Exploring Brunei: A Cruise Destination Worth Considering

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a small country located in Southeast Asia, on the island of Borneo. The country is known for its stunning natural scenery, friendly locals, and unique cultural attractions, such as the water village of Kampong Ayer. It is possible to take a cruise to Brunei, with several cruise lines offering itineraries that include the country as a port of call. These cruises typically depart from nearby countries such as Singapore, Thailand, or Taiwan, and may include other destinations in the region, such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In addition to these international cruises, there are also local river cruises that operate within Brunei, offering tourists a unique perspective on the country's natural and cultural attractions.

Cruise packages and prices

There are several cruise packages that include Brunei as a destination. Here is some information on some of these packages and their prices:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Explorer

This 14-night cruise starts in Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand, and ends in Bali (Benoa), Indonesia. The cruise includes stops in Ko Samui, Saigon, Kota Kinabalu, Muara, and Java, among other destinations. The price for this cruise package starts at €839 per person, and the taxes and port charges are included in the price.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), NCL Norwegian Spirit

This 14-night cruise starts in Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, and includes stops in Kaohsiung, Manila, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, and Muara, before ending in Singapore. The price for this cruise package is not immediately clear, but the website offers a service where you can compare personalized offers, prices, upgrades, and cabin credits.

Norwegian Cruise Tours, NCL Norwegian Sky Cruise Tours

This 14-night cruise starts in Singapore and includes a half-day tour of the city and its Gardens. The cruise then continues to Ko Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Muara, Brunei Darussalam, Kota Kinabalu, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, and Manila. The price information for this cruise package is similar to the previous NCL cruise.

Oceania Cruises, Oceania Insignia

This 180-night cruise starts in Miami, Florida, and travels across the Atlantic Ocean, Amazon River, Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, before ending in San Diego, California. The cruise includes stops in over 30 destinations, including Muara, Brunei. The price for this extensive cruise package starts at €8,509 per person, and the taxes and port charges are included.

In addition to these packages, there are also shorter, more localized cruise options for the Brunei River. These cruises offer a 2-hour sightseeing trip along the historical Brunei River and can be chartered for a minimum of 2 hours, with a minimum booking requirement of 30 people.

Bandar Seri Begawan

The cruise terminal is located about 25 km from the city centre, and transfers are available for around 40 euros. The local bus also offers transportation to and from the port for $2.00 SGD, with a journey time of about an hour. The cruise centre provides various amenities, such as a restaurant, a cyber cafe, a foreign currency exchange booth, a souvenir shop, and a recreation room. Free WiFi is also available at the terminal.

For those interested in exploring further, a river taxi can take you to Kampung Ayer, a water village connected by wooden planks. Nature lovers can take a boat through the mangrove swamp nature reserve, home to birds, monkeys, and even large snakes. The Sultan's Palace, with its immense size, is also worth seeing, as are the nearby beaches, amusement park, and grand hotel.

The local currency is the Brunei dollar, which is on par with the Singapore dollar. Bahasa Melayu is the official language, but English and Chinese are also commonly spoken. It is important to note that the sale of alcohol is forbidden in Bandar Seri Begawan, and there are no bars or clubs selling alcoholic beverages.

Brunei River cruise tours

The Brunei River is a historic waterway that offers a relaxing and cost-effective way to see the country's iconic sights. Brunei River Cruise offers a 2-hour sightseeing cruise on board the MV Sentosa, which accommodates a maximum of 60 passengers. This cruise is perfect for visitors to Brunei and is also a great option for locals looking to see their country from a different perspective.

Routes

There are two routes to choose from, both departing from the Queen Elizabeth II Jetty. Route A takes you past the Brunei Museum, the RIPAS bridge, Kampong Ayer (the 'Venice of the East'), Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, The Istana Nurul Iman, and Jong Batu. Route B starts from the jetty and goes past the Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge, Mangrove Paradise Resort, Sg Kebun Bridge, and Brunei Waterfront, before turning back at Jong Batu.

