In just five days, we’ll be pulling into Singapore, our next port of call, and one that always feels a bit like stepping into the future. The ship will remain overnight, offering passengers ample time to explore the city’s dazzling skyline, spotless streets, and endless culinary temptations. For many on board, this will be their first glimpse of this remarkable island nation, a place where tradition and innovation blend so seamlessly that you often forget where one ends and the other begins.
For us, though, Singapore is already woven into the fabric of our travel memories. We spent more than a week there back in 2016, during one of the more hectic chapters of our early nomadic life. At the time, we were deep into preparations for our Viking Mekong River cruise and needed to visit several embassies to secure the necessary visas. It was one of those stretches where travel turns into a full-time job, running from consulate to consulate, gathering documents, filling out forms, and hoping each bureaucratic stop would be smoother than the last. Between those obligations, we carved out pockets of time to explore the sights that appealed to us, savoring Singapore in slow, measured slices.
We wandered the lush paths of Gardens by the Bay, marveling at the towering Supertrees that looked more like props from a sci-fi film than anything grown from soil. We strolled through Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam, each neighborhood offering its own blend of colors, aromas, and energy. We visited the iconic Marina Bay Sands, not for the shopping or the high-end dining, but to stand along the water’s edge at twilight and take in that sweeping skyline. Even then, we felt content with what we’d seen, never rushing, never trying to fit in more than we could comfortably manage.
That’s the beauty of long-term travel. You learn that not every port requires you to spring into action. Not every destination demands a checklist. Some places, once explored deeply enough to satisfy the heart, become peaceful reference points, allowing you to settle into the present moment without the pressure to “do it all” again.
And, of course, this time around, my mobility, or lack thereof, creates its own boundary lines. My stubborn knee has continued to make its presence known, dictating how far I can walk, how many steps I can manage, and how adventurous each day can be. A younger version of myself might have pushed through, determined not to miss a thing. But now, after years of circling the globe, I’ve learned that honoring my body’s limitations isn’t a defeat. It’s simply part of this life. There will be other ports, other days, other chances to explore.
So, on this visit to Singapore, while fellow passengers spill off the gangway excitedly clutching maps and camera phones, we’ll be perfectly content to remain aboard the ship. For us, it will be a quiet interlude, time to catch up on financial matters, enjoy the peaceful hum of the nearly-empty decks, and maybe linger a little longer than usual over morning coffee in the Promenade Café. There’s something almost indulgent about having the ship mostly to ourselves while others are ashore, like staying home on a rainy day with no obligations nipping at your heels.
Singapore will shimmer just outside the harbor, close enough to admire from the rails but far enough that we can rest easy knowing we’ve already tasted its charms. This visit won’t be about exploration but about ease, gratitude, and listening to what feels right for us now. In a life filled with movement, sometimes choosing stillness is the most incredible luxury of all.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 25, 2015:
