Singapore will further cement its position as the fly-cruise hub of Asia next month with the opening of Lifestyle and tourist destination Jewel Changi Airport.
The new addition to Changi Airport will be officially opening its doors on April 17 with over 280 retail stores and eateries.
Cruise passengers can look forward to dedicated fly-cruise services, such as lounge serving fly-cruise and fly-ferry passengers. The lounge will provide cruisers with a comfortable waiting area, amenities and services such as shuttle transfers to the cruise terminal.
Additionally, early check-in facilities, integrated ticketing and baggage services are also in the works for fly-cruise transfers.
From April 17, an early check-in lounge will also serve passengers of 26 airlines including Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot. After checking in and depositing their luggage post cruise, travellers may explore Jewel or enjoy Changi Airport’s terminal facilities prior to their flights.
Jewel’s opening comes after Singapore recently announced a significant surge in cruise numbers, and cements the country’s status as a leading hub for fly-cruising in Southeast Asia. According to the Singapore Tourism Board’s latest year in review report, 2018 was a particularly strong year for the cruise industry. Its total passenger throughput reached a high of 1.87 million – a 35 per cent increase from 2017.
“Changi Airport Group is working closely with industry partners such as maritime terminals, cruise lines and other industry partners to promote Singapore as a tourism destination and Asian cruise hub, as well as a gateway to the region through fly-cruise itineraries,” said Changi Airport Group spokesman, Ivan Tan.
Major cruise liners are also confident of Jewel’s ability to boost the growth of fly-cruising in the region.
“The opening of Jewel Changi Airport will meet the needs of guests perfectly as it further enhances the convenience and excitement of fly-cruises to Singapore, and encourages guests to spend more time in Singapore before and after their cruises,” said Mr Farriek Tawfik, Director Southeast Asia, Princess Cruises. “Jewel Changi Airport will be the new star that will further uplift and cement Singapore’s position as the cruise hub of the region.”
Added Josh Wen, Royal Caribbean’s head of sales Asia Pacific: “Jewel is a great development and attraction by itself and we believe the fly-cruise program will receive higher demand.”
Aside from fly-cruise facilities, Jewel’s highlight is its distinctive dome-shaped façade made of glass and steel, housing a five-storey indoor garden with walking trails and plants around the world. The garden will be filled with more than 2500 trees and 100,000 scrubs.
Jewel will also have a hotel called Yotel offering passengers the convenience of booking rooms for a minimum of four hours. Yotel will have a 24-hour gym, self-check-in kiosks and a club lounge with views overlooking the 40m-high Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
