Day 73 - SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

 Date: 3/18/2024     Day 73                       Port: SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

Description: This island nation at the end of the Malaysian peninsula offers an extraordinary array of culture, history and cuisine. Embrace exotic sights and sounds strolling through Chinatown, the Arab Quarter or Little India. Head to the Boat Quay for unrivaled views of the harbor before dining at one of many international eateries. Shop along Orchard Road for treasures from every corner of the Pacific Rim; embark on a night safari at the Singapore Zoo or relax in the verdant shade of the Bukit Timah Nature Preserve. Wander the wondrously futuristic Gardens By the Bay before relaxing with a refreshing Singapore Sling at the iconic Raffles Hotel.

Planned Excursion: SPIRIT OF SINGAPORE

4.0 Hours                           Moderate Activity                           # SIN-014: Free

See how Singapore has embraced futuristic design while still honoring its past.  Behold buildings as dissimilar as soaring skyscrapers and the city’s oldest Hindu temple.  Stroll through the city’s serene botanical gardens, Singapore’s first World Heritage site, housing approximately 60,000 orchids of 1,000 species and 20,000 hybrids.

Morning Update: We are arriving at 10 AM and it's an overnight stop.  We have two planned excursions over the next two days. We have never been here and have heard is a very nice place to visit.  Really looking forward to the next couple days.

Evening Update: The process getting off the ship and through Immigration and Customs was an experience to say the least.  Our first trip through we not only had to see a customs officer but have our figure prints and picture taken to verify our identity.   On our return back to the ship we had to go through this all over again without the customs agent.  This automatic pass through, scanned your passport, took your thumb print and picture to again verify you ID.  I had to make three attempts to finally get through.  It was the picture ID verification that kept failing.  

Once back on board we stayed for a couple of hours having a very late lunch.  Since we were here overnight and there was plenty of shopping attached to the cruise terminal, we decided to go off the ship again.  Getting off through the automated passport and ID check took me two attempts and Cathy made it through in the first.   There was a lot of shopping and many of the locals were in the shopping mall due to the nearby area is mostly residential. In the end we didn’t purchase anything.  Cathy was disappointed in the clothing shops only had the smaller sizes. 

Again, on our way back to the ship we had difficultly getting through the passport and ID checks.  As a result of this frustration getting off and back on the ship again, we decided to remain on board the second day in Singapore.   

Click Here --> Singapore Pictures 

Click Here --> Video Gardens by the Bay Light Show part 1

Click Here --> Video Gardens by the Bay Light Show part 2