Singapore is the perfect launchpad for exotic and memorable sea voyages. Its location at the southernmost tip of the Asian continent is ideal for cruising. There are numerous cruise lines to choose from, all of which have unique attributes.

Superstar Virgo will transport you to many neighbouring countries. Amongst the interesting destinations on offer are Ho Chi Minh City on the south-eastern coast of Vietnam, Redang and Langkawi, the Malayan resort in the beautiful Andaman Sea.

Legend of the Seas is a towering 70,000-tonnes cruise liner that offers so much more to its customers than just a pleasant form of sea transport. Any jaunt on this majestic ship will be crammed with fun opportunities, superb cuisine, and a fine choice of ultimate locations. Destination include Semerang, Bali, Ko Samui and Lombok, as well as many more.

Costa Classica, another large and superbly-appointed vessel, will take you to such far-flung destinations as Phuket, Penang, Kuantan and Malacca.

Asuka Cruises are ideally suited to Japanese-speakers. Renowned for the sophistication of their vessels, these ships are particularly welllaid out, with superb fittings and furnishings.

Azamara Club Cruises give off an unmistakeable historical ambience. The décor make you feel less as if you're sailing across the Pacific Ocean, more as if you've walked into a tastefully decorated old-world country club.

By complete contrast, Crystal Cruises offer a much more contemporary style. The rooms and leisure facilities are especially geared towards 21st-century travelers.

Fred Olsen cruise ships are renowned for their European look. The overall décor presents an aura of space. The entertainment suite is perfect for western tourists, featuring an array of highly-talented performers, mainly from the UK.

P & O Cruises, one of the world's oldest and most respected, offer the best in traditional British ocean cruising. The facilities are superb, with a diverse range of modern leisure offerings for adult travelers or family groups. The same criteria apply to cruises from Singapore operated by Cunard Lines.

If you are less concerned with plush surroundings or five-star banquets and more focused on a relaxed atmosphere, Oceania Cruises are ideal. The food is always well-prepared, and dining is undertaken against a laid-back atmosphere – perfect for recharging your batteries in-between the bustling stop-off points.

The Singapore Cruise Centre, located on the city state's waterfront, offers a myriad tourist destinations for travelers. Located near Sentosa Island – itself home to a theme park, wildlife reserves, adventure rides and beautiful gardens – you are already close to Changi International Airport. This location is ideal for selecting any of the numerous destinations on offer for the local cruise ships.

One of the most popular pastimes for visitors to Singapore, combining sightseeing with traveling, is to ‘island-hop'. Singapore itself is surrounded by dozens of idyllic island retreats, each one having its own unique characteristics.

Kusu

An ideal way to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis is to head for one of the more tranquil locations, Kusu. Also known colloquially as ‘Tortoise Island', this family-friendly destination is highly recommended for those with an interest in nature, wildlife or history. The island is also the location of the annual Kusu Pilgrimage, between September and November, when thousands of people arrive to pay homage for good luck health and happiness. There is a beautiful lagoon, sandy beaches and a variety of animal life. While the island itself is open to visitors on a daily basis, overnight stays are not allowed.

Sentosa

In contrast to the quiet retreat that is Kusu Island, the much larger Sentosa is known as Singapore's playground. Here there are activities to keep you occupied, no matter what your tastes are. You can find out all about insect life at the colourful Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, as well as learning out all about flora and fauna on guided tours of Sentosa Nature Discovery. Lovers of white-knuckle rollercoaster entertainment can take a ride on Skyline Luge Sentosa – a go-kart / toboggan ride that sends you careering downhill on a 650-metre jungle trail.

For those of a sportier disposition, you can play volleyball on Siloso Beach. When the sun sinks over the horizon, you can be transfixed by ‘Songs of the Sea', a multisensory experience.

During your visit to Sentosa you can check into a five-star hotel, relax in a spa, and if you fancy a break from thrill rides there are heritage sites to explore.

Sister's Islands

Sister's Islands lie south of the main island of Singapore. This region is extremely popular with campers and snorkelers, the latter gravitating towards the rich marine life off-shore. A narrow channel separates the islands, and the area is popular for picnics due to the shady palm trees and shelters on the golden beaches. The reefs are home to myriad species of fantastically-colourful tropical fish. Access is gained by chartering a boat from the Marine South Pier - one thing to note is that you require a permit to camp out here.

