SENTOSA ISLAND
Sentosa Island (south of downtown Singapore, accessible by car, bus, monorail, cable car and on foot) is a 352-hectare (870-acre) island with beaches, theme parks, gardens, resort hotels and parks. Situated off the southern coast of Singapore, the island used to be known as Pulau Blakang Mati (the island in front of death), because it was a haven for pirates. In World War II it was the home of a British military base and Japanese POW camp. Locals head to the man-made beaches on Sentosa Island.
Sentosa Island is one of Singapore's premier tourist attraction, receiving several million visitors a year (almost 20 million in 2018. Just 15 minutes away from the city center, Sentosa is known mainly for its beaches, world-class attractions, sea sports, golf and retreats. There are endless activities to indulge in and home of the world-class family resort, Resorts World Sentosa. There is great shopping and dining experiences at VivoCity and Harbourfront Centre, the multi-concept entertainment hub at St James Power Station, and nature trail at Mt Faber.
To fully indulge get a Sentosa Pass. There are different options, including full day, half day and premium passes. With the Sentosa Fun Pass, you select your pass based on your desired number of tokens, and visit the attractions of your choice, with each one costing a certain number of tokens. Adult: 55 Tokens: US$120.00, Adult: 80 Tokens: US$140.00, Adult: 120 Tokens: US$170.00, Child: 55 Tokens: US$100.00, Child: 80 Tokens: US$120.00, Child: 120 Tokens: US$150.00. The Sentosa Pass provides up to 47% discounts on tours and attractions with a complimentary one-way transfer into Sentosa
Hours and Days Open: Daily; Website: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/; Admission Fee: $3 by Sentosa Express; $1 by Sentosa Boardwalk; $5 by Sentosa Rider; Those taking the Sentosa Express monorail will have to pay a $4 fee per person or $2 per person for selected TransitLink concession card holder. There is an entry fee for cars and taxis entering Sentosa. This is $2 between 12 pm to 2 pm and after 5 pm till 7 am. At other times, the entry fee is $6. Getting to Sentosa: Sentosa is accessible by car, bus, monorail, cable car and on foot. 1) Take the MRT to Harbourfront Station on the North-East Line. From the MRT station, enter the VivoCity shopping mall. Head up to the third floor of the mall to reach the Sentosa Express Monorail Station. Purchase a train ticket to take the train and ride it into Sentosa. 2) Bus number 123 to directly enter Sentosa; 3) For those who are taking a car or taxi into Sentosa, entry is via the Sentosa Gateway bridge; 4) It is also possible to walk to Sentosa using the Sentosa Boardwalk.
Sentosa Island Sights
Mount Faber (Sentosa Island) offers great views of Singapore city and is the highest spot in Singapore. Reached by cable car or foot trail, it is 385 feet above sea level. Telescopes are provided for an excellent view of the harbor, the Southern Islands and, on a clear day, some Indonesian islands. In the evening it is the perfect place to watch the sun go down and lights come up in the city. Hours and Days Open: Daily, 8:45am – 10:00pm; Website: http://www.mountfaber.com.sg/; Admission Fee: Free: Mount Faber Cable Car Rides:: Adult $26 (round-trip); Child $15 (round-trip).
Royal Albatross is berthed at the Historical Ships Harbour, beside S.E.A Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark. Her dinner cruise, Sunset Sail City Lights, is held every weekend evening. Starting from her berth, the dinner cruise will take guests past the beaches of Sentosa to the outskirts of Marina Bay, around the edge of the Southern Islands and back to Sentosa. She is available for private charters as well.
Fort Siloso: According to Time Out Singapore: “The main story of Japan’s victory is punchily told, alongside displays on resistance hero Lim Bo Seng and Force 136, and on the local civilian experience during the Japanese occupation. The ‘Surrender Chambers’, containing exact waxwork replicas of the main players, are surprisingly effective at reconstructing the British surrender to the Japanese, and vice versa. But the main attraction is the sprawling structure of the fort itself. Wandering around the gun emplacements and underground complexes at your own pace gives a material sense of a place lived in and fought for that is just as striking (if not more so) than any number of theatricals. You can also learn how restored gun battery Fort Siloso played a vital role in Singapore’s defence in World War ll. Climb through tunnels and examine original guns, cannons, film clips and photographs from days past. [Source: Time Out Singapore, May 18 2019] Nearest MRT Station:
Visitors can tour the island in red aerial cable cars or on a monorail that stops at most of the major attractions. The islands has two 18-hole gold courses, a 3½ mile jogging path, bicycle trails, three beaches, several well-manicured gardens and a giant miniature golf course with 45 putting greens, a garden clock, caves, waterfalls and geysers. Visitors can rent bicycles, various watercraft and even beach chairs and umbrellas. A pair of giant hornbills used to nest in a tree near the now defunct Volcanoland. Nearby Kusu and St. John's Island are a little quieter.
