Singapore Lauded as Top Cruise Destination

Singapore was named top cruise destination by industry experts for the second time in three years at the 10th Seatrade Cruise Awards last Thursday. 

Singapore was also voted the top Asian port of call in the inaugural Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards earlier this month.

Singapore experienced a 14 percent year-on-year increase in cruise passenger throughput in 2015, and Royal Caribbean International will have their longest-ever homeporting season in Singapore starting from October 2016.

“We are honored that Singapore remains prominent in the minds of the cruise community as an attractive cruise hub. This is testament to our efforts to grow Singapore’s cruise industry and strong destination appeal,” said Annie Chang, Director, Cruise, Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

STB has been leveraging Singapore’s superb air connectivity, world-class berthing facilities at the Singapore Cruise Centre and Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, and proximity to myriad cruise offerings in the region to build the country’s appeal.

Being the ASEAN lead coordinator for cruise development in Southeast Asia, Singapore spearheaded initiatives such as the creation of the first Cruise Southeast Asian brand to promote the region in a unified voice. STB also developed tools such as a regional cruise port and attractions map to help cruise lines develop itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line  has set its sights on the Asian cruise traveller with the opening of a Singapore office in April this year. It also plans to introduce five new ships by 2020, one of which will be built especially for the Chinese market. Chinese tourists account for half the cruise market in Asia.

In 2015, there were more than one million cruise passenger arrivals and 385 cruise ship visits to Singapore.