Behind the high-tech industries and high-rise buildings lives a society with an ingrained sense of conservative Confucian values. Beneath a slick veneer of westernized modernity beats a totally Asian heart. Strong beliefs center around extended families, filial piety, discipline, respect and Asian work ethics.
Singapore's name, meaning 'Lion City,' can be traced to the 13th century when, according to legend, the ruler of Palembang sought shelter on the island during a storm and thought he saw a lion. Today there is the mythical Merlion, half-lion, half-fish, standing guard at the mouth of the Singapore River as the grotesque saturnine symbol of Singapore.
Modern Singapore primarily owes its existence and its prosperity to two men, both of them forceful characters and visionaries: Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and Lee Kuan Yew. Upon Raffles' arrival in 1819, he found a population of about 150, mostly pirates and fishermen, and a land blanketed in dense jungle. Within four years of its founding, Singapore grew into an international trading port. Raffles' influence in determining the direction of what is today one of the world's busiest port cities was invaluable, while Lee Kuan Yew is without doubt the Father of Modern Singapore.
This modern, thriving metropolis of three million people is one of the most densely populated places in the world. An enormous retail outlet, it is also the trade, transport, business and financial hub of the region. The reputation Singapore has for law and order is well deserved. A recent advertising campaign billed Singapore as 'A Fine City.' The double meaning may well reflect the fact that Singapore imposes harsh punishment on locals and visitors alike for violations of the law.
Singapore is a melting pot of nationalities; the majority of the population is of Chinese extraction, followed by Malay, Indian and a small Eurasian population. Officially, Malay is the national language, but English is the language of administration and commerce.
Please Note: Guests participating in Silversea's Pre- or Post-Cruise Program may check with the Silversea Hospitality Desk at the hotel for sightseeing, dining and shopping opportunities during their stay in Singapore. Guests continuing to the next cruise may check with the Tour Desk for additional sightseeing options.
Cruises
WH250107014 - Singapore to Hong Kong
Destination: Asia/Far East
Ship: Silver WhisperViking World Cruise : Fort Lauderdale, Florida to London (Greenwich)
Destination: World
Ship: Viking Sky116 Days - Full World Voyage - Hamburg to Hamburg aboard Queen Anne
From $16,799.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Queen AnneSN250206018 - Melbourne to Singapore
Destination: South Pacific/Australia/New Zealand
Ship: Silver NovaGrand Pacific Explorer : Auckland to Vancouver, British Columbia
Destination: World
Ship: Viking Orion114 Days - World Cruise - Roundtrip Auckland - Auckland to Auckland aboard Crown Princess
From $15,569.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Crown Princess109 Days - Full World Voyage - Southampton to Southampton aboard Queen Anne
From $15,749.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Queen Anne60 Days - World Cruise Liner - Auckland To London (Dover) - Auckland to London (Dover) aboard Crown
From $7,739.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Crown PrincessViking World Voyage I : Fort Lauderdale, Florida to New York City, New York
Destination: World
Ship: Viking Sky59 Days - World Cruise Liner - Auckland To London (Dover) - Auckland to London (Dover) aboard Crown
From $9,289.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Crown PrincessSM240926057 - Tokyo to Sydney
Destination: World
Ship: Silver MuseBangkok, Bali & Beyond : Bali (Benoa) to Bangkok (Laem Chabang)
Destination: Asia/Far East
Ship: Viking Orion116 Days - World Cruise - Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale aboard Islan
From $18,998.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Island PrincessWH250426018 - Singapore to Mumbai
Destination: Asia/Far East
Ship: Silver WhisperAustralia, Asia & the Mediterranean : Barcelona to Sydney
Destination: World
Ship: Viking Venus25 Days - World Cruise Segment - Sydney To Dubai - Sydney to Dubai aboard Island Princess
From $3,299.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Island Princess58 Days - Sydney To Southampton - Sydney to Southampton aboard Queen Anne
From $7,819.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Queen AnneSM250306016 - Singapore to Tokyo
Destination: Asia/Far East
Ship: Silver Muse90 Days - San Francisco To New York - San Francisco to New York aboard Queen Mary 2
From $13,799.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Queen Mary 2Immersive Indonesia: Singapore to Australia - 14-nights
From $6,120.00 (USD)
Destination: South Pacific/Australia/New Zealand
Ship: m/s Paul Gauguin
Set sail from Singapore to discover Indonesia's rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty.108 Days - Full World Voyage - Southampton to Southampton aboard Queen Mary 2
From $16,999.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Queen Mary 266 Days - Wc Liner - Panama Canal, South Pacific & Indian Ocean - Fort Lauderdale to Dubai aboard Is
From $8,999.00 (USD)
Destination: World
Ship: Island Princess6 Days - Hong Kong To Singapore - Hong Kong to Singapore aboard Queen Mary 2
From $1,099.00 (USD)
Destination: Asia/Far East
Ship: Queen Mary 2DA260106140 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Lisbon
Destination: World
Ship: Silver DawnEpic Continental Explorer - Papeete (Tahiti) French Polynesia to Barcelona Spain
From $40,799.00 (USD)
Destination: Transoceanic
Ship: Nautica12 Nights India, Sri Lanka & Thailand From Mumbai (Bombay), India - onboard Celebrity Millennium
Destination: Asia/Far East
Ship: Celebrity Millennium13 Nights Australia From Sydney, Australia to Singapore - Onboard Celebrity Solstice
Destination: South Pacific/Australia/New Zealand
Ship: Celebrity Solstice
Tours
Kingdoms & Dragons: Singapore to Bali
From $12,790.00 (USD)
Explore the past, present and future on an unforgettable journey in a tropical paradise, steeped in culture and nature as you stroll through gardens of tomorrow in Singapore, explore ancient kingdoms in Java, visit flower-filled temples on Bali, and ...
Kingdoms & Dragons: Singapore to Bali
From $11,390.00 (USD)
Explore the past, present and future on an unforgettable journey in a tropical paradise, steeped in culture and nature as you stroll through gardens of tomorrow in Singapore, explore ancient kingdoms in Java, visit flower-filled temples on Bali, and ...
GLOBUS 2024: Independent Singapore City Stay (IAS1)
From $1,499.00 (USD)
What's the best way to see one of the world's great melting pots? An Independence by Globus vacation, of course!