Gosh, has it really been more than 30 years since I first went to Singapore? Back in 1993, I had three amazing nights in the city where, naturally, I had to stroll down Orchard Road, imbibe a Singapore Sling (or two) at Raffles Bar and dine at one of the hawker stalls.
The city is small but packed with things to do. I visited Chinatown and Little India, took a bumboat ride down the Singapore River, passing the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles at the spot where he is thought to have first set foot on the island in 1819, and, of course, went on a harbour cruise to see the city skyline in all its skyscraper glory. It was one of my first trips to Asia and so exciting.
Fast forward to my next visit 25 years later and Singapore had changed. Not the excitement; that was still front and centre. But it had grown - literally!
They had reclaimed land from the sea, built more skyscrapers and opened the Gardens by the Bay, home to Supertrees (vertical gardens that put on a sound and light show every evening) and vast biodomes, one housing a cloud forest, the other planted with flowers and trees from around the world. You could stay there for hours - I know because I did.
Into this world comes Celebrity Cruises with a 13-night voyage to Bali in November 2026 that island-hops around Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, ticking off beaches, rainforests and temples en route.
It’s a terrific cruise, missing just one thing - time in Singapore at the start. So kudos to the team at ROL Cruise, who have paired the cruise with three free nights with breakfast at a five-star Sofitel Hotel on Sentosa Island, which is connected to Singapore by road and cable car, and packed with beaches, theme parks, restaurants and more.
You can afford to pack in loads of sightseeing as there’s time to rest during a sea day once on the cruise. But not for long, as your ship, Celebrity Millennium, arrives early on the popular Thai island of Phuket on day three. Swimming, snorkelling, golf: Phuket has it all, along with speedboat rides to Khao Phing Kan, also known as James Bond Island, due to its starring role in the 007 movie The Man with the Golden Gun.
As it’s a two-day call, you can be out and about after dark and, what luck, there’s just time on the second afternoon to visit Walking Street Market, which gets going in Phuket Town every Sunday at 4 pm and has everything from food and clothing to entertainment.
Just be back onboard before Celebrity Millennium sets sail that evening. Next stop is the island of Langkawi in Malaysia, where you can go in search of sea eagles on a cruise through mangroves in Kilim Geoforest Park and head to the top of Mount Machinchang on one of the steepest cable cars in the world.
There’s another overnight in Penang, an island off the west coast of Malaysia with a fascinating mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. George Town, the capital, for temples, colonial history and lunch (Penang is known as the gourmet capital of Malaysia); outside the city, a funicular wends its scenic way to the top of Penang Hill for great views over the town and island.
Lively Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is up next (don’t miss Chinatown and the view from the top of KL Tower), before Celebrity Millennium crosses the South China Sea to Indonesia for calls into Celukan Bawang on the north coast of Bali and the island of Lombok.
Between them, tey have hot springs, waterfalls and temples, while a day in Benoa, on Bali’s south coast, before disembarking is time enough to visit Ubud Elephant Safari Park, go white-water rafting on the Ayung River or explore the maze of bustling streets and markets in nearby Kuta.
That’s four countries, 18 nights (allowing for flights) and one amazing holiday. Who could want more?
