Orange Bay by speedboat, is it worth it?

The shared boat is the default Orange Bay trip from Hurghada. €25 per person, 8 hours door to door, full breakfast and lunch on board, two snorkeling stops, two hours at the island, hotel pickup. Group up to 30. The boat cruises at around 8 knots, so it is 90 minutes each way.

The speedboat is the same destination on a fast hull, but the whole boat is yours. €130 flat for the boat (up to 8 guests, not per person), around 4 hours door to door, snacks instead of full lunch, two reef snorkeling stops, time at the island. Two daily slots (morning 9 to 1, afternoon 1 to 5). The boat cruises at 20 to 25 knots, so it is roughly 45 minutes each way.

In short, the speedboat buys you time and privacy. Less time on the boat, more time on the island, the boat just for your group, and the option to choose a morning or afternoon slot instead of committing your whole day.

Your time is short. If you only have a half-day free (afternoon excursion before dinner, or a morning trip before checking out of your hotel), the speedboat is the only option that fits.

You get seasick easily. The shared day boat is gentler in calm water, but the 90-minute crossing each way can be a lot for sensitive stomachs. The speedboat crossing is rougher per second but is 45 minutes shorter total, so most prone-to-seasick guests prefer it.

You want dolphins. The speedboat can route through Dolphin House (Shaab El Erg) on the way back, and bottlenose dolphin sightings are very common. Day boats rarely do this detour because of the speed needed.

You want the boat to yourselves. On a 30-person shared day boat your group shares the deck with strangers. On the speedboat the whole boat is yours (up to 8 guests), so the day feels personal, the briefings are quicker, and the snorkeling stops are not crowded at the ladder.

Budget matters. €25 per person vs €130 flat for the boat. For a couple that is €50 vs €130 for the same destination, so the shared boat is cheaper for small groups. The Orange Bay you see is the same Orange Bay.

You want lunch on the boat. The day boat serves a fresh-cooked lunch (chicken or fish, rice, salad, fresh bread, vegetarian on request). The speedboat serves snacks and fresh fruit only, because the slots are 4 hours and most guests eat at their hotel before or after.

You want a full day on the sea. Some travelers genuinely enjoy the time on a boat with the wind, the music, breakfast on deck, and the slow approach to the island. A 90-minute cruise is a feature, not a bug, for that mindset.

You travel with infants. The day boat is more stable and quieter, better suited for very young children. We do not recommend the speedboat for infants because of the motion.

Ask yourself three questions. One: do you have a full day to dedicate, or only a half-day? Two: does your group include anyone who gets seasick or strongly prefers fast over slow? Three: would your day be better with dolphins or with the boat to yourselves?

If the answer to any of those is yes, the speedboat is the trip for you. The bigger your group (up to 8), the better the flat €130 boat price works out per head. If all three are no and you are just a couple, the shared boat is the cheaper way to the same island.

Both trips are bookable on this site, no deposit needed, pay on arrival. Hotel pickup is included on both. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the trip. If you book the speedboat, pick your slot (morning or afternoon) at checkout. If you book the shared boat, you depart at 8 AM and return around 4 PM.

WhatsApp us if you are torn between the two, we will ask a few questions about your group and recommend honestly. We do not earn more from steering you to the speedboat. Whatever fits your day better, we book.