Sentosa Island Attractions
Among its attractions on Sentosa Island are: 1) Universal Studios Singapore, Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, featuring 24 rides, shows and attractions in seven themed zones; 2) S.E.A. Aquarium, with more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species; 3) Adventure Cove Waterpark, with wet and wild rides and tropical paradise escapade; 4) The Maritime Experiential Museum, with 15 thematic galleries, touching in topics such as renowned seafarers and pirates; 5) Dolphin Island, where people can interact with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins;
6) HeadRock VR, for extreme Virtual Reality trips to wild jungles, erupting volcanoes and towering skyscrapers; 7) The Kids Club, a play area exclusively for kids at Resorts World Sentosa; 8) the Royal Albatross, with 21st-century technology onboard the Luxury Tall Ship Royal Albatross; 9) Trick Eye Museum, with imaginative 3D artworks; 10) Crane Dance, with the touching story of a pair of mechanical cranes; and 11) Lake of Dreams - Resorts World Sentosa, a spectacular choreographed display of fire, water and light, designed by Emmy award-winner Jeremy Railto, You also visit Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom (with huge walking sticks, mouse-size beetles, scorpions and poisonous centipedes), the Maritime Experimental Museum, and Mount Faber (Singapore's highest point). Butterfly Park and Inset Kingdom Museum features a walkthrough aviary with thousands of colorful butterflies fluttering around tropical plants. In the museum are 4,000 mounted insects and arthropods.
Imbiah Lookout is Singapore's biggest cluster of attractions, with 11 attractions, including Madame Tussauds Singapore, Images of Singapore, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Sentosa 4D Adventureland, Sentosa CineBlast, Mega Adventure Park, Sentosa Luge & Skyride and The Flying Trapeze. Among the defunct attractions are Sijori Wondergolf, Fantasy Island, Volcanoland, Musical Fountain and the Tiger Sky Tower.
Thrill seekers can take a ride on Skyline Luge Sentosa, nature lovers can explore the walking trails and wonders of Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom or learn about flora and fauna on a guided tour of Sentosa Nature Discovery. For some culture, try Images of Singapore. The sporty side of you can enjoy a game of beach volleyball on Siloso Beach, ride the barreling waves at Wave House Sentosa and at night fall, be awed by Songs of the Sea, a multi-sensory extravaganza. Feeling hungry? Our food for the gourmet soul comes to you in over 50 restaurants from casual to classy, and in every taste. [Source: yoursingapore.com, Singapore Tourism Board]
Sentosa CineBlast presents to you a thrilling 4 Dimensional motion-simulated ride! Built at a cost of S$4.5 million, CineBlast’s Extreme Log Ride combines the virtual ‘roller coaster’ rides with high-definition wide-screen projection. Sitting inside a Cyclone unit that is mounted onto a 6-axis system, you’ll experience amazing real-life thrusts and motion unlike any other. Prepare for the ride of your life! Feel the exhilaration of flying to the top of the highest mountain, the stomach-churning thrill of rushing into the deepest valleys and the gripping excitement of being tossed about by whitewater rapids! Sentosa CineBlast’s Extreme Log Ride is set in the near future and we are faced with the environmental disaster of over-harvesting the forests. To meet the demands for oxygen and wood, scientists have developed a Super-Tree. Hold on tight to a Super-Tree as it embarks on its adventure to the harvesting plant! Hours and Days Open: Daily 10:00am - 9pm; Website: http://www.cineblast.com.sg/; Admission Fee: Adult $18; Child $11; Address: 51B Imbiah Road Sentosa.
