Singapore River Cruise Review: Why You Should Go at Night
Don't overpay at the ticket booth! Discover why a late-night Singapore River Cruise is the ultimate first-night activity, plus insider tips for booking online.
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Don't overpay at the ticket booth! Discover why a late-night Singapore River Cruise is the ultimate first-night activity, plus insider tips for booking online.
A Must-Do on Your Singapore Itinerary
Buy Your Clarke Quay River Cruise Tickets Online and Save!
If you're arriving on an evening flight,
this is the absolute best way to kick off your first night in Singapore.
(Live updates straight from Singapore!)
On my very first night in Singapore,
I was strolling around Clarke Quay and decided to hop on the final river cruise of the night.
Honestly, it ended up being the absolute highlight of my trip's night views.
Seeing the Marina Bay skyline from the water is unmatched!
I arrived in Singapore around 8:00 PM,
and by 10:00 PM, I was boarding the river boat.
But here's my biggest regret: I paid a premium by buying my tickets on-site.
Learn from my expensive mistake!
I've put together this guide to explain why booking online via platforms like Klook or KKday is the smarter move,
plus some insider tips for getting the perfect photos!
© Written by Travel Writer Erin
🚫 Unauthorized use of photos is prohibited 🚫
Table of Contents 1. Is the Singapore River Cruise Worth It? 2. Pro-Tips for Buying Cruise Tickets 3. My Late-Night Experience & Insider Tips |
There are generally two types of river cruises in Singapore:
the traditional bumboat river cruise (which I'm reviewing today) and the WaterB cruise.
I've actually tried both,
but today's post is all about the traditional river cruise I took on my first night.
✎ River Cruise Clarke Quay Stand
✎ Google Maps Location of My Boarding Point
Most people board at the Clarke Quay Jetty.
I landed in Singapore around 8:00 PM.
Since my first hotel was right in the Clarke Quay area, I immediately headed out to catch the night views.
Singapore is world-renowned for its dazzling skyline.
While taking it all in from a rooftop observation deck is great,
gliding across the water past all the major landmarks is an absolute must-do.
You've probably seen a lot of recommendations to go right at sunset
so you can catch both the golden hour and the evening lights.
But honestly, going late at night was incredibly magical.
I didn't even plan it! I was just taking a late-night stroll
and found out they had seats left on the final 10:00 PM boat.
So, why do I highly recommend the late-night river cruise?
1) It's virtually empty!
The outdoor back deck wasn't packed at all.
The indoor front section was completely empty.
And since all the windows are kept wide open, sitting inside feels just like being outside.
I started at the back but moved inside,
and having the whole space to myself was fantastic.
The boat captain even took time to snap tons of personal photos for me!
2) The true darkness makes the lights pop.
Against the pitch-black sky,
the illuminated Marina Bay Sands, Merlion statue,
and the vibrant Clarke Quay and Boat Quay looked absolutely spectacular.
I knew I wanted to take the Singapore River Cruise,
but I hadn't locked down a specific date or time before my trip.
Booking online in advance is great
because it forces you to stick to an itinerary
and saves you from overpaying.
I just walked up to the physical ticket booth and bought them on a whim,
and I ended up paying way too much. 😱
Buying tickets right at the counter is expensive.
If you book online, you simply show the email voucher on your phone
and they exchange it for a physical ticket right there.
For orders over ~$77,
KKday Discount Code: KK26057K
Currently, for May 2026 promotions, KKday is running a
Gardens by the Bay Buy 1 Get 1 Free Promo (⬅️)
so it's super convenient to bundle your bookings!
I thought, "I'll just buy a ticket when I see a boat,"
and was a bit shocked when the total came out to over ~$46 for two people!
Please, do yourself a favor and book online in advance!
Just show them the voucher that gets sent to your email. Easy!
The open-air back deck is nice,
but since the windows in the cabin are completely rolled up,
sitting inside was actually amazing.
(I moved from the back deck to the inside cabin, and preferred it so much more!)
There was a large tour group on the back deck
getting a bit rowdy while taking photos of each other.
The boat captain actually went back there
and politely asked them to keep the noise down.
After that, he came over to us,
told us we could step out onto the front deck,
and even brought out his own lighting gear to take photos for us!
Because everyone else was crowded in the back, I had the front all to myself.
Getting a private photo session was definitely a stroke of luck... 😇
When you board the Singapore River Cruise,
keep in mind that food and drinks (including ice cream) are strictly prohibited.
The WaterB cruise does allow drinks, but I honestly don't recommend it.
You'll want your hands free to take photos and move around the boat
to catch the best angles. Holding a drink just gets in the way!
That beautiful lotus-shaped building in the background
is the ArtScience Museum.
The captain even directed my poses for the photos!
Since he was taking such great care of us,
I wondered if I should tip him.
(I hadn't exchanged any cash for Singapore Dollars yet and only had a few US Dollars on me).
However, tipping is not expected
on the Singapore River Cruise.
The ticket price isn't exactly cheap to begin with anyway!
If you find yourself near the front, don't be shy about asking for a photo.
A few days later, I also tried the WaterB cruise during the daytime.
It was scorching hot, and because I had already seen the views at night,
it didn't feel nearly as magical.
So, I highly recommend prioritizing the traditional river cruise
at night, ideally on your first or second day!
✔︎ Klook [ ~$22 ] ✔︎ KKday [ ~$23 ] For orders over ~$77, KKday Discount Code: KK26057K |
I'm usually so good at booking things online beforehand,
so paying the walk-up price really stung!
If you're wondering what to do on your first night in Singapore,
even if you're a bit tired from the flight, push through and do the river cruise.
It's the absolute best way to get a breathtaking overview
of this beautiful city right as you arrive!
It wasn't cold at night (a balmy 80°F), but the breeze off the water can pick up,
so it never hurts to bring a light cardigan or button-up shirt.
While timing your cruise to catch the 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM Spectra light show is popular,
I actually preferred watching the light show separately from the Marina Bay Sands mall,
and taking the 10:00 PM cruise to purely soak in the peaceful night views.
✈️
📍 Singapore River Cruise
CLARK QUAY, JETTY, Singapore 058282
📍 River Cruise Ticket Counter
Canning Ln, Singapore
The author recommends taking the boat on the first evening, especially the last slot at 10 PM. At this time, it's not crowded, allowing you to fully enjoy the night views of Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion statue, and Clarke Quay and Boat Quay at your leisure.
It's advantageous to book in advance through online platforms like Klook (~$19) or KKday (~$19). The author mentioned regretting purchasing two tickets on-site for over ~$40.
Bringing ice cream, food, or drinks is not allowed when boarding the Singapore River Cruise. Also, there's no need to give a separate tip to the boat driver, and they do not expect tips.
Based on their experience of arriving in Singapore at 8 PM and taking the 10 PM boat, the author recommended the River Cruise for enjoying night views early in the trip. They advised bringing a light cardigan or thin shirt to prepare for the wind, even though it's not cold at night.
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