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| FEATURE | The Far East |
Singapore
This city state is another lifestyle destination” with around from the bustling city as does St
popular embarkation and 450 shops and restaurants. John’s Island, a former penal
disembarkation point for Next year, Singapore’s cruising settlement that has been
cruise ships, partly because capacity is set to double with a transformed into a holiday escape.
Where to Stay it is so well served by flights new International Cruise Terminal Singapore makes the most of its
Bangkok is the main hub of from Europe. The thriving comprising two berths capable of waterfront setting with three
Thailand and a key cruising metropolis is probably one accommodating the world’s different areas: Boat Quay is
embarkation and disembarkation of the most westernised largest ships. It is located at regarded as the liveliest
point. This makes it an ideal place Asian cities and is noted for Marina South, a 10-minute drive entertainment hub; Clarke Quay is
to tag on a few nights in a hotel. being clean, orderly and away from the existing terminal. made up of restored warehouses
Oceania Cruises offers stays at organised with gleaming Several cruise lines call at full of shops, restaurants and bars;
The Peninsula Bangkok and the tower blocks and shopping Singapore, such as P&O Cruises, Robertson Quay is a more
Shangri-La while Princess Cruises centres. The Raffles Hotel is Cunard and Princess Cruises, peaceful dining and entertainment
offers the latter property and the a reminder of the island’s while others such as Holland venue. Visitors to Singapore can’t
Four Seasons. Other top places to colonial era and is a popular America Line, Yachts of Seabourn, leave without dropping in to the
stay include Amari Hotels (there stop for visitors wanting to Star Cruises and Silversea start famous Raffles Hotel for afternoon
are four in the city); Royal Orchid sample the legendary and /or end cruises here. tea or a Singapore Sling.
Sheraton, Grand Hyatt Erawan and Singapore Sling cocktails However, larger ships have to
the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. served here. dock at the container ship pier due Getting There
An alternative is the luxury to height restrictions as the cable From the UK:Singapore is a
Eastern & Oriental Express train Ports of Call car to Sentosa Island crosses over major Asian hub with several
which offers three-night trips Singapore– Singapore’s port is the area. This means passengers flights. Direct services are offered
from Bangkok to Singapore. one of the busiest in the world. In need to catch a shuttle bus to get by carriers including Qantas,
addition to cargo and industrial to the cruise centre. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
docks, it also contains three ferry Excursions:Singapore may be and Singapore Airlines.
Essential info terminals and the award-winning pocket-sized, but it packs a Indirect services are offered by
Visas:Not needed by British travel- Singapore Cruise Centre, which powerful punch of sightseeing carriers including Malaysia
lers for stays of less than 30 days. together handle eight million opportunities. First up is shopping Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur);
Health:No compulsory vaccinations people a year. and the famous Orchard Road is Emirates (via Dubai); Cathay
are required. Travellers to the north of The terminal is a 25-minute one of the key hubs for browsing, Pacific (via Hong Kong); KLM (via
the country are recommended to take drive from the city-state’s Changi eating and drinking, while the Amsterdam); Air France (via Paris);
precautions against malaria, hepatitis International Airport and is close Arab district, Chinatown and Little Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala
B and typhoid. to the city centre. It is not within India offer more of an exotic Lumpur); Royal Brunei (via Bandar
Exchange rate: walking distance, but takes flavour. For outings with a Seri Begawan ); Qatar (via Doha);
£1 = 55 Thai baht around 10 minutes on Singapore’s difference take a night safari at Etihad (via Abu Dhabi); Thai
Useful websites: MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) subway Singapore Zoo to spot its Airways (via Bangkok). Flight time
www.discover-cruises.co.uk system. Alternatively, there are nocturnal inhabitants and meet is 13-14 hours for direct flights.
www.cruisecritic.co.uk plenty of buses and taxis.Next to more than 9,000 feathered friends From the US:Singapore Airlines
www.tourismthailand.co.uk the cruise centre is Vivo City, at the Jurong Bird Park. is the only carrier offering a direct
www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk described as Singapore’s largest Singapore’s resort island Sentosa service from the US, which takes
“multi-experiential retail and offers a more laidback feel away just over 17 hours.
SUMMER 2009 | ITINERARY PLANNING | SHORE PROGRAMMES | PASSENGER HANDLING |
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