Resorts World Sentossa has been around for 10 years, so of course it’s time for a makeover. The integrated resort’s $4.5bil expansion begins this year and will be completed in phases from this year to 2025. So what’s in the pipeline for RWS2.0? A new Minion Park and Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Singapore, a larger S.E.A. Aquarium, two new hotels, and then some. So where is all this space going to come from?

To make space for a redeveloped waterfront promenade (artist’s impression above) and an expanded S.E.A. Aquarium, RWS will bid farewell to two attractions: the Crane Dance and the Maritime Experiential Museum. The public will have until Mar 1 to visit, and if you play your cards right, you could even enter for free.

The Crane Dance is a free nightly 10-min light and water show at the RWS waterfront, so you don’t need to strategise for free entry. Meanwhile, the Maritime Experiential Museum, which charges $12 for admission fee, will have free admission if you have a ticket to S.E.A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark and Universal Studios Singapore.

If after all these years, you still have no clue what the Crane Dance or Maritime Experiential Museum is about, scroll on for a crash course.

Touted as “one of the world’s largest dancing animatronics spectacular”, the Crane Dance is a combo of light and water effects, pyrotechnics, music and digital visual effects. A pair of mechanical cranes come to life by way of fancy technology for a larger-than-life display — up to 10 storeys or 30m high, to be specific. The free 10-min performance happens at 8pm every night at the RWS waterfront until Mar 1.

Sea-ing is believing at the museum “dedicated to the exploration of the Maritime Silk Route”. The 15 immersive galleries transport visitors to historical sea adventures throughout the centuries, through the eyes of renowned explorers such as Marco Polo and Zheng He. Pirates of the Caribbean this is not, but you’ll still get a taste of what it was like to go through a pirate invasion and the mayhem of a sinking ship at the multi-sensory simulation, Shipwreck at Typhon Theatre. The Maritime Experiential Museum is open 10am-7pm daily until Mar 1.

More info at www.rwsentosa.com.

Photos: Resorts World Sentosa