Best Boat Trip for Families with Young Kids

Best Boat Trip for Families with Young Kids

Among Egypt Sunmarine's four Hurghada trips, one clear favorite keeps coming up with families: the Pirates Sailing Boat. It's the liveliest, most entertainment-packed option of the four, and in practice it's the trip families book most often. That said, if your children are too young to swim, or you'd rather keep the day completely dry, the Royal Seascope Submarine, Nefertari Cruise, and Elite VIP Cruise each cover a different need. Here's how to choose.

Best Overall for Families: Pirates Sailing Boat

The Pirates Sailing Boat is genuinely the trip most families end up booking, and it's easy to see why. The traditional sailing-boat atmosphere is lively and sociable, with plenty of open deck space for kids to move around, a crew that keeps the energy fun and easygoing, and an open buffet lunch on board. Kids who want to get in the water can bring or rent their own snorkeling gear, while younger ones are just as happy spending the day exploring the deck and enjoying the atmosphere.

• The most-booked trip by families among ESM's four Hurghada trips
• Lively, family-friendly atmosphere with a crew that’s genuinely good with kids
• Spacious traditional sailing boat with plenty of open deck room
• Bring or rent your own snorkeling gear for kids who want to get in the water; open buffet lunch included

Best for Toddlers and Non-Swimmers: Royal Seascope Submarine

If your children are too young to swim, or you'd simply rather not put them in the water at all, the Royal Seascope Submarine is the easiest choice. Nobody has to get wet. The whole family sits in an air-conditioned underwater observation deck a few meters below the surface and watches the reef through glass windows, so there's no life jacket negotiation, no current to worry about, and no toddler meltdown over cold water. A short, optional snorkeling stop is included for older kids or adults who want to go in, while younger ones can stay dry and watch from the deck above.

• No swimming required — the whole trip can be enjoyed completely dry
• Four short 2-hour departures a day, easy to fit around nap times
• Life jackets provided for the optional snorkel stop
• Air-conditioned underwater viewing deck keeps kids comfortable out of the midday sun

Best for a Relaxed Family Lunch Cruise: Nefertari Cruise

For families who want a full day out without anyone in the water, the Nefertari Cruise is built around comfort rather than activity. It's a large cruise ship styled after an ancient Egyptian vessel, with an underwater viewing platform for kids who want a quick look at the reef, plus a proper sit-down lunch service on board — useful when you have children who need a real meal on a schedule rather than a packed lunch eaten on a beach towel. It departs from Hurghada, so it pairs easily with a Royal Seascope morning trip if you want to combine a dry adventure with a relaxed cruise on the same holiday.

• Underwater viewing platform, no swimming needed
• On-board lunch service, good for kids on a meal schedule
• Spacious cruise-ship layout with room to walk around
• Departs from Hurghada

Best for Kids Ready to Snorkel with Extra Support: Elite VIP Cruise

If your children are confident enough to try snorkeling but you'd like more structured, guided support than the Pirates boat's independent swim time, the Elite VIP Cruise is built for that. Life jackets are available for less confident swimmers, entry to the water is via a low platform rather than a jump, and the snorkeling guides are used to walking nervous first-timers through it — even holding a life buoy if a child needs the extra reassurance. It's a full day out with three snorkeling stops and an open buffet lunch on board.

• Life jackets available, low-platform water entry
• Guides support first-time or nervous snorkelers
• Three snorkeling stops plus an open buffet lunch
• A more closely guided alternative to the Pirates boat for kids new to snorkeling

Quick Comparison for Parents

Practical Tips for Booking with Kids

• If your kids love a lively, social atmosphere, book the Pirates Sailing Boat first — it’s the trip Egypt Sunmarine families choose most
• Book the Royal Seascope Submarine's earliest departure if young kids nap in the afternoon
• Pack a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and a change of clothes even on the “no swimming” trips
• Bring your family's own ID or passports — required on every Egypt Sunmarine trip
• On a longer stay, combine a dry-day Royal Seascope trip with a Nefertari lunch cruise to cover both younger and older kids

Book Your Family Trip

• Pirates Sailing Boat – Hurghada
• Royal Seascope Submarine – Hurghada
• Nefertari Cruise – Hurghada

Elite VIP Cruise – Hurghada