A short cruise has become one of the easiest family holidays from Singapore. Disney Adventure sails from Marina Bay Cruise Centre all year round, and on 29 October Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas arrives to do the same, with two to five-night trips to Penang, Phuket and Langkawi.
Getting on the ship is the fun part. Getting to the terminal with kids, a stroller and four big suitcases takes a bit more planning. Here's how the options compare, and how to avoid the taxi queue when you come home.
First, check which terminal you're sailing from
Singapore has two cruise terminals, and they're nowhere near each other. Marina Bay Cruise Centre is at 61 Marina Coastal Drive, out past Gardens by the Bay. The Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront moved in July 2026 to a new building at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, and handles ferries to Batam and Bintan as well as some cruises.
Your booking confirmation will say which one. The big ships, like Disney Adventure and Navigator of the Seas, use Marina Bay.
Your options, honestly compared
- MRT: the nearest station is Marina South Pier on the North-South Line. From there it's about a 10 to 15 minute walk, mostly under cover. Fine with a backpack, hard work with kids and big suitcases in Singapore's heat.
- Bus: service 400 loops between Shenton Way, the Marina area and the terminal, roughly every 20 to 30 minutes. There isn't much room for luggage.
- Taxi or Grab: easy on the way there. Coming home is a different story, as you'll see below.
- Driving: possible, but you'll pay for parking for every day you're away, and someone has to drive home at the end of the trip.
- A pre-booked van: door to door, with the whole family and every bag in one vehicle, and a driver who's already there when you come off the ship. Yes, that's what we do, but read on for why it matters most on the way back.
Embarkation day: what happens at the kerb
Most cruise lines ask you to pick an arrival time when you check in online. Stick to it. Turning up early usually just means waiting outside, and some lines won't let you into the terminal before your slot.
At the drop-off area, porters take your tagged suitcases, and they turn up at your cabin later in the day. The terminal's recent upgrade also added an early baggage drop. Either way, pack a small day bag that stays with you: passports, medicine, chargers, swimwear for the kids, and anything else you can't do without for a few hours.
Coming home: the taxi queue problem
This is where most families get caught out. When a big ship comes in, thousands of passengers leave the terminal within a couple of hours. Travel forums describe taxi queues of up to an hour on busy changeover days, and ride-hailing prices tend to jump at the same time.
Some reviews from late 2025 also mention a long walk from the arrival hall to the pickup area, and weak phone signal once you get there, which makes booking a ride on the spot harder than it should be.
The easy fix is to book your ride before you sail. Tell us your ship and the time you expect to get off, and we'll confirm the pickup time and where to meet when you book. You walk out with your bags and go straight home.
One more tip: if your cruise line lets you carry your own bags off (often called self-assist or walk-off), you'll usually be among the first out. If your bags go out the night before, allow extra time to collect them in the terminal.
Flying in for your cruise?
If you have family flying in to join you, Changi Airport to Marina Bay Cruise Centre takes about 20 to 30 minutes by road. Book the transfer for the morning you sail, or arrive the day before if you'd rather not risk a delayed flight. For airport pickups we include 70 minutes of free waiting from the moment you land.
Which vehicle fits cruise luggage?
Cruise luggage adds up fast, especially with kids. As a rough guide:
- A family with a suitcase each: the 9-seater
- Two families travelling together: the 13-seater, which carries 9 people with 9 pieces of luggage
- A couple or small family who'd like more comfort: the Alphard or Vellfire
Our maxi cab capacity guide has the full details on what fits. Every fare is nett and includes ERP and car park charges, and one-way transfers start from S$60.
Happy sailing. If you'd like us to handle the ride there and back, book online or WhatsApp us with your ship and dates.
