Singapore

Where ships dock

Marina Bay Cruise Centre: downtown bus or metered taxi from the arrival lobby exit, or a 10-minute walk to Marina South Pier MRT. HarbourFront terminal: HarbourFront MRT station and a covered walkway to the terminal.

• Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore

Best time to go

Marina Bay Cruise Centre opens only on days when a cruise ship is at berth, and its schedule page lists the calls.

The State Department notes haze from forest fires in neighboring countries, intermittently from July to October. The live forecast above shows current conditions.

Ship tour or go independent?

Singapore has a clear public transport network, taxis and a cruise terminal at each end, so many people do this port on their own. Booking your own tour can give you more choice, smaller groups and your own pace, and it can handle the harder parts such as Sentosa or Mandai in one trip. The ship's own tours are a good fit if you would rather leave the timing to the cruise line. Browse the tours below and use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits your call.

• Two terminals handle cruise ships here, so confirm whether your ship uses Marina Bay Cruise Centre or Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) before you plan the ride into town.
• The old HarbourFront Passenger Terminal closed after 14 July 2026. The operator's pages now describe a new Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) beside HarbourFront Tower One, at 5 HarbourFront Avenue; allow extra time to find it on your first visit.
• Gardens by the Bay posts days when individual conservatories close for maintenance, so check its opening-hours page before choosing which one to visit.
• ICA asks all travelers to submit the free SG Arrival Card before arriving, with a few exceptions such as transit without immigration clearance. The page does not spell out how it applies to cruise passengers, so ask your cruise line how it is handled.

Getting around

Rideshare limited

• WalkAt Marina Bay Cruise Centre, the nearest MRT station (Marina South Pier) is a 10-minute walk from the terminal, according to the terminal's arrivals page.
• BusS$1.28–2.57 by card (trunk)Marina Bay Cruise Centre has an exit marked for the downtown bus from the arrival lobby on Level 1; the terminal page does not list routes or fares. At HarbourFront, the operator lists many bus services that stop at Seah Im Road Bus Terminal and HarbourFront Station. Fares are by distance; trunk services are listed below (card fares).

  Trunk bus, up to 3.2 km (card)

  S$1.28

  Trunk bus, over 40.2 km (card)

  S$2.57

• TrainFrom S$1.28 by cardMRT is the other public option. HarbourFront MRT station (North East and Circle Lines) connects to the new Singapore Cruise Centre by a covered walkway; take Exit B and follow the signs. Fares are by distance and paid by card; the rows below are the all-other-times fares (a lower fare applies before 7:45 a.m. on weekdays).

  MRT, up to 3.2 km (card)

  S$1.28

  MRT, over 40.2 km (card)

  S$2.57

• TaxiThe Marina Bay Cruise Centre arrival lobby has an exit for metered taxis. The HarbourFront operator says all Singapore taxis are metered and a peak-hour surcharge may apply. No fare is published.
• TramThe Sentosa Express monorail runs from VivoCity to Sentosa Island with stops at Resorts World, Imbiah and Beach stations. The page does not state a fare or running time here.

Neither terminal page describes ride-hailing pickup. The Marina Bay page lists Zone A and Zone B for people being collected; ask your cruise line or terminal where rideshare pickups happen.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

Singapore dollar (SGD). The Mandai site lists prices in S$; the Gardens by the Bay and Botanic Gardens pages show plain $ amounts without naming the currency.

Must-sees

• Gardens by the BayRide neededA waterfront garden with the Supertree Grove, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest conservatories. The outdoor gardens are open from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., the conservatories from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The FAQ lists a Flower Dome and Cloud Forest ticket (the Cloud Forest with Jurassic World) at $46 for non-resident adults and $32 for children 3 to 12; it does not name the currency.
• Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO World Heritage)Ride neededFounded in 1859 and inscribed by UNESCO in 2015 as a British tropical colonial botanic garden that grew into a modern scientific institution for conservation, recreation and education. Entry is free daily; the National Orchid Garden inside has a ticket.
• SentosaRide neededA resort island reached by the Sentosa Express monorail from VivoCity, with stops at Resorts World, Imbiah and Beach stations.
• Hawker centresRide neededCommunity dining halls where many stalls specialize in one dish. Singapore's hawker culture was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.
• Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Night SafariRide neededMandai's three wildlife parks list regular-day adult prices in the tourist set of S$49 (zoo), S$45 (River Wonders) and S$58 (Night Safari).

Free & cheap near the pier

• Singapore Botanic GardensFreeOpen daily 5 a.m. to midnight and free for everyone. The National Orchid Garden inside is its only ticketed attraction.
• National Orchid Garden$15 non-local adultInside the Botanic Gardens, open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. with last entry at 6 p.m. The park lists standard (non-local) prices of $15 for adults, $3 for seniors 60+ and students, and free for children under 12. The page does not name the currency.
• Gardens by the Bay, outdoor gardensCheck on siteThe outdoor gardens, including Supertree Grove, are open from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, and Bay East Garden is open 24 hours. The pages here do not state an outdoor entry fee, so check before you go.
• MRT rideFrom S$1.28A short MRT trip costs S$1.28 by card for rides up to 3.2 km, outside the early-morning peak fare.

Eat like a local

• Hawker centresOpen-air food halls where each stall tends to cook one dish. Singapore's hawker culture was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020. The listing describes a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian and other influences.

Rainy-day backups

• Flower Dome and Cloud ForestGardens by the Bay's two cooled conservatories are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m. for the Flower Dome and 8 p.m. for the Cloud Forest.
• Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Night SafariMandai's wildlife parks sell tourist tickets online; see Money for the listed prices.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions (issued March 9, 2025; page footer last updated March 12, 2026)

• The State Department says Singapore is generally safe and crime against foreigners is rare, and notes that financial scams are common. Carry your passport, since you can be questioned without it.
• Local laws are strict, with arrest, fines, imprisonment or caning possible for some offenses, including minor ones such as littering, so read posted rules.
• Drinking alcohol in public places is illegal from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Geylang and Little India are Liquor Control Zones with no public drinking all weekend, on public holidays and on the eve of public holidays.
• ICA lists e-cigarettes and vaporisers as prohibited goods, and the State Department says vaping can bring fines, deportation and a re-entry ban. Leave them on the ship.
• Singapore Customs' chewing gum page covers commercial imports and states no traveler rule or penalty, so you may prefer not to pack it.
• Haze from forest fires in neighboring countries occurs intermittently from July to October, per the State Department.
• ICA asks all travelers to submit the free SG Arrival Card, with a health declaration, within the three days before arrival, including the day of arrival. Transit without immigration clearance is exempt.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships dock alongside at Marina Bay Cruise Centre, which lists reduced-mobility provisions, baby care, washrooms and Wi-Fi, and is open only on days when a ship is at berth. The new HarbourFront terminal lists a covered walkway from the MRT, a nursing room and an adult changing room; its page gives no wheelchair details.

• Ask your cruise line which terminal you will use, then ask the terminal about wheelchair and mobility help.
• The Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay publish their own visitor pages; check them for current access details.