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8 Reasons to Highlight Singapore on Your Cruise

posted March 27, 2014

If a snapshot is worth a thousand words, then the city of Singapore is worth a million. Within an area the size of Rhode Island is a melting pot of Asian influences that give the growing cosmopolitan city-country its unique flair. Now that three of the world’s top cruise companies (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Star Cruises) call Singapore home, it’s easy to make Singapore your choice for a cruise embarkation. But just in case that wasn’t enough for you, here’s why Singapore is worth a visit:

Clean and Friendly. Forget stepping on a piece of gum or getting flummoxed by street signs while touring the city. Singapore’s limit on cars, rules against cutting trees, tough fines for littering, and English initiatives translates to a squeaky-clean garden city with road signs in English. Locals are encouraged to speak proper English, so don’t be afraid to ask your taxi driver for recommendations. More than likely, you’ll happily receive an earful of free advice and information before arriving at your destination. For destinations farther away, use mass transit. Singapore’s rail and bus system might just be the cleanest in the world.

Hawker Centers. Singapore is a migrant city featuring cuisines from China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and more. Tour the famous hawker centers to get the best sampling of Asian cuisine. These huge food complexes are made of street vendors that specialize in one dish and making that one dish well. Order char kway trow, Singapore’s favorite noodle dish, or the infamous Singapore chili crab. Plus there’s plenty of satay, rojak, and other Asian favorites, all for around $5 USD. One visit and you’ll be hooked.

Marina Bay Sands Resort. The modern metropolis is awash with wonders of engineering and Marina Bay Sands Hotel exemplifies the 21st-century city. This highlight of Singapore’s skyline was inspired by a house of cards. Head for the Sands SkyPark for breath-taking views accompanied by lush gardens, restaurants, nightclubs. The true highlight is the 150-meter long infinity pool vanishing into the shimmering skyline. The SkyPark is made possible because of the world’s longest suspended and unsupported cantilever. But Marina Bay isn’t just an engineering marvel: chance lady luck in a Casino spanning four levels, attend a convention in one of the five floors of space designed to fit up to 11,000 delegates, or indulge at the luxurious Shoppes of Marina Bay featuring the world’s top end designers. Marina Bay Sands is a all-in-one attraction adjacent to the Marina Bay Cruise Terminal.

Night Safari. Forget staring at tigers lazily lounging in the shade to escape the tortuous midday tropical sun. See the animals come alive after the sun goes down. As the world’s first nocturnal zoo, the Night Safari is the #1 attraction in Singapore. Explore seven different geographical zones designed to simulate the animal’s natural habitat by foot or by tram. Singapore’s Night Safari is a great family excursion. Check your cruise lines’ disembarking time; some ships, such as the Costa Victoria and Deliziosa, leave as late as 10 p.m., meaning you can buy 6 p.m. tickets for the Night Safari.

Formula 1 Racing. Speaking of the night, the Formula 1 Grand Prix zips to Singapore in September. The only night race in the series zooms around the Marina Bay Street Circuit as part of a week-long festival. A powerful lighting system replicates daylight on the course for drivers as they make 61 laps through the city. The Grand Prix is accompanied by fashion shows and nightclub events highlighting Singapore’s cosmopolitan culture.

Developing Arts Scene. Amongst Singapore’s tourism initiatives is support for the Arts, as seen by the $368 million Esplanade-Theater on the Bay, affectionately nicknamed Durian since its spiky design mimics the popular local fruit. The new National Art Gallery plans to open a flagship Southeast Asian National Art Gallery in 2015 with the intent of showcasing the development of Singapore and its regional cultures. The month-long Singapore Arts Festival highlights the many styles of performing and visual arts from the many cultures that call the island country home. For an art aficionado, Singapore’s mission to be the Southeast’s artistic hub translates to increasing opportunities for discovery.

Seamless Transfer Service. Singapore offers Asia’s first fly-cruise service to seamlessly transition your luggage from the airport to the cruise terminal and back again—and it’s available for international passengers. Passengers can check-in for departing flights, deposit luggage, and collect boarding passes to spend the last few hours soaking in local culture instead of waiting in lines at the airport.

A Hub for Southeast Asia Exploration. Besides its modern charm and culture, Singapore’s central location makes it the perfect bouncing-off point to surrounding southeast Asia before or after your cruise. Extend your stay and jump to Malaysia to visit exotic Kuala Lumpur, or take a ferry to the many islands of Indonesia. Vietnam and Cambodia are within reach, too.

The Crystal Symphony overnights in Singapore while embarking from the Azamara Journey, Celebrity Millennium, Sapphire Princess, Mariner of the Seas, and Silver Shadow make it easy to explore more before or after your cruise vacation. With seven cruise ships home-porting out of Singapore, and even more visiting as a port-of-call, it’s easy to include Singapore as a cruising destination.

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