Resorts World Sentosa
Resorts World Sentosa ( RWS on Sentosa) is an integrated resort. It main attractions are one of Singapore's two casinos, a Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Water Park, and S.E.A. Aquarium, which includes the world's second largest oceanarium (after Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, China). The US$4.93 billion resort was developed by Genting Singapore. It was the third most expensive building ever when it opened in 2010. The resort occupies over 49 hectares (120 acres) of land and, when fully open, will employ more than 10,000 people directly. Construction of Resorts World Sentosa Singapore began in April 2007 on the demolished plot of Imbiah Lookout. It’s first parts opened in a record time after 34 months of construction in January 2010. [Source: Wikipedia]
Designed primarily by American architect Michael Graves, Resorts World Sentosa Singapore is the first ever integrated resort on Sentosa Island Singapore, bringing together the theme park experience of Universal Studios Singapore, with the shopping experience of FestiveWalk, and the ocean experience of Marine Life Park. Live The Movies at the many exclusive attractions found only at the region’s first Hollywood movie theme park, Universal Studios Singapore. Featuring movie-themed rides and attractions, which are unique to Singapore, thrill seekers and families will be the first to experience many new rides and shows based on blockbuster hits. The young and young at heart will be entertained by Shrek and gang on an incredible 4-D adventure in the world’s first Far Far Away Castle. Thrill seekers can face warrior mummies on Revenge of the Mummy, a psychological thrill ride in total darkness. Other highlights include Madagascar: A Crate Adventure and Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure.
Feast your senses on a world of non-stop entertainment, signature shopping experiences and culinary adventures at FestiveWalk, and take pleasure in the comfort and luxury of the resort’s unique world-class hotels. This 24/7 pulsating strip sets the stage for some of the world's most spectacular shows and entertainment. Free public attractions available include Lake of Dreams; a unique musical extravaganza and Crane Dance where one can witness the love story of the world’s largest pair of animatronic cranes in a multimedia spectacle of lights, sound, water jets and pyrotechnic effects.
Lovers of underwater life can look forward to the Marine Life Park at the integrated resort when it opens. Expect to marvel at this architectural wonder, which will house the world's largest oceanarium and the world's longest man-made rainforest river. If you are an avid sea adventurer, you’ll be delighted to visit The Maritime Experiential Museum. Climb aboard the world's first 360° multi-sensory typhoon theatre, where you will find yourself shipwrecked on an Arabia-bound cargo ship that runs into a typhoon. Website: www.rwsentosa.com
Resorts World Sentosa Hotels and Restaurants
Resort World Sentosa was designed primarily by American architect Michael Graves. The six hotels offer a total of 1,840 rooms for accommodation. Each hotel is designed with a different theme, catering to both the leisure and business visitors. The resort is split into the west, central and east zones. The west zone hotels are Equarius Hotel, close to the Adventure Cove Waterpark, and Beach Villas, a collection of 22 villas floating on a lagoon.
Four hotels are located in the central zone. Crockfords Tower, formerly planned to be named Maxims Tower, is an 11-storey all-suite hotel overlooking the Singapore harbour and the Southern Islands. The resort's casino is located beneath the tower. The hotel was topped-out on 27 February 2009 and opened on 20 January 2010. Both the latter and Hotel Michael sit on the area of the former Sentosa Musical Fountain The hotel also features Crockfords Premier, a casino club with private rooms for High Roller located on 10th floor.
Hotel Michael is an 11-storey hotel named after Michael Graves. Hotel Michael topped-out on 15 July 2009 and was opened on 20 January 2010. Together with Crockfords Tower, it replaces the site of former Sentosa Musical Fountain Festive Hotel is a family-oriented hotel next to Crockfords Tower and Festive Walk. Beneath the hotel is Festive Grand, a 1,600 seat plenary hall which will host Resorts World Sentosa's resident musical Voyage de la Vie.
The Hard Rock Hotel Singapore is the site of meeting and conference facilities, and indoor exhibition space. This includes 26 differently-designed function rooms and one of Asia's largest ballrooms with seating for 7,300 guests. Construction of Singapore's first Hard Rock Hotel started in May 2008, and the hotel opened in January 2010. Equarius Hotel is situated at the west of the resort.
