Asia Cruise Ports Guide: Dubai to Singapore

In November 2024, we sailed the Royal Caribbean Spice Route on Anthem of the Seas - a 14-night journey from Dubai to Singapore. This routing is rare and special: most Asia cruises stick to Southeast Asia, but this one spans the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia in one voyage.

Why we chose this cruise: The Spice Route follows ancient trading paths that connected East and West for centuries. We wanted to experience the cultural contrasts - from Dubai’s ultra-modern towers to India’s ancient temples to Singapore’s hawker stalls - all without the hassle of flights and hotels between each stop.

Our Actual Itinerary

Anthem of the Seas | November 7-21, 2024

Dubai (2 Days)

Day 1: Atlantis & Palm Jumeirah

Morning:

• Atlantis Hotel - Explore the grounds and gardens
• Lost Chambers Aquarium - 65,000 marine animals (AED 135 / ~$50 CAD)
• Walk through the Arabian architecture

Afternoon:

• The View at The Palm - Observation deck with 360° views (AED 100 / ~$37 CAD)
• Palm Jumeirah beach walk - Free public beaches
• Photo ops at the iconic crescent

Evening:

• Sunset from Atlantis beach
• Dinner at one of the hotel restaurants

Transportation: Private car (600 AED for 10 hours) or taxi

Day 2: Abu Dhabi Day Trip

Morning: Board cruise at Port Rashid

Afternoon Drive to Abu Dhabi (~1.5-2 hours):

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - One of the world’s most beautiful mosques
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-10PM, Sat-Sun 9AM-11PM
  • Dress code: Long sleeves/pants required; women must wear headscarf (free loaners available)
  • Free guided tours or audio guides
  • Allow 1.5-2 hours

Transportation: Private car (750 AED)

Day 3: Dubai City (if time permits)

• Burj Khalifa - World’s tallest building
• Dubai Mall - Shopping and entertainment
• Dubai Frame - Iconic photo spot

Mumbai (2 Days)

Day 1: Mumbai Highlights

Morning:

• Gateway of India - Mumbai’s iconic arch (15 min from port)
• Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - Historic luxury hotel next door
• Elephanta Caves - UNESCO World Heritage site
  • 1-hour boat ride from Gateway
  • Ancient rock-cut temples
  • Allow 3 hours total

Afternoon:

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - Stunning Victorian Gothic railway station (UNESCO)
• Crawford Market - Authentic local market experience

Evening:

• Marine Drive - “Queen’s Necklace” - Sunset walk along the seafront
• Fresh seafood dinner nearby

Transportation: Private car $350-400 USD for 10 hours/300km

Day 2: Culture & Local Life

Morning:

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum - Art and history (~2 hours)
• University of Mumbai - Gothic architecture

Afternoon (Ship departs 7PM):

• Haji Ali Dargah - Island mosque connected by causeway
• Or Dharavi tour - Learn about one of Asia’s largest slums and its economy (~2 hours)

Evening:

• Bandra-Worli Sea Link - Night views before returning to ship

Cochin, India (1 Day)

Port Hours: 7AM - 10PM

Morning - Historical Fort Cochin

• Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) - 16th-century palace with Hindu murals (~1 hour)
  • 30 min from port
• Paradesi Synagogue - India’s oldest synagogue (1568)
  • Beautiful stained glass and hand-painted floor tiles
  • 5 min walk from palace
• Jew Town - Antique shops, spice markets, handicrafts (~1 hour)

Afternoon - Culture & Nature

• St. Francis Church - India’s oldest European church (1503)
  • Original burial site of Vasco da Gama
• Chinese Fishing Nets - Iconic 14th-century fishing method
  • Great photos at sunset
• Marine Drive - Seaside promenade with Arabian Sea views

Must-Try Food

• Fresh Kerala seafood
• Appam with stew
• Filter coffee

Phuket, Thailand (1 Day)

Port Hours: 7AM - 6PM

Early Morning (7:30-9:00 AM)

• Kata Beach - Quiet morning swim and breakfast
  • 30 min from port

Late Morning (9:30-12:30)

• Big Buddha - 45-meter marble statue on Nakkerd Hill
  • Panoramic views of the island
  • Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees
• Old Phuket Town - Sino-Portuguese architecture
  • Art galleries, cafes, street art
  • Traditional Thai lunch

Afternoon (1:00-5:00 PM)

• Nai Harn Beach - Mountain-surrounded beach, clear water
• Patong Beach Night Market - Local snacks, handicrafts, souvenirs

Practical Tips

• Transportation: Grab taxi or tuk-tuk
• Dress modestly for Big Buddha
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen

Penang, Malaysia (1 Day)

Port Hours: 8AM - 5PM

Morning - George Town Street Art

• George Town Murals - Famous street art by Ernest Zacharevic
  • 5 min walk from pier
  • Interactive murals throughout the old town
• Clan Jetties - 19th-century Chinese water villages
  • Chew Jetty is most popular
• Khoo Kongsi - Elaborate Chinese clan temple
  • Intricate carvings and architecture

Midday - Legendary Food

Gurney Drive Hawker Center (20 min drive):

• Char Kway Teow - Smoky stir-fried noodles
• Assam Laksa - Tangy fish noodle soup
• Nasi Lemak - Coconut rice with sambal
• Rojak - Fruit salad with shrimp paste

Afternoon - Temples & Hills

• Penang Hill - Funicular railway to cool hilltop
  • City views, butterfly garden
  • Allow 1.5 hours
• Kek Lok Si Temple - Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temple
  • 7-story pagoda, giant Guan Yin statue

Evening

• George Town Old Quarter - Colonial architecture walk
• The Esplanade - Waterfront sunset views
• Nyonya cuisine dinner near port

Singapore (2 Days)

Evening Arrival (Day 1) - 6PM

7:00 PM - Gardens by the Bay:

• Supertree Grove - Free light show “Garden Rhapsody” (7:45 PM & 8:45 PM)
• Dinner at Satay by the Bay - Hawker food with a view

9:00 PM Options:

• Singapore Flyer - Observation wheel (30 min ride, closes 10PM)
• Marina Bay Sands SkyPark - 57th floor views (closes 10PM)

10:00 PM:

• Clarke Quay - Riverside bars and nightlife
• Singapore River cruise

Full Day (Day 2)

Morning:

• National Museum of Singapore (9:00-11:00 AM) - Colonial to modern history
• Kampong Glam (11:15-12:30 PM)
  • Muslim quarter, Sultan Mosque
  • Arab Street shopping

Lunch - Chinatown:

• Maxwell Food Centre - Singapore’s most famous hawker center
  • Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice - The original
  • Bak kut teh (pork rib soup)
  • Char kway teow

Afternoon:

• Gardens by the Bay (3:00-5:30 PM)
  • Flower Dome - World’s largest glass greenhouse
  • Cloud Forest - Indoor waterfall
• Marina Bay Sands SkyPark (5:45 PM) - Sunset views

Evening:

• Clarke Quay - Jumbo Seafood for legendary chili crab
• Chinatown Night Market - Last-minute shopping

Practical Tips

• Transport: MRT is excellent (get Singapore Tourist Pass)
• Payment: Credit cards accepted everywhere; cash for hawker centers
• Dress: Light clothing + light jacket for AC; modest attire for mosques

Practical Tips for Asia Cruises

What to Pack

• Light, breathable clothing
• Modest attire for religious sites (cover shoulders/knees)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Power adapters (varies by country)
• Sunscreen and insect repellent

Shore Excursions vs. Independent

• Book independently: Mumbai, Singapore (easy to navigate)
• Consider ship tours: Cochin, Phuket (logistics can be tricky)
• Mix it up: Dubai (ship tour for Abu Dhabi, independent for city)

Currency Tips

• Dubai: AED (credit cards widely accepted)
• India: INR (cash preferred for markets)
• Thailand: THB (cash or Grab)
• Malaysia: MYR (cash for hawkers)
• Singapore: SGD (cards work everywhere)

Budget Breakdown (per person, shore excursions only)

• Dubai attractions: ~$100-150
• Dubai/Abu Dhabi transport: ~$200
• Mumbai transport: ~$50-75
• Food across ports: ~$150-200
• Misc activities: ~$100-150

Total shore budget: ~$600-750

Was the Spice Route Worth It?

Absolutely. Here’s what surprised us:

• The sea days were a gift - After intense port days in India, we appreciated the recovery time
• Mumbai was the highlight - The energy, the food, the history - nothing prepares you for it
• Singapore felt like coming home - Clean, efficient, familiar after the sensory overload of India
• Penang had the best food - We still dream about that char kway teow

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat. But we’d add a few nights in Dubai pre-cruise and Singapore post-cruise to fully explore both cities.

Who is this cruise for? Adventurous travelers who want cultural immersion without backpacker logistics. You’ll see more in 14 days than most people see in a month of independent travel.

The Spice Route runs seasonally (typically October-November). If you see it on the schedule, book it - this routing is rare and special.