Day 12 Singapore

Day 12 – Darwin – Singapore - 27/5/12

Weather – Early rain, then cloudy morning, Sunny, 28C – 29C.

Sunrise – 6.56am

Sunset – 7.07pm

Note for future cruisers – Free wi-fi in new Cruise Terminal. Free Public Bus shuttle to the nearest MRT station (Marina Bay). Princess shuttle to Marina Bay Sands is $8.

At 3am this morning Sun Princess entered the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme, passing 7 miles from Bintan Island (Indonesia) on our port side, and approximately 5 miles south of Malaysia on our starboard side as we passed Horsburgh Lighthouse. The pilot jumped aboard at 5.45am and guided our approach to our berth on a northerly track through the East Keppel Fairway, passing close east of Sentosa Island. We were alongside the brand spanking new International Cruise Terminal at Marina South on time at 7am.

Singapore = Amazing Day

The new International Cruise Terminal at Marina South is amazing ! It's big and well planned as you would expect in Singapore.

We were off the ship by 8ish and then had then proceeded to find our best option of getting to the nearest MRT station. After a few rides on the escalator, due to wandering around aimlessly, we found an information desk and found out that there was a free Public Bus shuttle to the station. We waited patiently for about 5 mins for the bus but it didnt appear as quick as we thought it should so we decided to walk to the station. It is a 45 min walk, which offsets the fact that we did not do our laps before breakfast this morning, but we probably would not do that again.

A short two stop journey on the amazingly efficient and clean Singapore MRT to City Hall, which was the nearest station to where our brunch later on was. We spent an hour or so wandering around, picking up a phone card and looking for free wi-fi which is provided at every MRT station.

We have discovered that neither of our iPhones were working despite having them all set to go before we left. Donna's worked in Bangkok last year, so we are perplexed as to why not. We will work it out as we go, besides, we have brought along a couple of the old Nokia phones, and will buy local SIMs at will.

Just before 11am met Jane and Carl at the Swisshotel where we went up to the amazing Equinox Restaurant on level 70. This place is AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Our table was on the windows edge overlooking Marina Bay. I am not usually a fan of Buffets, but this one is AMAZING. You name it, it was there, and top quality stuff. Once a month on a Sunday they have a Pink theme to their brunch, we picked the lucky day. Moet&Chandon Brut Rose Imperial Champagne flowed endlessly, as well as cocktails, spirits and punch.

4 Hours later, yes that is not a typo, 4 hours later, the AMAZING brunch was over, it actually ceased at 2.30, but it took us another half hour to finish all our drinks. A quick shop, $7.50 Taxi ride and we were back at the terminal. Upon entering we notice all these people on their laptops and iPads, which could only mean – free wi-fi, and such a strong signal too.

At 5pm, Sun Princess let go her mooring lines, and having cleared the berth, we initially set a southerly course to retrace our track to the traffic separation scheme and then set various westerly courses through the Main Strait to enter the Malacca Strait and followed the northwest bound traffic towards our next port of call, Port Keland.

Sailaway from Singapore is always just the most amazing thing. As one of the busiest shipping harbours in the world it provides a really interesting exit from the port.

Suffice to say a very very light dinner!!!