Batam's staycation scene just got a lot more seaworthy. Gallia Phinisi, docked in the Bengkong Laut village of Batam, Indonesia, lets guests spend the night on a traditional wooden phinisi ship — a classic Indonesian vessel style with a distinctive silhouette that makes for striking holiday photos before you even step inside.
One thing to set straight upfront: the ship doesn't sail anywhere. It's a permanently moored property, so think of it as a hotel with a nautical personality rather than a cruise. You get the romance of sleeping above the water, minus the wake-up-in-a-new-port surprise.
Inside, the cabins are proper private rooms rather than sailor bunks. The entry-level Standard Room runs about 12sqm with a queen bed, air-conditioning, sea views and its own bathroom, from roughly S$40 a night — a steal for couples. The 25sqm Superior Room adds a balcony with marina views from around S$74, the Deluxe swaps in a king bed for about S$109, and the 40sqm Executive Room sleeps three adults from around S$149. Prices shift with demand, so check closer to your dates.
Beyond the cabins there's an open-air sun terrace for daytime lounging and stargazing, a karaoke room, a shared kitchen, and complimentary breakfast on many bookings. Extra-cost water activities like fishing and canoeing are on offer too.
The real bonus is what's next door. Blue Fire Beach Club sits right beside the ship, with an artificially pink-coloured sand area that photographs like something out of a Barbie film, a swimming pool ringed with loungers, and water sports including jet skiing, parasailing and kart boating, all charged separately. After dark the club ramps up with live bands and DJs. The flip side: music can carry to the ship until late, so light sleepers should pack earplugs.
Getting there from Singapore is simple — a 50 to 70-minute ferry from the Singapore Cruise Centre or Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, then a 15 to 25-minute taxi or Grab from Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal, or around 20 minutes from Batam Centre.
For Singaporeans after a cheap weekend escape that isn't another mall-adjacent hotel, or any traveller passing through the Riau Islands, this is an easy, wallet-friendly novelty with genuine amenities attached.
