Royal Cruise Hurghada is a good choice for a comfortable, all-in Orange Bay day where lunch, drinks and a massage are taken care of, and a weaker one if you want long hours on the sand or a clear picture of the boat you will board. Its flagship trip has more than 7,000 reviews on GetYourGuide at 4.9 out of 5, which makes it one of the most-reviewed boat days out of Hurghada.
- Type
- Boat-trip brand and seller; trips run by its partner aqua centre, Fun Aqua
- Base
- Hurghada Marina (company address)
- Operating since
- 1996 (own claim)
- Boats
- "Premium yachts and catamarans"; no boat names or capacities published
- What they sell
- Orange Bay cruises with massage, snorkelling and optional intro dive; Giftun and Dolphin House VIP days; private yacht
- Where to book
- GetYourGuide (its Orange Bay, Giftun and Dolphin House days); Expedia group sites
- Prices
- Own site: $45–55 per person from Hurghada, +$5 from outer resorts; private yacht $1,350. Platform prices higher
- Status
- Operating; own site live
Own website: royalcruisehurghada.com ↗ · 20 October 2026
Our scores
- Boats
- 3/5"Premium yachts and catamarans", but no names, sizes or capacities published
- The day as run
- 4.5/5Two reef stops incl. Abu Ramada, buffet, banana boat; 75 min on Orange Bay
- Value
- 4/5$45 direct with massage, drinks and marine fee; about $8 more on GetYourGuide
- Transparency on extras
- 3.5/5"Tax and marine fee" included; drinks on the island extra; no child price shown
- Booking ease
- 4.5/5Own site, GetYourGuide and Expedia; flat $5 for outer resorts
- Safety information
- 2.5/5No boat details, guest numbers or partner licence published
Pros
- Flagship Orange Bay trip rated 4.9 from more than 7,000 GetYourGuide reviews
- Snorkeling at the Abu Ramada reef, one of the better stops in the area
- Open buffet with unlimited soft and hot drinks; one massage per guest
- "Tax and marine fee" included on the main trip — fewer cash surprises
- Direct price about $8 lower than on GetYourGuide
Cons
- Only about 75 minutes on Orange Bay itself
- No boat names, sizes or guest numbers published
- No cancellation terms or child price on its own pages
- "Luxury" and "VIP" are marketing labels, not a different class of boat
- Drinks bought on the island are extra
Who are Royal Cruise Hurghada?
Royal Cruise Hurghada is a boat-trip brand that sells day trips and yacht charters from Hurghada Marina. It is a day-boat company, not a cruise line: every trip is a day out to the Giftun islands, Orange Bay or Dolphin House and back to the marina by late afternoon.
Two points matter before you book. First, Royal Cruise says its sea trips and water sports are run by its authorised partner aqua centre, Fun Aqua — so the brand sells the day and Fun Aqua operates it. We could not find a website for Fun Aqua. Second, the site says the company has run trips from Hurghada Marina since 1996; that is its own claim, and no legal company name is published.
The name causes confusion. Royal Cruise Hurghada has nothing to do with Royal Seascope, the yellow semi-submarine of Egypt Sun Marine. If you want a reef view without getting wet, that is a different company and a different trip.
What Royal Cruise sells: Orange Bay, Giftun and Dolphin House
Almost everything is a variation on one full day to Orange Bay, the sandy beach on the west shore of Giftun Kebir that faces Hurghada. The listings differ in the extras: massage, an intro dive, more reef stops.
GetYourGuideFull dayOrange Bay
Hurghada: Luxury Cruise Trip to Orange Bay with Lunch
4.9 (7,075)
from $53Check dates
GetYourGuideFull dayOrange Bay
Hurghada: Snorkeling 6 x 1 to Orange Bay w Diving & Massage
4.9 (1,398)
from $69Check dates
GetYourGuideFull dayDolphin House (Sha’ab El Erg)
Hurghada: All-Inclusive Elite VIP Dolphin House & Massage
4.9 (854)
from $50Check dates
GetYourGuideFull dayOrange Bay
Hurghada: Royal Luxury VIP Cruise to Orange Bay with Lunch
4.8 (718)
from $53Check dates
GetYourGuideFull dayOrange Bay
Hurghada: Royal Orange Bay with Massage, Snorkeling & Lunch
4.8 (420)
from $52Check dates
GetYourGuideFull dayOrange Bay
Hurghada: Luxury Orange Bay w/Snorkeling, Massage and Diving
4.9 (325)
from $59Check dates
Royal Cruise Hurghada on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 20 October 2026
The Luxury Cruise Trip to Orange Bay (Hurghada: Luxury Cruise Trip to Orange Bay with Lunch) is the one most people book. Its own page lays out the day: about 30 minutes by van to the marina, about 45 minutes' sail to Orange Bay, 75 minutes on the beach, snorkeling at Giftun and at the Abu Ramada reef (spelt "Abu Rimathi" on the page), lunch, a banana-boat ride and about 45 minutes back. The whole day is about 8.5 hours with hotel transfers. Included: guide, snorkel gear, lifejackets, open buffet with fish, chicken, rice, pasta, salads and fruit, unlimited soft and hot drinks, snacks, one massage per guest and the "tax and marine fee". Not included: drinks on the island.
The "6 x 1" (Hurghada: Snorkeling 6 x 1 to Orange Bay w Diving & Massage) is the same kind of day with an instructor-led intro dive added: $55 direct. The page does not say how deep or how long the dive is. From a boat, Egyptian rules require one instructor for each intro diver, so ask "is it one instructor for me alone?" before you pay. Two more listings, Hurghada: Luxury Orange Bay w/Snorkeling, Massage and Diving and Hurghada:Luxury Diving & Snorkeling inc/Island/Lunch/Massage, also bundle diving with massage and an island stop.
Royal and VIP variants (Hurghada: Royal Luxury VIP Cruise to Orange Bay with Lunch, Hurghada: Royal Orange Bay with Massage, Snorkeling & Lunch) and the Orange & Giftun cruise (Hurghada: Orange & Giftun Island Cruise with Massage & Lunch) cost the same $45 direct. Read them as variations of the flagship day, not as a different class of boat — the site publishes no boat names, so you cannot check what "luxury" means. The Giftun trip Hurghada: Luxury Giftun island w/snorkeling/lunch & Massage is the exception: from $41 on GetYourGuide against $45 direct, a platform discount that may not last.
The All-Inclusive Elite VIP Dolphin House (Hurghada: All-Inclusive Elite VIP Dolphin House & Massage) takes the formula north to Dolphin House, the Sha'ab El Erg reef about 1.5 hours away by day yacht. It is $50 both direct and on GetYourGuide, rated 4.9 from 854 reviews. Dolphins are wild and no operator can promise them. The HEPCA dolphin code requires boats to stay 30 m away and never chase, and requires swimmers to wear a lifejacket — a good crew briefs it before anyone goes in.
There is also a private yacht day at $1,350 for the whole boat, for groups that want their own timing (see private boats).
Royal Cruise Hurghada prices: direct vs GetYourGuide
| Trip | Direct (from Hurghada) | GetYourGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury Cruise to Orange Bay | $45 | from $53 |
| Snorkeling 6 x 1 with intro dive | $55 | from $69 |
| Royal Luxury VIP Cruise | $45 | from $53 |
| Elite VIP Dolphin House | $50 | from $50 |
Pick-up outside Hurghada adds a flat $5 per person from Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, El Gouna or Safaga (as far south as the Minavile / Lotus Bay hotels); Viva Blue in Soma Bay and Sharm El Naga cost more. The "tax and marine fee" is included on the flagship trip; if anyone asks you for a park fee in cash, ask what it is for and point to the inclusions.