On one of the pricier rooms,Jeremy Grant of Associated Press wrote: “To the uninitiated, a room in one of the “Ocean Suites” at Resorts World Sentosa looks and feels like any other hotel room. But at the flick of a switch, a window blind rolls back to reveal a floor-to-ceiling glass panel of an aquarium filled with manta rays and dozens of species of fish swimming past at eye-level. At S$2,400 (US$1,967) a night, the rooms are an extravagant finishing touch to a combined casino and leisure park. [Source: Jeremy Grant, AP, January 7, 2013]
Among the restaurants at Resorts World Casino Sentosa are Feng Shui Inn at Resorts World Casino Sentosa, Forest, Joël Robuchon Restaurant at Resorts World Casino Sentosa, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at Resorts World Casino Sentosa, Osia by Scott Webster (Modern Australian cuisine), Curate by Chef Benjamin Halat (Modern European creations), Forest by Sam Leong (Contemporary Chinese cuisine), Fratelli - Trattoria Pizzeria (Contemporary Italian cuisine), Feng Shui Inn (Contemporary Cantonese cuisine), Teppan by Chef Yonemura (French-Japanese teppanyaki fare cuisine), Table65 by Chef Richard van Oostenbrugge and Chef Thomas Groot (Modern European cuisine), Tunglok heen by Susur Lee (Chinese cuisine, Casual dining), Sessions at Hard Rock Hotel Singapore (Western & Asian Buffet), Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora, Tangerine, TungLok Heen (formerly known as Chinois), Asian Deli, Happy 9, Penang Curry Mee, Oh Chien, Char Koay Kak, Fish Head Curry, Bak Chor Mee, Penang Fruit Rojak, Fung Wong Confectionery, Mo Mo So, Red Bean Roll, Wife Biscuit, Penang Assam Laksa, Straits of Satay, KL Jalan Alor Hokkien Mee, Penang Ah Mei Hokkien Prawn Mee, and Penang Ah Long Lor Bak.
Resorts World Sentosa Casino
The Resorts World Sentosa Casino(beneath Crockfords Tower hotel) opened in January 2010. It has 500 gaming tables and 2,400 Gaming machines. It is open 24 hours every day and cover 8,733 square meters (94,000 square feet) . Owned and operated by Asia’s largest and oldest gaming operator Genting Group, Resorts World Casino is unrivalled in its intimate knowledge of Asian gaming preferences and is geared mainly towards Chinese and Asian gamblers.
Casino games available: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Slot machines, Caribbean Stud Poker, Blackjack Switch, Pontoon, Money Wheel, Progressive Texas Hold'em, Electronic Blackjack, Electronic Sic Bo, Pai Gow, European Roulette, Tai Sai, and Rapid Baccarat. The casino is capped at 15,000 square meters by regulation. Foreigners entering the casino only need to show their passports and do not have to pay an entrance fee at the door. To discourage locals from visiting casinos, the government imposed an entry levy on Singaporeans and permanent residents that was initially S$100 per day and S$2,000 for an annual pass but was raised to $150 per day and S$3,000 for the annual pass in April 2019.
Resorts World Sentosa Casino was the first casino to open in Singapore. Larry Loh of CNN reported: “At exactly 11.18pm on February 14, 2010, Singapore joined the ranks of other cities such as Macau and Las Vegas when Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) officially opened the nation's first casino. Together with the Marina Bay Sands —which opened a few months later — the opening of the so-called 'integrated resorts' are aimed at bolstering tourism to the city-state. Whether by coincidence or intent, this day was the first day of the Lunar Year of the Tiger, as well as being Valentine's Day, making it a double red-letter day for both the country and Resorts World Sentosa. [Source: Larry Loh, CNN, February 14, 2010 /+/]
“Possibly due to the significance of the date, there was added excitement. A large crowd turned up, forming a queue before the official opening to grab bragging rights to be the first visitors into the casino complex. (It previously had been hidden away from public eyes and surrounded in a veil of secrecy.) At the opening ceremony, chairman of Resorts World Sentosa and the Genting Group, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said, "In less than three years since the time we broke ground and commenced construction for Resorts World Sentosa, we have taken our vision from drawing board to reality. This is a significant milestone in Singapore’s business history. We promised to deliver a true integrated resort, and we have not deviated from that." /+/
“At 12.18pm, one hour after the private opening ceremony, RWS welcomed the first public guest into the casino. Despite the steep entrance levy of S$100 for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, the queues started to form as early as 8am that morning.. An estimated 13 million visitors are expected for the first year of operation, and when fully open over 10,000 people will be employed, according to officials. RWS is also looking at different events to attract gamblers and visitors — poker tournaments and championships high on the list.” /+/
Will Resorts World Sentosa Make Money?
