EMPEROR SUPERIOR

(5 customer reviews)

37m / 122ft MAX 26 NITROX PADI WIFI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 6

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE SPECIAL OFFERS APPLY

At a glance:

All-inclusive prices
Visits Red Sea North and South
All cabins with private bathrooms
Dedicated restaurant
Large boat with many relaxation spaces

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TRIP REPORT

The Emperor Superior is well named since it is indeed superior to a vast number of liveaboards that operate around the northern Red Sea. Cutting an impressive figure, this sleek white deluxe liveaboard boat has some of the features that the top-end Emperors enjoy such as outstanding accommodation, food and facilities, all marking the MV Emperor Superior out as one of the finest luxury liveaboards around.

At 37 metres long, it offers spacious comfort to no more than 26 divers, across 13 twin-berth or double bed en-suite cabins per trip. Emperor has a 'no hidden extras' policy. This means that they have transparent pricing and you will not find any extras such as fuel surcharges, local taxes, marine park fees, green/environment fees, airport transfers - these are all included in the sales price!

Purpose-built for liveaboard diving in the Red Sea, the Emperor Superior cabins are roomy, air-conditioned and feature private, en-suite bathroom facilities. On the dive deck, the EANx membrane system supplies free nitrox for trained divers. There is a camera table and there are 2 motorised dinghies and a minimum of 2 guides per trip to ensure an attentive and speedy diving service.

The Emperor Superior liveaboard's ample space is fully utilised by a huge saloon with a segregated dining area, 2 sundecks, and a spacious dive deck and platform. The semi-shaded sundeck on the upper deck is comfortable and enormous, as good a lounging area as you will find on any liveaboard. As with the rest of the Emperor fleet of Red Sea liveaboards, Emperor Superior has a Wi-Fi system which operates except when at sites very distant from shore. Emperor Internet usage is free of charge.

The vast space of the Emperor Superior accommodates 26 divers in 13 cabins. 1 upper deck twin bed cabin, 1 upper deck double bed cabin, 1 main deck flexi double/twin bed cabin, 1 main deck twin bed cabin, and 9 cabins all on the lower deck:: 8 are twin bed cabins, and 1 twin-bunk 'L-shaped' bed cabin. The cabins all have private en-suite bathrooms.

All the cabins have:

Air-conditioning
En-suite bathroom with hot-water shower, towels, toiletries & hand basin
Portholes
Cabinet & shelves
Mirror
Reading lamps

Safety box
Bedding
24-hour, 220v electricity supply
Life jackets
European-style 2-pin plugs

No. of bathrooms / showers - 14 / 14 - hot water

Red Sea North, Wrecks & Tiran Straits

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Shaab El Erg, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K), SS Thistlegorm, Gubal Island, Ulysses, Kingston, Carina, Dunraven, Ras Mohammed: Shark Reef, Yolanda, Straits of Tiran: Jackson Reef, Thomas Reef, Gordon Reef

Day 1
The crew will welcome you on board of Emperor Superior in Hurghada, show you your cabin and provide a detailed boat briefing, that will help you on familiarising with your new home for the duration of the trip. Dinner will be a great moment for getting to know your fellow divers. The liveaboard will leave port early the next morning, while everyone gets ready to dive.

Core Days
This itinerary allows you to visit famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea, along with some stunning reef diving. There are beautiful hard coral gardens and dolphins at Shaab El Erg, while 4 wrecks will be the highlights of diving at Abu Nuhas, all offering spectacular dives and plenty of marine life. Shaab El Erg, commonly known as Dolphin House, is a renowned dive site located in the northern Red Sea, between Hurghada and El Gouna. This natural lagoon is a popular resting and breeding ground for a resident pod of spinner dolphins, making it one of the most famous places in the Red Sea to encounter these playful and intelligent mammals.
The most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm, will leave you in awe: it was sunk in 1941 after being bombed by the German Luftwaffe! With its historical cargo of World War II machinery and equipment, all neatly stowed in its open holds. The Rosalie Moeller, carrying a cargo of coal, suffered the same fate just 2 days later.
The reefs around Gubal Island feature deep walls with an abundance of schools of fish like snapper and surgeonfish. Ras Mohamed is one of the best kept national parks in Egypt and located at the confluence of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, creating nutrient-rich waters that attract a wide array of marine species, including large pelagics. Visibility is often excellent, allowing for stunning views of the underwater landscape, which includes vibrant coral gardens and steep walls that drop off into the deep blue. You will also dive the 4 famous reefs of the Strait of Tiran: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas & Gordon. These magnificent formations, rising from the depths, are often frequented by large pelagics due to the abundance of currents.
4 dives a day will be the norm on most liveaboard days, except on the penultimate day, when 2 or 3 dives are scheduled before returning to Hurghada.

