Sharm: Pirates Sailing Boat cruise with transfers & lunch

The best part of this trip is the boat itself: a large, three-masted wooden vessel with three decks, marble and wood interiors, and a full pirate theme. You cruise toward Ras Mohammed National Park and White Island, with two guided snorkeling stops along the way. I like the proper air-conditioned dining salon and the generous buffet lunch. I also like that hotel transfers and park entry are covered in the $80 price.

The main caution is for families booking this as a pirate adventure. The children’s entertainment may be limited or absent, and the crew may not dress as pirates. You should also bring your own mask if possible, since snorkeling equipment costs extra and one family was unable to enter the water without a mask.

Key points to know before you book

• A real three-masted sailing boat: The vessel has a broad upper sun deck plus two air-conditioned salons, with marble, wood, and pirate-style decoration.
• Two 45-minute snorkeling stops: A professional guide leads the water sessions, with equipment available for an added fee.
• White Island is a short visit: The stop lasts about 45 minutes, and transfers by smaller boat may reduce the time on the island.
• A substantial buffet lunch: Expect soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, seafood, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit.
• Family entertainment is uncertain: The advertised children’s program should not be the reason you book this cruise.
• Extra costs are easy to miss: Snorkeling gear is €5 per piece, wetsuits are €10, and the marina fee is €5 per person if not prepaid.

A pirate ship with a practical purpose

This is not a small sailing trip with a few sun loungers. The boat is a large wooden yacht built around the pirate idea, with three masts, three decks, marble fittings, wood furniture, and themed decoration. The upper deck is the place for sun and sea views. The two lower salons are air-conditioned, which matters on a long Red Sea day.

The boat leaves the marina at about 9 a.m. and returns around 4 p.m. That gives you a full seven hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, although the exact timing can shift. Pickup usually takes place about an hour before departure, and the operator contacts you through WhatsApp within 24 hours of the trip with the precise time.

I like the fact that the boat offers more than a basic transfer to a snorkeling site. You have room to move, a proper dining area, shaded indoor space, and a large sun deck. The pirate design gives the day a little more character than the usual plain excursion boat.

Still, the theme is mainly visual. If you expect a full pirate show, costumes, games, or theatrical entertainment, you may be disappointed. The boat looks the part, but the children’s program has not been reliable.

From Sharm hotels to Ras Mohammed

The day begins with a 25-minute bus or coach transfer from Sharm El Sheikh to the marina. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you do not need to arrange your own taxi. The exact pickup time depends on your hotel and is sent by WhatsApp before the trip.

Once on board, the boat heads along the Sinai coast toward Ras Mohammed National Park. The schedule describes a long sailing period, listed at about two and a half hours, although the trip information also describes roughly an hour of cruising before reaching the park. You should think of this as a substantial part of the day, not a quick ride between stops.

That slow period is part of the appeal if you enjoy being on the water. You can sit on the upper deck, watch the Sinai coast, and let the boat carry you away from the resort strip. The wide deck also spreads people out better than a smaller speedboat.

The trade-off is time. A seven-hour excursion sounds long, but the day includes transfers, sailing, two water sessions, lunch, and the White Island stop. You will not spend seven hours snorkeling. Bring sunscreen, a towel, and a light cover-up, since the upper deck is exposed and the Red Sea sun is strong.

The first 45-minute snorkeling stop

At Ras Mohammed, you have a guided snorkeling session of about 45 minutes. This is the main underwater portion of the day, with coral reefs and Red Sea marine life as the focus.

A professional guide leads the session, which is useful if you are new to snorkeling or want help finding the best reef areas. Life jackets are included, and you can use a flotation aid if you are not a confident swimmer. The crew and guides speak English, German, and Russian.

You need to plan for the equipment charge. Snorkeling gear is not included and costs €5 per piece. That normally means budgeting separately for the mask, snorkel, and fins you need. A wetsuit costs €10 if required or preferred.

I strongly suggest bringing your own mask if you have one. One reported problem involved a parent who wanted to enter the water simply to supervise a five-year-old child but did not have a mask. The parent was refused entry, and the child then missed both snorkeling stops. The exact handling of this rule may vary, but the practical lesson is plain: bring or rent a complete mask and snorkel before getting on the boat.

Ras Mohammed is the strongest part of the cruise for anyone choosing the trip mainly for underwater scenery. You have a proper guided session rather than a quick swim beside the boat. The 45-minute limit is fair for a mixed group, though confident snorkelers may want more time.

White Island and the second water stop

The cruise continues to White Island, a bright sandbar surrounded by the Red Sea. The listed visit lasts about 45 minutes, making it a scenic pause between snorkeling sessions.

White Island is photogenic and gives you a chance to stand on land, take pictures, and see the coast from a different angle. It is also a good break if you have children who need time out of the water.

The practical issue is access. You may be transferred from the large yacht to a smaller speedboat to reach the island. Getting on and off the smaller boat can take time, and the actual period on the sandbar may feel shorter than the scheduled 45 minutes. If White Island is your main reason for booking, keep your expectations in check.

After White Island, the boat makes a second snorkeling stop in the Red Sea, also lasting about 45 minutes. This gives you another chance to see coral and fish, and it means the day is not dependent on a single water session.

Sea conditions and water comfort can affect how much you enjoy both stops. The tour provides life jackets, but you should still be honest about your swimming ability. The guide can assist with the basic structure of the activity, but you remain responsible for choosing how far and how long you swim.