Neel Chowdhury wrote in Time, Citigroup estimates that Resorts World Sentosa, will included six hotels and a Universal Studios theme park, ran a construction tab of roughly $4.5 billion. For Genting, operator of Resorts World Sentosa, recouping its $4.5 billion investment won't be easy. Even though it will be one of two exclusive casino operators, unlike Macau or Las Vegas, where there is fierce competition within a much larger pool, analysts and investors have set their initial expectations for Sentosa's gaming revenues "far too high," says Citigroup analyst Dominic Noel-Johnson. [Source: Neel Chowdhury, Time, February 13, 2010]
“To meet Citigroup's relatively conservative 2011 gaming revenue estimate of $1.2 billion for Resorts World Sentosa — more than a third less than the consensus of other brokerage houses — every single foreign tourist expected to come to the island that year would have to visit either one of Singapore's two integrated resorts. In addition to that unlikely scenario, every adult 21 and over in Singaporean would have to go to one of the casinos five times a year, and every adult resident of neighboring Malaysian state Johor would have to go twice every year.
“Resorts World Sentosa executives, for their part, say they were aware of the local entrance fees before they bid for the casino. They counter that they have a diverse range of entertainment offerings, including the Universal Studios theme park as well as fine dining and hotels, and so are not solely reliant on gaming. (Local families who elect to only visit Universal Studios and not gamble, for instance, would not have to pay the casino entrance fee.) "Resorts World is on track to reach its target of 13 million visitors in its first year of operations," says Robin Goh, Assistant Director of Communications at Resorts World Sentosa.
Jeremy Grant of Associated Press wrote:“Resorts World is betting that new attractions such as its Ocean Suites aquarium hotel rooms – on top of Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park – will help reverse the downturn by attracting more tourists and thus casino players. Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Genting, says the “novelty effect” of gaming for local Singaporean gamblers has started to wear off but that “as we open more and more of our facilities that will definitely give us an edge as we market overseas . . . [and] will help on the gaming front”. [Source: Jeremy Grant, AP, January 7, 2013]
Entertainment at Resorts World Sentosa
Voyage de la Vie (at Resorts World Sentosa) is the first permanent production show to open at Resorts World Sentosa. This resident rock musical is set in the Festive Grand Theatre with a capacity of 1,600 people. The production was created by Mark Fisher. Martial Combat, Asia's largest mixed martial arts fighting championship, is staged over six months each year at the Compass Ballroom, and broadcast by ESPN STAR Sports.
Crane Dance is a multimedia moving art installation with choreographed animatronic cranes built over the sea, and designed by Jeremy Railton. Edward S. Marks and Bob Chambers (of The Producers Group) were brought on to oversee the construction, installation and programming of the Cranes. Marks served as Project Director and Producer while Chambers served as its Senior Technical Director. It opened on 25 December 2010.
Lake of Dreams is a multimedia spectacular that combines the elements of water, fire, air and light, designed by Jeremy Railton. Edward S. Marks and Bob Chambers oversaw the construction, installation and programming of this attraction as well.
Marine Life Park
Marine Life Park (at Resorts World Sentosa) is the world's largest oceanarium. Opened in 2012 and houses two attractions, the S.E.A Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark, previously known as the Equarius Water Park. S.E.A Aquarium is one of Singapore’s most visited attractions. Visitors are transported through a 80-meter-long plexiglass tube on a slow-moving airport-style conveyor, Visitors can step off the conveyor belt onto a stationary sidewalk for a close up view of the sharks, manta rays, moray eels, weedy sea dragons, sea turtles, giant shellfish, coral and all types of reef fish. Certified divers can pay $50 to dive for 30 minutes in the shark tank.
of S.E.A. Aquarium is home to more than 100,000 marine animals of over 1,000 species, across 50 different habitats. Some of the more interesting creatures are nurse sharks. Hammerhead sharks, giant moray eels, clownfish, reef manta rays, sea nettles, giant pacific octopus, indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins, goliath groupers and seahorses.
Large crowds arrive at feeding time at 11:30am and 4:30pm. There is also a petting zoo where young watch young children touch fish and hold harmless sharks and pacify them by flipping them on their backs. In one set of tanks are some of the world largest crustaceans, giant Japanese spider crabs which measure up to three meters across. In the early 2000s, the aquarium acquired a rare dugong and a pair of extremely rare pink dolphins.
