Any idea if there is a ferry service from Singapore to Tioman Island (Malaysia) ?
Have heard of the Singapore - Batam service, but unable to get clear info on the Singapore - Tioman route

Try to google for "ferry to tioman from singapore".

There's no direct ferry from Singapore to tioman. You have to take bus to Mersing, Johor for ferry to tioman. There is a regular flight service from seletar airport in Singapore to tioman island though.

Is this the Berjaya Air service..??

Yes, it's Berjaya Air from seletar airport to tioman airport.

Do you advise booking ferry tickets in advance? and are the ferry tickets about 20 SGD$, one way..?? couldn't see to find clear info on this

Well, QK, we're Tioman regulars and we hang out at the Mersing eateries quite often (opposite the ferry ticket counters). Lately, we noticed that more and more travelers arrive at the Mersing jetty too late to catch their ferry, because it's already full.

The reason is that ferry tickets aren't really sold anywhere else but at the Mersing ferry counters. In essence, Tioman travelers are at the mercy of ticket availability at the Mersing ticket counters. Some of the tourists (mostly foreigners and Singaporeans) we spoke to even had to stay overnight in Mersing after not being able to get on the last ferry.

Not so long ago, however, I came across a site that sells Tioman ferry tickets online. So, in effect, tickets can now be bought in advance, online, from anywhere in the world.

Just what the doctor ordered

Anyways, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links but perhaps the admins here consider the site ( www.tiomanferry.com ) useful enough.

Seems like what they offer online is more of a reservation of sorts that they make based on a form that one is required to fill up. Doesn't look like your given an e-ticket thru the site..

Yes, but isn't that what's wanted, a ticket you can call your own so you won't be left behind? If it's just an old-school paper ticket, no problem. At least I'm on my way to Tioman.

An e-ticket would be nice and flashy, sure, but I doubt that that area would have the knowhow, the budget, the need, or, indeed, the inclination to implement a heavy-duty database-with-front-end.

I had a few interesting experiences at Mersing.

One of them I did my very first Asian road trip where my friend lend me her car, to drive her to Mersing for the Tioman ferry.... long story short, we arrived late for the 6am ferry (of which there were 3) and the ticket agents refused to sell her the tickets for the next available one at 12pm noon because they were full.


Well, don't take "NO" for an answer... as we arrived closer to 7am, all three ferries were still in Mersing, and couldn't leave because of low tide.... There are few people walking around by the boarding area, near the security guard, who seem to think they're quite important... and they are, I'm sure. A quick chat to that guy and my friend was on one of the 6am ferries without a problem, as even after the ticket sales have closed, there were available seats.


At another occasion, I booked a diving trip at Dayang (near Tioman) and the Singaporean dive shop had organized a private ferry to the island.


So theoretically another option to get on board a boat, with a pre-booked trip would be through a dive shop that does this regularly. (ie. Gill Divers) Where you don't necessarily have to book a diving/snorkeling trip through them, but arrange for the bus/ferry ride instead.

--Russ

Sure, if you know your way around the scuba industry in Singapore and Malaysia, then odds are that you'll be able to hitch a ride on their bus to Mersing. The scuba oufit will probably score a few bob when they buy your ferry ticket too. All good, win-win-win.

But I think this only applies to a fraction of travelers eh, given Tioman's global reach. Until now, most visitors had no choice but to either chance it at the ticket counter in Mersing itself or to call Blue Water.