Final Day
Disembarkation from the Emperor Superior starts in Hurghada after a final breakfast on the boat. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel.

Red Sea North, Wrecks & Brothers (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Big Brother, Little Brother, Abu Nuhas (Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M and Giannis D), Straits of Gubal, SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed, Rosalie Moller, Panorama Reef, Salem Express

Day 1
Your Red Sea liveaboard adventure begins as the welcoming crew greets you onboard the Emperor Superior in Hurghada. After you're settled into your cabin and given a full boat briefing, join your fellow divers for dinner - the perfect chance to meet the passionate divers sharing this incredible trip with you. You'll set sail at dawn, ready for our first dive.

Core Days
The legendary Brother Islands are essential diving for the experienced. Here, you can pursue bucket-list sightings - from majestic hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, and thresher sharks, to manta rays and the occasional whale shark. When you're not marvelling at the pelagics, you'll explore stunning walls adorned with gorgonians and soft corals, all buzzing with life. The large schools of fish will dazzle any underwater photographer.
This liveaboard route also allows you to visit famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea. There are beautiful hard coral gardens and dolphins at Shaab El Erg, while 4 wrecks will be the highlights of diving at the ship graveyard of Abu Nuhas. All of these offer spectacular dives and plenty of marine life. Ras Mohamed is one of the best-kept national parks in Egypt. Its waters are rich in nutrients, attracting pelagics. The most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm, will leave you in awe: it was sunk in 1941 after being bombed by the German Luftwaffe! With its historical cargo of World War II machinery and equipment, all neatly stowed in its open holds, the Thistlegorm would be a highlight of diving anywhere in the world. The Rosalie Moeller, carrying a cargo of coal, suffered the same fate just 2 days later.
Safaga offers a fantastic contrast of diving. At Panorama Reef, you'll explore stunning shallow gardens of hard coral, bustling with colourful reef life. Just a short distance away lies the profound wreck of the Salem Express, a coral-encrusted ferry that provides a sombre yet unforgettable dive amidst its historical structure and resident marine species such as frogfish and stingrays.

Day 8
Disembarkation from the Emperor Superior liveaboard starts after a final breakfast on the boat in Hurghada. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel.
Sometimes Port Ghalib is used as the port in this itinerary, so please check your trip details for more info.

St. John's Reefs (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 Dives)

Trip highlights: dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving

Dive sites and activities: St. John's Reefs (Gota Kebir, Gota Soraya), Fury Shoals Reef System (Sha'ab Claude, Abu Galawa Soraya), Abu Dabbab, Sha'ab Sharm, Elphinstone

Day 1
Upon boarding the Emperor Superior liveaboard at Port Ghalib, the crew will assist you to your cabin and provide a detailed briefing. A welcome dinner in the large saloon offers a chance to meet other guests before an early morning departure for your first dive.

Core Days
For divers, St. John's Reefs are a dream of diversity and abundance. You can explore a breathtaking underwater world of canyons, tunnels, and pinnacles draped in brilliant coral. Be mesmerised by the dance of marine life: graceful rays, curious sharks, elusive frogfish, and bustling schools all find a home here. Venture to Gota Kebir for thrilling encounters with powerful pelagics - tuna, barracuda, and even hammerheads patrol the blue, while the reef itself blooms with colour and smaller critters, offering a complete and unforgettable liveaboard diving experience.
Dive into the serene, labyrinthine world of Fury Shoals, an expansive paradise of crystal-clear lagoons and intricate coral gardens. Glide through underwater canyons and over dazzling plateaus where corals explode with life. This is an oasis of calm, shallow diving, perfect for encountering graceful stingrays, curious turtles, resident populations of dolphins, and kaleidoscopic schools of reef fish dancing in the sun-dappled waters. It's a breathtakingly beautiful and tranquil underwater playground, offering some of the Red Sea's most picturesque and relaxing diving.
On the second-to-last day of the trip, after 2 morning dives, the liveaboard will head back to Port Ghalib.

Day 8
Disembarkation starts after a final breakfast on the Emperor Superior. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel in Port Ghalib.

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

All meals on Emperor Superior are served in the liveaboard's air-conditioned dining room, with catering commencing with dinner on the first day. Meal times will vary depending on whether it's a 3 or 4-dive day, and also on the travel distance between dive sites. However, here is a rough guide:

- on 3-dive days, dinner is around 7 pm.
- on 4-dive days, dinner will be taken after the last dive, depending on the time of sunset, but is normally around 8 pm.

Guests are served 3 main meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with additional snacks available between meals. A diverse menu featuring international, Italian, and local Arabic dishes is available throughout the cruise. We can accommodate dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and halal, with advance notice.

