Hurghada:Luxury Diving & Snorkeling inc/Island/Lunch/Massage

The best part of this Hurghada day is the mix: you get a beautiful island stop, a first underwater session, snorkeling, lunch, a massage, and a banana boat ride without booking several separate outings. Orange Bay gives you soft sand and photo time, while the Red Sea provides the clear water that makes even a short swim worthwhile.

I like the way the price covers hotel transfers, equipment, drinks, snacks, and a buffet lunch. I also like the patient approach used for first-time scuba participants, with instructors such as Fox and Salam helping nervous swimmers feel safe. The main drawback is time: the beginner scuba session can be very short, and Orange Bay may feel crowded and more commercial than the name suggests.

Key points at a glance

• Orange Bay takes about 75 minutes: You have time for photos, swimming, and relaxing on the sand, but not a full private-island escape.
• The scuba session is for beginners: No certificate is needed, and instructors provide basic guidance before the underwater session.
• Snorkeling equipment is included: You can explore the water around Giftun Island with a mask, snorkel, and life vest.
• The $58 package covers a lot: Transfers, marine and nature reserve fees, food, drinks, a massage, and water are included.
• Lunch is a full buffet: Expect rice, pasta, vegetables, kofta, chicken, fish, salads, fruit, hot drinks, and soft drinks.
• The boat day is active and social: Add a banana boat ride and open-water stops, but avoid this trip if you are prone to seasickness.

What your $58 Red Sea day really includes

At $58 per person, this is a strong-value package for a full eight-hour outing. The cost includes hotel pickup and return, the yacht trip, the Orange Bay stop, an introductory scuba session, snorkeling, equipment, a life vest, a diving suit, lunch, drinks, snacks, a massage, and the nature reserve and marine fees.

That matters because boat excursions often advertise a low base price and then add transport, equipment rental, food, or park charges. Here, the listed essentials are bundled together. You should still carry cash for tips or extras, but you do not need to budget separately for the main activities.

The value is best for someone who wants a packed sea day rather than a quiet luxury cruise. The boat is described as luxurious, but one account found the vessel a little worn and some suits in poor condition. Set your expectations at comfortable group-boat outing, not private yacht charter.

Leaving Hurghada for Orange Bay

Pickup is available in Hurghada and Hurghada 1, with return to those areas. The operator sends the exact pickup time and meeting point by WhatsApp or email one day ahead. You should wait five minutes early at the hotel reception or main gate, since the exact meeting place can vary.

The first boat ride to Orange Bay takes about 45 minutes. That crossing gives you time to settle in, find your place on deck, and watch Hurghada recede. Bring a towel, swimwear, beachwear, cash, and your passport or an accepted copy of your ID.

Orange Bay is the first major stop and lasts about 75 minutes. You can walk on the sand, swim, take photographs, or simply sit near the water. The setting is attractive, but you should not expect an untouched island. The stop is popular, and one account described it as busy with tourists and limited in activities beyond the beach and photos.

That does not make it pointless. For many people, Orange Bay is a welcome pause before the more active water sessions. If you want a picture of yourself on pale sand beside clear water, this is the easiest part of the day for it. If your priority is serious snorkeling or a long underwater session, the island stop uses time that could otherwise go to those activities.

Your first underwater session at Small Giftun

The boat then heads to the Small Giftun scuba site. The scheduled session lasts about one hour, but the actual time beneath the surface may be much shorter because it includes preparation, safety instructions, equipment fitting, and helping beginners enter the water.

This is an introductory session, not a certification course. You do not need a certificate, and qualified instructors guide the process. The instructors speak Arabic, English, German, and Russian. Crew members named in the experience details include Andrew, Salam, Fox, Andro, and Hada, though the exact team on your boat may vary.

The strongest reason to choose this outing is the beginner-friendly support. If you are uneasy in open water, pay close attention to the briefing and tell the instructor clearly how confident you feel. Several people who had never tried scuba before managed the session after patient reassurance, which suggests that the staff put real effort into calming nervous participants.

Still, you need to understand the format. This is a taste of scuba, not a long exploration of the Red Sea. A session can feel like only ten minutes underwater once instruction, waiting, and transfers are taken away. One account found the time too short despite loving the site and the underwater life.

If you already hold a certification and want a substantial scuba outing, this package may disappoint. It is better suited to you if you want to try the equipment, breathe underwater, and see how you feel before committing to a proper multi-dive course.

The water is known for clear visibility and coral areas with colorful fish. The supplied description names marine life such as manta rays and clownfish, though sightings are never guaranteed. The appeal is not a promise of a particular animal. It is the chance to see the Red Sea below the surface with an instructor beside you.

Lunch on the yacht, with plenty of drinks

After the first water activity, lunch is served aboard the boat and takes about 45 minutes. The open buffet includes rice, pasta, oven vegetables, grilled kofta, chicken, fish, four kinds of salad, and three kinds of fruit.

This is more useful than a light snack after a morning in the water. You can choose a fuller plate or keep things simple before the next swim. Vegetarian choices are included, and a gluten-free option was provided for one participant, though you should mention dietary needs in advance rather than rely on what happens on the day.

Soft drinks, hot drinks, unlimited water, and snacks are included. That helps keep the $58 price in perspective. You do not need to pack a full day of food or buy every drink onboard.

