Hurghada: Afternoon Sailing cruise to orange bay with Lunch

Hurghada’s Pirates yacht cruise combines a Red Sea swim, a stop at Orange Bay, and a sunset ride back to port aboard a large wooden ship with twin masts. I like the generous choice of spaces: you can sit on the open upper deck for sea views, then retreat to an air-conditioned salon for lunch. I also like the practical family setup, with snorkeling gear, life jackets, and a children’s program included.

The main caution is that this may be more of a motor-powered boat trip than a true sailing cruise. One passenger specifically found that the yacht did not sail under canvas, and the onboard drinks are limited to coffee, tea, or soft drinks for sale. At $63 per person, the package is fair if you value the meal, transport, equipment, and entertainment, but less compelling if your main goal is quiet, wind-powered sailing.

Key points to know before booking

• The boat is a large twin-masted wooden yacht: It has a spacious sun deck and two lower, air-conditioned salons decorated in a pirate style.
• The schedule combines three different moods: guided snorkeling, relaxed beach time at Orange Bay, and a sunset return to Hurghada Marina.
• Lunch is a substantial buffet: Expect seafood soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit.
• Families get extra help: Children can join activities such as a treasure hunt, though the program may be brief and is not offered in German.
• The trip may run on engines: The ship looks like a sailing vessel, but you should not book it expecting a traditional sailing experience.
• Pickup needs a time cushion: Hotel collection takes place roughly one hour before the advertised departure.

A pirate-style yacht with a practical family setup

The boat is the star of the day. The twin-masted wooden design recalls old sailing ships, but the useful part is the layout. You get a broad upper sun deck for watching the coast and sea, plus two lower salons with air conditioning, marble, wood, and pirate-themed decoration.

That matters in Hurghada, where several hours in direct sun can become tiring. I like having the choice between fresh air and shade instead of being stuck in one crowded cabin. The lower salon is also where the buffet lunch is served, so you can eat in comfort rather than balancing a plate on a hot deck.

Families have a slightly different arrangement. The animation team takes children to the lower deck for organized activities while adults spend time upstairs. That gives parents a chance to sit quietly, though you should be comfortable with the children’s setup before boarding. The program includes a treasure hunt and other games, but the treasure hunt may be over very quickly. One family found it lasted only about two minutes, while another felt it could have been longer.

The children’s program is also not offered in German, according to one parent. The listed tour languages are English and German for the guided experience, but that does not mean every activity is delivered in both languages.

The afternoon departure from Hurghada

The advertised cruise runs on Saturdays and Wednesdays, generally from about 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The experience is described as five hours, but the published day runs closer to five and a half hours, including the return to the marina. Check the exact time when booking.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You should provide the hotel name and room number if applicable, and allow for collection roughly one hour before the boat departure. That early pickup window is normal for a marina excursion, but do not plan a tight afternoon appointment around it. One passenger had a driver arrive 30 minutes late, while another found pickup very well organized.

The transfer is not the glamorous part of the outing, but it saves you from arranging a taxi to Hurghada Marina. For a $63 package, that adds real value, especially if you are staying outside the central marina area.

Sailing out toward the snorkeling site

After boarding, the yacht heads out toward a Red Sea snorkeling location. The published timing gives roughly 45 minutes to an hour for the outward journey, followed by about an hour of guided snorkeling.

The word guided matters. Snorkeling gear and life jackets are included, and the crew directs you toward the reef area rather than simply dropping you into open water with no help. The stated goal is to visit one of the area’s finest local snorkeling sites, with time to swim and view marine life.

You should bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a towel. Wetsuits are not included, so if you get cold easily, plan accordingly. Extra drinks are available for purchase, but the onboard choice is limited to coffee, tea, or a soft drink. Bring no assumption that you will find a full bar service on the boat.

The Red Sea stop is likely to be the most active part of the afternoon. If you want a serious scuba or specialist reef excursion, this is not presented as that kind of trip. It is a guided snorkel stop within a broader sightseeing and family cruise. That makes it a good fit for mixed groups, where some people want to swim and others prefer to watch from the deck.

Orange Bay for sand, swimming, and a short break

The yacht then heads to Orange Bay, where the schedule gives you about an hour of free time. This is your chance to step onto the sandy beach, swim, relax, and take photos away from the main boat.

Orange Bay is useful because it breaks up the day. You are not sitting on the yacht for the entire afternoon, and the change from open water to a beach stop gives children room to move around. The animation team continues its program here, including the treasure hunt.

I would treat the one-hour stop as a pleasant interlude, not a full beach day. You have enough time to enjoy the sand and water, but not enough to settle into a slow island afternoon. Food and drinks can be bought on Orange Bay, but one passenger warned that prices there are high. Since lunch is included back on the yacht, you can save money by treating the island as a place for swimming rather than shopping.

The order of activities can feel slightly flexible. The main program places snorkeling before Orange Bay, then lunch after returning to the yacht. The published itinerary also lists lunch at the marina and a shorter snorkeling time, so exact timing may vary. The important point is that you should expect a guided reef stop, about an hour at Orange Bay, and a buffet meal before the return.

