Sidhaarthan
The Desaru ferry from Tanah Merah costs S$82 one way for an adult, once every charge is added. The published fare of S$70 leaves out a S$12 fuel surcharge that appears at checkout. Sea travel from Singapore is growing, with the Puteri Harbour to Batam ferry now open.
BatamFast runs the service from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal in Johor. Specifically, its booking page for Friday 13 November shows a 10.10am Singapore departure. The ferry is due at 11.40am, so the trip takes about 90 minutes.
Overall, here is how the price adds up, when the ferry sails, and what happens in rough seas. Therefore, travellers should check the final total before they pay. Besides, prices can change without notice.
Desaru ferry price breakdown from Tanah Merah
The booking page for one adult in economy class shows four charges. The fare is S$50 and a surcharge adds S$10. In addition, a departure fee adds another S$10, and a fuel surcharge adds S$12. Together, they come to S$82.
The published one-way price of S$70 is the sum of the first three charges. However, the fuel surcharge sits on top at checkout. As a result, a traveller who budgets S$70 will pay S$12 more.
Notably, BatamFast said the fuel surcharge applies from 14 March 2026. For Desaru Coast, it is S$12 per person on the Singapore leg. On the way back, it is S$12 or RM40 per person.
The published return fare is S$108. Adding S$12 for each leg gives about S$132 for the round trip. Still, this is our own sum, so please confirm the final amount at checkout.
Desaru ferry timings and journey time
The ferry leaves Tanah Merah at 10.10am Singapore time on the date we checked. The booking page shows an arrival time of 11.40am. As a result, the ferry ride lasts about 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, the return sailing leaves Desaru Coast at 5.30pm Malaysia time. Sailings do not run every day. Therefore, travellers should pick a date on the booking page before they plan the trip.
Read more: Puteri Harbour to Batam ferry opens as Johor draws 1.5m visitors
Read more: Opus Bay Batam to open in December with own ferry terminal
Read more: Penang ferry free for Malaysians on Deepavali, 8 November
Furthermore, the booking page asks about special needs. Passengers who need help should call the centre 48 hours before departure. It also asks about bicycles, golf bags and odd-sized items, which may carry an extra charge.
Likewise, travellers heading into Malaysia should check entry rules. The page links to Singapore, Indonesian and Malaysian immigration sites. Meanwhile, Opus Bay Batam is opening in December with its own ferry terminal.
Desaru ferry diversion to Tanjung Pengelih in rough seas
Importantly, BatamFast has a monsoon diversion plan for the north-east monsoon. In unfriendly seas, the trip may run to Tanjung Pengelih in Johor instead. A coach then takes passengers to Desaru Coast. No direct sailing to Desaru Coast runs while the plan is active.
Specifically, the ferry leg and the coach leg each take about 45 minutes. Malaysian immigration and customs clearance move to Tanjung Pengelih. In addition, staff must endorse the boarding pass before passengers board.
Moreover, the coach transfer is part of the service. Tickets and boarding passes still show Desaru Coast as the destination, so nothing needs to be reissued. Passengers who arrange their own transfer end the operator’s duty once they leave the service.
Finally, BatamFast lists a fuel surcharge of S$6 per person for Singapore to Tanjung Pengelih. In short, the Desaru ferry costs S$82 one way all in. Rough seas may mean a coach from Tanjung Pengelih. Anyone who needs to rebook or refund can email [email protected].
Maran Perianen
C. Khor
Navin Kumar Perianen
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