SINGAPORE — Cruise passengers arriving at Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) will soon encounter more than ships and departure halls.
The terminal is set to become a new showcase for Singaporean art and live performances, following a three-year partnership between SATS-Creuers Cruise Centre and the National Arts Council (NAC).
Under the agreement, visitors can expect live musical performances during peak cruise periods, including major festive seasons and local school holidays. Wall spaces throughout the terminal will also gradually be transformed with murals designed to tell stories of Singapore’s multicultural identity.
A cruise terminal becomes an arts venue
The initiative builds on artwork already displayed at MBCCS, including “Manifest,” a mural by Singapore artist Eunice Hannah Lim.
The artwork draws connections between Singapore’s maritime history and its cultural heritage. An animated version of the mural will also greet passengers at the terminal before directing them towards the full artwork.
Sea creatures and other maritime and cultural motifs are incorporated into the piece, reflecting Singapore’s longstanding relationship with the ocean.
The partnership is expected to introduce more works by local artists throughout its three-year run, creating additional opportunities for Singapore’s arts community to reach international visitors.
Turning a gateway into an experience
The move comes as Singapore continues to strengthen its tourism and cruise offering.
MBCCS completed a $40 million upgrade in 2025, increasing its passenger capacity from 6,800 to 11,700. Singapore recorded more than two million cruise passengers and 375 ship calls in 2025, highlighting the growing importance of the cruise sector to the country’s tourism industry.
The arts partnership could therefore give thousands of arriving and departing passengers another way to experience Singapore — not simply through attractions outside the terminal, but through art woven into their journey.
NAC deputy chief executive Lynette Pang said bringing the arts into MBCCS would allow more travellers to encounter Singapore’s diverse arts and culture while discovering the country through local artists’ perspectives.
More than just a place to board a ship
The initiative reflects a broader idea in Singapore’s tourism strategy: turning travel infrastructure into part of the visitor experience itself.
Instead of treating the cruise terminal as merely a stop between land and sea, the new programme aims to make it a cultural gateway to Singapore — one where passengers can encounter local creativity before they even leave the building.
And with more murals and performances expected throughout the three-year partnership, the next big attraction at Singapore’s cruise terminal may not be a ship at all.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
