Sharm: Pirates Sailing Boat cruise with transfers & lunch

The best part of this seven-hour Red Sea cruise is the boat itself: a three-masted wooden vessel with marble and wood interiors, three decks, and a full-service feel. You sail toward Ras Mohammed National Park, stop twice for guided snorkeling, and visit White Island before returning to Sharm El Sheikh.

I like the air-conditioned dining salon, which gives you a cool place to eat instead of balancing a plate on a hot deck. I also like the clear structure of the day: hotel pickup, a long coastal cruise, two 45-minute water stops, lunch, and a return to the marina around 4 pm. The main caution is for families: the advertised pirate activities for children have not always been available.

Key points at a glance

• Three decks and a proper dining salon: The pirate boat has a spacious sun deck plus two air-conditioned salons fitted with marble and wood.
• Two guided snorkeling stops: Each water stop lasts about 45 minutes, with life jackets provided.
• White Island is a short visit: The island is beautiful, but your time there may feel brief because transfers between the boat and shore take some of the visit.
• Lunch is more than a snack: Expect seafood soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit.
• Budget for extras: Snorkeling equipment costs €5 per piece, wetsuits cost €10 each, and the mandatory marina fee is €5 per person.
• Children’s entertainment is uncertain: The lower deck may be presented as a children’s area, but the pirate costumes and organized activities have not been consistent.

A pirate ship with a practical side

This is not a small fishing boat with a pirate flag tied to the rail. The vessel is a large, three-masted wooden yacht designed to make the cruise feel special from the moment you board. You have a wide upper sun deck, indoor salons, marble details, wood furniture, and pirate-themed decoration below.

That matters in Sharm El Sheikh, where a boat day can mean hours in direct sun. You can enjoy the views from the top deck, then retreat indoors for lunch or a break. The boat also gives you more room to move around than a compact speedboat, though you still use a smaller boat to reach White Island.

The experience begins with pickup in Sharm El Sheikh. Pickup is roughly one hour before departure, and the exact time is sent by WhatsApp about 24 hours before the trip. The transfer to the marina takes about 25 minutes by bus or coach. The cruise itself leaves at approximately 9 am and returns to the marina at about 4 pm.

The operating company is Egypt Sun Marine Fleet. Guides and crew can work in English, German, and Russian. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not book expecting a named guide or a particular crew member.

The cruise toward Ras Mohammed

Once the boat leaves the marina, the first major part of the day is the cruise along the Sinai coast toward Ras Mohammed National Park. The published schedule gives about two and a half hours for the sailing portion, although the full route includes the time needed to reach the snorkeling areas and White Island.

This long ride is part of the experience, not just transportation. You can use it to settle into the boat, find a place on the sun deck, take photographs, or sit in the air-conditioned salon. If you want a quiet morning, the indoor areas are useful. If you want the full sailing feel, the upper deck is the better choice.

The boat’s pirate design adds atmosphere, but keep your expectations sensible. The decoration is a strong part of the theme. The children’s program is less certain, and several families found that the promised pirate costumes and organized activities were not offered. I would treat the pirate theme as a bonus in the boat design, not the main reason to book.

Ras Mohammed is the serious snorkeling stop. This protected area is known for coral reefs and Red Sea marine life, and the tour includes a professional guide to help you view the reef. The water session lasts about 45 minutes, giving you enough time to swim, look around, and return to the boat without spending the entire day in the sea.

You receive a life jacket, but snorkeling equipment is not included in the base price. A mask, snorkel, and other equipment cost €5 per piece. Wetsuits cost €10 each. Bring your own gear if you already have it, especially if you need a particular mask size or prescription solution.

One practical point deserves attention: the tour information does not clearly state that every swimmer must use a mask, but a family reported being refused entry to the water without one. The safest choice is to bring or rent a mask for every person who plans to enter the sea, including an adult who expects only to supervise a child.

White Island and the second water stop

White Island is the photogenic stop. It is reached by a smaller boat, and the transfer itself takes time. You may need to get on and off the tender rather than simply step from the large yacht onto a beach.

The visit is scheduled for about 45 minutes, but that does not necessarily mean 45 uninterrupted minutes standing on the island. The transfer process can shorten the time you spend there. If White Island is your main goal, you may find the stop too brief. The island is worth seeing, but the snorkeling sessions are the more substantial part of the day.

After White Island, the program includes another 45-minute snorkeling stop in the Red Sea. This gives you a second chance to see coral and marine life, and it helps the day feel like more than a sightseeing cruise with one quick swim.

The two stops also help different kinds of swimmers. You can treat one as your main snorkeling session and use the other for a shorter look around. Still, the boat schedule is fixed, so you should be ready to leave the water when the crew calls time.

Lunch in the air-conditioned salon

Lunch is served onboard in the main salon, rather than on the hot upper deck. This is one of the smartest details of the boat. After time in the sun and water, a cool indoor meal is much more comfortable than eating outside with wind blowing across your plate.

The open buffet includes seafood soup, three types of fresh salad, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit. Soft drinks are included. The food has enough variety for people who want seafood and for those who prefer chicken or meat.

