instructions and using the required equipment.

What lunch is like onboard

Lunch is served in the air-conditioned salon as an open buffet. The menu is more substantial than the usual sandwich or boxed meal:

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

That range is helpful for mixed groups. Seafood fans have several choices, while children or cautious eaters can choose chicken, potatoes, rice, pasta, or fruit.

The indoor setting is another plus. You can cool down, eat at a proper table, and avoid trying to manage a full plate on the moving upper deck. Soft drinks are included in the onboard service.

The meal is not the sole reason to pay $80, but it improves the day’s value. You are not only paying for a boat transfer to two stops. You are getting a full-day vessel experience, food, drinks, park entry, life jackets, and transport from your hotel.

The family question: pirate fun or pirate decoration?

This is where I would be most cautious. The boat is decorated around a pirate theme, and the advertised program includes entertainment for children. In practice, multiple families reported that there were no organized children’s activities and no staff dressed as pirates.

The lower deck is intended to be a place where children can spend time with an animation team while adults enjoy the upper deck. That arrangement sounds attractive for parents, but you should not book this trip solely on the promise of supervised pirate games or costume activities.

Families can still enjoy the boat, the water, and the White Island stop. But younger children may become restless during the long sailing sections, particularly if they do not swim. The activity is a better fit for children who enjoy boats and water even without a formal entertainment program.

There was also a complaint about expensive extra food ordered for children. The listed lunch is included, but special additional items are not covered. If your child needs a particular snack or meal, bring suitable food if permitted, and ask about any extra charge before ordering.

What the $80 price really buys you

At $80 per person, this is not the cheapest snorkeling trip in Sharm El Sheikh. The price makes more sense if you value the ship itself and want a full package rather than the lowest-cost way to reach a reef.

Included are hotel pickup and drop-off, national park entry, buffet lunch, soft drinks, life jackets, and the two guided snorkeling sessions. You also get the pirate ship’s three-deck layout and air-conditioned interior.

Add the €5 marina fee, unless you prepay it, plus €5 per snorkeling item and €10 per wetsuit if needed. For a family of four, those extras can quickly change the final cost.

I would compare this trip with a basic snorkeling boat only after deciding what matters to you. If you want a memorable vessel, indoor dining, a full buffet, and a themed setting, the premium can be reasonable. If you mainly want time in the water, a simpler boat may offer better value.

The overall rating of 4.4 from 26 ratings reflects that split. People who enjoyed the crew, food, boat, and scenery found it highly worthwhile. The lower scores mainly focus on missing children’s activities, equipment rules, short White Island time, and the price.

Service, languages, and comfort onboard

The crew is described as courteous, prepared, hardworking, and friendly. Joe specifically praised Mr. Antar and credited him with making the day feel special. That suggests the personal service can be a strong part of the outing, though individual crew assignments may vary.

Instruction is available in English, German, and Russian. That is useful during safety briefings and guided snorkeling, when clear directions matter.

The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible. You should still confirm the practical arrangements when booking, especially because the White Island visit involves a smaller transfer boat. The provided information confirms accessibility, but it does not explain how every boarding step is handled.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve without paying immediately. Those terms help if your Sharm schedule may change, but you should still read the final booking conditions carefully.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, groups of friends, and families with older children who want a comfortable full-day boat outing. It suits people who enjoy the journey as much as the stops, particularly those who like a themed vessel, good onboard meals, and time on a broad sun deck.

It is also a sensible choice if you want Ras Mohammed and White Island in one day without arranging separate transport. The included pickup and park entry keep the planning simple.

I would be careful about booking it for very young children if the pirate entertainment is the main attraction. The advertised activities may not happen, and the long sailing time can be hard for children who are not interested in snorkeling.

Strong swimmers and confident snorkelers should have the easiest time. If you wear glasses, bring a suitable mask or arrange rental equipment in advance. Do not count on entering the water without one, even if you plan only to supervise a child.

Should you book the Pirates Sailing Boat cruise?

Book it if you want the Red Sea wrapped in a more stylish package: a wooden three-masted boat, two guided snorkeling sessions, White Island, an air-conditioned lunch salon, and hotel transfers. The crew, food, ship, and scenery are the strongest parts of the day.

Skip it if you want the cheapest reef trip, a long stay on White Island, or guaranteed pirate games for children. Before paying, budget for the €5 marina fee and snorkeling equipment, then confirm what the children’s program will actually include.

My practical choice would be this: couples and adults should consider booking, especially if the ship and lunch appeal to you. Families should book only after treating the pirate theme as decoration, not as a guaranteed kids’ club.

FAQ

How long is the Pirates Sailing Boat cruise?

The experience lasts about seven hours. Pickup begins roughly one hour before the trip, the boat leaves around 9:00 am, and arrival back at the marina is expected at approximately 4:00 pm.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh are included.

What destinations does the cruise visit?

The cruise sails to Ras Mohammed National Park and White Island, with two snorkeling stops in the Red Sea.

How long are the snorkeling stops?

Each guided snorkeling stop lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The open buffet includes soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit. Soft drinks are also provided.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling gear costs €5 per piece. Wetsuits cost €10 per item.

Is there an extra marina fee?

Yes. The mandatory marina entrance fee is €5 per person. You can pay it on arrival or prepay it through the add-ons.

Are children’s activities included?

A children’s entertainment program is advertised, but it may not operate on every departure. Several families reported that no organized pirate activities took place.

What languages are available on the tour?

Instruction is available in English, German, and Russian.