Lunch in the air-conditioned salon

Lunch is served in one of the boat’s fully air-conditioned salons. This is one of the better features of the cruise. After time in the sun and salt water, a cool indoor room and a seated meal are far more comfortable than eating from a tray on an exposed deck.

The open buffet includes seafood soup, three types of fresh salad, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fresh fruit. Soft drinks are included as part of the onboard service.

The menu gives you plenty of choice, especially if your group has mixed tastes. You can build a meal around seafood, choose chicken or kofta, or stick to rice, pasta, potatoes, and salad. The food has been a strong point for many people, with particular appreciation for the amount and variety served on board.

Do not confuse this with a restaurant cruise built around fine dining. The value is in having a hot, varied buffet included during a long day at sea. The air-conditioned salon, marble and wood furniture, and open seating make lunch feel more polished than the price might suggest.

The published program places lunch after the second snorkeling stop and gives it about an hour. The order can vary with the boat’s schedule, weather, and crew decisions.

What the pirate theme means for children

The lower deck includes a children’s animation area, and the program is designed to let adults enjoy the sun and scenery while children take part in activities. On paper, that sounds useful for families.

In practice, you should not book this trip solely for the children’s entertainment. Several family bookings found no meaningful children’s activities, and there may be no pirate costumes or staff dressed as pirates. The decoration and pirate-style pictures remain, but the live entertainment is not dependable.

That does not make the cruise unsuitable for children. Families can still enjoy the boat, the island, the buffet, and the sea. But you should bring your own simple entertainment for the sailing periods and explain to younger children that the pirate idea is mainly part of the boat’s design.

There is also a specific snorkeling issue to consider. If a small child is nervous in the water, an adult may need to enter with them. The safest choice is for both the child and accompanying adult to have a mask. Do not assume that an adult can enter without snorkeling equipment simply to supervise.

How good is the value at $80?

At $80 per person, this is more expensive than a bare-bones boat trip, but the package includes several useful items: hotel transfers, national park entry, buffet lunch, life jackets, and the full cruise program.

The boat itself is a major part of the price. You are paying for a larger, more decorated vessel with indoor air-conditioned salons and a full-service setup. If you want a comfortable day at sea with a meal and room to sit indoors, that can justify the higher cost.

You should add the extras before comparing it with other cruises. Snorkeling equipment costs €5 per piece, a wetsuit costs €10, and the mandatory marina entrance fee is €5 per person unless it has been prepaid through the add-ons. For two people, those charges can change the final total.

The value is strongest for adults and older children who care about the boat, the food, and the two snorkeling sessions. It is weaker for families who are mainly paying for organized pirate games or child supervision.

Comfort, timing, and useful preparation

The boat has three decks, so you can change your setting during the day. Use the upper sun deck for views and fresh air, then retreat to an air-conditioned salon for lunch or a break from the heat.

The day can be tiring for young children. Pickup is early, the cruise lasts until about 4 p.m., and the schedule includes several changes between boat, water, island, and dining areas. A towel, sunscreen, and a copy of your passport are required items to bring. A passport copy is accepted.

The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the transfer to White Island and entry into the water may involve practical limits. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the exact arrangements before booking, especially for the smaller boat transfer and snorkeling access.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Sharm schedule is still changing.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would choose this trip if you want a full-day Red Sea outing with a more distinctive boat, a proper buffet, and guided snorkeling at Ras Mohammed and White Island. It suits couples, groups of friends, and families with older children who can manage a long day on the water.

It is also a good choice if you value indoor comfort. The air-conditioned salons are not a small detail in Sinai. They give you a place to cool down, eat, and escape the sun without ending the day early.

I would be cautious if you are booking for toddlers, a child who needs constant organized entertainment, or anyone who dislikes boat transfers. The White Island stop can involve a smaller speedboat, and the children’s program should be treated as a bonus rather than a promise.

The cruise has earned an overall rating of 4.4 from 26 ratings, with especially strong praise for the courteous crew, good organization, attractive boat, food, and snorkeling. The weak points are consistent enough to take seriously: uncertain children’s entertainment, limited time on White Island, and confusion over snorkeling equipment.

Should you book the Pirates Sailing Boat cruise?

Book it if you want the Red Sea in a comfortable, theatrical setting and you are happy to pay a little more for the boat, lunch, transfers, and indoor space. The two guided snorkeling stops are the real activity, while the pirate styling adds atmosphere.

I would not book it for the pirate entertainment alone. Bring your own mask or budget for a complete rental, check the €5 marina fee, and prepare children for a day with plenty of sailing and limited guaranteed animation.

For adults and confident swimmers, this is a well-rounded Sharm day with good food and a hardworking crew. For families with very young children, a simpler boat with clear, confirmed children’s activities may offer better value.

FAQ

How long does the cruise last?

The activity lasts about 7 hours. It normally departs around 9 a.m. and returns to the marina at approximately 4 p.m., with hotel pickup usually about an hour before departure.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh are included. The exact pickup time is sent through WhatsApp about 24 hours before the trip.

What destinations does the boat 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 sessions?

There are two guided snorkeling stops, each lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling equipment costs €5 per piece. Wetsuits are also available for €10 per item.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An open buffet lunch is served in an air-conditioned salon. The menu includes soup, salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, shrimp, calamari, fish, chicken, kofta, and seasonal fruit.

Is the marina entrance fee included?

A mandatory marina entrance fee of €5 per person applies. It can be paid on arrival or prepaid through the available add-ons.

What languages are available?

Instruction and service are available in English, German, and Russian.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, and your passport or a copy of your passport. If you plan to snorkel, bring your own mask if possible or arrange to rent equipment.