St. John's Island

St John's Island is a beautiful retreat, close to the thriving streets of Singapore, yet a world away. In days long gone by, this island was a quarantine area for unfortunate leprosy cases as well as a penal colony! Today, thankfully, you are far more likely to be able to observe dolphins frolicking in the surf while you picnic, rather than anything more sinister!

While making the transition from being a student to being a fully-fledged professional is an incredibly exciting time in somebody's life, it can also be a nerve-wracking one. If, however, you prepare correctly for the move, there is nothing to worry about. Here are a few tips to start your professional life on the right foot.

Prepare for a lot more diversity

In university or college, you were most probably surrounded by people who were around your age group and, quite possibly, from very similar backgrounds as yourself. In the workplace, things will not be so uniform.

You are likely to be working at close quarters with people of all sorts of age groups and from all sorts of backgrounds, many of whom will have life experiences and resultant opinions on the world that you had never considered. For anybody who leaves third level education thinking they know it all, the sudden introduction to worldviews that are very distant from their own can be one of the most alarming and unexpected challenges.

Optimise your professional skills

While University is often focussed on the achievements and success of the individual, working environments are more often focussed upon the performance of the team. In order to succeed in such an environment, it is crucial you develop strong business skills.

This is not about getting everybody to see things your way. It is about being sensitive to other people's views on the project at hand. Listen to and learn from the people with more experience than you. Don't be shy about adding your own opinion to the mix, but think hard about it before you do.

Singaporefriendly suggest Singapore University and Colleges Graduates looking for Jobs signup on GradGreenhouse.com, a dedicated recruitment site for graduates based in Singapore, combining the latest technology with state of the art tools, including Video Interviewing.

Get ready for hard work

While beavering away at a degree and putting in long hours in the library, many students think that nobody in the world could possibly be dealing with an assignment the size of theirs or putting such a crazy amount of hours into their work. What they don't realise is that, in the real world, people spend 7 – 9 hours, 5 days a week, working their fingers to the bone in the pursuit of their careers.

The workload does not reduce when you complete your degree and enter the workforce: it either stays the same or enlarges, and you don't get to take a few hours off to watch a box set when you feel burned out. Get ready to push your stamina level to the maximum.

Make sure you get the best possible start to your professional life. Keep in mind these key tips and prepare yourself properly for your career path. 

Update 7 Dec 2022: We would like to inform you that The Peranakan Museum is currently under renovation, however, visitors can still pop by the Asian Civilisations Museum located just nearby - 1 Empress Pl, Singapore 179555.

Older original article: There is so much to see and do in Singapore that trying to cram it all into a short period of time can be quite tricky. However, this bustling city state on the southern tip of the Asian continent remains the destination of choice for many travelers looking for a weekend break.

Distilling all your possibilities into two or three days might seem as if you are letting yourself in for some overly frantic activity. But with careful planning, it is perfectly feasible to prepare an itinerary for a short spell in Singapore.

A good idea is to jump in at the deep end. Where possible, try to book a hotel that is near the centre of the city. Once you have checked in, exiting your hotel will launch you straight into the hustle and bustle of Singapore life. Head for Chinatown, where you have the opportunity to browse through dozens of interesting shops in a short distance. This is the perfect place to stop for lunch at one of the many chicken rice stalls (known locally as Tian Tian). If you are looking to savour Asian cuisine of a more substantial nature than fast-food, there are also some fabulous restaurants here. Especially recommended are the restaurants at Ann Siang Road and Bukit Pasoh. The good thing about Singapore banquets is that many of the rice and noodle-based dishes will not bag you up, enabling you to carry on with your activities without feeling too bloated.

To get the most out of your Singapore weekend break, the ideal time to be setting your alarm clock should be around seven or eight o'clock in the morning. Why not head out to Singapore Botanic Gardens where you can watch locals doing their daily exercises before taking breakfast at Casa Verde? Orchard Road is only a few bus stops away. where are you can indulge in some serious retail therapy. Within the many shopping malls there are also numerous places to eat, such as Crystal Jade or Din Tai Fung. These chains offer customers delicious noodles, dim sum and sundry other mouthwatering snacks. If you want to soak up some local culture, the Peranakan Museum is just round the corner. With an annual visitor tally of over 100,000 people, there are 10 galleries showcasing Peranakan culture (all about the descendants of 16th century Chinese immigrants).

For your final day you could go out with a bang, experiencing the riotous delights of Universal Studios and the Marine Life Park, one of the world's largest aquariums. With the latter, whether you decide to simply observe the marine creatures, or go swimming with dolphins, the experience will linger with you long after you've left Singapore.