Ferry Travel in Singapore

Larger commercial passenger ferries arrive at and leave from the Singapore Cruise Center (SCC) ferry terminal in HarbourFront Centre. Dino Shipping and the Penguin Fast Ferry travel to Sekupang in Batam ten times daily. There are 20 daily departures to Batu Ampar, also in Batam. If you want to go to Batam's main shopping area, hop on one of the ten daily ferries (Indo Falcon or Dino Shipping) to Waterfront City. Most ferry tickets need to be pre-booked and can be paid for with credit cards. Check in an hour before sailing time or you'll risk losing your seat. Get here by taking the MRT to the HarbourFront station, or by hopping on SBS bus 10, 30, 61, 65, 84, 93, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, or 166. A cab ride will take about 15 minutes from the main hotels.

Ferries to Nongsapura (Batam) leave from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) five times daily and take 35 minutes. TMFT is a very popular gateway to Bintan's resort islands. Bintan Resort Ferries run several times daily to Bandar Bentan Telani; the 45-minute ride costs S$45. Dino Shipping, Penguin, and Berlian ferries have ten daily departures to Tanjung Pinang. Taxis from the airport to TMFT take less than 10 minutes (15 from downtown); SBS bus 65 leaves from the Bedok Interchange every 15 minutes and take 20 minutes.

To get to Tanjong Belungkor and Desaru in eastern Johor, Malaysia, take one of the Cruise Ferries from Changi Point. The 45-minute trip costs S$22 and departs daily at 10 AM, 5 PM, and 8 PM (returning at 8:15 AM, 3:30 PM, and 6:45 PM).

To get to Singapore's Southern Islands take a ferry from Sentosa Island Ferry Terminal. Ferries loop from Sentosa to Kusu Island, then to St John's Island, back to Kusu, and then back to Sentosa. Ferries depart from Sentosa Monday through Saturday at 10 AM and 1:30 PM, and return at 11:45 AM, 2:15 PM, and 3:15 PM. They depart on Sunday and public holidays at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM (return at 10:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 2:15 PM, 4:15 PM, and 6:15 PM).

A bumboat is a motorized, privately owned water taxi that's used for island hopping. The most popular route is from Changi Jetty to Pulau Ubin. Walk along the farthest jetty at Changi Village to the tethered craft, pay the owner S$2, and wait until he has enough passengers (or gets bored). He shuttles between the two points without a fixed schedule, so it's a good idea to ask him when he expects to make the last journey back from Pulau Ubin. To reach Sisters Island, where there's no regular ferry service, hire a larger bumboat (S$55 an hour) at Jardine Steps or Clifford Pier.

Ferry Information

Auto Batam Ferries (6271-4866 (SCC); 6542-7105 (TMFT)). Berlian Ferries (6546-8830). Bintan Resort Ferries (6542-4369). Cruise Ferries (6546-8518 or 6546-0650). Dino Shipping (6270-2228 (SCC); 6542-6130 (TMFT)). Ferrylink (6545-3600). Indo Falcon (6270-6778). Penguin Ferry Services (6271-4866). Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront Maritime Square. 6275-1683. www.singaporecruise.com). Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (50 Tanah Merah Ferry Rd. 6540-8087).