Best Boat Trips in Singapore (2026): River, Sunset and Island Rides
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You don’t need a cruise ship to get on the water in Singapore. Some of the best views of the city come from a 40-minute bumboat or a S$12 ferry.
The choice is wider than most people realise. There are river cruises timed for the light show, a tall ship that serves dinner at sunset, an amphibious bus that drives into Marina Bay and speedboats that hop between four islands in a day.
They also differ more than the photos suggest. Some leave every half hour, others once a week. Some refund you if it storms, others keep your money. And one popular island route changed in 2025, which most guides still get wrong.
I checked every boat trip you can book in Singapore against the operators’ own pages and Klook, and worked out what each really costs. Here are the best boat trips in Singapore in 2026.
What to Look For in a Boat Trip in Singapore
How long you are on the water. A river cruise is 40 minutes. A dinner cruise is two and a half hours. An island day is as long as you like.
When it runs. Sunset is around 7pm all year, and Spectra starts at 8pm and 9pm. Some boats are timed for both. Others stop running at 6pm.
Where it leaves from. Clarke Quay, Marina South Pier and Suntec are on the MRT. Sentosa departures take longer to reach.
Refunds. Many Klook boat tickets are non-refundable. That matters from October to January, when evening storms are common.
Resident perks. Singapore citizens can use SG Culture Pass credits on both river cruises, and locals get a lower speedboat fare by booking direct.
The 10 Best Boat Trips in Singapore in 2026
| Boat Trip | Best For | Price From (Klook) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore River Cruise | First-timers and visitors | S$25.50 | 40 minutes |
| WaterB Light Show Cruise | Seeing Spectra from the water | S$25.00 (regular) | 40–60 minutes |
| DUCKtours | Kids aged five to 12 | S$49.00 | 1 hour |
| Singapore Starry Night tour | Visitors who want it all arranged | S$119.00 | 4 hours |
| Royal Albatross Sunset Dinner Cruise | Proposals and anniversaries | S$293.79 | 2.5 hours |
| Southern Straits Sunset Dinner Cruise | Budget sunset date | S$62.40 | 2.5 hours |
| YachtCruiseSG Speedboat & Marina Dine | A short ride and a casual meal on Sentosa | S$119.00 | 2 hours |
| Southern Islands ferry | Beach day on Lazarus | S$12.00 return | Half or full day |
| Albatross hop-on hop-off speedboat | Seeing several islands | S$39.90 (S$30 direct for locals) | Full day |
| YachtCruiseSG Lazarus transfer | Sentosa hotel guests | S$25.00 return | 10 minutes each way |
Prices are per person, checked on 23 October 2026.
City and River Boat Trips
1. Singapore River Cruise — Best Overall
→ Get Singapore River Cruise tickets on Klook
Singapore River Cruise has run the river’s bumboats since 1987. The 40-minute loop leaves Clarke Quay, passes Boat Quay and the Fullerton, swings out past the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands, and comes back.
It runs from about 10am to 10.30pm, which makes it the most flexible boat trip in the city. Only four jetties are open: Clarke Quay, Read Bridge, Clifford Pier and Bayfront South.
What it is great at:
- Longer hours than any other city boat, including mornings and late evenings.
- The classic bumboat look.
- 4.7 out of 5 from more than 8,000 Klook reviews.
- An NRIC walk-in discount for Singaporeans, plus SG Culture Pass.
Where it falls short:
- No fixed departure times, so you may wait 20 to 30 minutes when it is busy.
- A round trip only. You cannot hop off at the Merlion.
- The audio commentary can be hard to hear.
Pricing:
- Adult: S$28 at the jetty, S$25.50 on Klook
- Child (three to 11): S$18 at the jetty
Bottom line: The first boat trip to book in Singapore. Go around 6.30pm for sunset on the way out and lights on the way back. Read my full Singapore River Cruise guide.
→ Book the Singapore River Cruise
2. WaterB — Best for the Light Show
WaterB runs modern boats on the same river loop from Fort Canning, Merlion Park and Bayfront North, in front of the ArtScience Museum. Regular boats leave about every 30 minutes from 2pm to 9pm.
Its Light Show Cruise is the reason to pick it. The 60-minute sailings leave at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, timed so you are in Marina Bay for the 8pm or 9pm Spectra show. They cost from S$40 direct.
What it is great at:
- Scheduled sailings for Spectra.
- Boarding beside Marina Bay Sands or the Merlion.
- The cheapest river ticket on Klook, at S$25.
Where it falls short:
- No sailings before 2pm.
- Klook tickets are non-refundable.
Bottom line: Book the 8.30pm Light Show Cruise if the light show is the point of your night.
3. DUCKtours — Best for Kids
An hour in an amphibious ex-military vehicle, with a live guide. You drive through the Civic District, roll down a ramp into Marina Bay, cruise past the Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands, then drive back to Suntec City. Tours leave hourly from 10am to 6pm.
