Hong Kong & Singapore help needed please...

[cigloo]

We are taking a cruise with Silver Seas that is for a much a family reunion that our Grand Parents are paying for. They love Silver Seas and wanted to do something special for all of us. The cruise starts in Hong Kong and ends in Singapore.

 

Myself and sister have never been to either of these areas so we want to come into Hong Kong for 2+ days and stay after in Singapore or ? for 2+ days.

 

Love to hear what to do, where to go, where to stay. Grandparent's paying for cruise and flight, but anything we do before or after cruise is our cost.

 

Most important is can't miss sights.....

 

Thanks everyone in advance - you are all the best :)

[Twaincruisers]

Hong Kong and Singapore are two of our favorite ports; we leave for Singapore next week.

 

Hong Kong: take the funicular to Victoria Peak and then go to the observation deck for great views of the city

 

Go to Maxim's Palace for dim sum...it will be busy but it's the place locals go

 

Visit the Man Mo Temple HK's oldest temple

 

Ride the Star Ferry

 

Visit the Hong Kong Museum of History

 

Check out the Avenue of Stars along the harbor edge--come back here to see (best view) the evening light show

 

Singapore: Visit the Asian Civilization Musem

 

Have a drink at Raffles Bar & Billiard Room

 

Tour Chinatown Heritage Center or the Malay Heritage Center

 

Visit one of the quays food & drink: Boat Quay, Clark Quay or Robinson Quay

 

Try Peranakan (Chinese/Malay) food at the Peranakan Museum or Nyonya & Baba in VivoCity

[John Bull]

IMHO, HK has a lot lot more to offer than Singapore, which I find rather clinical.

 

Book a hotel within easy walking of the Star Ferry terminal/cruise terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui, on the peninsula looking across the harbour to HK island. The view is so much better than the other way round, and your hotel will be in the thick of the action & very convenient - many island hotels involve long walks along boring elevated walkways.

The Salisbury Hotel's location is the best - 2 doors from the famous Peninsula Hotel but not expensive - it's run by the YMCA though you wouldn't notice it. It books out quickly. Great views of the laser show from upper floors, tune in your radio.

 

Use the Star Ferries and the island's rickety old trams for ridiculously cheap & entertaining transport. Just for the hell of it, take any tram from one end of its route to the other (though Western Market to North Point is probably best).

 

In Tsim Sha Tsui (TST): the night market, Nathan Road shops, Tai Chi in the parks, the waterfront - as Twain's post, for the nightly 8pm laser show. But perhaps the laser show from your ship depending which side of the pier she berths - ask that the accompanying music on a local radio station be broadcast, makes a huge difference.

On the island: authentic shopping in Wan Chai, funicular to the Peak, the mid-levels moving walkways, bus to Stanley Market via Repulse Bay, mebbe bus to Aberdeen for dinner in the jumbo floating restaurant - a bit of a tourist honey-pot but memorable.

 

If you've not been & don't envisage ever having the opportunity, consider a visa-inclusive day trip into China. But not worthwhile unless its your only visit to China. Usually fast-cat ferry, coach tour, train back. Due to group visa, has to be booked/paid in advance - check out Viator's offerings.

 

Then there's the other HK islands, which you'll have time to visit on your second week in HK :D

 

Use HK dollars, & hoard 50c, $HK1, & $HK2 coins for correct-money-only ferries/trams/buses

 

Sadly, serious air pollution - no smell or breathing problems for the average Joe, but most days it's like a mist, obscuring the Peak & even the top of the tallest buildings

 

Fascinating place, very easy, inexpensive if you avoid westernised places, plenty of spoken & written english everywhere.

 

John Bull

[Maryandi]

Both cities have Hop-On,Hop-Off buses. They are great for giving you an overview of the area and frequent stops to get off & on.

 

Check them out on www.viator.com

 

Have fun,

 

MaryAnn

[kuldalai]

Best to allocate 3 full days for Singapore if you can . Now the sights , how to get there etc. RAFFLES HOTEL Hotel on Bras Bahah Road . The famous Long Bar is on the First Floor up the back . Partake of the Singapore Sling and shelling your peanuts (shells) on the floor is a tradition . Raffles Museum (Free) also down the back upstairs on the 2nd floor. An outstanding Raffles Souvenir Shop on the Ground Floor off the Garden Courtyard. Nearest MRT Dhoby Ghaut & Bras Bahah .

CHINATOWN - Pagoda Street is the heart of Chinatown from 10am daily .

MRT to Chinatown. great Souvenir shopping.

LITTLE INDIA - Mainly foods and handcrafts . MRT to Little India.

SHOPPING : On Orchard Road, MRT to Dhoby Ghaut then walk . This is the area to shop for watches and electronics .

BUGIS STREET: A vibrant daytime market, MRT to Bugis Street .

Nearest MRT to Singapore Cruise Centre is Harbourfront.

