Cruise Travel in 2023: 8 Best Cruises from Singapore 

Cruises take the famed adage “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” quite literally – especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when travel borders were closed and “cruises to nowhere” were the only travel option for Singapore residents.

Fast forward to 2023, flight travel is back, but cruises from Singapore are more popular than ever. If you’re thinking of embarking on a cruise from Singapore, we’ve put together the best 8 cruises from Singapore. But before you go, don’t forget to purchase cruise travel insurance. All aboard to find out more!

Should I travel on a cruise from Singapore?

Cruise travel is perfect for the busiest of us: they are ideal for short getaways when you can’t afford any more annual leaves from work, and often offer the added “bonus” of forcing you off the grid for a mental health break (i.e., being uncontactable unless you opt for luxury cruises or pay extra for WiFi).

To top it off, cruise holidays are typically much more affordable than flight holidays. The all-in fares include three meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and selected activities and facilities on board. Free things to do on the cruise include entertainment shows, sunbathing and swimming, and various sports. However, you may need to check if they have port fees and taxes (typically around 10% to 20% of cruise fares). Don’t forget, too, to purchase travel insurance. You want to stay safe on board, and travel insurance covers any unexpected expenses, such as COVID-19 hospitalisation.

Compare cruise travel insurance

Are you itching to go? In this table, we’ve summarised our take on the 8 best cruises from Singapore, but you can read this section for more details.

8 Best Cruises from Singapore (2023)

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean is an international cruise line with ships departing from ports worldwide. Their fleet features some of the world’s largest ships, including the award-winning Symphony of the Seas (the largest in the world) and Oasis of the Seas (known as the best cruise ship at its debut). At the time of writing(January 2023), there are 8 itineraries for Royal Caribbean cruises departing from Singapore for the rest of 2022. The shortest cruise is for 3 nights to Penang, Malaysia. This is also the most affordable cruise, at $290 per person. Got a little more time and game to venture further? Consider the 5-night cruises to Klang, Penang, and Phuket, which will set you back around $979 per pax. Alternatively, you can also journey to Tokyo. The trip takes 9 nights and costs $3,526 per person.

Recommended for:

• Travellers looking for a budget cruise
• Travellers who need more travel flexibility – the ships depart at least twice a month

Key highlights: The Royal Caribbean takes you on a cruise from Singapore to Tokyo, stopping at Vietnam, Taiwan and China along the way in a 9 nights Singapore-Tokyo cruise.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean (since 1997). No more cruises depart from Singapore in 2023, but you can book sail dates starting in late 2024. There are 23 trip itineraries from late 2024 to early 2025.

Recommended for:

• Those who enjoy longer trips (the average duration of trips is 10-13 nights)
• Travellers who are willing to book a year in advance
• Those who prefer to travel further than Southeast Celebrity Cruises take you on voyages to India and Australia.

Key highlights: For visitors interested in how the spice trade routes enticed travellers to Southeast Asia before the 18th century, consider the 12 nights Spice Routes itinerary from Singapore. The cruise takes you from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India.

Resorts World Cruises (Formerly Dream Cruises)

Once one of the better-known cruise lines in Singapore, Dream Cruises was severely hit by the pandemic recession and ceased operations in March 2022. Although Genting Hong Kong (the parent company) is no longer around, the Genting Dream Cruise ship was acquired by its new cruise operator Resorts World Cruises(RWS) and resumed sailing in June 2022.

The company operates two leading ships, the Genting Dream and Resorts World One. Both cruise ships promise a luxurious stay, with facilities such as a fully-equipped gym and a spa. In addition, Genting Dream has a rock climbing wall, a 6-slide waterpark and a golf course. Furthermore, both ships have various activities organised for travellers, such as yoga classes and wine-tasting courses. You will find something for everyone!

Resort World specialises in trips to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. So, you’ll find that an RWS cruise from Singapore goes to Malaysia and Thailand. The most affordable itinerary is a 1-night cruise to Port Klang, starting at just $256. It’s similar to a staycation but with access to facilities like an arcade, bowling alley, karaoke room, swimming pool, and even a rope course and zipline!

Recommended for:

• Those who want to enjoy cruise promotions (kids cruise free in Jan 2023)
• Travellers who prefer a staycation-style cruise

Key highlights: For visitors interested in a quick getaway on board an all-in cruise aboard Genting Dream, book the 2 nights weekend getaway to Kuala Lumper. It leaves on a Friday, so you’ll get back on time by Sunday.

Oceania Cruises

Based in Miami, Oceania Cruises has 6 cruise ships that operate globally. Oceania Cruises is known for its long itineraries that are usually at least 10 nights but can go up to a month or more. For instance, a cruise from Singapore to Taipei takes ten days. The cost starts at $3,339 per passenger. A more extended trip, such as a cruise from Singapore to Barcelona, takes 40 days and costs $9,899. The itineraries also include shore excursions so you can visit every stopover port.

Recommended for:

• Those who enjoy longer trips (the average duration of trips is 10 days and above)
• Travellers who want to explore the countries along the cruise journey. Shore excursions are included in the price.

