Egypt · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
Good cruises & boat tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend about 8.5 hours aboard Royal Cruise Hurghada with guides such as Andrew and Mostafa. Visit Orange Bay early, snorkel at two Red Sea sites, enjoy a buffet lunch, try a banana boat ride, and receive a back massage. Hotel pickup, equipment, drinks, snacks, and life jackets are included.
“Very relaxed, boat was lovely and clean. The food on board was great.”
Spend 7 to 8 hours on a Red Sea cruise from Hurghada, with breakfast, lunch, unlimited soft drinks, two snorkeling stops, and two hours at Orange Bay. Guides such as Abdul, Nemo, and Arabi help first-time swimmers feel safe. Banana boat or sofa rides add a bit of fun, though wind can cancel them.
“So lovely, particulary Snorckeling and lunch. Abdou was un amazong guide !”
From Hurghada Marina, you cruise to a nearby reef, spend about 45 minutes in an air-conditioned observation deck three meters below the surface, then snorkel for 20 minutes. Guides such as Mina, Mohammed, Maged, and Ahmed help with the experience. Hotel pickup is optional, and snorkeling gear may cost extra.
“Mohamed and Ahmed are the best ♤◇ The trip was really relaxing and we feel very good with them.😊”
Spend eight hours at sea with Go Shalabi, visiting Orange Bay, Giftun Island, and Magawish. You get two snorkeling stops, dolphin watching, breakfast, seafood lunch, fruit, and unlimited drinks. Guides such as Ashraf, Ahmed, Talal, and Sabry help beginners in the water, while the shaded yacht gives non-swimmers a comfortable place to relax.
“Absolutely amazing value for your money, the guides were lively, entertaining and very helpful. Unlimited drinks, very nice freshly cooked food, one of the best days we had whilst here, would recommend to anyone.”
Sail from Aswan to Luxor aboard a three-night Nile cruise with guided visits to Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings. The tour includes a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor, transfers, meals, and an English-speaking Egyptologist. Guides such as Mohamed Gobran and Saber are often praised for clear explanations and attentive care.
“Our guide mohamed gobran was the key for this beautiful experience. We is very attencive and really wants for us to be without any doubs. Our Group was very smal What is was great for the explanation. We are studants and didn’t have our studant card and we help us to buy the tickets with the discount! Overall it was a great experience. The hot air ballon was cancelled. The cruise it is ok and the food is Good”
Spend about two hours on the Nile with an open buffet, Arabic music, belly dancing, and a Tanoura show. Hotel pickup and drop-off cover Cairo, Giza, Haram, and 6th of October City. Guides such as Mariam, Mustafa, Ahmed, and Aladdin have been praised for friendly help, photos, and cultural insight.
“The dinner cruise on the Nile River was an incredible experience! The atmosphere was magical, with breathtaking views of Cairo’s skyline as we sailed along the river. The entertainment was top-notch, especially the traditional dance performances, which were vibrant and captivating. The singer added a beautiful touch to the evening with their amazing performance. The staff was friendly and attentive, making sure we were comfortable and well taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, it was a wonderful evening and great value for money!”
Spend an evening aboard the Nile Crystal with a buffet dinner, belly dancing, folklore performances, Western music, and views of Cairo from the river. Optional private transfers make the port easier to reach. Allow for a real cruise time of about 1.5 to 2 hours, as some departures finish well before the advertised three-hour duration.
“The food was tasty and the live music made it socially fun. However there was a lot of confusion and commotion that delayed the event. We had to form a queue 100 meters away from the boat, where 2 people asked us our names, then scribbled a number on a piece of paper. We then walked to the boat and waited for our number to be called.”
You’ll cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a five-star Nile boat, with Egyptologist guides such as Mohamed Abdo, Hady, Mido, and Mostafa. The plan covers Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings, plus a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor’s West Bank. Expect early starts and separate entrance fees.
