Singapore Stay & Southeast Asia Cruise
Two nights in Singapore, then a round-trip cruise from Marina Bay that calls at George Town in Penang, Phuket for Phang Nga Bay, and duty-free Langkawi. Big family ships, smaller luxury lines and Disney's Singapore-based ship are all possible.
- Best time to go
- November to April, when seas are calmer on the Andaman side for Phuket and Langkawi. Singapore sailings run all year, with school-holiday departures selling out first.
- Flying from India
- Singapore is 4 to 5½ hours non-stop from most Indian metros. The cruise starts and ends at Marina Bay, 20 minutes from Changi Airport.
- Visa for Indian passports
- A Singapore visa is needed to fly in and board. Malaysia and Thailand are currently visa-free for Indian passports for short stays; the cruise line confirms arrival paperwork for each port.
- Currency
- Singapore dollars ashore in Singapore, ringgit in Penang and Langkawi, baht in Phuket. On board, everything is charged to your cabin account, usually in US dollars.
Singapore & Cruise at a glance
The trip starts with two nights in Singapore: the Gardens by the Bay light show, a hawker dinner and a day on Sentosa or at the zoo. Then you board at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. A typical week-long round trip calls at Penang, where George Town's shophouses and street food are a short walk from the pier; Phuket, for a boat day into Phang Nga Bay's limestone islands or the Old Town; and Langkawi, for the SkyCab, beaches and duty-free shopping.
The ship you choose shapes the holiday. Royal Caribbean's big ships based in Singapore have water slides, surf simulators, Broadway-style shows and many restaurants, which suits families and groups. Disney's Singapore ship, Disney Adventure, sails short round trips built around the ship's own attractions. Smaller luxury lines such as Silversea and Regent Seven Seas offer all-suite ships with butlers and inclusive drinks on longer Southeast Asia voyages.
Must-see
- Gardens by the Bay before you sail
- George Town's heritage streets, Penang
- Phang Nga Bay from Phuket
- Langkawi SkyCab and SkyBridge
- Sail-away from Marina Bay at dusk
Food to try
- Hawker classics in Singapore
- Char koay teow and asam laksa in Penang
- Tom yum and massaman curry in Phuket
- Nasi lemak in Langkawi
- Speciality restaurants on board
Where to shop
- Orchard Road and Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
- Armenian Street, George Town
- Phuket Old Town's Thalang Road
- Langkawi's duty-free shops in Kuah
- On-board boutiques (duty-free at sea)
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
On board
Suites with private decks
Suites with a separate living area, a large balcony and suite-only lounges, restaurants and priority boarding. The best choice for honeymoons and special occasions.
On board
Balcony staterooms
The most popular choice: a private balcony for sail-aways and sea views, at a sensible price. Connecting cabins are available for families.
Luxury lines
All-suite small ships
Silversea and Regent Seven Seas sail Southeast Asia on longer voyages: fewer guests, butler service, inclusive drinks and excursions, and smaller ports the big ships cannot reach.
Family resort ships
Big ships with everything on board
Royal Caribbean's ships in Singapore have kids' clubs, water parks, surf simulators and shows, so children never run out of things to do between ports.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Singapore & Cruise journeys around
Days at sea
Pools and water slides, spa time, deck games and long lunches. The days at sea are often the most relaxing of the trip, so pick a ship whose facilities suit you.
George Town on foot
From Swettenham Pier, walk the UNESCO-listed old town: clan houses, street murals, Armenian Street's shops and a hawker lunch, all within 20 minutes of the ship.
Phuket Old Town
If you have seen Phang Nga Bay before, spend the Phuket day among the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and cafés of the Old Town instead.
Langkawi's SkyBridge
Take the SkyCab up Mount Machinchang and walk the curved SkyBridge high above the rainforest, then shop duty-free in Kuah before all aboard.
Gardens by the Bay before sailing
Spend your Singapore evening at the Supertree Grove's free light show, then dinner at Satay by the Bay or a hawker centre.
Luxury voyages beyond the usual ports
Regent Seven Seas and Silversea itineraries can add Bali, Ko Samui, Ho Chi Minh City or Borneo on longer voyages from Singapore.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Singapore & Cruise traveller
When to visit
November to April
Calmer seas and drier weather at Phuket and Langkawi; Christmas and Chinese New Year sailings sell out early.
May to October
Indian school holidays and good fares. Expect some rain and rougher seas on the Andaman side.
Getting there and around
Arrival
Fly into Changi. Marina Bay Cruise Centre is about 20 minutes away by car, and check-in usually opens around midday.
Going home
Ships return to Singapore early in the morning; book flights home from late morning onwards.
Insider notes
Fly in a day early
Never fly on embarkation day. Two nights in Singapore before the cruise gives a buffer for delays and time to enjoy the city.
Book shore days early
Phang Nga Bay and Langkawi SkyCab slots fill up on cruise days. We book small-group or private trips that return in good time.
Check what is included
Big-ship fares cover main restaurants and entertainment; drinks, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and gratuities are usually extra. Luxury lines include most of these.
Disney sails without ports
Disney Adventure's sailings from Singapore are about the ship itself rather than the ports, so choose it if your children want Disney, and Royal Caribbean if you want Penang, Phuket and Langkawi.
Singapore & Cruise: Common Questions
Royal Caribbean for the widest choice of activities and port calls, or Disney Adventure if your children want Disney characters and shows. Both sail from Singapore.
Plan your Singapore & Cruise journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Singapore & Cruise specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
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