Hurghada: Pirates Sailing Boat to Orange Bay with Transfers

Hurghada’s Pirates boat trip combines Red Sea snorkeling, an island stop, and a seafood buffet aboard a large wooden yacht with twin masts. I like the spacious sun deck and the air-conditioned dining salon, plus the included hotel transfers, gear, life jackets, and national park entry.

I also like that the trip gives families a clear rhythm: sail out, snorkel for an hour, spend an hour at Orange Bay, then return for lunch. The main caution is that the pirate show and children’s programme can feel thin, and some people have faced a long wait for the return transfer.

Key points to know before booking

• Twin-masted wooden yacht: Enjoy a large upper deck, two air-conditioned lower salons, and a pirate-style interior decorated with wood and marble.
• One hour of snorkeling: The trip stops at local reefs, but a full safety or reef briefing may not always be provided.
• Orange Bay for one hour: You get sandy beach time, but the stop can feel crowded and tightly managed.
• Seafood buffet included: Expect soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and fruit.
• Children’s entertainment: Treasure hunts, costumes, and animation are offered, though the quality and amount of activity may vary.
• Transfers need attention: Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but confirm the return vehicle and time clearly.

A pirate ship that is really a large day boat

The first surprise is the boat itself. The Pirates yachts are twin-masted wooden ships designed to look like vessels from the golden age of sailing. They have a broad upper sun deck and two lower salons fitted with wood, marble, and pirate-themed decoration.

That gives you more room than a small snorkeling boat. You can sit in the sun, move around during the ride, or retreat indoors when the heat becomes too much. Lunch is served in an air-conditioned salon, which matters in Hurghada, especially after time in the water.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. Some people have found that the boat does not sail in the full old-fashioned sense and relies on its engine. The masts and pirate styling create the setting, but this is best understood as a themed Red Sea cruise rather than a quiet sailing voyage.

I like the layout because it gives you a choice. You can watch the coast from the upper deck or cool off below. Families may also appreciate the separate lower-deck area used for children’s activities, although you should not assume that every child will spend the whole trip there.

The morning and afternoon schedules

The main morning departure runs from 9:00 am to about 3:00 pm on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, the departure is listed from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm.

The advertised duration is six hours, though the afternoon schedule runs for roughly five and a half hours. That difference may not matter much, but it is worth checking the exact departure and return time when you book.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The transfer is useful because Hurghada’s resorts are spread along the coast, but allow extra patience at the end of the day. One particularly frustrating problem has been a long wait for the return vehicle, with unclear information about which company is collecting people.

My practical advice is simple: before leaving the marina, confirm the return pickup point, approximate time, and vehicle details. If the transfer is handled by a separate company, ask for its name and a phone or WhatsApp contact. The boat trip itself may end on time, but your day is not finished until you reach your hotel.

Sailing out to the Red Sea reef

The trip spends about an hour sailing to the snorkeling site. This is not dead time. From the upper deck, you can enjoy the sea air and views, while the boat’s size gives you space to settle in before the main activities begin.

The Red Sea is the star here. The snorkeling stop lasts about one hour and is described as a visit to some of the finest local reefs. You receive snorkeling equipment and a life jacket, so you do not need to rent basic gear separately.

The quality of the reef can change with weather, water conditions, and the exact site used that day. Some recent experiences have found the snorkeling good, while others felt the reef was less impressive than expected. That makes this trip a pleasant introduction to Red Sea snorkeling, but not a guarantee of a pristine underwater world.

A second point matters for less confident swimmers. The snorkeling is described as guided, yet a detailed introduction to the reef or equipment may not always happen. If you need help, ask before entering the water. Check your mask, keep your life jacket adjusted, and stay close to the designated group.

Wetsuits are not included. In hot weather, you may not need one, but the sea can feel cool during the morning or in windy conditions. Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen, and consider arranging a wetsuit separately if you get cold easily.

One hour at Orange Bay

After snorkeling, the boat continues to Orange Bay for about an hour. The appeal is straightforward: sandy beach, shallow water, and a chance to dry off on land instead of spending the entire day at sea.

For many families, this is the easiest part of the trip. Children can leave the boat, stretch their legs, and take part in the planned treasure hunt or other activities. Adults can sit on the beach or enjoy a short swim.

The stop is also the most likely to disappoint people expecting a quiet island escape. Orange Bay can feel busy, and the schedule leaves only about an hour. You may be moved along with the group rather than allowed to settle into a long, lazy beach visit.

The pirate theme is uneven here. Costumes may be available, but they can be oversized or worn, and the children’s activities may amount to a short treasure hunt, face painting, or a few simple games. Loud music can also replace the more imaginative animation you may have pictured.

I would treat Orange Bay as a pleasant change of scene, not the main reason to book. If your priority is a peaceful beach with plenty of personal space, this stop may feel managed and crowded. If you want a quick sandy break between snorkeling and lunch, it does the job.

Lunch in the air-conditioned salon

After Orange Bay, you return to the yacht for the buffet. This is one of the stronger practical features of the tour. You can eat indoors in air conditioning rather than trying to balance a plate on a hot open deck.

The menu includes:

• Seafood soup
• Three types of fresh salad
• Rice, pasta, and potatoes
• Shrimp, calamari, and fish
• Chicken and kofta
• Seasonal fresh fruit

That is a useful range for a mixed group. Seafood lovers have several choices, while children or cautious eaters can choose chicken, kofta, pasta, rice, and potatoes. The meal is included in the $85 price, along with the boat, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, transfers, and national park entry.

