Speech by MOS Alvin Tan at the Opening Ceremony of the expansion of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore

Friends from SATS-Creuers Cruise Services,

Our cruise line partners, port agents, ground handlers,

Colleagues,

And distinguished guests,

Good afternoon, everyone!

Introduction

1.      Thank you for joining us to open the expanded Marina Bay Cruise Centre (MBCCS). Standing here at MBCCS, I can’t help but feel, as many of you do, like we are about to embark on an exciting journey for the cruise industry.

2.      Cruise passengers are forecasted to grow 19% to 41.9 million by 2028 globally. As a leading cruise hub, Singapore is ready to ride this wave. Last year, we welcomed 1.8 million cruise passenger throughputs from 340 ship calls.

3.      Half these passengers were international visitors. That is a clear sign that both locals and international visitors want to explore the seas, discover different destinations, and enjoy the journey as much as the places they visit.

4.      Cruising provides a unique experience for such travellers.

5.      Today, we are not just opening an expanded terminal. We are creating a smarter, faster, and smoother experience for our travellers, to set the stage for many unforgettable cruise journeys to come.

6.      The future is looking even brighter with exciting new brands such as The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection arriving in December 2025, the much anticipated Disney Cruise Line in March 2026, and of course Explora Journeys in November 2027.

7.      So you have a very exciting pipeline for many of our passengers to enjoy.

8.      Among their ships, Disney Adventure will be homeporting year-round in Singapore in 2026, along with StarDream Cruises’ Genting Dream.

9.      Other cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International, TUI, and Silversea Cruises, will continue to operate their seasonal homeport here in Singapore.

Bigger and Better: Singapore as Asia’s Premier Cruise Hub

10.    MBCCS’ expansion is timely. With this S$40 million upgrade, MBCCS can now handle 11,700 passengers – almost double its previous capacity.

11.    More importantly, it can welcome larger cruise ships and more passengers to cater to the growing demand for cruise tourism.

12.    This improved infrastructure also strengthens Singapore’s attractiveness as a homeport for cruise lines.

13.    This means more choices for passengers in future. Whether they are looking for a family adventure, a premium getaway, or luxury cruise at sea – there will be something for everyone.

Smarter, Faster, Smoother: Maximising Efficiency through Innovative Terminal Use

14.    This expansion shows we are not just thinking bigger; we are also thinking smarter.

15.   A key feature of MBCCS is your adaptable design.

16.    In fact MBCCS was designed with flexibility in mind. The arrival hall used in the morning and you are able to transform that into a departure hall that very afternoon. That means that you can ensure that you put the space to very good use, turning it around very quickly.

17.    MBCCS also aims to make immigration even faster and more advanced. With a contactless system, Singaporeans and visitors can clear immigration without showing their passports at automated lanes.

18.    This clearance process has also been enhanced with bi-directional capabilities, meaning the same lanes can efficiently process both departing and arriving passengers.

19.    But our operational efficiency extends beyond passengers.

20. There will be new vehicle management systems which now enable just-in-time deliveries to cruise ships. Because it’s not just the passengers that get on board the cruise ships; it’s also all your food, all your logistics and the likes. And so this is a very important part of the logistics chain.

21.    Then this also reduces the need for provisioning trucks to wait to unload their goods and significantly reduces traffic congestion on the road leading to MBCCS.

22.    That is the kind of efficiency that we are aiming for – quick, seamless, and a little bit magical.

23.    Singapore has always been an international shipping hub, and we are now bringing that same expertise to cruising. When cruise lines look for a homeport in Asia, they want reliability, efficiency, and a destination that their passengers will want to visit.

24.    That is Singapore in a nutshell.

A Happier Passenger Journey: Enhancing Connectivity and Accessibility

25.    But of course, the passenger journey matters most.

26.    You can now book your parking lot in advance – no more circling around looking for space.

27.    For some ship calls, you can also hop on our new shuttle buses that whisk you directly from MBCCS to Marina South Pier MRT station, or better yet, straight to Singapore's most iconic attractions like Chinatown or our breathtaking Gardens by the Bay.

28.    With a baggage delivery service handling your luggage for a small fee, you can dive into all that Singapore offers the moment you step off the ship.

29.    Or experience a more accessible terminal. You can glide along barrier-free routes, enjoy clearer communication with our hearing enhancement systems at the counters, and when in need, hop onboard our friendly buggy service to connect you to different transport options.

30.    Behind the scenes, we also worked closely with the Society of Tourist Guides and travel agents to ensure our industry partners are fully prepared for this new surge in passenger flows.

31.    These little touches add to the experience, and turn an arrival hall into a warm Singapore welcome.

Stronger Together: Strategic Partnerships and Enhanced Offerings

32.    Beyond these are partnerships. And bolstering these partnerships, bolstering today’s upgrade expansion is the ability for us to advance this partnership as a whole ecosystem.

33.    To strengthen our array of exciting cruise offerings, we are partnering cruise lines to homeport ships in Singapore with STB’s Cruise Development Fund.

34.    This Fund supports travel agents in developing fly-stay-play-cruise packages that promote Singapore as an exciting cruise destination for international travellers.

35.    When cruise passengers step off the cruise ship here, there is always something new awaiting them.

36.    In 2025 alone, we have opened Rainforest Wild Asia in Mandai, the Singapore Oceanarium which is three times the size of the Southeast Asia Aquarium, and Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore. Later this year and in a couple of months, we will open Rainforest Wild Africa in Mandai, and we have a whole series of pipelines that STB and MTI are working to avail to passengers and to international travellers.

37.    So when you combine this with a cruise, it is again magical, because it makes make our city an irresistible place to start or to end off your holiday.

38.    In addition to that, we are also working with our neighbours as the ASEAN cruise coordinator for cruise development.

39.    And I speak to many different Ministers across ASEAN, trying to come up with cruise itineraries that is not just Singapore as a stop, but you also experience other port calls across ASEAN. Let me talk a little bit about that and pry open the potential opportunities in this front.

40.    Together, we explore new sailing routes to diversify cruise itineraries and market Southeast Asia as one of the world’s most exciting cruise regions.

41.    The ASEAN Summit has just concluded in Kuala Lumpur. And both Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister Anwar talked about ASEAN as a single market, as a single destination where the world can come and converge.

42.    We have ambitions for our cruise to do the same. In fact, if you look at it, our region has a myriad of offerings – UNESCO World Heritage sites, like our Botanic Gardens for example, we have beautiful islands, and captivating local cultures and of course cuisines.

43. Cruising lets you experience the best of Southeast Asia in one trip – and your journeys can begin here in MBCCS.

Conclusion

44.    Ladies and gentlemen, this expansion is not just about a bigger building.

45.    It is about our confidence in the future of cruise tourism in Southeast Asia, and keeping Singapore at the heart of global cruising.

46.    This expansion also affirms that we remain the natural choice for cruise operators and the preferred gateway for travellers seeking authentic Southeast Asian experiences.

47.    Whether you are exploring our vibrant culture or island-hopping through our beautiful region, your journey begins here in Singapore.

48.    I wish everyone fair winds, smooth sailing, and plenty of happy cruising holidays ahead. Thank you very much.