Lunch in the air-conditioned salon

The buffet is one of the stronger parts of this cruise. The menu includes seafood soup, three types of fresh salad, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit.

That range is useful for a group with different tastes. You can choose seafood if that is the reason you booked the cruise, but there are also chicken and kofta dishes for children or anyone who prefers familiar food. The meal is served in the air-conditioned salon, which is a welcome change after swimming and sun.

I would not book this as a fine-dining outing. It is a generous buffet designed to feed a boatload of people, not a carefully paced restaurant meal. Still, several passengers rated the food highly, and the choice of seafood, meat, starches, salad, and fruit makes the $63 cost easier to justify.

Drinks are the weak spot. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks are available for purchase onboard, but the selection is limited. Orange Bay offers more choices, though at a premium. If you need frequent drinks in the heat, budget for them separately.

The sunset return to Hurghada Marina

The final part of the trip is the most atmospheric. The yacht returns toward Hurghada around sunset, with the light changing across the Red Sea and the coast. This is when the upper deck earns its keep.

I would try to finish lunch and get upstairs before the best light. You can watch the marina approach, take photographs of the wooden masts, and enjoy the cooler air after the midday sun. The return is not just transport back to shore. It is the quietest and prettiest part of the day.

The word sailing needs a little care here. The ship has the look of a classic sailing vessel, but one passenger pointed out that it did not actually sail under its sails. If your dream is a silent yacht moving only with wind power, this cruise may disappoint. If you mainly want the appearance of a pirate ship, open-deck views, and a sunset ride, the design still adds character.

What the $63 price really covers

At $63 per person, the cost includes hotel pickup and return, national park entry fees, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, the buffet lunch, and the children’s program. Those inclusions make the price reasonable for a half-day excursion.

The value is strongest for families and first-time visitors who want several Hurghada highlights in one booking. You do not need to arrange transport, rent basic snorkeling equipment, pay the park entry separately, or find lunch. The air-conditioned salon also adds comfort that a smaller, simpler boat may not provide.

The value is weaker if you want a small-group sailing trip or a quiet reef visit. The ship is large, the entertainment is part of the package, and the boat may rely on its engines. You are paying for a broad day out with many components, not an intimate sailing lesson.

The published rating is 3.4 from 10 reviews, which fits the mixed picture. Food, staff friendliness, cleanliness, and organization receive strong approval, while the late pickup, limited drinks, short children’s program, and sales photography cause concern. One passenger felt the day became a constant attempt to sell expensive photo books. If you dislike onboard photography or sales activity, ask about that before you book and be ready to decline purchases.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend the trip to families who want snorkeling, a beach stop, lunch, and a sunset in one outing. The boat has enough room to let adults sit upstairs while children join organized activities, though parents should not expect a long or German-language children’s program.

It also suits couples and mixed-age groups. One person can swim, another can remain on deck, and everyone meets for the meal. The clean, spacious boat and air conditioning help if you are concerned about spending hours at sea. One passenger who gets seasick found the boat comfortable, though seasickness is personal and cannot be guaranteed away.

You may want another excursion if you want serious reef time, a small yacht, or genuine wind-powered sailing. The snorkeling period is limited to about an hour, and the Orange Bay stop is also short. This is a varied sightseeing day, not a specialist water-sports expedition.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the supplied information does not describe the exact boarding arrangements or access at Orange Bay. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the practical details before paying.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want good variety and simple planning: hotel transfers, a large themed yacht, guided snorkeling, Orange Bay, a filling buffet, and sunset views for $63. It is especially sensible for families and groups with different interests.

Think twice if the word sailing is the main reason you are interested. The boat looks like a classic sailing ship, but it may travel under engine power. Also keep extra money for drinks and possible Orange Bay purchases, and prepare for photography sales onboard.

My call is a cautious yes for a first Hurghada boat day, provided you see it as a comfortable, family-friendly Red Sea excursion rather than a true sailing voyage. The sunset ride, meal, and spacious boat make the package worthwhile, while the limited drinks and uneven children’s program keep it from being a perfect choice.

FAQ

How long does the Hurghada Orange Bay cruise last?

The activity is advertised as five hours, while the published operating window is approximately 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Check the exact departure time when booking.

What is included in the price?

The $63 price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, national park entry fees, buffet lunch, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, and the children’s entertainment program.

What food is served at lunch?

The buffet includes seafood soup, three types of fresh salad, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fresh fruit.

Are drinks included?

Drinks are not listed as included. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks are available for purchase onboard. Orange Bay also has drinks for sale, but prices may be high.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and life jackets are included. Wetsuits are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a towel. You may also want extra money for drinks or purchases at Orange Bay.

Is there entertainment for children?

Yes. The program includes activities such as a treasure hunt and other games. The children’s program may be brief, and German-language supervision is not available according to the supplied tour information.

Is the cruise available in English and German?

Yes. The listed live guide languages are English and German. The children’s activities may not be offered in both languages.