Singing of Singapore

This is the first cruise port I ever sailed from, so naturally it resides in a special place in my memory. A fusion of so many cultures, it offers a fascinating experience for any cruiser.

As a foreigner in Singapore, it’s hard to feel out of place, because almost half the population are foreign. And with its strong links to our own country this is a place that’s especially appealing to us Brits.

Singapore may seem like an insignificant speck on the world map, but there’s nothing insignificant about this vibrant island city. As one of the so-called four Asian tiger economies, it has enjoyed phenomenal success since gaining independence from Britain.

Loads of millionaires

You can see the effects of that success in many aspects of Singapore life. It has, for instance, more millionaire households per capita than any other nation on Earth. And in the last few years it has even joined the elite ranks of those nations that host an F1 race.

From a cruising perspective it’s interesting to note that it boasts a port that is one of the five busiest in the world. There’s no question about it – Singapore is one of those small countries that punches well above its weight.

Another great feature, which I as a monoglot really appreciate, is that the locals not only speak excellent English – it’s their first language – but they also use British spellings.

Gateway port

As a cruiser, I regard Singapore as being one of those great gateway ports. From here you can sail to Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia or India.

Nevertheless it remains a fascinating must-see destination in its own right.

So what can you expect from a Singapore holiday? Well, there are currently around 60 cruises departing from the island and any one of them would provide an excellent introduction to this remarkable nation.

Here are two in particular that I happened to notice.

Phuket and sea

If you’ve only a small window for your holiday, you might want to consider this five night Legend of the Seas cruise. Prices currently start at around £1,644 per person.

You leave Singapore on 17 February 2013 and head for stopovers in two Malaysian ports – first Port Klang, then Langkawi.

From there you sail to Thailand to see the ever popular resort of Phuket, before returning home to Singapore on 22 February.

Head south

On the other hand, if you’ve got a little more time to spare for your holiday, you might want to take a closer look at this 13 night Australia cruise on Voyager of the Seas.

Your departure date from Singapore is 25 October 2013. Then, on the following day, you step ashore in Port Klang, Malaysia.

Next comes the first of two great opportunities to really get to know your ship. You’ll now spend four days at sea, first crossing the equator and then heading for Darwin in Northern Australia.

After that you can look forward to another four days on the ocean before you reach your final destination, Brisbane, on bonfire night. This whole package can be yours from just £2,286 per person.

A song for Singapore

This is a country that everyone ought to visit at some point in their life. Being a small island it’s absolutely tailor-made for cruise holidays, while enjoying all the benefits of a first world infrastructure and economy.

No country is perfect and Singapore certainly has its critics. But as a cruiser visiting for a few days, you’ll find it hard to be too critical of this remarkable island in the sun.

Since I’ve been largely singing the praises of Singapore, it seems fitting to end with a song about this extraordinary country. It won’t win the Eurovision song contest – and not just for the obvious geographical reasons – but it remains a pleasant enough ditty.

Bruce Beckett

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Posted in Advice, Cruising, Ports Of Call

06 Jun 2012

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