The Emperor Elite offers 8-day/7-night trips exploring the marine parks surrounding the Brothers Islands, Elphinstone, and Daedalus Reefs, as well as venturing south to St. John’s and the Fury Shoals and depending on the season, also exploring the Northern sites such as the Thistlegorm wreck and Ras Muhammed National Park. With a spacious dive deck and free Nitrox, this Red Sea liveaboard is perfectly set up for divers wanting an immersive scuba vacation.
Accommodations
There are 13 cabins onboard the Emperor Elite, including eight on the lower deck, one on the main deck and four on the upper deck. All come with ensuite bathrooms with showers, adequate storage, and individually controlled air conditioning.
Lower Deck Twins: There are eight twin cabins on the lower deck, each of which is approximately 10 square meters. They come with two twin beds, ensuite bathrooms, and porthole windows.
Main Deck Twin: There is one twin cabin on the main deck that is approximately 12 square meters in size. It comes with two twin beds that can be converted into a double, an ensuite bathroom, and a large window.
Upper Deck Twins: There are two twin cabins on the upper deck, which are approximately 9 square meters in size. They come with two twin beds, ensuite bathrooms, and large windows.
Upper Deck Junior Suite: This spacious suite is 19 square meters and comes with panoramic windows overlooking the water. In addition to its king-size bed, there is a sofa that converts into a single bed, an ensuite bathroom, and a 32” flatscreen TV.
Upper Deck Executive Suite: At 28 square meters, this suite is the most spacious cabin onboard and comes with large windows. In addition to its king-size bed, there are two sofas (one converts into a single bed), an ensuite bathroom, a writing desk, and a flatscreen TV.
Dining:
Liveaboard adventures on the Emperor Elite feature buffet-style meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all of which are served in the main deck dining area. Menus draw on both international and Egyptian flavors, with most dietary requirements catered for with prior notification.
All Red Sea liveaboard trips on the Emperor Elite include free tea, coffee, drinking water, and soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks can be purchased for an additional fee, although guests can enjoy a complimentary glass of red wine or beer with their dinner.
Amenities:
The lower deck of the Emperor Elite is dominated by the eight twin cabins while the main deck is home to an additional twin room. Here, you will also find the air-conditioned lounge and dining area with comfortable sofas, plus a bar and a 55″ LCD Smart TV. At the rear is the dive deck and platform where the tenders are moored.
Steps lead to the upper deck where you’ll find a sun deck with tables and sofas, as well as another bar serving drinks and espresso coffee. Adjacent are two twin rooms. At the front of this Red Sea liveaboard is the Junior Suite while the Executive Suite is positioned in the middle of the vessel. Above is a sun deck with chairs, sun loungers, and bean bags.
Complimentary Wi-Fi and limited data packages are available onboard.
Diving:
Diving is conducted from the Emperor Elite’s spacious dive deck and platform, which measures 6.5 x 8 meters. Beneath the deck are three Bauer compressors. Two zodiacs transport guests to and from dive sites and the platform is equipped with rinse tanks and showers for freshening up after returning from the water. Dedicated camera rinse tanks, a camera table, and charging stations are also available.
A full range of dive equipment is available for rent during Red Sea liveaboard trips and all divers are required to use a dive computer and SMB for every dive. Torches (aka dive lights) are mandatory for night dives. While 12-liter aluminum tanks come as standard on all Emperor Elite trips, divers can request a 15-liter tank, depending on availability. Nitrox is available for free for certified divers and technical, re-breather, and side mount diving is available on request.
On the Emperor Elite, you can enjoy up to 22 dives during an 8-day/7-night liveaboard trip, departing and returning to Marsa Ghalib or Hurghada. Several PADI dive courses are available onboard, including Advanced Open Water, Adventure Diver, and specialties.
Itineraries offered by this Red Sea liveaboard explore both the northern and southern areas, featuring stops at the Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone Reefs, and the Northern Reef & Wrecks itinerary. Additionally, there are trips that focus on the St John’s area and excursions to the southern Fury Shoal.
Diving in the Red Sea is available year-round, although the best times to visit are generally considered to be from March to May and September to November. The Emperor Elite takes a break in January. Water temperatures range from 70°F (21°C) in winter to 86°F (30°C) in summer. During the warmer months, a 3mm wetsuit is usually adequate for most divers, but as the temperatures cool, you might want to opt for a thicker 5mm or even a 7mm wetsuit. The southern area is typically 3-4°F (1-2°C) warmer than the North.