Hurghada Royal Seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise with Snorkeling & Lunch

Hurghada Royal Seascope semi-submarine cruise with snorkeling and lunch. $40-60 for underwater views without getting wet? Sounds easy. Reality: plastic tube, engine noise and average lunch. Honest review after 10 years living here.

Hurghada Royal Seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise with Snorkeling & Lunch

The van was late. Again. Of course it was.

We waited twenty minutes in the sun. Then we climbed down the steps into the semi-submarine. The cool air-conditioned air hit me hard. Mixed with that cheap plastic smell and a faint whiff of diesel. My shirt stuck to my back from the heat outside.

Look, I’ve lived in Hurghada over ten years. I’ve done most of these underwater tours. The Royal Seascope is the one families book when they don’t want to get wet. It’s marketed as easy underwater viewing. In practice it’s a floating tube with windows.

The boat rocks a bit when it moves. You sit on plastic benches and stare out the big windows. Fish swim past. Coral drifts by. The captain makes announcements over the speaker. Same script every time.

Why people still choose this Royal Seascope semi-submarine cruise

To be fair the windows are big. You see decent coral and plenty of fish without getting in the water. The snorkeling stop afterwards is actually the best part for most people. The crew help you with masks. They jump in with you.

But here’s what always gets on my nerves. Even though it’s a semi-submarine the deck is still crowded. People push for the best window seats. The engine noise is constant. The music was loud, I forgot my earplugs. By the third announcement I was ready to go back up top.

Lunch is the usual boat buffet. Rice, chicken, some salad. It does the job. Nothing special. Drinks are overpriced again. Four dollars for a small Coke. Taking the piss as usual.

The underwater part itself is fine for families and older people. You stay dry. You see the reef. But it’s not the same as being in the water. The fish look a bit distant through the thick glass.

Overall the Hurghada Royal Seascope semi-submarine cruise does what it says on the tin. It gives you underwater views without the hassle of snorkeling gear if you don’t fancy it. It’s comfortable enough. Just don’t expect miracles or total silence.

A flat here costs less than a garage back home, and this sort of half-dry, half-wet day is what passes for a relaxed afternoon when you live in Hurghada. Just saying.