Among the rides and other fun stuff at Adventure Cove Waterpark are Dueling Racer water slides, Pipeline Plunge, Riptide Rocket, Spiral Washout, Splashworks, Tidal Twister, Wet Maze, Whirlpool Washout, Adventure River,, Big Bucket Treehouse, Bluwater Bay, Seahorse Hideaway, Ray Bay and Rainbow Reef
Hours and Days Open: Mon – Sun: 10:00am – 6:00pm; Adult: $29; Senior/Child: $20; Website: www.rwsentosa.com
Dolphin Island
Dolphin Island (at Resorts World Sentosa) is a place where you get to hang out and touch Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in a swimming-pool-like environment. There are several different of programs that will give you the opportunity to meet them up-close and learn about the fascinating mammals. The programs aim to inspire visitors to a deeper understanding of marine life, and to discover more about dolphins through “engagement learning”.
Our marine mammal trainers and hosts will share knowledge about dolphins, their habitats, diets, anatomies and migration patterns. We will also share what we’re doing in the areas of research and veterinary care to give you an idea of what’s being done to protect the dolphins. We can look forward to building a more sustainable marine environment together.
In the Dolphin Discovery program visitors wade into the waist-deep waters of the dolphin lagoon for an up-close interaction with dolphins. Available Time Slots: 10.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5:00pm Price: S$90 for adults, children and seniors.
Guests entering Dolphin Island should adhere to the below guideline for a safe and enjoyable experience: 1) Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult for all Dolphin Interaction Programmes. 2) Photography or video recording is not allowed. An official photographer will be present to take photos of your experience.
Maritime Experiential Museum
Maritime Experiential Museum (Resorts World Sentosa) offers an innovative look at the history of the Maritime Silk Route. It is the first and only museum to showcase the maritime history of Asia, featuring over 400 rare objects and a variety of interactive and audiovisual touches take you on a journey of epic voyages. Opened in October 2011, it boasts a 360-degree Multi-sensory Typhoon Theatre and consists of more than 10 interactive points as well as an experience to board on the authentic harbour ships from Asia docked outside the museum. It is the permanent home of the Jewel of Muscat, a gift from the Oman Government.
According to Time Out Singapore: “Go on a voyage with well-known seafarers like Marco Polo and Sang Nila Utama to learn about the Maritime Silk Route. Sink into its rich trade history with 15 thematic galleries. Be wowed by the life-sized Jewel of Muscat – a ship built like a 9th century Arabian Dhow. Have a go at tying classic mariners' knots at the Learning To Navigate chamber – a brand new interactive section modelled after a ship’s lower deck. Don't miss the typhoon theatre's 4D show of a ship navigating a tumultuous storm. [Source: Time Out Singapore, May 18 2019]
Be awed by the life-sized replica of Admiral Zheng He’s Treasure Ship (Bao Chuan) and his massive fleet – a sight to behold! The Treasure Ships were believed to sail along with 30 to 40 medium-sized ones such as horse ships, supply ships, combatships, water tankers and patrol ships - which provided all supplies requiredfor their voyages.
Visit the 8 ports of call at the SOUK where visitors will be fascinated by the sight, smell andsounds of the people and cultures and the interesting stories about these ports along the maritime trade routes. Have fun and learn more about the maritime trade, the people and cultures at the various exciting interactives which are located along the SOUK and basement of the museum.
One of the key highlights of The Maritime Experiential Museum is the “Jewel of Muscat”, a full-sized replica of a 9th-century dhow which is a gift from the Omani Government. Be awed and fascinated by how the people reconstructed the dhow and their voyage on the historic maritime route between Oman to Singapore mainly by wind power and celestial navigation. Try your hand to navigate through the seas using the “kamal”, an ancient Arab navigation tool!
Experience the wrath of the sea in the Typhoon Theatre, a 360-degree multimedia theatre that takes visitors on a perilous voyage on board a 9th-century Chinese junk. Laden with cargo, the ship runs into a storm. The sea roars, the skies darken and the ship rolls, pitches, turns and finally sinks. At the end, the ship’s passengers find themselves in the depths of the ocean, up close with the shipwreck.
Hours and Days Open: Museum: Mon – Thurs 10:00am - 7:00pm; Fri – Sun 10:00am – 9pm; Typhoon Theatre: 10:00am - 8:00pm daily; Admission Fee: General Admission: Adult - $5, Child (4 yrs old to 12 yrs old) - $2, Senior Citizen (65 yrs old & above) - $3. Typhoon Theatre Admission: Adult - $6Child (4 yrs old to 12 yrs old) - $4, Senior Citizen (65 yrs old &above) - $3 Nearest MRT Station: HarbourFront MRT (NE1/CC29), 11 minute walk from Exit E.
