Hey there, sailor! How to hire a boat
If you haven’t danced your brain out while sailing gaily around Marina Bay or Sentosa on a Saturday afternoon in Singapore, the chances are that A) you’ve only just arrived, B) you suffer from severe sea sickness or C) You have a Jaws complex (don’t worry, Singers can’t muster up a dolphin, let alone a great white – although we did hear that a lion crawled out of the ocean once).
Boat parties are super popular in Singapore, thanks to constant sunshine, the sea on our doorstep and plenty of celebrations every weekend. It’s a good job, then, that they are oh-so-easy to organise. Hiring a boat in Singapore is just a case of chatting to a few companies, working out the overall size, deciding upon a route (from day trips to weekends away) and adding extras like food, booze and activities.
To give you a helping hand when it comes to the initial planning stage, we’ve listed a round up of places to hire a boat, yacht or catamaran around Singapore. Read on, and jump aboard!
Hire bum boats, swish yachts or fancy
Marine Bookings
6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #06-21 Central, call 6808 6303
– A popular yacht rental service, with a huge range of shapes and sizes when it comes to boat rental
– Likewise, you can choose your destination, whether a short trip in SG or a cruise to Thailand
– A cruise around Singapore for 10 guests starts at $1000 per day
– Fun additions like banana boats and donuts would be great for kids’ parties
– Likewise, Marina Bookings are game for hen and stag dos and corporate events
Lloyd Marine
1 Kim Seng Promenade, #09-03 Great World City East Tower, call 6438 7889
– A large number of yachts to choose from, from 8 – 45 people
– Equipped for different occasions, whether holidays, parties, weddings, or even networking trips
– Private cruises to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand
– Variety of catering options
– Expect high-end prices for high-end services, i.e. $970 for a two-hour cruise
River Cruise
1 North Bridge Road, #15-06 Hight St. Centre, Call 6336 6111
– Traditional bum boats with plenty of character, for up to 45 people
– You can also take smaller, ‘duffy’ boats, for up to 10
– These guys will take you up and down the river or around Singapore’s seas – they have pick up and drop off jetties all over the place
– Minimum rental of only 30 minutes, if you only need a whizz around
– Bring your own food and drinks (wine corkage of $15)
– Price start at $428
Blue Star Yachting
52 W Coast Ferry Rd, call 6513 0295
– For those who want to spend top dollar, Blue Star are all about full-on luxury (think P Diddy videos)
– Stunning, high-end catamarans with heaps of space and experienced crew
– Destinations can vary. You can even rent the yacht for a dockside party ($300 an hour)
– Or, you can book a five-day trip to Tioman (there are four en-suite bedrooms, and diving is possible off the boat)
– It can be a little pricey, so get a big group together. For example, up to 23 guests starts at $2,750
Sailors know how to party
Singapore Island Cruise
#01-04 Marina South Pier, call 6534 9339
– Not just boats for hire, but a full on ferry!
– Chartered boats circle Singapore’s islands (including Kusu, Lazurus, the Sister Islands and more)
– You can hop off the island and explore, while the ferry waits
– Wine and dine options available
– Affordable prices – i.e a return trip to the Sister Islands for twelve is $400
SingExperience
45 Greenwood Ave, 9178 1234
– Principally a gift-based website, with lots of boating options
– Heaps of options when it comes to boating and watersports – such as fishing, diving, wakeboarding
– These guys create gift experiences as birthday pressies
Yacht Charter Singapore
Ngee Ann City Tower A, 391A Orchard Rd
– A selection of different boats on offer
– A few huge, posh ones for corporate days out
– Optional extras, such as fishing rods and wind surfing
– Lots of locations and destinations
One 15 Luxury Yachting
11 Cove Drive #01-01, Sentosa Cove,
– A large selection of high-end yachts to choose from for casual outings, fun day trips or full-on VIP events
– Shorter trips around Singapore, plus longer holidays to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand