Singapore - Getting There By Water

Singapore is the world's busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage and is also considered the cruise hub of the Asia Pacific. At any one time, there are more than 800 ships in port. The Singapore Cruise Centre (tel: 6513 2200; www.singaporecruise.com), which opened to promote Singapore as the cruise gateway to the Asia Pacific, is situated on the seafront side of the HarbourFront Centre (formerly known as the World Trade Centre) on Telok Blangah Road, and has two terminals. The HarbourFront Centre (tel: 6377 6311) has ferries to the Indonesian island of Batam, and further destinations by cruise. Housed inside a shopping centre of the same name, it has restaurants, a food court and a travel agent for Batam trips. Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (tel: 6513 2100/2108) near Changi, is a smaller terminal, and has ferries to Bintan, Batam, Johor Bahru and destinations on the Malaysian coast.

Operators include Bintan Resort Ferries (tel: 6542 4369; www.brf.com.sg), Penguin Boat International (tel: 6377 6335; www.penguin.com.sg) and Batam Fast (tel: 6270 0311;  www.batamfast.com).

Transport to the city: The Singapore Cruise Centre is a 10-minute taxi ride from the city centre, opposite Sentosa Island, and a 10-minute walk from HarbourFront MRT station. Taxis leave from the HarbourFront Centre or Cable Car Towers in Maritime Square. Tanah Merah is served by regular public buses, operated by Singapore Bus Service (SBS) (tel: 6283 1783; www.sbstransit.com.sg), including the regular bus 35 to Bedok interchange. There is a Taxi Order Terminal outside the ferry terminal; however, taxis ordered from here charge a premium.