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore (Resorts World Sentosa) is Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park. Opened its 2010 at a cost of $1.4 million, it features 24 attractions and is divided into seven zones – including Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, New York, The Lost World, Far Far Away, Madagascar and Hollywood. Universal Studios parks are also in Hollywood, California, Orlando, Florida and Osaka, Japan.
David Pierson wrote in the Los Angeles Times: “Stroll Madagascar zone, influenced by the DreamWorks Animation film of the same name, and you'll see a gigantic ship's hull designed by an art director from Northridge. In the Lost World, a themed land based on the Hollywood blockbuster "Jurassic Park," a designer from Los Feliz fashioned the rocky prehistoric landscapes and toothy dinosaurs. The Far Far Away Castle that towers over the park was modeled by a team from L.A.'s Miracle Mile. [Source: David Pierson, Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2011]
“Universal Studios Singapore is positioned to capture travelers from Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China. The park's operator, Resorts World Sentosa, projects 4 million visitors this year. In Singapore, visitors often complained about the gut-wrenching twists and dives on the Revenge of the Mummy and Battlestar Galactica rides. "It turned out many people didn't know what a roller coaster was," Barbee said. The park had to post warning signs and install TV screens showing what the attractions would do.”
Hours and Days Open: Daily 10:00am to 9:00pm; Ticket sales at 9:00am to 9pm; Admission Fee: Adult (ages 13-64): One Day Non-Peak Pass $68, One Day Peak Pass $74, Two Day Pass $118; Child (ages 4 to 12): One Day Non-Peak Pass $50, One Day Peak Pass $54, Two Day Pass $88. Seniors: (Age 65 and above): One Day Non-Peak Pass $32, One Day Peak Pass $36, Two Day Pass $58.
Universal Express (In addition to your admission ticket): Off-peak Universal Express $30; Peak Universal Express $50. Universal Express allows you to bypass the regular queue at participating attractions at Universal Studios Singapore. Universal Express access is a separate line with a shorter wait line at each valid attraction. Valid for use only one time at each participating attraction. Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Tel: (65) 6577 8888 Website: www.rwsentosa.com/Attractions/
Rides and Attractions at Universal Studios Singapore
Rides and shows at Universal Studios Singapore include: 1) Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase; 2) Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN vs. CYLON, the world's tallest dueling roller coasters; 3) Accelerator, awhirling twirling attraction; 4) Revenge of the Mummy, an indoor roller coaster where you come face to face with warrior mummies and scarab beetles; 5) Treasure Hunters, where young explorers can drive their own desert jeep through an abandoned Egyptian excavation site; 6) Amber Rock Climb, where you scale the walls of The Lost World to explore precious stones and fossilized insects;
7) Dino-Soarin', allowing children to pilot their own Pteranodon, soaring up into the clear blue sky; 8) Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, a thrilling river raft ride through primeval dinosaur habitats where you will get wet and possibly soaked; 9) Puss In Boots’ Giant Journey, a roller coaster ride in search of the legendary golden eggs; 10) Magic Potion Spin, a Ferris wheel for children in Fairy Godmother’s Potion Shop; 11) Enchanted Airways, junior roller coaster for a flight over Far Far Away; King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round, a carousel with Madagascar characters; 12) Canopy Flyer, offering a prehistoric bird’s-eye view as you soar over Jurassic Park; and 13 Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, a river boat ride.
In December 2011, Universal Studios Singapore, debuts the world’s first Transformers ride — Transformers The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle Bringing to life the story of the battle between the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, the ride sets a new standard in immersive theme park attractions with realistic high definition 3D media, sophisticated visual effects, and one of the most elaborate roaming flight simulator systems ever integrated into a ride-car vehicle. The Ride transports you into the world of Transformers as members of the Human-Autobot alliance called N.E.S.T., putting you right in the thick of the action protecting the Allspark from the Decepticons. The ride will reside in the Sci-Fi City zone, which is also currently home to the world’s tallest duelling roller coasters – Battlestar Galactica: Human and Battlestar Galactica: Cylon.
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: Singapore tourism websites, Singapore government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Japan News, Yomiuri Shimbun, Compton's Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
Updated in August 2020