“This cruise was way above my expectations in every aspect. I was a bit suspicious about the number of positive reviews but now I understand why. Even before starting the cruise the support was great. We faced three delays and reschedules from our flight operator and each time Hany, the person in contact at the tour operator, was very flexible and adaptive to our program. The ship was in a great condition. The room could be a bit bigger but still there was enough space to move around and the windows and deck allowed us to have the best sunset views. But the best part was our guide, Mohamed Abdo…”
Cruise or speedboat from Hurghada to Hula Hula Island for reef snorkeling, banana-boat rides, lunch, beach time, and soft drinks. Yacht trips add a five-minute massage. Guides such as Pepsi, Tito, Karim, and Walid are often praised for patient instruction, especially with children and weak swimmers. Choose a seven-hour yacht day or a three-hour speedboat outing.
“AMAZING!! We got to go snorkeling, we went to an island where we had a private umbrella and beach bed. Lunch was a good buffet, we had a nice massage, and it was SO fun!!”
Spend about seven hours cruising from Sharm El Sheikh to Ras Mohammed National Park and White Island. You can snorkel with guides, try scuba with an instructor, enjoy a barbecue lunch, and use onboard drinks and facilities. The boat may be Miss Sherry, with guides such as Saeed, Ali, Mohammed, or Mousad depending on the departure.
“We booked on the day at 3am, had confirmation at 8:40, given it was last minute (getyourguide cancelled on us) i’m glad they did!! I was worried about if we’d have a nice boat, but the miss sherry boat was beautiful and modern! 3 levels. We chose the snorkelling option and it was great! Saeed was a great guide and made us all have a good laugh and time the entire day! As we were all non-swimmers, we had a life ring that we all held onto and took us there and back to white island, and around for the snorkelling. There was a few guys who was doing the…”
Set out from Hurghada with guides such as Mido, Khalid, Abdo, and Mostefe for a full day on the Red Sea. Search for wild dolphins, snorkel at two reef stops, eat a buffet lunch, and try the banana boat and sofa boat. The crew provides gear, safety help, drinks, and support for nervous swimmers.
“Really good activity, great organisation fun and food. Saw dolphins & snorkelling was good”
Sail from Sharm El Sheikh to Ras Mohammed National Park with guides such as Mohammed, Islam, Mido, and Nemr. You get two guided snorkeling stops, White Island, an open buffet lunch, waiter service, and a modern air-conditioned yacht. Hotel pickup is optional, and the marina fee costs extra unless prepaid.
“Our activity was great we dived both time at the two different locations & went all the way to the bottom. Guided amazingly by Shams & Mohammed we felt very safe with them”
Set out from Hurghada by speedboat with an English-speaking guide such as Mido, Ahmed, or Youssef. You’ll snorkel at two Red Sea sites, spot colorful fish and coral, then spend about 1.5 hours at Orange Bay. Expect music, fruit, soft drinks, hotel pickup, and a fast, sometimes bumpy ride.
“Amazing afternoon! Clear communication, transport to the marina, speedboat to orange bay and luckily spotted a baby dolphin on the way! Stopped for a snorkel which was fantastic. Never done it before but Yousif was very patient and we saw loads of colourful fish and coral reef. Thanks to Youssef and the captain for a great afternoon 😎”
Sail from Hurghada to Paradise Island on a yacht or speedboat for reef snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and soft drinks. Guides such as Pepsi, Karim, Mustafa, and Abdul help nervous swimmers feel safe. Choose a 7-hour cruise or a 3-hour speedboat trip, with hotel pickup from Hurghada and nearby resorts.
“Very nice trip, nice people staff amazing with good explanation and very caring. I recommend this”
You’ll travel from Hurghada to Luxor with a private driver and Egyptologist, visiting Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon. The trip also includes a sunrise hot-air balloon flight, camel ride, felucca cruise, hotel, and meals. Guides include Aladdin, Hassan, Hamdy, and others.
“The trip went well. All the activities went well and as planned and the guide ensured our dietary needs were met which was appreciated. A translator app was useful to communicate with the driver. A lot packed into the 2 days, it was well worth it.”
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