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With its central location and world-class facilities, Singapore is a hub for regional cruising. Vivienne Tan brings you highlights for the 2011/2012 cruise season.
Costa Cruises: Costa Romantica
Spend 14 nights exploring the South China Sea aboard this 678-cabin ship. Departing from Singapore, the boat loops around the Indonesian archipelago stopping at Ujung Pandang, Komodo Island, Bali and Jakarta before moving on to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Phuket in Thailand. When you’re not in port, onboard diversions range from a casino and double-storey theatre to a Turkish bath and an outdoor jogging track.
Costa Cruises: Costa Classica
The first ship in the Costa fleet to receive a contemporary Italian-style makeover, Costa Classica spends 14 days journeying from Hong Kong to Singapore via Sanya (China’s tropical southern isle) and Bangkok as well as popular Vietnamese ports such as Halong Bay, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. With seven bars and two restaurants at your disposal, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to wining and dining.
Royal Caribbean International: Legend of the Seas
This huge 2,076-person ship lives up to its name with impressive facilities including a rock-climbing wall, casino, 18-hole mini-golf course, library, day spa and fitness centre. Not that you’ll need entertaining on the ship’s two- to six-night journeys departing Singapore. Explore vibrant Malaysian cities such as Penang and Kuala Lumpur before blissing out on Langkawi and Phuket.
Crystal Cruises: Crystal Serenity
For those keen to see a bit of Australia before they head to Asian waters, this is the cruise for you. Crystal Serenity’s 15-day journey from Sydney stops in on Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin before giving you a taste of Indonesia (Bali and Komodo Island) and terminating in Singapore. You won’t want for anything onboard: hone your golf skills at clinics hosted by PGA pros; tone and twist at yoga, pilates and chi-balancing classes; roll the dice at the casino; and even tinkle the ivories in a piano lesson.
Princess Cruises:
Diamond Princess
Go north for 16 nights on this cruise that takes you from Singapore to Beijing. Stops in between begin tropical (Koh Samui and Bangkok), then call in at the Vietnamese ports of Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. The 3,100-berth ship moves on to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki and Pusan before dropping you off in the Chinese capital.
Star Cruises: SuperStar Virgo
With a handful of itineraries spanning three to six days, this ship is popular with couples and families alike. All excursions depart from Singapore and take you to a host of Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese ports including Penang, Phuket, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Redang and Ho Chi Minh City. •
travel facts
• Costa Cruises: Contact Carnival Cruises, 61-2/8424-8800; costacruise.com
• Crystal Cruises: internationalsales@crystalcruises.com; crystalcruises.com
• Princess Cruises: 132-488 (Australia), 0800-951-200 (New Zealand); princess.com
• Royal Caribbean: 1800-754-500; royalcaribbean.com
• Star Cruises: Contact Ecruising, 1300-369-848; starcruises.com
Singapore Tourism Board: 1800-736-2000; yoursingapore.com
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