Singapore

Cruise vessels berth at Singapore Cruise Center at Sentosa Harbourfront, connected to the harbour-front centre. The recently refurbished terminal contains numerous shops, restaurants, cafés offering customers free WiFi and a post office, although navigating the maze-like complex may be somewhat confusing. Taxis are generally available. HarborFront has a Metro Station, Bus Interchange and cable-car connections to Sentosa Island and Mount Faber, all within easy walking distance of the Cruise Center. Singapore Changi International Airport is a mere 20 minute drive away, and the city centre is just…

Marina Bay Cruise Center Singapore opened in 2012. At the southern tip of central Singapore, it is conveniently close to both the airport and city centre. Marina Bay is the nearest MRT station, a 10 minute walk away. Bus Service 402 calls at the cruise centre from Marina Bay and covers the first four bus stops; its stop is in the coach bay at Level 1. A single journey costs below S$2.00, and exact fare is required because no change is given. A free shuttle bus is often provided to Marine Sands, a vast hotel and shopping complex. Ship shuttles also run often, are sometimes free and drop passengers right at the…

By 2027, the two docks and terminals will be joined, allowing a continuous promenade to form part of the Greater Southern Waterfront.

Singapore Changi International Airport is only a 20 minute drive away, while the city's subway system, or Mass Rapid Transit, puts the city centre just minutes from the port.

Find hotels in Singapore.

Carry a printable map ashore.

Singapore is a small country on a small island, yet its population of over four million makes it a fairly crowded city. The central area, broadly formed by Orchard, the Riverside and part of Chinatown, is known in acronym-loving Singapore as the CBD, or Central Business District.

• Riverside, also called the Civil District: museums, statues and theatres, as well as restaurants, bars and clubs.
• Orchard Road: miles upon miles of shopping centres.
• Bugis and Kampong Glam: Singapore's old Malay district has largely given way to shopping centres, although Arab Street in Kampong Glam remains well worth visiting for an eclectic collection of distinctive shops and restaurants.
• Chinatown: originally designated by Stamford Raffles as the Chinese settlement, it is now a Cantonese enclave within predominantly Hokkien Singapore.
• Little India: a piece of India north of the city centre.
• Balestier, Newton, Novena and Toa Payoh: budget accommodation and Burmese temples within easy reach of the centre.
• North and West: respectively known as Woodlands and Jurong, the island's northern and western areas form Singapore's residential and industrial hinterlands.
• East Coast: this mainly residential eastern district contains Changi Airport and many celebrated places to eat. Katong, within the East Coast, is known for Peranakan food such as laksa, while Joo Chiat has well-restored Peranakan houses with characteristically intricate architecture. The district also includes Geylang Serai, the true home of Singapore's Malays.
• Sentosa: a separate island developed as a resort, and the closest Singapore comes to Disneyland.
• A relatively brief journey reaches Marina Bay and, in particular, its laser-light show. Held twice-nightly, this attraction draws thousands of spectators on river-boats or seated and standing along the beautiful esplanade facing the bay. The famous Singapore ‘Merlion’ is here, and the surrounding Bay area is filled with colour.

Use The Singapore Tourist Pass to explore by public transport. Created for value and ease of travel, the STP is sold as 1 - Day, 2 - Day or 3- Day passes costing only S$10 per day. A S$10 rental deposit is fully refunded when the card is returned within 5 days of issue. It is worthwhile if you expect to make 4 or more journeys on the excellent, simple-to-use public transport network.

Singapore City Hop-on Hop-off Tour: the SIA Hop-on bus offers a convenient way to move around town and visit places of interest. Unlimited air-conditioned journeys take visitors to over 20 of the City's most popular attractions. Stops include principal shopping centres and hotels such as Raffled City, Singapore Botanic Garden and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, together with Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street and other ethnic enclaves. Passengers can board and leave whenever they wish. Take a taxi to the nearest stop.

More than 15,000 air-conditioned taxis operate on local roads, providing comfortable and trouble-free travel for a very reasonable price. Every cab is metered and honest. When rain falls, do not expect to hail one.

Trishaws are three-wheeled bicycle taxis found around Singapore River and Chinatown. Intended solely for tourists, they are not really recommended for practical travel and are unused by locals. Bargaining scope is limited: a short journey costs $10-20, while an hour-long sightseeing hire is about $50 per person.

Classic Singapore walks include following the river from the Merlion through the Quays, or simply wandering around Chinatown, Little India or Bugis.

For spectacular views, ride the Singapore Flyer, an enormous Ferris Wheel as tall as a 70 storey building.

Vivo City stands beside Singapore Cruise Center and is Singapore's largest multi-experiential retail and lifestyle destination, with about 450 outlets.

Singapore is known as a shopper's paradise, with neither import duty nor sales tax on most goods. Orchard Road is the famous shopping district, while the more colourful ethnic shops lie in Little India, Arab Street and Chinatown. Possible purchases include handicrafts, cloisonne ware, antique porcelain, jewellery and framed silk tapestries. Bargaining is accepted in smaller shops and markets, whereas department stores and more upmarket outlets have fixed prices.

Chewing gum is absolutely not allowed! Eating and drinking on public transport are strictly prohibited—not even water!

The Singapore dollar is the local currency. ATMs are everywhere, and credit cards are widely accepted, although shops often add a 3% surcharge and taxis a striking 15%.

Cruise passengers arriving from another country must declare how many cigarettes they carry and pay tax accordingly. The charge for a carton is Euro 46 or U.S. $68; failure to declare it can bring a fine 20 times higher! The ship's tax-free shops will not tell you this.

Free WiFi is available at Marina Bay Cruise Center.

Languages are English (official), Mandarin Chinese (official), Malay (official and national) and Tamil (official).

Most shops trade from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.