Direct saves about $8 per person on the Orange Bay trip. GetYourGuide gives you something for that money: its default free cancellation up to 24 hours before (unless the listing says otherwise), a new date or a full refund when the supplier cancels for weather, and a paper trail. Royal Cruise's own pages show no cancellation terms at all. For a family of four the saving is real; for a couple on a short holiday in the windy months, the platform's protection may be worth more. A near-identical massage-and-buffet bundle is also sold on Headout at a similar price; the listing does not name the boat company.
See Hurghada snorkeling trip prices for how this compares with the rest of the market.
Royal Cruise Hurghada reviews: what travellers say
The numbers are clear: 4.9 from more than 7,000 reviews on the flagship trip, and 4.8–4.9 across the other listings. We found no Tripadvisor profile for Royal Cruise Hurghada, and we do not repeat individual review comments. Instead, here is what to check on any big Orange Bay boat:
- How many guests the boat takes. The snorkel rule in Egypt is one guide per 12 snorkelers; ask how many guides are on board.
- Which reefs you will stop at. The Abu Ramada stop is a real plus; confirm it is on your day, as captains change reefs in a north wind.
- When you land. Orange Bay is busiest from about 11:00, when the morning yachts arrive. Seventy-five minutes ashore goes quickly if half of it is spent finding shade.
- What the cash extras are. Drinks on the island, photos and a modest tip for the crew in small Egyptian-pound notes are the usual ones.
How to book Royal Cruise Hurghada
- Direct on royalcruisehurghada.com: lowest price, pay as the site directs. Ask in writing what happens if the port is closed, since no cancellation terms are published.
- GetYourGuide: about $8 more on the main trip, with the platform's cancellation rules and customer service. The contract is still with the boat company.
- Expedia group sites sell some of the same trips with Royal Cruise named as the operator.
Whichever you choose, carry your passport or a clear copy — passenger names go on a coast-guard list — and expect the pick-up time the evening before. In Hurghada the window is up to an hour; from the outer resorts up to 90 minutes.
Alternatives to Royal Cruise
- More beach time for less money: Zanetta Tours runs a budget Orange Bay day with about 2 hours on the beach, up to 35 guests and island fees covered.
- Faster crossings: the speedboat days of Go Shalabi spend less time sailing and more time ashore, but they slam in a north wind.
- Comparing boats: the Orange Bay yacht guide sets budget and VIP yachts side by side; the best snorkeling spots page explains why Abu Ramada is worth asking for.
- All operators: the operators directory lists every boat company, dive centre and agency we review.
Is Royal Cruise Hurghada good?
Yes, for a comfortable full day: its Orange Bay trip is rated 4.9 from more than 7,000 GetYourGuide reviews, with two reef stops, a buffet, drinks and a massage included. The downsides are short beach time (75 minutes) and little published information about the boats.
How much does Royal Cruise Hurghada cost?
Its own site lists $45 per person for the Orange Bay trip from Hurghada and $50 from the outer resorts. On GetYourGuide the same trip is from $53. Intro-dive bundles are $55 direct, and a private yacht costs $1,350 for the boat.
Is Royal Cruise Hurghada the same as Royal Seascope?
No. Royal Seascope is Egypt Sun Marine's semi-submarine. Royal Cruise Hurghada is a separate boat-trip brand whose trips are run by its partner aqua centre, Fun Aqua.
How long do you spend on Orange Bay with Royal Cruise?
About 75 minutes on the flagship trip, according to its own itinerary. The rest of the 8.5-hour day is transfers, sailing, two snorkel stops, lunch and a banana-boat ride.
Is the national park fee included?
Royal Cruise's Orange Bay page lists the "tax and marine fee" among the inclusions. Drinks on the island are extra.
Should I book Royal Cruise direct or on GetYourGuide?
Direct is about $8 cheaper per person on the main trip. GetYourGuide costs more but adds clear cancellation rules and a refund or new date if the trip is cancelled for weather; Royal Cruise's own pages publish no cancellation terms.