What it is great at:
- The splash into the bay is the moment kids remember.
- A live guide, not a recording.
Where it falls short:
- About half the hour is on land, so it costs nearly twice a river cruise for less time on the water.
- Not wheelchair accessible, and infants pay S$15.
- No cancellation on Klook.
Pricing: Adult S$49, child (two to 12) S$39, infant S$15.
Bottom line: Great for primary-school kids. Adults on their own get more water for less on a river cruise.
4. Singapore Starry Night Tour — Best Done-for-You Evening
→ Check the Starry Night tour on Klook
A four-hour guided evening with hotel pickup: a river cruise, a Merlion Park stop, Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay and Spectra at Marina Bay Sands. It is S$119 per person and rated 4.8 out of 5 from 30 reviews.
Both light shows are free. A couple doing the same evening themselves pays about S$51 for river cruise tickets plus MRT fares, against S$238 for the tour.
Bottom line: Worth it for visiting parents who don’t know the city. Do it yourself otherwise.
Sunset and Dinner Cruises
5. Royal Albatross Sunset Dinner Cruise — Best for Special Occasions
→ Check Royal Albatross dates on Klook
A 47-metre tall ship that sails from Resorts World Sentosa on Friday at 7pm and on Saturday and Sunday at 6pm, for about two and a half hours. You get a four-course dinner, free-flow soft drinks, live music and, if the timing works, Sentosa’s fireworks on the way back.
What it is great at:
- The most romantic setting on the water in Singapore.
- Proposal and anniversary packages from about S$610 per couple.
- A children’s price and kids’ dinner for ages four to 12.
Where it falls short:
- Reviewers rate the food and value lower than the setting.
- Tickets are non-refundable, though you can change the date within six months.
- Shoes come off on board.
Pricing: S$293.79 per person on Klook, which is the operator’s S$245 plus 10% service charge and 9% GST. About S$588 for two.
Bottom line: Book it for the occasion, not the food. Read my guide to dinner cruises in Singapore.
6. Southern Straits Sunset Dinner Cruise — Best Budget Sunset
→ Check the Southern Straits cruise on Klook
A two-hour open-deck sail from Marina South Pier at 6.45pm, past the Sisters’, St John’s, Kusu and Lazarus islands, then back to the skyline after dark. It includes a light halal dinner.
At S$62.40 per person on Klook, it is the cheapest sunset cruise in Singapore. There are no tables, the food is hand-held and the boat rocks.
Bottom line: The sunset and skyline for about S$125 a couple. Eat properly before you board.
7. YachtCruiseSG Speedboat & Marina Dine — Best Short Combo on Sentosa
→ Check YachtCruiseSG Marina Dine on Klook
A 45-minute guided speedboat ride around the Southern Islands from Sentosa Cove, then one main course and one drink at the members-only ONE°15 Marina club. It is S$119 per person, with a minimum of two.
Bottom line: Fine if you are already on Sentosa. It has only 45 minutes on the water and no refunds or rescheduling, so avoid it in monsoon season.
Island Boat Trips
8. Southern Islands Ferry — Best Cheap Day Out
→ Get the S$12 island ferry on Klook
The cheapest boat trip in Singapore. A S$12 return ferry from Marina South Pier lands you at Lazarus Island’s beach in 20 to 30 minutes.
Know the new route. The St John’s Island jetty has been closed since April 2025, according to the Singapore Land Authority. Ferries now land at Seringat Jetty on the Lazarus side, and St John’s is a 30-minute walk over the causeway.
What it is great at:
- S$12 per adult and S$10 per child on Klook, with free cancellation until you redeem it.
- A real beach day without leaving Singapore.
- Marina South Pier is beside Marina South Pier MRT.
Where it falls short:
- The last weekday ferry from Kusu leaves at 4.15pm.
- No food on St John’s or Kusu, and the Lazarus shop only opens Friday to Sunday.
- Regular tickets don’t cover Kusu during the pilgrimage season, which runs until 8 November 2026.
If you are bringing a dog, a bike or a parent over 60, the Marina South Ferries open-deck ticket at S$12.60 carries pets and bikes free and has a senior fare.
Bottom line: The best-value day on the water in Singapore. Read my guide on how to get to Lazarus, St John’s and Kusu before you go.
9. Albatross Hop-On Hop-Off Speedboat — Best for Island Hopping
→ Check the Albatross speedboat pass on Klook
A day pass on a speedboat loop from Resorts World Sentosa and Ola Beach Club to Lazarus, Kusu and the Sisters’ Islands. A full loop takes about an hour, and you can hop on and off all day.
It is S$39.90 on Klook. The operator’s site, speedboat.sg, showed a S$30 rate for Singapore citizens and PRs on 23 October 2026, so locals should book direct. Tourists should use Klook.
Bottom line: The only easy way to see three or four islands in a day, and the way to reach Big Sister’s Island on a weekday, when the ferry doesn’t go.
