Chee SingFashioned like a giant ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer is the newest tourist attraction in Singapore. UrbanWire had a chance, less than a month after its official opening, to get a bird’s eye view up in the world’s largest observation wheel at 165m (approximately 42 storeys high), which is even taller than the London Eye which stands at 135m.
Japanese architect Dr Kisho Kurokawa of DP Architects, Singapore, is the man behind the brilliant design of this state-of-the-art structure. The London Eye and Eiffel Tower inspired its clean and simplistic design. This modern concept is also applied in the 28 cabins of the Flyer, which are fully fitted with UV protection to screen passengers from sunny Singapore’s rays.
If you think the Singapore Flyer looks magnificent in the day, you should see it illuminated in the night. Decked with lights of changing colours, it’s indeed a pretty sight to behold against the evening sky. What puts it in a different league from cable cars is that the Flyer moves ever so slowly that the changing colours of the lights are more apparent and impressive.
Purchasing tickets is a breeze with 3 ticket booths, with the one near the entrance on level 1 of the terminal being the easiest to locate. Long queues are also rarely formed because of the efficient frontline staff at these 3 booths. UrbanWire likens the purchasing of Flyer tickets to that of purchasing cinema tickets. Alternatively, those who hate waiting in line can choose to purchase their tickets online and collect them at least 30 minutes before their flight time.
Each adult ticket is priced at $29.50 for Normal Boarding. Should you want V.I.P treatment, a pricier adult ticket may be purchased at $52 for Express Boarding. The $69 adult ticket is reserved for visitors who would like to be pampered with drinks onboard the Signature Cocktail Flight.
We took a look around the terminal before the scheduled night flight and found several interesting places to while the time away while waiting to get on the Flyer. For those who can’t go for more than half an hour without food, the various eateries there include Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits , as well as Gelatissimo for dessert.
This unique attraction also has several one-of-a-kind outlets like the Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Kenko Reflexology and Fish Spa .
Flying At Night
It was easy to find the boarding gate with smiling and helpful Flyer frontline staff waving us in the right direction.
After riding up several escalators, going through some security checks, posing for photographs, (these cost $15 for the first photo and $10 for subsequent ones, and may be collected after the flight) and walking through a long corridor, we finally reached the boarding area. It sure felt like they simply broke up the waiting areas to make you think time wasn’t ticking away, the way they do at Disneyland or the Empire State Building in New York.
Needless to say, the Flyer is not recommended for the acrophobic (people afraid of heights). It continued moving as we scrambled hurriedly into the cabin. This made us wonder if the Flyer was built only for the physically able, as the elderly or disabled might have a tough time boarding a continually-moving platform.
If you enjoy a spot of privacy, you should take the 10pm flight on weekdays, which we were on. Despite a capsule’s capacity of 28 people, we were delighted at the privacy granted with just another family of 3 sharing the capsule, secretly sniggering at saving the $1,000 that would have gone to the booking of a private capsule.
Each capsule is futuristically designed with a spacious, air-conditioned interior illuminated by neon blue lighting. We were almost deluded into thinking that this was a ride into space! It has 2 benches for those who prefer enjoying the breathtaking view while seated.
The view doesn’t disappoint: Marina Bay looks dazzling from above with the colourful lights, the view would be even more amazing when the construction of Integrated Resort (IR) is completed in 2009. The Esplanade be mistaken for 2 rather stylish durian shells and the Central Business District (CBD) looks like it’s made from Lego bricks. Seeing cars whizzing past on the highways sent delightful chills down the spine and we felt like the world’s greatest architect, tracing Singapore’s skyline with a fingertip.
If you’re into photography, taking photos at night won’t be an easy task. The glass in the capsules is very reflective and your flash will turn out pretty glaring in photos. Use a tripod with a slow shutter speed instead.
Future Flight Plans?
The Flyer operates from 8.30am to 10.30pm daily. Children ticket prices are $20.65 for Normal Boarding and $36.40 for Express Boarding. Senior citizens pay $23.60 or $41.60 a pop for Normal or Express Boarding respectively. For a private capsule, prices are $1,000 for off-peak hours and $1,500 for peak hours. Other packages such as wedding solemnisation packages are also available for those who like tying the knot on cloud nine.
This was our second experience in taking the Flyer and it definitely beat the previous one. Because the first experience in boarding was on a weekend afternoon, the crowd (think a full 28 squeezed into a cabin) and less than impressive view made it an unpleasant ride. We, however, acknowledged these factors and decided to revisit the Flyer when it was quieter and more private. The night helped to mask the unfinished construction of the IR and the lights were a delightful distraction.
We suggest that interested parties visit the Flyer during weekdays at night when there are less people. The skyline at night is certainly nicer than it is during the day, as anyone who’s driven along the Benjamin Sheares bridge can attest to.
While the ticket prices are much too pricey for a 30-minute flight, we suggest a journey on the Flyer at least once in your lifetime. You don’t want to miss out this experience.
Visit the Singapore Flyer’s official website to book tickets, for latest promotions and contests and to find out how to get there.