Horizon Fast Ferry is a ferry service operating between HarbourFront terminal in Singapore and Harbour Bay terminal in Batam. At the point of writing, this is the only ferry service that docks at Harbour Bay terminal while the others dock at Batam Centre terminal. Passengers can choose from economy, business and even VIP class options. Business class passengers have access to an exclusive lounge with simple beverages in the departure area prior to boarding. They also get to board the ferry first and sit on the upper, more private deck.
My husband and I were travelling to Batam with four other friends so one of them helped to procure ferry tickets for all of us. There were many departure time slots throughout the day that we could opt for, which made it convenient for scheduling our trip. The entire ride one way lasted for about an hour.
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- Inclusions:
- Round-trip economy tickets from Singapore HarbourFront to Batam Harbour Bay
- Spent: SGD$140 (for 2 tickets)
Upon reaching HarbourFront Centre, we simply needed to present our passports at their ticketing counter on level 3 to collect our tickets. Do note that you are required to check in at the pre-immigration gate 45 minutes before the ferry departure time and advised to clear immigration 15 minutes before the scheduled ferry departure. After meeting up with our friends, we did some last-minute shopping at Don Don Donki before boarding.
Once we cleared immigration, we headed to the departure area downstairs. There was only one small shop open to grab some snacks and drinks from. Just before you board the ferry, a staff stationed at the dock will collect your entire ticket from you.
It is free seating aboard the ferry so if you’re travelling in a bigger group and want to sit together, you might want to make your way through the gates as early as possible to do so. The trip from Singapore to Batam wasn’t too bad and there were quite a number of empty seats. However, the trip back was a lot more crowded, but thanks to our friend’s quick side-stepping skills along the jetty, we managed to all sit together!
The seats and interior are generally hygienic and well-kept. It can get quite cold though, especially if you’re seated underneath or near the circular air-conditioning vents, so bring a jacket if needed. Even my husband, who usually has a greater tolerance for the cold, was freezing by the time we disembarked. One thing I didn’t get to check out was the onboard restroom since it was a short enough ride and I didn’t need to use it.
I’d recommend sitting on the left side of the ferry departing from Singapore if you wish to admire the shoreline, including scenes of Sentosa and a faraway glimpse of Marina Bay Sands. We were seated on the right side, which had views of the sea and some buildings. The weather was pretty good both ways but there were a few times when we hit some larger waves with a noticeable impact. If you are prone to seasickness, it might be best to prepare your usual remedies in case the waters get choppy.
Arriving at Harbour Bay terminal, we collected our tickets for our return trip immediately so that we didn’t have to come so early on our departure day to do so. Just another one of them pro tips from our very savvy bunch of friends (:
My overall rating of the experience: 4 out of 5 stars. The entire process from ticket collection all the way to disembarkation was seamless, easy and convenient. Onboard the ferry, the spaces had good standards of cleanliness and were sufficiently roomy (although I didn’t get to see the restroom situation since I didn’t need to use it). It may not be an uber luxurious experience but it’s probably as good as it can get.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to disembark at Batam Centre terminal instead, another well-established ferry company that I’ve tried before, Batam Fast, makes trips there. You can purchase Batam Fast ferry tickets here.
If this post helped you in some way and you’d like to buy me a coffee, I’d be incredibly grateful (:
Dania Experiences 
Where got such thing $140 for 2 tickets??? Each ticket is $76 now…
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Yes the ticket prices have since gone up to $76! My trip happened some time last year, which was before the latest price increase.
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But it is still too expensive for the ferry ride. Before the pandemic, I could still remember the price was like $38 per pax. It shoots up almost double when they resume. It’s either the provider is taking advantage of this short get away trip to the island next door for most Singaporean enjoying the affordable holiday and good rupiah exchange rates or to cover the lost during pandemic.
I would still consider the ferry ticket is far too expensive.
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I agree, when I first checked out the ferry prices for this trip, I was initially quite shocked that such a short trip would cost so much.
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Ticket price are $48 for two ways before the pandemics. Now it’s almost double the price of $76 for two ways. For a 1 hour ride per person it is expensive. How can the government approve their price increase? It’s way too much.
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I also very much hope for lower ticket prices ):
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