Pre-Cruise Singapore
Angie
Our six week Asia adventure kicked off with a cruise on the Celebrity Millennium from Singapore to Bali. We spent four nights in Singapore before the cruise to help with the jet lag. We used points to stay in the Club Level at the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong. I arranged our transfer through the hotel and that was the best decision. We were whisked from the arrivals area to the car in the special section for hotel transfers. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted at the car and taken directly to our room to complete check in there. SO COOL!
Our first day we went to Universal Studios Singapore. It's a small park. We were glad we purchased the express pass. Wait times can get long since there are not a lot of rides. Universal Studios is located on Sentosa Island - a huge complex with an aquarium and large casino. Lots to do on the Island.
The next day we booked a private through through Tours by Locals. We walked around the Central Business District. Marina Bay Sands could be a whole day or afternoon. You can visit the casino, rooftop bars and restaurants, and high end shopping. We spent our time at Gardens by the Bay: Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, and Super Grove. You can buy a ticket to walk along the elevated walkway. They only allow 80 people at a time and you get 15 minutes. Check for special events. We bought tickets to the Wonderland event at the Gardens by the Bay. Other great stops on our tour:
- At the Maxwell Hawker Center, chicken rice is a popular dish, but the fried oyster cakes were my favorite
- The Buddhist Tooth Relic temple is gorgeous and worth a stop, but I preferred the temple in the Malay fishing community.
- A river cruise is a nice way to get a new view of the Central Business District. The lion/fish statue is Singapore icon. I loved the map at the City Gallery near Chinatown.
If we were to go back to Singapore, I'd like to check the famous shopping area of Orchard Road. We loved our meal at Summer Pavilion. I'd explore more high end Asian dining experiences.