The meal is a full part of the trip, not an afterthought. You can expect an Egyptian and Mediterranean-style buffet with several filling side dishes. If you have children with you, the buffet gives you more choice than a single set meal, though special children’s food is not listed as part of the package.

One warning: extra food orders may cost far more than expected. A family was charged a high additional amount for chopped melon and yogurt ordered separately for children. The smart approach is to use the included buffet first and ask the crew for the price of any extra item before ordering.

What the $80 price really covers

At $80 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the Red Sea. You are paying for more than snorkeling. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, national park entry, the cruise, two guided water stops, life jackets, and a substantial buffet lunch.

The large yacht also makes the price easier to understand. You get indoor seating, a full dining area, a sun deck, and a more polished setting than a basic day boat. If you care about comfort during a long day at sea, the extra cost may be reasonable.

Still, check the add-ons before you pay. The mandatory marina entrance fee is €5 per person. Snorkeling equipment costs €5 per piece, and a wetsuit costs €10 per item. These charges can make the final cost higher, especially for a family of four.

The value is strongest for adults and older children who will use the snorkeling stops, eat the included lunch, and enjoy time on a larger boat. The value is weaker if your main reason for booking is children’s entertainment or a long stay on White Island.

Families should read the fine print

The boat includes a lower-deck area associated with children’s entertainment, and the program is described as suitable for kids. In practice, you should not assume that a full animation team, costumes, or pirate games will be available on your sailing.

Several families found the children’s program missing or very limited. One family also expected children to be supervised while adults enjoyed the upper deck, but that arrangement did not match what was offered. For this reason, I would book this cruise with children only if the adults are happy to supervise them and provide their own entertainment.

Young children also need a realistic plan for the snorkeling stops. A five-year-old may be nervous about entering the water from a boat, especially if a parent cannot enter without a mask. Bring suitable swim gear, and make sure each person who wants to enter the sea has access to a mask.

The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the route to White Island involves a smaller transfer boat. If you use a wheelchair, confirm that the full island transfer is suitable for your needs before booking.

Timing, comfort, and what to bring

This is a full day, even though the listed duration is seven hours. Pickup can take place about an hour before the trip, followed by the 25-minute ride to the marina. You then spend much of the day onboard, with the return around 4 pm.

Bring a towel, sunscreen, and your passport. A copy of your passport is accepted. Sunscreen is especially important because the upper deck is exposed, and the boat spends long periods at sea.

A light cover-up is useful for moving between the sun deck and the indoor salon. If you plan to snorkel, bring your own mask and snorkel if possible. If not, set aside the rental fee and ask exactly what each €5 equipment charge covers.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That gives you some flexibility, but the WhatsApp pickup message is important. Watch for it the day before and keep your phone available.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this trip to adults, couples, and families with older children who want a comfortable boat day with several built-in activities. The two snorkeling stops are the main attraction, while the boat, lunch, and coastal sailing make the day feel more complete.

It also suits you if you prefer a larger vessel with indoor seating. The air-conditioned salon is a real advantage during a long Red Sea excursion, and the buffet is more satisfying than a simple boxed lunch.

I would be cautious if you are booking mainly for a children’s pirate show. The theme is visible in the boat’s decoration, but the organized children’s program has not been dependable. I would also think twice if White Island is your top priority, since the transfer can reduce the time you spend there.

The cruise received an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 26 ratings, with strong praise for the crew, the boat, the food, the transfers, and the general organization. The lower scores focus on missing children’s activities, equipment rules, extra charges, and limited White Island time. That is a useful pattern: the core boat trip works better than the family entertainment promise.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want a polished Red Sea day with two snorkeling sessions, a large pirate-style yacht, hotel transport, and a proper buffet lunch. The crew is often described as kind and hardworking, and the boat gives you more comfort than a basic snorkeling outing.

Book with caution if you have very young children. Bring or rent a mask for every swimmer, do not count on pirate games, and confirm the final price including the €5 marina fee and equipment. If you accept those limits, the trip offers a good mix of sailing, reef time, food, and scenery for a full day from Sharm El Sheikh.

FAQ

How long is the pirate boat cruise?

The activity lasts about seven hours. Pickup takes place roughly one hour before the trip, and the boat returns to the marina at approximately 4 pm.

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from a marina serving Sharm El Sheikh. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh are included.

How long is the transfer from the hotel to the marina?

The bus or coach transfer takes about 25 minutes, though pickup begins roughly one hour before the boat trip.

Does the cruise visit Ras Mohammed?

Yes. The boat sails to Ras Mohammed National Park, where you have a guided snorkeling stop lasting about 45 minutes.

Does the cruise visit White Island?

Yes. White Island is included, with a scheduled visit of about 45 minutes. A smaller boat is used for the transfer, and the transfer time can reduce the time spent on the island itself.

How many snorkeling stops are included?

Two snorkeling stops are included. Each lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling equipment costs €5 per piece. Life jackets are included.

Are wetsuits available?

Yes. Wetsuits cost €10 per item and are not included in the main price.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is an open buffet served in an air-conditioned salon. It includes soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit. Soft drinks are also included.

Is there an extra marina fee?

Yes. The mandatory marina entrance fee is €5 per person. It can be paid on arrival or prepaid through the available add-ons.