Hurghada: Elite vip snorkeling cruise with BBQ buffet lunch

The best part of this Hurghada outing is the boat itself. You get four levels, two air-conditioned salons, shaded seating, and a broad sun deck with loungers, so a six-hour trip does not feel like six hours squeezed shoulder to shoulder. Add three snorkeling stops and a freshly cooked BBQ buffet, and this is built more for comfort than for a bare-bones boat ride.

I like the expert snorkeling guides, especially for less-confident swimmers, and I like the waiter service for unlimited hot and soft drinks. The main point to consider is that VIP does not mean adults-only. Children may be part of other groups, and dolphin sightings are only possible, not promised.

Key points at a glance

• Four-level boat: Choose between a sunny upper deck, shaded mid-deck seating, or two air-conditioned salon and dining decks.
• Three Red Sea stops: Guided snorkeling brings you to coral sites, with swimming and marine-life viewing built into the day.
• Full hot lunch: The buffet can include soup, salads, sides, BBQ chicken, Egyptian kofta, shrimp, and oven-baked fish.
• Dolphin search: The boat moves north to look for dolphins, but sightings depend on the day and sea conditions.
• Easy access to the water: You enter from a low rear platform, and life jackets are available.
• Good value at $80: Hotel transfers, the $5 national park fee, lunch, drinks, guides, and the cruise are included.

A spacious start from Hurghada Marina

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Hurghada, usually about 45 minutes before departure. The bus ride to Hurghada Marina takes around 35 minutes, though your total pickup time depends on where your hotel sits in relation to the marina.

The boat is scheduled to leave at 9:00 am. From the marina, you cruise toward the Red Sea snorkeling grounds. The timing supplied for the day adds up to roughly six and a half hours, from pickup and departure to the return around 3:30 pm, while the advertised activity duration is six hours. I would treat this as a morning-to-mid-afternoon outing rather than watch the clock too closely.

The Elite VIP boat gives you room to spread out. The open top deck is the place for sun loungers and wide views, while the mid-deck offers shade. If the heat becomes too much, you can retreat to one of the two air-conditioned salons. This choice matters more than it may sound. A smaller boat can make a pleasant sea day feel tiring once the sun is high, but here you can change your setting without leaving the boat.

The boat is presented as new, clean, and well maintained. The crew also brings drinks directly to your seat, including unlimited hot and soft drinks. That small service can make a difference during a long day on the water, especially if you want to stay settled on the sun deck instead of lining up at a bar or service counter.

The first reef stop and your time in the water

After sailing for about an hour to an hour and a half, the boat reaches a snorkeling area. The exact reef depends on the day’s program and sea conditions, but the purpose is clear: get you into the water with a guide and show you coral and marine life below the surface.

The first guided session lasts about 45 minutes in the listed schedule. The guides remain with the group and help you make the most of the site. That is useful for experienced snorkelers who want to know where to look, but it is even more valuable if you are nervous in open water.

You enter through a low platform at the back of the boat. Life jackets are available, and the description notes that the guides can support less-confident swimmers with a life buoy. This makes the outing more approachable than a trip that assumes everyone is comfortable swimming away from a boat.

Bring your own swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen. Wetsuit rental is available for $10 if you want one, which may be worth considering in cooler months or if you tend to feel cold in the water. The Red Sea is generally warm, but comfort varies from person to person, and you will have more than one water stop.

The reef is the main reason to book this trip. You might see brightly colored fish, coral formations, turtles, octopuses, seahorses, manta rays, or other marine life. The important word is might. The day’s sightings cannot be fixed in advance, and no ethical operator can promise a particular animal. What you can count on is time in clear Red Sea water at several chosen sites, with a guide helping you look.

Dolphin spotting and the second guided swim

After the first snorkeling stop, the boat moves north in search of dolphins. This is a pleasant change of pace, but keep your expectations sensible. The program says dolphins may be spotted if possible, so this is an opportunity rather than a guaranteed encounter.

The search also gives you time to enjoy the boat between swims. You can sit in the shade, return to the air-conditioned salon, or stretch out on a lounger. If you have been in the water for 45 minutes, this pause is useful. A day with several swims is more enjoyable when you can warm up, drink something, and let your body rest.

The second guided snorkeling tour follows the dolphin search. This is one reason the outing works well for people who want more than a single quick swim. Conditions and reef life change from site to site, and a second stop gives you another chance to see fish and coral that you missed earlier.

The itinerary later allows about two hours for the final cruise, swimming, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing. In practical terms, the day is not just a transfer to one reef. You get a series of water-based activities broken up by sailing, food, and time on the boat.

The BBQ lunch is a real part of the experience

Lunch is served on board after the morning’s snorkeling activities. The menu includes soup, salads, side dishes, BBQ chicken, Egyptian kofta, grilled shrimp, and oven-baked fish. The exact selection can vary, but this is much more substantial than a boxed sandwich.

I like the fact that the food is cooked on board. The chefs prepare the meal while you are enjoying the water, and the stated approach focuses on fresh ingredients and onboard hygiene. A hot lunch also makes sense after snorkeling, when you are ready for something filling rather than another snack.

The menu gives you several ways to eat. Chicken and kofta suit those who want familiar grilled food, while shrimp and fish provide seafood choices. Salads and soup add lighter options. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information does not specify special menus, so you should ask before booking rather than assume.

One practical point is that lunch takes about an hour in the program. This is not a rushed plate grabbed between stops. You have time to sit in the dining area and use the air conditioning if you need a break from the sun.

A birthday detail is worth noting. One person shared a birthday with the trip and felt disappointed that the crew did not acknowledge it, despite birthday information being collected. If you are booking for a special occasion, tell the provider clearly and confirm what, if anything, can be arranged. Do not assume a birthday surprise is included.

