Blue Melody

Blue Melody is a wooden motor yacht, 38 metres long and 8.3 wide, built in 2005. Her interior has been rebuilt three times: a complete refit in 2008, an update in early 2016 and a full refurbishment of the accommodation in 2025 — pale wood, blue velvet, a new saloon, restaurant and cabins. She is run by the British company Master Liveaboards, which operates two vessels in Egypt: Blue Melody and her near-sister Blue Horizon. She sails year-round from Hurghada, with the southern routes leaving from Port Ghalib.

Twenty-six guests are accommodated in thirteen cabins. Ten twin cabins sit on the lower deck, numbered 01 to 10; three Premium Double cabins with a double bed are on the upper deck, right by the wheelhouse. The upper cabins are numbered 12, 13 and 14 — there is no cabin 11 on board, and that is not a typo but a feature of the post-refit plan. Every cabin has its own bathroom with a shower and individually controlled air conditioning.

The important thing the brochures do not mention: there are no power sockets or USB ports in the cabins. They were removed in February 2026 under a ruling by the Egyptian Maritime Inspections Office — charging is only possible in the communal areas, where you will find 220 V / 50 Hz, European Type C sockets and USB chargers; the crew hands out extension leads with two-pin and UK three-pin outlets. There are no hairdryers on board either, and no shampoo or conditioner is provided: liquid soap, towels and a poncho are, the rest you bring yourself.

The public spaces occupy the mid and upper decks. On the mid deck are an air-conditioned saloon, a large restaurant and an entertainment system; on the upper deck a shaded bistro with a bar and a drinks fridge; above that a sun deck with loungers and open sunbathing. The dive deck aft is roomy, with a camera table and a wide platform for entering the water; there are two Bauer compressors at 260 litres a minute and a nitrox membrane system, two tenders for reaching the sites, and two to three guides per trip.

Up to four dives a day: three day dives and, where permitted, a sunset or night dive — up to sixteen over the week. A 12-litre cylinder with air fills and weights are included; nitrox costs extra at 90 USD a week for a single cylinder, which is worth budgeting for in advance. The operator does not allow diving without a computer, an SMB and a reel. Rebreathers and technical diving are possible on prior request and if a suitably qualified guide is on board.

Master Liveaboards’ experience requirements are milder than the Egyptian norm: the northern routes open at Open Water with 10 logged dives, and everything else — including the Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, Rocky, Zabargad and St. John’s — at Open Water with 30 logged dives. Divers with fewer than 20 logged dives are not allowed on SS Thistlegorm: that is a CDWS rule, not the operator’s.

Money. There are two obligatory charges on board: the Government Reef Tax at 90 USD per person for a week, which covers the Red Sea marine park and port fees, and 14 % tax on everything paid on board. Blue Melody carries no fuel surcharge: the fleet-wide Master Liveaboards statement dated 24 August 2026 shows a dash against both Egyptian vessels, while the Maldivian and Pacific fleets do carry one. On-board prices are in US dollars; cash is accepted in USD, EGP, EUR and GBP (Bank of England notes only), and notes must be free of tears and marks; cards are taken for amounts over 20 USD with a 3 % surcharge. The operator suggests budgeting 25 USD per guest per day for tips and accepts them in cash only.

Wi-Fi on board is free but only works where there is a signal, closer to shore. On the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone routes there are three to four consecutive days with no internet and no mobile reception. One more local detail: Hurghada airport requires batteries to be removed from torches and dive computers in hand luggage, or they are confiscated — better to check them in.