Key highlights: For those who can take a more extended trip, check out the 40 days cruise from Singapore to Barcelona. You get to visit Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Dubai, Egypt, Isreal and many more before reaching Barcelona.

Azamara

Like Royal Caribbean and Oceania Cruises, Azamara is another cruise line based in Miami, Florida. Azamara has 4 cruise ships that sail all over the world. Although Azamara has fewer and smaller ships, that’s their unique selling point – they offer itineraries that go through ports that bigger vessels cannot visit and pride themselves on ‘Destination Immersion’ experiences, which focus on unique travel experiences in each city.

The cruise ship also has spa and massage services on board and plenty of fine dining experiences and activities. The vessel will dock at various ports on your way to the destination. You will continue with inland excursions to visit places of interest such as national parks, UNESCO tourist sites, tea plantations and beaches before returning to the ship and continuing with your journey. If you want luxury travel on longer routes, Azamara might be your best pick. However, there are only two itineraries offered for ships departing from Singapore.

For 2023, the earliest itinerary is on 5 May 2023. It departs from Singapore and takes a 23 nights route passing through cities such as Sri Lanka, Egypt and Isreal before arriving in Greece. Prices start from USD$4,249. A shorter cruise from Singapore to Australia takes 9 nights and leaves in December 2023.

Recommended for:

• Those who enjoy longer trips (the average duration of trips is 9 days and above)
• Travellers who can book in advance

Key highlights: The 23-night voyage from Singapore to Greece is full of exciting inland excursions. For instance, the first port of call is in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Then, you’ll debark from the ship and visit Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Then, you can take a seaplane to discover historic places of worship further out or visit the Taj Mahal. The long voyage offers plenty of surprises and detours, perfect for travellers who want to see more places.

Seabourn Cruises

Seabourn Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, US. They have won awards for being the best small-ship cruise line, with only 7 ships in their fleet. There are three itineraries in 2023, which are pretty long but are round trips departing from and arriving back in Singapore.

The first is a 28-day holiday that goes through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia, with stops at each destination. You can stop at the cities along the way to visit various places of interest. The cruise leaves and returns to Singapore. Cruise fares start at USD$11,100 per pax, which is expected for such a long trip on a luxury cruiser. The ship leaves Singapore on 5 February 2023.

The second is a 14-day cruise that stops in the Philippines and Malaysia. Travellers can debark at these ports to try the local cuisine, visit places of interest and even try white water rafting if they want. A similar 14-day cruise is for those who wish to visit Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. For those who choose this voyage, the cruise company offers an optional overnight trip for those who want to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. If you’re thinking of trying extreme sports activities, don’t forget to purchase extreme sports travel insurance.

Recommended for:

• Travellers who want to discover the sights and sounds of Southeast Asia

Key highlights: The 14-day cruise from Singapore to Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia offers plenty to see and do along the way. Apart from relaxing in the luxurious suites onboard, travellers can also look forward to visiting places of interest at various ports of call. You can even join an overnight tour to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia before returning to continue your sea voyage.

Holland America Line

Also owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, Holland America Line is an American-owned cruise line that has been in the business for almost 145 years. They have over 500 itineraries that cover 100 countries. However, the earliest cruise departing from Singapore will be in November 2023.

Destinations include Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan and even the US. Prices largely depend on the destination and duration but generally start at over US$1,000 per pax for short, nearby trips.

The shortest voyage is a 14-day Indonesia discovery cruise from Singapore on 25 November 2023. You get to stay overnight at Bali along the way. The longest cruise is a 49-day Grand World Voyage which departs from Singapore and travels to the United States. However, the first trip is in 2024, so it’s a long way away. One benefit of booking early is that the cruise company offers promotions such as free refunds (as of 22 January 2023) if you book cruises in 2024. Other discounts include 30% off cruise fares and a free room upgrade for advanced bookings.

Recommended for:

• Travellers who can plan and book early
• Large groups who will benefit from early booking discounts

Key highlights: The earliest cruise from Singapore is a 14-day Indonesia discovery cruise. It passes through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. You even get to visit Halong Bay when the ship debarks in Vietnam.

Princess Cruises

Yet another subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc (the same parent company as Seabourn Cruises and Holland America Line), Princess Cruises, is the second largest cruise operator by net revenue in 2021. They have a fleet of 16 ships but have few itineraries departing from Singapore in 2023. The earliest is a 10-day Thailand and Vietnam cruise from Singapore. It leaves on 16 December 2023. Fares start from USD$1598.

Princess Cruise offers several family-friendly experiences if you travel with your family. For instance, discovery camps and expert talks are hosted to educate passengers on local wildlife at each place the ships pass by. Family-friendly experiences are the cruise company’s speciality, and they were voted Best Cruise Line for multi-generational family travel by Porthole Cruise Magazine 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Recommended for:

• Travellers who can plan and book early
• Families who are looking for an all-inclusive experience

Key highlights: The earliest trip is a 10-day Thailand and Vietnam cruise from Singapore. It leaves on 16 December 2023. Fares start from USD$1598.