Sample menu items:

Breakfast: Eggs are cooked to your liking - poached, boiled, or fried - and a typical breakfast selection includes cold cuts, yoghurt, fresh fruit, muesli, and an assortment of breads served with butter.
Lunch: The menu offers options like zucchini soup, mashed potatoes, and rice, which are served alongside a variety of proteins such as fish fillet, sheesh tawook, beef shwarma, and grilled chicken. This provides a balanced mix of international and Middle Eastern flavours.
Dinner: The usual selection includes roast beef, pasta, sweetcorn soup, grilled chicken, rice, vegetables, and four fresh salads, with a variety of sweet desserts to finish.
Vegan options might include dishes such as moussaka, tofu curry, and sautéed vegetables, accompanied by pasta and chips.

Complimentary bar snacks include biscuits and fresh fruit, along with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and drinking water. Alcoholic beverages like beer, wine by the bottle, and spirits are available to purchase, as well as chocolate bars.

"We were impressed by the quality of the dive master Lily. The crew were helpful and fun. The food was excellent and we especially enjoyed trying the Egyptian food. It was so good we asked them to make it again. The trip was good except the wind was a bit blustery but we managed to make most of the planned itinerary. The wreck dive trip is fun and we managed to do enough reefs on the trip to make it more varied. The Red Sea has great reefs in the North and we enjoyed some amazingly relaxed drift dives." - Donald Henderson, Mexico, 16 September 2019 ...

"It was a good experience as my first live onboard diving. Just my personal feeling, the diving staff, they were seemed to be tired a bit due to their continuous operations, maybe. All the arrangement including personal transfer services were perfectly worked on time, that what I appreciated so much" - Sayuri Teramoto, Japan, 9 January 2019 ...

"The liveaboard was absolutely fantastic! The dive guards were super knowledgeable about all the dive sites and the staff were always there when you needed them. At no point of my trip was I annoyed with the staff. The bathrooms of the boat could use a bit of an update, but other than that I was pleased with my cabin and the shared spaces of the boat." - Rebecca Spillers, USA, 24 May 2015 ...

"Had a good trip, excellent diving and the wrecks were spectacular. Excellent all around. Only complaint was sharing a cabin and had the top bunk, which was awkward to get in and out of, especially with a stranger in the bottom bunk. Note: I did not raise this issue with the operator, as I knew there were no other accommodation available. Just slept most nights on the top deck. Only reason not a 5 out of 5 is the bunk bed as mentioned above and the fact that we spent the first and last nights on the boat tied up in the harbour. Would have rather had 5 nights on the boat and spent the other 2 in a hotel." - Scott Curry, USA, 14 January 2011 ...

"Emperor get 5/5 for the way they run things. Best feature was post-dive check-in using the scuba tanks and the dive stats log. Minimal risk of being left behind, which is more than I can say for shore dive operations at places such as Titanic." - Rob Koch, South Africa, 28 February 2010 ...

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS

Notes: For lower deck twin bunk bed cabins: Emperor Superior offers a USD 47 discount per person off the published prices of the lower deck twin bunk bed cabins.

Dive experience: 50 logged dives and advanced diver certification are required for Red Sea liveaboard safaris to any of - Brothers, Daedalus Reef, Zabargad and Rocky Island.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, red wine with dinner, drinking water, soft drinks and hot drinks, roundtrip transfers from local airport/hotel to boat (fixed times), dives (as detailed in the trips above), 2 experienced English-speaking divemaster(s), tanks, weights and weightbelts, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, all park & port fees, fuel surcharges, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (USD 244 per week, incl. dive computer), diving insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: All other alcoholic drinks, 15 litre tank (USD 41 per week), torch (USD 57 per week), Hurghada-Port Ghalib/Marsa Alam transfers. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: MV Emperor Superior departs from Hurghada and return transfers are provided from nearby hotels/ Hurghada airport to the liveaboard departure point. Arrival transfer at 6 pm. Departure transfer at 9 am. For more details, including airlines, visit our Red Sea travel information section. The first and last nights of the trip are spent in the harbour. Guests arrive and board on the first day. The boat leaves the harbour on the morning of the second day. The last dive of the trip will be at around 12 noon on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: USD 41 gift voucher to spend onboard.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 50% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 7 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 8+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 23 guests and 3 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge.

Add-on package: If you have time, we strongly recommend that you consider some of the wonderful antiquities tours in Egypt which can add a whole new dimension to your holiday.

Cairo museum's royal mummies, the pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, a glorious cruise down the Nile staying in a luxury cabin, The Valley of the Kings, all of these and more can be seen in packages starting at 6 nights' duration. Other activities such as 4x4 safaris and camel tours are also available as are custom-made packages to suit your needs.

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Customer rating: Excellent!

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