A private yacht charter books the whole boat for your group. A shared liveaboard sells the same kind of boat one berth at a time.
For a solo diver or a couple, a shared liveaboard is the cheaper way to dive the Red Sea. For a group of 12 to 20, a large Egyptian dive yacht often works out at a similar fare per person. On the private yacht, the route, the dive times and the menu are yours.
Private Red Sea yachts run from about €15,000 a week for a crewed catamaran to more than €300,000 for the largest superyachts. Every private Red Sea liveaboard we offer is booked by the week, for your group only.
How is a private yacht different from a shared Red Sea liveaboard?
The boats can look alike. The difference is who books the cabins, and who decides where the boat goes.
| Private yacht | Shared liveaboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is on board | Only your group | Often 20 or more divers who booked separately |
| How you pay | One weekly price for the whole yacht | A fare per person, for one berth |
| Route and dive times | Planned with your captain, and can change | Fixed before you board |
| Non-divers and children | Welcome, with snorkeling and beach stops | Little to do between dives |
| Meals | Planned around your group with the chef | One menu for everyone on board |
| Best for | Families, friends, divers and non-divers together | Solo divers, couples, dive-only weeks |
What does each one cost per person?
A shared liveaboard is priced per person. A private yacht is priced per week for the whole boat. To compare them, divide the yacht’s weekly rate by the number of people in your group.
Shared liveaboards. Two well-known shared dive boats out of Hurghada publish fares from $1,080 and from $1,825 per person a week (checked October 2026). Both add port and park fees of $200 to $250 per person, paid on board. Gratuities, nitrox and alcohol are extra.
Private yachts. The weekly rate covers the whole yacht, so the price per person falls as your group grows:
- Egyptian dive yachts. A large Egyptian dive yacht shared by a group of 12 to 20 often works out at a similar per-person price to a shared liveaboard berth. Many of these yachts quote one all-inclusive price.
- Crewed catamarans. About €15,000 to €35,000 a week for up to 10 guests, plus APA and 14% Egyptian VAT. PIXIE, for example, lists from €31,500 a week for up to 9 guests.
- Larger catamarans. ALINA lists from €70,000 a week for 10 guests, plus APA and VAT.
- Superyachts. From about €120,000 a week, with a full professional crew and a chef. WIND OF FORTUNE lists from €120,000 a week for 16 guests.
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a deposit for running costs: fuel, food, drinks, and marina and park fees. The captain accounts for it at the end of the week, and the remainder is returned.
Fees to plan for on either kind of trip (as of October 2026):
- Egypt visa. $30 for a single-entry tourist e-visa.
- Marine park fees. Charged per person. Recent yacht terms list about €65 to €190 per guest, depending on the length of the trip.
- VAT. Foreign-flagged catamarans that winter in Egypt add 14% Egyptian VAT. Egyptian dive yachts usually quote one price with no separate VAT line.
- Crew gratuity. Extra on both, and at your discretion.
For every fee line and worked examples, see our Red Sea yacht charter cost guide.
When is a private yacht the better choice in the Red Sea?
A private yacht is the better choice when your group is big enough to fill it, or when not everyone dives.
- Larger groups. Split 12 to 20 ways, a large Egyptian dive yacht often costs a similar fare per person to a shared berth.
- Divers and non-divers together. Many reefs start right below the swim platform, so snorkelers see the same corals and fish. The route can add beaches and quiet anchorages between dives.
- Families with children. Nobody else is waiting for the next dive. The day runs at your pace.
- Your own route. The captain plans the week around your group’s dive level, the wind and what you want to see.
- Your own table. The chef plans the menu with you before the trip.
- Privacy. Every cabin, deck and dive slot belongs to your group.
When is a shared liveaboard the better choice?
A shared liveaboard is the better buy when you travel alone or as a couple.
- Solo divers and couples. You pay for one or two berths, not a whole yacht.
- A fixed, tight budget. A shared fare is the lowest price for a week of Red Sea diving.
- Dive-only offshore weeks. Shared boats run set routes to the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone, with up to 4 dives a day. These trips often ask for advanced certification and at least 30 logged dives.
- Meeting other divers. Some divers enjoy the company of a full dive deck.
If your group grows to 12 or more, ask us to price a private yacht before you book cabins.
Can you book a whole Red Sea liveaboard just for your group?
Yes. Many Egyptian dive yachts sell both ways: by the berth, or the whole boat for one group.
Booked privately, the yacht keeps its dive deck, its compressor and its dive guides. Your group sets the route and the dive times, and non-divers are welcome on board.
Ask your broker for the whole-yacht price and what it includes. Some dive yachts include full board, guides, tanks and weights. Others add running costs on top.
For more on how this works, see our private Red Sea liveaboard charters. To compare every yacht with a dive setup, see the charter yachts with scuba diving on board.
Which Red Sea routes suit each one?
Both reach the same reefs. The difference is how the week is shaped.
- The north. The wrecks of Abu Nuhas and the SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran. Our 7-day Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh itinerary covers them, starting at the Giftun islands.
- The south. Elphinstone Reef, the Dolphin House at Sha’ab Samadai and the Fury Shoals, from Port Ghalib. See our 7-day Marsa Alam itinerary.
- The offshore marine parks. The Brothers and Daedalus are long open-water runs for experienced divers. Shared dive boats run dedicated weeks there. On a private yacht, ask your broker whether the yacht is set up and permitted for them.
Photos: Roland Unger (left) and Alexander Vasenin (right), CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pick a well-run Red Sea yacht?
Our brokers check a yacht’s recent guest feedback and how long the crew has run it.
Tell your broker 4 things before you book:
- how many in your group dive, and at what level,
- whether anyone wants to learn or take a course,
- whether you want nitrox,
- whether you need dive gear on board or bring your own.
Dive gear, guides and park fees are arranged differently on every yacht. Your broker sets out what is included, in writing, before you commit.
So which one should you book?
Book a shared liveaboard if you are one or two divers on a dive-only week.
Book a private yacht if your group is 12 or more, or if not everyone dives.
Tell us your dates, your group size and how many of you dive. We will send the yachts that fit, with every fee line set out. Start with the Red Sea fleet.
People also ask
Is a private yacht cheaper than a liveaboard in the Red Sea?
For one or two people, no. A shared liveaboard is priced per person, so it is the cheaper way to dive. For a group of 12 to 20, a large Egyptian dive yacht often works out at a similar amount per person.
Can non-divers join a Red Sea liveaboard?
On a private yacht, yes. Many reefs start below the swim platform, so snorkelers see the same corals, and the route can include beaches. Shared dive boats are built around the dive schedule, so there is little for non-divers to do.
How many guests does a private Red Sea yacht take?
Most private yachts take up to 12 guests. Some Egyptian dive yachts sleep 20 or more. For larger groups, two yachts can cruise together.
Do you need to be an advanced diver for the Brothers and Daedalus?
Usually, yes. Trips to these offshore marine parks often ask for advanced certification and logged dives. On a private yacht, the captain and dive guide plan the sites around your group’s level.
What is included in a private Red Sea yacht charter?
It depends on the yacht. Some Egyptian dive yachts include full board, dive guides, tanks and weights. Other yachts charge a weekly rate plus APA for fuel, food and fees. Your broker sets out exactly what is included before you book.
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