The historic city of Melaka (also spelled Malacca) has it all for the culture vultures: a rich history that can still be explored thanks to a great number of historical buildings still standing; cultural treasures; great eats (more here: Top Must-Try Malaysia Street Foods); and plenty of shopping.
Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific, now has Melaka in its list of destinations: the cruise line's SuperStar Virgo takes guests from Singapore on a 3D2N Malacca cruise, with the option to join shore excursions to visit a number of local attractions.
Heritage sites covered in the shore excursions include Porta de Santiago, one of the four main gates of the A'Famosa fortress and among the oldest European architectural wonders in Asia; the Stadthuys, a Dutch architectural masterpiece built around 1650; St Paul's Church, built by the Portuguese in 1521; and Hang Li Po's Well, built in 1459 under the royal command of Sultan Mansor Shah for his wife, the Chinese princess Hang Li Po.
Guests can also embark on a trishaw ride around the city, or visit the city's natural and cultural attractions: A Famosa Resort Animal World Safari, Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum, Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, Malacca Malay house, and Jonker Bird House, among others.
Food and shopping seekers in Melaka can head on over to Jonker Street, a former antique center now crammed with restaurants and crafts outlets. For hands-on experience, they can enroll in a Nyonya Cuisine Cooking Class created by Hotel Equatorial for Star Cruises guests. Finally, they can go shopping at Dataran Pahlawan, an one-stop shopping mall built within actual historical sites; and Tan Kim Hock, a local product center where passengers can purchase local cookies and candies, as well as popular products such asbelacan, curry powder and cincalok.
Golfers can get into the swing of things at the 18-hole Tiara Melaka Golf and Country Club, bordering the city and the surrounding forest.
For more details on Star Cruises' voyages to Melaka or other destinations in Southeast Asia, visit www.starcruises.com
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