The lunch is not a fine-dining event, and the exact quality can vary. Still, a substantial buffet is valuable on a six-hour outing. You avoid the hassle of finding food on the island, and you get a proper meal after swimming.

Extra drinks are sold separately on board. Bring money for those purchases, and do not assume every payment method will work for additional services. A separate transfer charge has reportedly required cash even when card payment was expected, so carrying some Egyptian currency or other accepted cash is sensible.

What the children’s programme really offers

The tour is marketed strongly toward families. Children can join the animation team in the lower deck, and the programme is meant to include pirate activities, a treasure hunt, costumes, and other games.

That sounds ideal if you want a little time on the sun deck while your children are occupied. The crew has also been praised for being warm and attentive with children, and some families found the staff involved from the beginning to the end of the trip.

The important qualification is consistency. The amount of animation may depend on the day, the crew, and the number of children aboard. Some children may find the programme fun, while others may find a few costumes, light face painting, and a simple treasure hunt too limited.

Do not book this as a full children’s club at sea. Think of it as occasional entertainment during a boat trip. You should still supervise your children, especially around the water, the deck, and the transfer points.

For younger children, the boat’s air-conditioned rooms and easy buffet are real advantages. For older children expecting actors, a detailed pirate story, or nonstop games, the experience may feel less exciting than the name suggests.

The pirate theme, with realistic expectations

The themed ship is attractive. The wood, marble, twin masts, and pirate decorations give the trip more character than a plain motorboat. It is a good backdrop for family photos and helps the day feel like an outing rather than simple transport to a reef.

The theme does not always extend into a full performance. The boat may not have a pirate host in costume, and the children’s pirate props may look tired or too large. Music can be loud, while the actual storytelling and games remain brief.

That is not a reason to reject the trip if you mainly want a comfortable boat, snorkeling, lunch, and Orange Bay. It is a reason to price the experience as a themed cruise with family extras, not as a polished pirate theatre show.

The overall rating of 3.9 from 33 reviews fits that picture. The strongest praise focuses on the crew, the clean and attractive ship, the food, and the way staff handle children. The weaker experiences focus on the missing pirate element, thin animation, busy island conditions, unclear snorkeling instruction, and return transfers.

Is $85 good value?

At $85 per person, the value depends on what you want from a Red Sea day. You are paying for a six-hour boat outing, hotel transportation, national park entry, snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, lunch, and the themed ship.

That is a fair bundle if you would otherwise need to arrange each part separately. The air-conditioned dining room also adds real comfort, and the large yacht may suit you better than a cramped snorkeling boat.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want serious snorkeling. The reef stop lasts about one hour, and the underwater experience may be basic. A specialist snorkeling or diving excursion could give you more water time, though that is not the same type of family day.

It is also less attractive if Orange Bay is your main goal. You only spend about an hour there, and the island can feel crowded. In that case, a beach-focused trip with a longer stay might suit you better.

For a family wanting one organized day with food, transport, a boat ride, and simple activities, I think the package can make sense. For adults seeking silence, long reef sessions, or an authentic sailing experience, I would look elsewhere.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it most readily to families with young children who want a simple day at sea. The crew’s child-friendly approach, indoor lunch room, life jackets, and basic animation can take some pressure off parents.

It can also suit first-time snorkelers. The gear is included, the water stop is structured, and the total day does not depend on spending hours in the sea. You can enjoy the boat and beach even if snorkeling is not your main strength.

You should think twice if you are booking for a serious pirate experience. The visual theme is there, but the show, costumes, and children’s programme may be modest.

You should also be cautious if you dislike crowds or poorly explained transfers. Ask questions at pickup, keep your phone charged, and confirm how you return to your hotel. These small steps may prevent the most annoying part of the day.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, which is useful if that applies to you. Because boat access and movement between deck levels can be important, confirm the exact arrangements before departure.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve without paying immediately. Those terms give you some flexibility if weather or family plans change.

Should you book Pirates Premier Sailing Boat?

Book it if you want a comfortable, all-in-one family boat day with a good buffet, reef snorkeling, and a short beach stop. The clean wooden yacht, air-conditioned lunch salon, helpful crew, and included transfers create a convenient package.

Do not book it expecting a full pirate show, a quiet island, or expert-level snorkeling guidance. Go for the Red Sea outing first, and treat the pirate theme and children’s animation as extras. Confirm the return transfer, bring cash for onboard purchases, and pack a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and any wetsuit you may need.

FAQ

How long is the Pirates sailing boat trip?

The advertised duration is six hours. Morning departures run from 9:00 am to about 3:00 pm, while afternoon departures run from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm on the listed days.

What stops are included?

The trip includes a snorkeling stop of about one hour and a visit to Orange Bay for about one hour. The remaining time is spent sailing to and from the sites, eating lunch, and returning to the marina.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The buffet includes seafood soup, three salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fresh fruit. Extra drinks are available for purchase onboard.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and life jackets are included. Wetsuits are not included, so bring or arrange one if you expect to need it.

Is there entertainment for children?

Yes. The programme is intended to include animation, a treasure hunt, costumes, and other activities. The amount and quality of the children’s entertainment may vary, so parents should not treat it as a full childcare service.

Are hotel transfers included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Confirm the return pickup details before leaving the boat, since the return transfer may be handled separately and can require extra waiting.