Timings and Pricing

The cruise operates on Fridays from 5-7 pm, Saturdays from 2-4 pm and 5.30-7.30 pm, and Sundays from 2-4 pm. The standard 2-hour cruise includes complimentary coffee and tea, with refreshments available for purchase onboard. Pricing for adults is not listed, but tickets for children (aged 3-11) are B$19, and seniors (aged 60 and above) are also B$19.

Dining Options

There are also packages that include dining options for a minimum of 30 people. These include a 2-hour cruise with a Hi-Tea Menu onboard for B$23 for children aged 5-11 and B$19 for children aged 3-4. Another package includes a local Dinner Menu (Malay and Indonesian cuisine) for B$28 for children aged 5-11 and B$19 for children aged 3-4.

Cruise lines that visit Brunei

Yes, cruises do go to Brunei. Here is a list of cruise lines that visit Brunei:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The Regent Seven Seas Cruises line offers a 14-night cruise from Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand, to Bali (Benoa), Indonesia, on the Seven Seas Explorer. The cruise includes stops in Ko Samui, Saigon, Kota Kinabalu, Muara, Java, Surabaya, and Benoa.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a 14-night cruise from Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, to Singapore, on the NCL Norwegian Spirit. The cruise includes stops in Kaohsiung, Currimao, Manila, Coron, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, Muara, Phu My, and Singapore. They also offer a 12-night cruise with a similar itinerary, but in reverse, starting from Singapore and ending in Taipei.

Norwegian Cruise Tours

Norwegian Cruise Tours offers a 14-night cruise from Singapore to Manila, Philippines. The cruise includes stops in Ko Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Muara, Brunei Darussalam, Kota Kinabalu, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, and Manila.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises offers an 180-night global cruise from Miami, Florida, to San Diego, California, on the Oceania Insignia. The cruise includes stops in Philipsburg, Roseau, Bridgetown, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Edinburgh, Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Durban, Mahe, Male, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki, and many other destinations. They also offer a 196-night and a 200-night global cruise with similar itineraries, starting and ending in Miami and New York, respectively.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises offers a 47-night cruise from Singapore to Singapore on the Crystal Symphony. The cruise includes stops in Koh Samui, Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay, Hong Kong, Keelung, Miyako-Jima, Kagoshima, Kochi, Kobe, Yokohama (Tokyo), Nagasaki, Busan, Shanghai, Ishigaki Ryukyu Islands, Manila, Boracay (Malay), Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, and Muara.

In addition to these cruise lines, there are also local river cruise options in Brunei, such as the MV Sentosa, which offers a 2-hour sightseeing cruise along the Brunei River. These river cruises can be chartered for private or corporate events, with a minimum booking requirement of 30 people and a maximum capacity of 60 people.

Cruise itinerary and ports of call

The Brunei seaport is Muara, located 20 miles from the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Bandar Seri Begawan is a walkable city, and water taxis are easy to find for tours and trips. The city also has a good bus system, and the country has its own ride-share service, Dart Brunei, which is reportedly safe, easy to use, and reasonably priced.

Most visiting cruise ships provide shuttle buses into the capital. However, if you want to make your own way into the city, you can take a local bus from the nearby town of Muara. These buses are blue and can be found in the town's central parking lot. They take around 50 minutes to get to the central bus station in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Bandar Seri Begawan is home to the Tamu Kianggeh Market, a roofed street market with shopping and dining options. The city is also located on the banks of the Brunei River, where you can hire a small boat for a tour.

If you're looking for a longer cruise that includes Brunei, you can find cruises that start in locations like Singapore, Bangkok, and Taipei, and stop in Brunei for a day before continuing on to other destinations like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

For a shorter trip, you can take a 2-hour sightseeing cruise along the Brunei River.

Frequently asked questions