Sharm: Luxury Private Yacht with optional Lunch & Drinks

The main appeal here is simple: you get a yacht, a private snorkeling guide, and access to the coral reefs around Ras Mohammed Marine National Park without joining a standard sightseeing boat. Two water stops give you a fair chance to see the Red Sea’s famous fish and coral, while the upper sun deck offers room to relax between swims.

I like the private-group format for families or friends, and I like having a trained snorkeling instructor in the water with you. The chef-prepared lunch is another useful touch, especially on a half-day at sea. The caution is price and clarity: the advertised $570 covers up to eight people, but the mandatory marina fee, park fee, and snorkeling equipment may add a substantial amount.

Key points to know before booking

• Two snorkeling stops: Each planned stop lasts about 40 minutes, with roughly 45 minutes of sailing to the first site.
• Private booking, potentially large boat: Your group is private, but the yacht assigned may be much larger than your party needs.
• Lunch is optional: Choose the onboard BBQ or buffet-style meal with chicken, kofta, rice, pasta, potatoes, salads, and soft drinks.
• Extra charges matter: A marina entrance fee of 200 euros per private boat is stated in the booking information. Equipment and national park fees may also be separate.
• Short overall schedule: The advertised sea time is four hours, but some bookings have ended earlier, so confirm the exact program before departure.
• Good family support: A private guide, swimming time, and wheelchair accessibility make this easier for mixed-age groups, subject to the boat setup.

Setting out from Sharm for the Red Sea

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Sharm El-Sheikh, usually about an hour before the boat trip itself. The ride to the marina takes around 30 to 40 minutes, and the standard transfer is shared. You can pay for a private transfer as an add-on if you want more control over the start of the day.

That early pickup is worth taking seriously. The published four hours refers to time connected with the yacht outing, not the full time from your hotel and back. You may spend around an hour on transfers, marina procedures, and boarding before you even reach the first snorkeling area.

At the marina, you may need to pay the mandatory entrance charge. The stated amount is 200 euros per private boat, payable on arrival or available as a prepaid add-on. One booking recorded an 180 euro charge instead, so I would confirm the current figure and currency before you leave your hotel. This is not a small detail for a group of two or three people. It changes the value calculation considerably.

Snorkeling gear may also be rented at the marina or selected as an add-on. Bring your own mask, snorkel, and water shoes if you have them and if the operator allows it. The information provided does not make clear that all equipment is automatically included in the base price, and one booking was charged separately for snorkeling equipment and swimming shoes.

What the private yacht arrangement really means

The booking is sold as a private yacht for up to eight people. That means your party should not be mixed with unrelated passengers, which is a major advantage over a standard group cruise. You can spend time on the sun deck, sit in the air-conditioned salon, and set a pace that suits your group.

There is an important wrinkle. A private booking does not always mean a small yacht. One group of five was assigned a boat with space for roughly 50 people. That can be comfortable, but it may feel wasteful if you chose this trip for an intimate sailing day.

You should ask the operator a direct question before booking: What size and type of yacht will my group receive? Also ask whether the four-hour schedule includes the full sailing time, two snorkeling stops, and lunch. The answers will tell you far more about the experience than the word luxury.

The boats are described as clean and well maintained, with a modern upper sun deck and an air-conditioned salon below. That layout is useful in South Sinai. You can sit in the sun when the sea is calm, then move inside for shade and a cooler break. Still, the quality of the day depends on the specific boat assigned and how much time it spends actually sailing.

The first 45 minutes at sea

After boarding, the planned route calls for about 45 minutes of sailing to the first snorkeling stop. This is one of the more appealing parts of the outing if you want to see the coast from the water rather than simply reach a beach by road.

The Red Sea around Sharm is known for clear water, coral formations, and abundant marine life. Ras Mohammed is especially popular because it protects some of the area’s best-known reef sites. You may see coral gardens and reef fish close to shore, though water clarity, wind, light, and sea conditions affect what appears on the day.

The upper deck gives you space to watch the coast and dry off after swimming. If your group prefers sunbathing to snorkeling, tell the crew early. One booking had specifically requested more sailing and sun time rather than snorkeling, yet the boat stayed at a stop until the passengers asked to leave. Clear communication matters here.

The sailing itself should be part of what you are paying for. If the boat spends most of the scheduled time stationary, the outing will feel less like a yacht cruise and more like a transfer to a swimming platform. Ask for a written outline of the sailing time if that is central to your plans.

Two 40-minute snorkeling stops

The first water stop is planned for about 40 minutes. A private snorkeling instructor accompanies your group, explains the conditions, and helps you enter the water safely. That support is useful for beginners and families, particularly if some people are confident swimmers and others are not.

The instructor is one of the most consistently positive parts of the experience. One booking specifically praised the snorkeling teacher as very capable, and the crew was described as friendly and helpful. The guide can also help you make better use of a short stop by pointing out where to look rather than leaving you to swim without direction.

The second stop follows a short sail and is also planned for about 40 minutes. Two stops are better than one because reef conditions can vary from site to site. If the first area is crowded or the water is less clear, the second gives you another chance.

There is a practical limitation. The route may place you near other boats, particularly at popular reef sites. One booking found the yacht stationary among other boats for about 45 minutes. That does not mean every departure will be crowded, but Ras Mohammed is not an empty private playground.

The term private applies to your group and guide, not necessarily to the sea around you. You can still expect shared use of the same popular snorkeling areas.

Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen after swimming, and carry a waterproof way to protect phones and valuables if you plan to use them on deck. The supplied information does not promise lockers or dry storage, so keep your packing modest.

Lunch on board, and what you actually receive

Lunch is optional, so check that you have selected it if you want a meal. The onboard chef is described as preparing food with fresh ingredients and careful hygiene. The proposed menu includes freshly cut salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, chicken, and Egyptian kofta.

This is a sensible menu for a boat day. It offers familiar food for children and simple local flavor through the kofta. Eating on board also saves you from losing more time to a restaurant stop, and it lets you keep your swimming and sailing schedule together.

The meal is best viewed as a practical buffet or BBQ lunch, not a fine-dining event. The experience details describe a buffet lunch, while the inclusions refer to BBQ lunch, so confirm the exact serving style when you book. Soft drinks are included, but the amount may be limited. One booking received one opened bottle each of cola and Sprite for the group, served in paper cups, which is not what most people expect from a luxury yacht package.

Bring extra water if you need frequent drinks. Do not assume that an open bar is included. The information confirms soft drinks, but it does not promise unlimited quantities, alcohol, coffee, or tea.

Timing problems you should take seriously

The published outing lasts four hours, with return to the marina roughly four hours after departure. That is a reasonable length for two snorkeling stops and lunch, but the actual timing needs attention.

One booking lasted about three hours rather than four. Another described just over an hour on the water, with only around 25 minutes of actual movement, followed by a rushed departure as darkness approached. A late pickup also cut into the usable time.

These accounts do not prove that every departure runs short, but they show why you should confirm the schedule the day before. The operator says you will be contacted by WhatsApp about 24 hours before the trip with your exact pickup time. Reply clearly and ask:

• What time will the vehicle collect us?
• What time will we board?
• Will the yacht sail for the full planned period?
• Are both snorkeling stops guaranteed?
• Is lunch included in our reservation?
• Which fees remain payable at the marina?

Winter deserves special care. The trip details include January departures that became too cold and dark for comfortable snorkeling after delays. A four-hour sea outing that starts late may not deliver the same experience as a morning departure. Ask for a morning start if you want the best chance of warm conditions and good daylight.

Price, fees, and the value question

The headline price is $570 per group of up to eight. If eight people share the base cost, that is about $71 per person before optional lunch, marina charges, park fees, equipment, and any private transfer. At that group size, a private boat can make financial sense, especially if you value privacy and flexible time.

For two or three people, the calculation is less attractive. Add the stated 200 euro marina charge, possible national park fees, snorkeling equipment, and lunch, and the final amount can rise sharply. One booking paid a large extra marina fee and then faced separate equipment charges, finding the total poor value.

The booking information is not perfectly consistent about what is included. It lists the private yacht, guide, soft drinks, and chef as included, but it also says the marina fee, national park entry, and snorkeling gear may be selected as add-ons. Read the checkout screen carefully and save a screenshot of the final inclusions.

I would only call this good value if most of the following are true:

• You have a group of six to eight people.
• The four-hour sea schedule is confirmed.
• Lunch is included or reasonably priced.
• The marina and park fees are clear before payment.
• Your group wants a private guide and private boat rather than the lowest-cost reef outing.

If you are mainly after two hours of swimming, a regular group boat may cost less. If you want a private day with a chef, air-conditioned cabin, and room for your own group, the yacht format has a stronger case, but only once the extra fees are known.

Who will enjoy this trip most

Families can benefit from the private format. You can keep together, use the guide for help in the water, and move between the sun deck and air-conditioned salon. A private group also makes it easier to accommodate different confidence levels, though every swimmer still needs to follow the guide’s instructions.

It also suits friends who want a half-day at sea with food included. The two stops provide more than a quick swim, and the boat offers a place to rest between them.

This is less suitable for anyone who wants a small sailing yacht, uninterrupted movement, or a tightly controlled luxury service. The assigned vessel may be very large, drinks may be basic, and the boat can share popular reef areas with other vessels.

The trip is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the information does not explain boarding arrangements or access into the water. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the marina boarding process and the boat’s facilities directly before paying.

Should you book the Sharm private yacht?

I would book this only after confirming the final price, boat size, and exact schedule in writing. The strongest reasons to go are the private group, capable snorkeling instruction, two reef stops, and the convenience of lunch on board. Those features can create a relaxed family day when the operator delivers the full program.

I would skip it if the marina fee feels unclear, if your group is small, or if you care more about a compact yacht and steady sailing than snorkeling. The experience has received both strong praise for its friendly crew and serious complaints about short running times, limited drinks, extra charges, and a boat that felt far too large.

For the best chance of value, gather six to eight people, choose a morning departure, bring your own basic snorkeling gear if permitted, and confirm every add-on before you commit. Treat the $570 as a starting price, not the final bill.

FAQ

How long does the yacht trip last?

The planned yacht outing lasts four hours, including sailing, two snorkeling stops, and lunch if selected. Hotel transfers take additional time, with pickup usually about one hour before the trip.

How many snorkeling stops are included?

The route includes two snorkeling stops. Each is planned to last about 40 minutes, with about 45 minutes of sailing to the first stop and a short sail between stops.

Is lunch included in the price?

Lunch is optional. If selected, the meal is described as a buffet or BBQ with salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, chicken, and Egyptian kofta.

Are snorkeling equipment and swimming shoes included?

Snorkeling gear may be selected as an add-on or rented at the marina. The supplied information does not confirm that it is included in the base price, so check the final booking details.

What extra marina fee should I expect?

The stated mandatory marina entrance fee is 200 euros per private boat. It can be paid on arrival or prepaid through the available add-ons. Confirm the current amount before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, using shared transportation. A private transfer is available as an add-on.

What languages does the guide speak?

Live guiding is available in English and Russian. The activity includes a private snorkeling guide, but no individual guide name is provided.