Comfort features that matter on a six-hour boat day

The boat’s design is the strongest argument for paying more than you would for a basic snorkeling trip. Four floors create several moods in one place. The top deck is best when you want sun and open views. The shaded mid-deck works for reading, chatting, or escaping the strongest rays. The two air-conditioned salons are the sensible retreat when you need cool air and a proper seat.

The electronic massage beds are available on board. They are an unusual extra, though the information does not specify how long you can use them or whether there is an additional charge. Ask the crew if this feature matters to you.

Waiter service for unlimited hot and soft drinks is also included. For me, this is more useful than a flashy extra. You can stay comfortable during the cruise, keep drinking in the heat, and avoid spending your time walking back and forth for refreshments.

The description presents the boat as professionally crewed and well maintained. The practical benefit is simple: you are paying for a full day on a vessel designed for comfort, not just for a transfer to a reef. That can be especially helpful if one person in your group wants to snorkel often while another prefers to stay dry.

Still, the word VIP needs a little care. The boat offers extra space and service, but the trip is not listed as adults-only. A January booking was disappointing for someone expecting an adult-only outing because children were part of other groups. If a quiet, child-free atmosphere is essential, this may not be the right choice.

Who will get the most from this cruise

I would consider this trip a good fit for several kinds of visitors:

• You want to snorkel at more than one Red Sea site.
• You prefer a large, stable boat with indoor and outdoor seating.
• You are not fully confident in the water and want guides and life jackets available.
• You like having lunch and drinks included rather than arranging food separately.
• You are traveling with a mixed group of swimmers and non-swimmers.
• You want hotel pickup and drop-off from Hurghada.

It is also suitable for people who enjoy a relaxed boat day more than an intense water-sports schedule. You are not required to stay in the sea all day. The boat gives you places to sit, eat, cool off, and watch for dolphins.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is a guaranteed dolphin encounter, a private charter, or an adult-only setting. None of those is promised. The snorkeling sites may be excellent, but the quality of wildlife viewing depends on nature and conditions.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which is useful information when compared with many small-boat trips. You should still confirm how the wheelchair is handled during pickup and boarding if you need detailed assistance, since the supplied information does not explain the transfer process.

Is $80 a fair price?

At $80 per person, the cost is reasonable if you will use the included features. You are paying for hotel transfers, the cruise, guides, three snorkeling opportunities, lunch, unlimited hot and soft drinks, and the $5 national park fee. Wetsuit rental is the only stated extra, at $10.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for transport, food, reef access, and snorkeling support. It also improves if you care about having an air-conditioned place to sit. A cheaper boat may get you to the same general sea area, but it may not offer four levels, indoor salons, waiter service, or the same amount of room.

The price is less compelling if you plan to remain on deck and skip the snorkeling, or if you want a small, private group. This is a full-service shared cruise, not a custom trip.

The overall score attached to the experience is 4.6 from 28 ratings. The strongest praise centers on the food, the boat, the snorkeling locations, and the crew’s helpful manner. One German booking in February described the sites as good and the boat as less crowded than expected. A French booking from the same month called the snorkeling day and BBQ buffet excellent. Those points match the tour’s main strengths.

There are also practical service concerns. One person paid 30 euros for a video and had not received it by email, so be cautious about purchasing optional media and keep proof of payment until the file arrives. A separate birthday complaint suggests that special requests should be confirmed directly rather than left to assumptions.

What to bring and how to prepare

Pack swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen during the day, especially if you spend time on the upper deck between swims.

You may want a light cover-up for the boat, even in warm weather. A wetsuit costs $10 to rent if you want extra warmth. Bring any personal medication you need for a six-hour outing, though no special medical supplies are listed as part of the tour.

Think about where you want to sit. The top deck gives you sun and open views, while the shaded and air-conditioned areas provide relief. If you are traveling with someone who dislikes heat, motion, or swimming, the choice of seating is one of the boat’s biggest practical advantages.

The available guide languages are English, German, and Russian. If clear instructions in one of these languages matter to your safety or enjoyment, confirm the language available for your departure.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Pickup is included, with hotel collection beginning around 45 minutes before departure. Those flexible terms are useful if your Hurghada plans may shift.

Should you book this Hurghada snorkeling cruise?

I would book it if you want a comfortable, well-serviced day on the Red Sea with several chances to snorkel, a substantial lunch, and enough space to escape the sun. The boat, food, guides, and included transport make the $80 price easy to justify for many visitors.

I would skip it if you need an adults-only boat, a private experience, or a guaranteed dolphin sighting. For everyone else, this is a strong choice for a first Red Sea snorkeling day, particularly if you value comfort as much as time in the water.

FAQ

How long does the Elite VIP snorkeling cruise last?

The activity is advertised as six hours. The schedule runs from a 9:00 am marina departure to an approximately 3:30 pm return, with hotel pickup beginning around 45 minutes before departure.

What is the price per person?

The listed price is $80 per person.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from Hurghada hotels are included, with pickups starting around 45 minutes before departure.

How many snorkeling stops are included?

The program includes three stops at Red Sea snorkeling sites, with guided snorkeling, swimming, and marine-life viewing.

Are snorkeling guides provided?

Yes. Expert snorkeling guides accompany the water activities and are available to help with safety and enjoyment.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

The supplied information confirms that life jackets are available. It does not specify all included snorkeling equipment. Wetsuit rental is available for $10.

What food is served at lunch?

The buffet can include soup, salads, side dishes, BBQ chicken, Egyptian kofta, grilled shrimp, and oven-baked fish.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited hot and soft drinks are included, with waiter service on board.

Can I see dolphins?

The boat moves north to try to spot dolphins if possible. A sighting is not guaranteed.

What languages are available for the guides?

Guidance is available in English, German, and Russian.