10. YachtCruiseSG Sentosa Cove to Lazarus Transfer — Best From Sentosa
→ Check the Sentosa Cove to Lazarus transfer on Klook
A S$25 return speedboat from Sentosa Cove Jetty to Lazarus in about 10 minutes. It runs Tuesday to Sunday, leaving at 10.40am and 3pm. It is non-refundable.
Bottom line: Worth it if you are staying on Sentosa. Everyone else should take the S$12 ferry.
What Boat Trips in Singapore Cost for Two
| Boat Trip | Couple Total |
|---|---|
| Southern Islands ferry | S$24 |
| WaterB or Singapore River Cruise (Klook) | S$50–51 |
| YachtCruiseSG Lazarus transfer | S$50 |
| Albatross speedboat pass | S$79.80 on Klook (S$60 direct for locals) |
| DUCKtours | S$98 |
| Southern Straits Sunset Dinner Cruise | S$124.80 |
| Starry Night tour | S$238 |
| YachtCruiseSG Speedboat & Marina Dine | S$238 |
| Royal Albatross Sunset Dinner Cruise | About S$588 |
Best Time for a Boat Trip in Singapore
Time of day. Board between 6.30pm and 7pm for sunset, or around 8.30pm for the 9pm Spectra show. Avoid mid-afternoon on open boats, when it is hottest.
Time of year. October and November bring afternoon and evening thunderstorms. December and January are the wet phase of the Northeast Monsoon, with windy spells and choppier water. February to April usually gives the calmest seas, which matters for the open-deck and speedboat trips.
Day of the week. Island ferries are busiest on weekends and public holidays, when boarding is first-come, first-served. Go on a weekday if you can.
How to Choose the Right Boat Trip
If your parents or friends are visiting → a Singapore River Cruise at dusk, then Spectra.
If you want to see Spectra from the water → WaterB’s 8.30pm Light Show Cruise.
If you have young kids → DUCKtours, or the Albatross speedboat for an island day.
If it is a proposal or anniversary → Royal Albatross.
If you want a sunset date on a budget → Southern Straits.
If you want a beach day for under S$20 → the Southern Islands ferry to Lazarus.
If you want to see several islands → the Albatross speedboat pass.
If you want a few nights at sea → read my guide to cruises from Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best boat trip in Singapore for tourists?
A Singapore River Cruise at dusk, from about S$25 on Klook. It takes 40 minutes and passes the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands and the old quays. Time it with the 8pm or 9pm Spectra show for the best views.
What is the cheapest boat trip in Singapore?
The Southern Islands ferry from Marina South Pier, at S$12 return per adult on Klook. It takes you to Lazarus Island’s beach, with St John’s a 30-minute walk away.
Can you see Spectra from a boat in Singapore?
Yes. WaterB’s Light Show Cruise leaves Fort Canning at 7.30pm and 8.30pm and is timed to be in Marina Bay for the 8pm and 9pm shows. On a regular river cruise, the timing depends on when your boat fills and leaves.
Is there a sunset cruise in Singapore?
Yes. The Royal Albatross tall ship sails at 6pm or 7pm on Friday to Sunday from Sentosa, from S$293.79 per person with dinner. The Southern Straits cruise leaves Marina South Pier at 6.45pm and costs S$62.40 with a light dinner.
Can I get a refund if my boat trip is rained out?
It depends on the operator. Marina South Ferries and Singapore Island Cruise offer a refund or reschedule if weather cancels the sailing. Royal Albatross lets you change the date but not refund. WaterB, DUCKtours and YachtCruiseSG tickets on Klook are non-refundable.
Do Singaporeans get discounts on boat trips?
Some. Singapore citizens can use SG Culture Pass credits on Singapore River Cruise and WaterB. Singapore River Cruise also gives a walk-in NRIC discount, and the Albatross speedboat showed a S$30 citizen and PR rate on its own site in October 2026.
Final Verdict
- Singapore River Cruise — the first boat trip to book, with the longest hours.
- WaterB — the one for Spectra.
- DUCKtours — for kids.
- Starry Night tour — convenient for visitors, pricey for everyone else.
- Royal Albatross — the occasion cruise.
- Southern Straits — the budget sunset.
- YachtCruiseSG Marina Dine — a short Sentosa combo with strict terms.
- Southern Islands ferry — the S$12 beach day.
- Albatross speedboat — the island-hopping day out.
- YachtCruiseSG Lazarus transfer — for Sentosa hotel guests.
If you only do one, take a Singapore River Cruise bumboat from Clarke Quay at 6.30pm. If you have a free weekday, take the S$12 ferry to Lazarus.
New to Klook? Sign up with the DLCuration Klook referral link first to get a S$5 promo code for your first booking.
→ Get Singapore River Cruise tickets on Klook
What’s your favourite way to get on the water in Singapore? Tell me in the comments.
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