Food quality can vary. Some people found the buffet delicious and even better than their hotel meals. Another account found the fish undercooked and described some dishes as ordinary. I would treat the meal as convenient and generous rather than a reason to book the tour by itself.

The boat can also have a lively mood. Birthday celebrations and music may turn lunch into a social part of the day. If you want a quiet meal, choose a place away from the center of the group when possible.

Snorkeling near Giftun Island

The next scheduled water stop is around Giftun Island, with about 45 minutes for snorkeling. Masks, snorkels, life vests, and other listed equipment are supplied, so you can take part without bringing your own kit.

The clear Red Sea water is the real attraction here. Snorkeling lets you see coral and fish without the training or equipment demands of scuba. For a first-time visitor, this may offer a more relaxed look at the marine life because you can stay near the surface and control your pace.

There is an important practical point: the schedule includes several water activities, but you may not be able to enjoy every one fully. After the introductory scuba session, some people find it difficult to return to snorkeling right away. If seeing coral and fish from the surface matters most to you, tell the crew that early and protect time for snorkeling.

Bring your own prescription mask if you already have one and prefer it, but the supplied equipment means that is not required. Check your mask fit before entering the water. A poor seal can turn an easy swim into constant adjustment.

Banana boat, free time, and the short massage

The banana boat ride is scheduled for about 45 minutes. That does not necessarily mean 45 minutes of continuous riding. The time can include waiting, boarding, safety instructions, and multiple turns, but it adds a fun, energetic element to a day otherwise built around swimming and sightseeing.

Next comes about 45 minutes of free time on the Red Sea. Use it to sit on deck, take a drink, dry off, or return to the water if conditions allow. This break matters because the schedule is full. You are moving from island to boat to scuba to lunch to snorkeling and then another activity.

The massage is one of the package’s more unusual extras. It lasts about 15 minutes and takes place on deck while the boat is on the water. It is a pleasant way to loosen up after swimming, but it is not a private spa treatment. Other people may be nearby, and the boat’s movement and general activity remain part of the setting.

You should think of it as a short relaxation bonus, not a reason to book a massage holiday. It works best when you want a quick pause and do not mind a public, informal setup.

The return ride and the real pace of the day

The final boat trip back to Hurghada takes about 45 minutes, followed by the return transfer to your hotel. By then, you will likely have spent most of the day outdoors, so pack sun protection even though it is not specifically listed among the required items.

The schedule adds up to a busy eight hours. Orange Bay, scuba, snorkeling, the banana boat, lunch, free time, the massage, and the boat crossings all compete for attention. Timings may shift with sea conditions, loading, and group movement.

That pace suits you if you like variety and want to sample several Red Sea activities in one booking. It suits you less if you want long, unhurried time underwater. The most common tradeoff is clear: the tour offers many inclusions, but each individual activity is relatively brief.

The boat has received strong praise for friendly service and organization, but conditions are not perfectly uniform. One person found the boat a little tired and the suits ripped, while others described the crew as professional, attentive, and helpful. Inspect your equipment before use and speak up immediately if a suit, mask, or life vest is uncomfortable.

Who should book this Hurghada boat trip?

I would choose this for a first Red Sea experience, especially if you want to try scuba without taking a course. It is also a good fit for couples, families with eligible older children, and mixed groups where one person wants an island visit and another wants water sports.

The minimum age for scuba is 13. The trip is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with heart problems, people with high blood pressure, or people prone to seasickness.

The language range is useful for an international group. Instruction is available in Arabic, English, German, and Russian. If you are nervous, make that known before entering the water. Clear communication with the instructor matters more than pretending to be confident.

Photography is available as an extra. One person specifically praised the photographer Yaya and found the photo and video prices reasonable. Ask about the cost before ordering anything, since photography is not included in the package.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. That flexibility is useful if your plans are not fixed, but do not schedule the tour immediately before a flight. One participant missed the scuba portion because of a same-day flight, and underwater activities are a poor match for tight departure plans.

Is the Royal Cruise Hurghada experience worth booking?

For $58, I think this is a good-value sampler of the Red Sea. The strongest features are the patient beginner instruction, included equipment, hotel transfers, filling buffet, drinks, Orange Bay, and the chance to combine snorkeling with a supervised scuba session.

Book it if you want a lively, full-day introduction and understand that the scuba portion may be brief. Skip it if your main goal is extended underwater time, a quiet private boat, or an uncrowded island. In that case, look for a specialist scuba trip or a smaller boat with fewer scheduled stops.

For most first-time visitors to Hurghada, this outing offers a lot for the money. Just bring realistic expectations: it is a busy sampler with plenty of extras, not a dedicated scuba expedition.

FAQ

How long does the Hurghada yacht experience last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including the boat rides, island visit, water activities, lunch, free time, massage, and return transfer.

Is scuba included for beginners?

Yes. An introductory scuba session is included, and no certificate is needed. The minimum age for scuba is 13.

What languages do the instructors speak?

Instruction is available in Arabic, English, German, and Russian.

Is equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, scuba equipment, a life vest, and a diving suit are included.

What food and drinks are provided?

Lunch includes rice, pasta, oven vegetables, grilled kofta, chicken, fish, four salads, and three kinds of fruit. Soft drinks, hot drinks, unlimited water, and snacks are also included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, beachwear, cash, and your passport or an accepted copy of your ID. You should wait five minutes early at the pickup point sent by WhatsApp or email.