Singapore, being the sort of place where you can iron your shirts on the footpath and eat off the floor of an MRT carriage, doesn’t do things by halves. So it is no surprise that the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) is getting a grand $40 million spruce-up—less a nip and tuck and more a full-blown makeover worthy of a reality TV reveal.
Opening in 2012 with the quiet confidence of a port that knew its best days were ahead, MBCCS has hosted over eight million passengers and more than 2,000 ship calls. That’s no small feat for a terminal in the heart of one of the world’s most orderly cities. But now, like a seasoned sea captain donning a fresh blazer, the cruise centre is ready to smarten up for the next wave of growth.
Refitting the Flagship Terminal
The $40 million upgrade—helmed by SATS-Creuers Cruise Services, a joint venture between Singapore’s SATS and Spain’s Creuers del Port de Barcelona (itself a fully-fledged part of Global Ports Holding)—will roll out over nine months starting in early 2025.
And they’re not mucking about. There’ll be a brand-new check-in area where passengers might enjoy waiting for their cruise. Gone will be the “cattle class” queues and tired lounges. Instead, think expanded seating, actual lounge comforts, and the sort of layout that suggests someone finally asked, “What would make this less painful?”
Perhaps most welcome: each cruise ship will have its dedicated check-in zone—a practical godsend when two floating cities decide to roll in together, as is increasingly the case. Nothing tests your holiday cheer like 10,000 sunhat-clad tourists trying to check in at once.
Getting There (and Out Again) Just Got Easier
If you’ve ever tried to hail a ride from MBCCS after a cruise, you’ll know it can feel like a cross between a game of Frogger and a diplomatic summit. That’s changing too. The new Ground Transport Area will double the ride-hailing bays and add more bus parking, which means far less post-cruise chaos.
They’re also widening part of Marina Coastal Drive. Which, given the occasional bottleneck of buses, cabs, and lost-looking tourists, is about as necessary as sunscreen on Sentosa.
Tourism Board Jumps Onboard
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has backed the effort with a show of faith worthy of a seasoned poker player. It’s extended the SATS-Creuers’ operating agreement for MBCCS by eight years—with an option to extend it another two, landing them into 2037. Someone’s seen the cruise industry crystal ball and liked what they saw.
Ong Huey Hong, Assistant Chief Executive of STB’s Industry Development Group, was characteristically upbeat: “Singapore’s cruise industry is projected to grow steadily with year-round sailings and a robust calendar of transit calls. Recognising the global trend towards larger ships, STB is collaborating with SATS-Creuers to enhance MBCCS.”
Translation? The big boats are coming, and Singapore plans to greet them like royalty.
An International Effort with a Local Soul
Bob Chi, Chairman of SATS-Creuers, offered the comment that would make even a seasoned mariner nod in agreement. “This terminal refresh underscores our intent to make Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore one of the best stopovers for cruise ship passengers,” he said. “The upgrade is timely as the facility gears up for more intensive operations, including welcoming two mega cruise ships on dual operation.”
Not to be outdone, Mehmet Kutman, the boss of Global Ports Holding, chimed in with his polished nugget: “This upgrade will not only enhance capacity but also align with our shared vision of creating future-ready cruise ports.”
In other words, this isn’t about bigger for the sake of bigness—it’s about better, smoother, and a lot more pleasant for everyone on deck.
Staying Open, Staying Classy
One of the more civilised elements of this entire plan is that MBCCS will remain open during the works. There will be no closures, no diversions to Changi Point or floating pontoons somewhere in Johor, just good old-fashioned phased construction—like repairing a ship’s deck while still under full sail.
It’s thoughtful, very Singaporean, and a nod to the thousands of cruise passengers who don’t particularly want their pre-departure experience to feel like a war zone.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about cruise ships. It’s about keeping Singapore shipshape in a competitive regional market where passengers have more choices than ever. The region is heating up, with Australia, Japan, and Vietnam all vying for cruise supremacy. But Singapore—with its airport efficiency, hawker food, and now a spiffy new cruise terminal—knows how to roll out the welcome mat.
And make no mistake, cruise passengers are not the backpacker brigade. They come ready to spend, stay, and tell their friends. If Singapore plays its cards right, MBCCS will become more than just a port—it’ll be the starting point of the kind of holiday you write home about.
Final Thoughts Before We Cast Off
The Marina Bay Cruise Centre’s upcoming transformation is more than a facelift—it’s a flag in the sand, a declaration that Singapore intends to remain not just a cruise stop but the cruise stop in Asia.
As we look to 2025, the horizon for MBCCS seems clear and gleaming. For passengers stepping ashore, that first impression will be not just about clean lines and polished floors but the unmistakable feeling that Singapore knows how to do things right—one terminal upgrade at a time.
By My Thanh Pham
