There is a new boat to spot on the Melaka River Cruise, and it is worth boarding on purpose.
Zoo Melaka and the Melaka River and Coastal Development Corporation (PPSPM) have launched a Malayan tiger-striped boat as part of the regular river cruise fleet. It debuted during Zoo Melaka’s World Malayan Tiger Day celebrations, marking World Tiger Day, which falls on 29 July every year.
What is new for visitors
Board the tiger boat and you can scan an onboard QR code for 10 percent off admission to Zoo Melaka, subject to the terms shown at boarding. It is a simple way to turn one river cruise ticket into two attractions in the same trip, pairing the heritage waterway with an afternoon among the zoo’s animals in Ayer Keroh.
The tiger boat is not a one-off gimmick. It follows an earlier zebra-striped boat that the two organisations say drew a strong response from river cruise passengers, and this is the second themed vessel to come out of the partnership. Expect the design to keep rotating into the regular boat lineup at Jeti Pengkalan Rama, so you may not catch it on every trip.
Why the tiger theme
The Malayan tiger is critically endangered, with fewer than 150 believed to remain in the wild. Zoo Melaka is home to three Malayan tigers, Chiko, Zana and Pia, who serve as the zoo’s conservation ambassadors. Wrapping a working tourist boat in their stripes is a low-key way of keeping that story in front of visitors who might otherwise cruise straight past.
Good to know
The Melaka River Cruise runs daily from 9am to 11:30pm, with the last boat departing at 11pm from Jeti Pengkalan Rama. Which boat you get on a given ride is not guaranteed, so if the tiger design is the draw, it helps to ask at the counter before you buy your ticket. Either way, the QR discount is a good reason to fold Zoo Melaka into the same day out.
