manisan

On 8/14/2022 at 5:16 AM, tetleytea said:

I've done both rental car and whale watching on the same Juneau port stop, and you just drive in to Auke Bay and go directly on the ship.   It's not that far from Mendenhall, no waiting for buses and stuff.  Very efficient use of your port time.  And if you shop, you can probably get cheaper whale tours, since all they have to do is wait for you to show up.  

Hi there,

Are there many operators at Auke Bay offering the whale tours directly? And what do they typically cost? Thanks!

I hope we will have the energy because we want to see so many things ! Thanks, I note your suggestion for Lau Pau Sat- (which was on my to do list) and, another day, I think also to go to Makansutra Gluttons Bay ?

For Clarke Quay, what do you think about the Singapore river cruise on a bumpoat (just 30/40 minutes) ?

I tend to feel the food at Makansutra not as good as the one in Lau Pa Sat (similar types of food), that's why I suggested the latter.

As for the River Cruise, I think it's up to individual. As a local, I wouldn't pay $24/person for it, but visitors may find it worth while.

Hello Manisan,

Thanks so much for your suggestions !

Our flight arrives à 4 PM at Singapore on the 4th december. I think that we will be at our hôtel for 6 or 7 PM.. Do you think it's doable to go to the Esplanade, for a first night view ?

And the Carlton is near of CHIJMES, which seems a beautiful place.. We have 3 plenty days (5,6 and 7 th december) and we will be on the Celebrity Millénium on the 8th. But the boat leaves Singapore only on the 9 th december (6 PM). So, we have again time for visiting these two days..

Your planning will certainly help us ! Thanks again !

 

Muriel

Absolutely doable, just swap day 1 & day 2 evening schedule. You can walk to Esplanade from Carlton Hotel. From Esplanade, just walk across the bridge to One Fullerton. Then, I suggest crossing the road to have dinner at Lao Pa Sat (200m walk). If you still have the energy, then walk towards MBS to watch Spectra light & water show. Daily 8 & 9pm.

Keith,

Thanks so much for the gorgeous pictures! I wasn't sure what to expect in Singapore, but now I'm excited.

 

We're stopping there for one day (7a-5p) during our world cruise and were just planning to use the HOHO bus. Do you know if any of your suggested stops are on the HOHO route? Have you taken the HOHO there?

I personally wouldn't recommend HOHO bus. At $35/pax, it will be cheaper & flexible to take a taxi (or grab) if you have 2 of you since you can probably only cover 2-3 places.

https://www.citytours.sg/singapore-hop-on-hop-off-bus-schedule.html#city-attractions-route

Hello Manisan,

Many thanks for your suggestions ! We will be in Singapore in December for 4 days before our cruise on Celebrity Millénium (from Singapore to Hong Kong). I start my research for visiting, but it's a little difficult for me to organize the days.. We want to see the Colonial District, Chinatown, Bugis /Little India /Arab street /Kapong Glam, Esplanade/Merlion, Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, Botanic gardens, Orchard road...

Can you help me for my planning, please ?

Thans in advance for your help... and I apologize for my english, I'm french, and I learned at school.. but it's far..)

 

Muriel

Below is my suggestion. Singapore is very hot during the day, so pls avoid outdoor activities during these time (11am to 4pm) & go for long lunch & shopping or even go back to rest in your hotel.

Day 1

Afternoon 3-4pm

Gardens by the bay (2 domes are very cooling), sky walk - dinner around there - sound & Light show at 7:45pm or 8:45pm (free)

Day 2

Morning

Arab Street - Kampong Glam - Bugis - Lunch & shopping in Bugis area - Raffles Hotel - CHIJMES - St Andrew's church

Evening

Start at 6pm Esplanade - One Fullerton - Dinner - walk to Marina Bay Sands 8pm show or 10:30pm show (free)

Day 3

Morning

Botanic garden - Orchid Garden - Orchard Road shopping & lunch

Afternoon at 4pm (Sentosa)

Siloso Fort - Pahlawan Beach - Beach Station - walk to Merlion - Dinner outside Universal Area - show 8pm

Day 4

Morning

Little India (few temples) - lunch in Little India - China town - Buddha Relic Temple

Evening

Clarke Quay & Boat Quay

I live in Singapore & have to bring friends or colleagues around from all over the world when they visit. These are my suggestions:

1. Hotels

There're simply too many to name & majority of them are either in Orchard area or City Hall area. They are all within reasonable distance to most of the major tourist destinations. So, you can just choose any of them based on your budget & reviews. Unless you pick hotels in non-tourist area, transportation shouldn't be your number 1 consideration.

2. Mobile communication

I would highly recommend buying a local SIM card when you arrive. There are many shops selling it. At the airport, they tend to try to sell you the higher "value/credit" of $30 or $50. You can get them in 7-eleven or other shops with smaller value of $15/$18. Singtel offers 100GB data for 7 days deal for local use: https://www.singtel.com/personal/i/phones-plans/mobile/prepaid/hitouristsimcards For Starhub, you have to buy the dataplan, but the data can be used in like 15 countries so if you are cruising to Msia, Thailand, HK etc, you can use the same SIM card at local rates http://www.starhub.com/personal/mobile/mobile-phones-plans/prepaid-cards/happy-roam.html

2. Transportation

If you plan to stay more than 2 nights, you can download an app "How2Go" so that you can go around taking public transport. Taking public transport in Singapore is easy, the EZ-link card can be purchased at most MRT stations. https://www.transitlink.com.sg/PSdetail.aspx?ty=catart&Id=1#2

Another alternative is to download an app "Grab" (Uber equivalent), in which you can get a ride or taxi through the app & pay by credit card.

3. Places to go

Arab Street to Bugis to Raffles Hotel

China Town area

Little India

Sentosa Island (Siloso Fort & Pahlawan beach)

One Fullerton (Merlion) to Esplanade

Gardens by the Bay

Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Safari

My choice if you have below 12 hrs:

- One Fullerton, Gardens by the Bay & China Town

2 days 1 night:

- China Town, One Fullerton & Gardens by the Bay, followed by 7:45pm or 8:45pm light show.

- Sentosa Island

Hope this help...

Hi everyone how are you, I am new in his page, but I write because I am very worry because I am no sure if I need a visa to enter in Japan ( Nagasaki ). Someone can help me?

 

Hi my name is Dimas Diaz, and my family and me are going to make a Cruise on November 18, onboard the Quantum of the Seas, from Shanghai to Nagasaki, with a full day excursion there, my question is, we need the Japanese Visa to do that, or it is not necessary?, we are from Venezuelan citizen but we are residing in Nairobi Kenya, we went to Japan Embassy in Nairobi and they told me that the Ship was registered in something celled: ISS ( Inchcape Shipping Service ) and we do not require visas to boarding

Can you confirm me that information, I would not like to have problems when boarding in Shanghai

...........................................................................

Hi Dimas,

My wife has a similar question/problem. She is an Indonesian citizen & we are going on Dec 24'17 cruise, on board the Quantum of the Seas, from Shanghai to Nagasaki & Fukuoka. When she went to the Japanese Embassy, they told her the same thing: she does not need to apply for Japan visa since its coming by cruise & will go back to the ship. I would like to know whether you have any issue with your recent trip? Thank you!

Best Regards, Fernando