Marina Bay's southern waterfront has quietly become Singapore's busiest cruise and ferry gateway, and most visitors walking the Bayfront promenade never realise it is there. Two terminals sit at the foot of Marina South, next to Gardens by the Bay and the new Bay South to Bay East bridge: Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS), which handles the big cruise ships, and Marina South Pier, where the ferries leave for St John's, Kusu, Lazarus and the Sisters' Islands. Both are inside the Bayfront district, both are on the Circle Line, and both have had a busy 2026.
The cruise terminal that grew to 11,700 passengers a day
MBCCS reopened in late 2025 after a $40 million, nine-month overhaul that nearly doubled its daily throughput, from 6,800 to 11,700 passengers. The work added a new Level 1 check-in hall with 70 counters and more than 500 seats dedicated to Pier 2, widened Marina Coastal Drive to smooth out the coach and ride-hailing queues, and doubled ride-hailing capacity in the Ground Transport Area. A buggy service now ferries passengers with reduced mobility between the kerb and the terminal.
The single biggest reason the upgrade was needed is now berthing at Pier 1 almost every other day. Disney Cruise Line's Disney Adventure has been homeported year-round at MBCCS since March 2026, running cruises-to-nowhere with up to 6,000 passengers and 2,300 crew. StarDream Cruises' Genting Dream shares the schedule, typically calling on Tuesdays and Fridays. On dual-berth days both piers run simultaneously, which is the scenario the new Level 1 hall was built for.
For Bayfront visitors who are not cruising, the practical pull is the CruiseFly service. Disembarking passengers can check their luggage straight through to a same-day Changi flight and spend the afternoon at Gardens by the Bay or The Shoppes instead of dragging bags around. There is also an Advanced Carpark Reservation system that lets you book a parking slot up to 60 days ahead at a discounted rate, which matters on Disney Adventure sailing days when the carpark fills by mid-morning.
Marina South Pier and the Southern Islands ferries
A few hundred metres east of MBCCS, Marina South Pier is the departure point for the Southern Islands. Two operators run from here: Singapore Island Cruise and Marina South Ferries. Both run daily ferries to St John's Island, Kusu Island, Lazarus Island and the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, with the last public ferry back at 6pm. Marina South Ferries also runs water taxis, sunset dinner cruises with a chef on board, and private charters.
The headline for 2026 is the reopening of diving at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park. NParks confirmed in April that diving, suspended since 2021 for enhancement works, will resume later this year under approved operators. Dive centres are already doubling their instructor counts in anticipation. The marine park itself reopened to the public in October 2024 after a three-year rejuvenation that added a floating boardwalk, a coastal forest trail and a lagoon tidal pool for swimming and snorkelling. Big Sister's Island is open 7am to 7pm, closed on the first and third Wednesday of each month; Small Sister's Island remains off-limits as a turtle hatchery and research site.
For a half-day trip, the easiest loop is the island-hop: a morning ferry from Marina South Pier to St John's, a short walk across the causeway to Lazarus for the beach, then a ferry back via Kusu. Bring your own snorkel gear and your own water; there are no rentals and no kiosks on the islands. Do not feed the long-tailed macaques on Sisters' Islands, and note that vessels are not permitted inside the marine park lagoon.
Getting there from Bayfront
Both terminals sit on the Circle Line at Marina South Pier MRT (NS28/CC29), one stop south of Bayfront and two from Marina Bay. The Circle Line loop was completed on 12 July 2026 when the three CCL6 stations opened, which means you can now reach MBCCS from HarbourFront, Dhoby Ghaut or Promenade without changing lines. A dedicated shuttle connects Marina South Pier station to MBCCS on cruise sailing days. Bus 402 runs from Marina Bay station and stops at the cruise terminal.
Allow around 20 minutes by car from Changi Airport and 10 minutes from Marina Bay Sands. If you are catching a ferry, arrive at Marina South Pier at least 30 minutes before departure; if you are cruising, stick to the port arrival time your cruise line allocated, because the terminal only opens on days a ship is at berth.
Practical Details
MBCCS (cruise terminal):
- Address: 61 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore 018947
- Nearest MRT: Marina South Pier (NS28/CC29), 1 stop from Bayfront on the Circle Line
- Opening: Only on days a cruise ship is at berth; check the live cruise schedule before travelling
- July 2026 schedule: Disney Adventure in port 20 & 23 Jul; Genting Dream 21 Jul (pattern continues through the month)
- Services: CruiseFly luggage transfer to Changi, Advance Carpark Reservation (up to 60 days ahead), baggage storage, reduced-mobility buggy service
- Website: mbccs.com.sg
Marina South Pier & Southern Islands ferries:
- Address: 31 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore 018988
- Nearest MRT: Marina South Pier (NS28/CC29)
- Operators: Marina South Ferries and Singapore Island Cruise
- Destinations: St John's Island, Kusu Island, Lazarus Island, Sisters' Islands Marine Park
- Last ferry: 6pm daily from the islands
- Big Sister's Island hours: 7am to 7pm; closed first and third Wednesday of each month
- Diving: Sisters' Islands Marine Park diving reopens later in 2026 under approved operators (suspended since 2021)
- Website: marinasouthferries.com