JURONG BIRD PARK : take the MRT to Boon Lay, walk out end of platform and turn left for bus Interchange . Bus # 194 Express to the world famous Bird Park.

NIGHT ZOO SAFARI : This is quite a way out of town . Best done as a tour bookable with most Hotels or with some Cruise Companies.

Accommodation wise we like the Rendezvous Hotel on Bras Bahah Road, within walking distance of Raffles . Great open air food court close by on Victoria Street next to Lady Fatima RC Church . Also nearby great Asian indoor air-conditioned food Court named Koeptain on the corner of Bras Bahah Rd and Belcoonen Sts .

[kuldalai]

Again best to allocate 3 full days to explore and soak in what we regard as the World's most exciting city . After more than 20 visits over 40 years, Hong Kong is still our favourite World City .

Hong Kong has two parts the Kowloon side (on the Chinese mainland) and Hong Kong Island . The Star Ferry links Kowloon and Central and Wan Chai on HK Island as reliably today as it has done for over 150 years . A splendid MTR rail system also cover bother sides and provides under harbour links . In addition a network of double decker buses also provide key tourist services.

 

Cruise boats primarily berth at Ocean Terminal on the Kowloon side alongside the Star Ferry Pier, and occasionally at Freight berths in Kennedytown on HK Island .

 

Kowloon side - between Ocean Terminal and Nathan Road is the heart of great shopping for everything imaginable including clothes, watches, electronics and jewellery . Avoid the brand name department stores and search out the great deals with the smaller traders . Nearest MTR is Tsim Tsa Tsui.

 

The Temple Street Night Market operates nightly in Temple St , Jordan on Kowloon side . Nearest MTR is Jordan then a short walk . Temple St runs parallel to Nathan Rd several blocks back towards the harbour .

 

Hong Kong Island : here one finds Victoria Peak, Ocean Park, Stanley, and Aberdeen . Cross the harbour by Star Ferry and soak in the atmosphere of the world’s most exciting city . Step ashore at Central Star Ferry Piers . You will see a bus interchange on shoreside. Take bus # 15 for Victoria Peak, # 15C for the Lower Peak Tram Station (then Peak Tram) to the Peak , # 629 Bus for Ocean Park Aquarium (at 0935,0955,1015 only Daily). Walk along the overhead walkway some distance to the Central Bus Station (under a skyscraper) for; 6, 6X or 260 for the Fishing Village of Stanley and the famous daytime (from 10am) Stanley Market .

 

Victoria Peak is best visited at sunset for stunning views across the harbour as HK lights up . Nighly harbour light show at 8pm. For stunning views come down from the Peak at night by bus # 15 . The peak bus terminal is under the Galleria Shopping Centre . If you are bound for Kowloon bail out of bus at Admiralty and take the MTR to Tsim Tsa Tsui or Jordan . If heading back to Ocean terminal return to Kowloon from Central on the Island by the Star Ferry .

 

For those wishing to visit the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island here’s how to do that as inexpensive day round trip :

Leaving around 0830 by MTR to TUNG CHUNG, walk out the station cross a large open square and head for the Chairlift ( operates from 1000 to 1800) . At the Chairlift buy the combined daily Chairlift & Lantau Island Bus Pass . Take the breathtaking chairlift which does 2 x 90 degree turns to NGONG PING . Alight walk through the village shops and climb over 360 stairs to the magnificent Buddha . Return to the lower Shopping area and from the adjacent Bus Terminal take bus # 21 (at 1035, 1120, 1220, or 1320 from NGONG PING to the fishing Village of TAI O . Walk slightly inland to discover the real village and a wonderful range of seafood restaurants where you can take in lunch. Walk back to the Shoreside bus terminal and take bus # 1 from TAI O to MUI WO . (40 minute frequency). Then fast ferry from MUI WO (Hourly departures) will have you back at Central on HK Island next to the Star Ferry Central Pier . If you leave Kowloon on the MRT at 0830 , you will be on the chairlift at start up time (1000), and have time to explore Ngong Ping and the Buddha to make the # 21 bus from Ngong Ping at 11.20 to Tai O . After lunch in Tai O you easily make # 1 bus to be in MUI WO to connect with the 1500 fast ferry to Hong Kong island - central Ferry Piers.

 

Accommodation wise we like the Eaton Hotel in Nathan road, Jordan . Nearest MRT Jordan .

[Cornishpastyman1]

5 hours there in 2001 doesn't make me any sort of authority on HK, but I made this video of my time there

which might augment the excellent comments.

 

Have a great holiday

Tony:)

[MVPinBoynton]

We visited Singapore and HK while on the Azamara Quest earlier this year. We thoroughly enjoyed both cities. Like the previous posters have told you, there are lots of things to see and do. Much more than you will have time for. You can see photos of what we did in our review on our website, www.thepreismans.com.

[ROCruiser]

Kowloon--Lady's Market, not to be missed!