Al Farouk II: Cabins, Itineraries & Booking Status 2026

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Photographs: existing Divezone boat collection and the LiveAboard.com Al Farouk gallery.

An Egyptian safari boat with a long history

The Al Farouk II is an Egyptian liveaboard associated with Mirage Marine Fleet. The vessel was already appearing in guest accounts in 2004; a later refurbishment date should not be mistaken for its construction year. A confirmed build year and dated account of its subsequent refits are not available here.

The partner page still contains photographs labelled Al Farouk II beneath its Al Farouk Omar heading. That connection helps locate the listing, but does not establish when a formal name or ownership change took place. Nor does a missing booking calendar establish that the vessel has retired.

Twelve cabins over three decks

The Al Farouk II can cater to a maximum of 24 passengers, hosting them in twelve cabins. Air-conditioning and private bathrooms are consistently described. Older descriptions mention some larger beds; the partner’s current cabin categories show twins, so a couple hoping for a double should have the actual bed arrangement named in the offer.

Solo travellers are shown as eligible for the twin categories. Shared occupancy and a cabin to yourself are different purchases: a private-use supplement needs to appear separately in a current quote.

Life between dives

You will find a salon with an entertainment system and a separate dining area in the recorded layout. Outdoors, the top deck offers daybeds, benches and tables, giving the boat more than one place to settle with a book or compare the day’s photographs. The shaded seating is a useful counterpoint to the sunny spaces above.

Meals around the diving day

The published meal description is three buffet meals, mixing international dishes with Egyptian and Arabic cooking, plus snacks between meals. The dining room has three large tables, so meals form a shared part of the day. Dietary arrangements need to be agreed for the actual sailing, especially where an allergy requires more than a vegetarian choice.

From equipment station to the water

The broad diving platform sits at the stern, directly behind the dive deck. Two tenders are described in the boat’s specifications, alongside equipment storage, rinsing facilities and freshwater showers. Nitrox and rental equipment are advertised, but their availability and charges belong in the departure’s written details.

Northern wrecks, offshore reefs and southern safaris

These are programmes documented for Al Farouk II in the Egyptian Red Sea. They are not a confirmed 2026 schedule. The Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone are a separate offshore itinerary family; they should not be grouped indiscriminately with northern wreck diving.

PADI’s boat description additionally names Safaga and the Straits of Tiran among its safari destinations. These names alone do not establish separate day-by-day routes. A northern itinerary, a deep-south cruise and an offshore circuit can involve very different passages; the actual port and full programme matter more than a broad “Red Sea safari” label.

Documented itinerary references

Each selectable layer locates places named in a documented programme. Points are geographic references, not an ordered sailing plan; no connecting track is drawn where the order is unverified. St John’s is represented by a regional reef reference. Abu Fendera, Safaga and the additional unnamed wrecks are not pinned here.

Geographic references: CDWS dive-site directory. Historical programme records checked 22 October 2026.

A closer look at the principal sites

• Thistlegorm: a wreck-focused stop; conditions and diver experience determine the dive plan.
• Ras Mohammed: reef diving at the southern tip of Sinai; the map uses Shark and Yolanda as a reference.
• Brothers: exposed offshore islands with walls and wrecks, rather than a sheltered coastal circuit.
• Daedalus and Elphinstone: offshore reef walls and plateaus; neither a particular shark encounter nor a fixed dive sequence is guaranteed.
• St John’s: a southern group of reefs, not one universal dive site.

A usable quote needs a dated departure

No current fare or full-trip total can be verified from an available sailing. A written offer should identify Al Farouk II or Al Farouk Omar unambiguously, the travel dates, nights aboard, cabin and occupancy. It should also explain what happens if a different vessel is substituted.

The difference between a headline fare and the payable total can be substantial when each charge uses a different basis. A dated, itemised offer makes it possible to compare the same cabin occupancy and trip length across boats.

Airports, ports and diving requirements

Published logistics describe departures from Hurghada or Port Ghalib, with transfers from Hurghada and Marsa Alam airports and some Hurghada hotels. Those are alternatives, not interchangeable meeting points. The confirmed embarkation port determines which airport and transfer arrangement make sense.

Earlier agent terms called for Advanced Open Water certification, with some course or private-guide arrangements. They do not establish current acceptance criteria. The sailing details need to resolve certification, logged dives, recent experience, mandatory equipment and insurance before a diver commits, particularly for the offshore routes.

Acceptance, fares and activities for non-diving companions have not been confirmed for a current Al Farouk departure.

What guests loved — and what could be better

The older partner reviews repeatedly mention meals and the crew. They describe particular trips, and should be read alongside the later comment preserved below rather than treated as a current inspection.

Questions about Al Farouk II

Sailed aboard Al Farouk II? Write your review, including the trip date, route, cabin, crew and any limitations.

Boat information and booking status checked 22 October 2026. This is a source-based update, not a new firsthand inspection. Original guest feedback remains below.