On the shores of Bintan Island in Indonesia rests a vessel with more than a century of history. Once the world’s oldest active passenger ship, the Doulos Phos has been reborn as a one of a kind luxury hotel, offering guests the rare chance to stay in a historic ocean liner that has been carefully preserved and reimagined.
The ship was first launched in 1914 under the name SS Medina. Over the decades it changed identities and owners, serving as a cargo ship, passenger liner, and later as a floating bookstore and missionary vessel under the name MV Doulos. For nearly a hundred years it circled the globe until 2009 when it was finally retired and sold at auction.
Rather than letting the vessel fade into history, Singaporean businessman Eric Saw acquired it with the vision of turning the ship into a permanent landmark. After complex restoration work, the Doulos Phos was brought to Bintan and placed on a specially constructed anchor shaped island next to the main ferry terminal. By 2019, it opened its doors as a unique hotel destination that blends maritime heritage with modern comfort.
Today the Doulos Phos Ship Hotel features more than one hundred cabins designed to reflect its nautical past while providing contemporary amenities. Guests can dine at restaurants such as the Arisetaffel or relax at the Piano Lounge, take in views from the infinity pool, or wander through the onboard maritime museum that showcases the vessel’s long and storied past. Original sections such as the bridge and engine room have been preserved, giving visitors a real sense of stepping into history.
What makes the experience distinctive is the atmosphere. Unlike most luxury resorts in the region, the Doulos Phos offers a nostalgic and tranquil retreat. Guests describe it as peaceful, almost like living aboard a ship still tied to its missionary legacy, yet with the convenience of being only minutes away from Singapore by ferry.
The transformation of this vessel from a working ocean liner to a hotel is more than a creative business venture. It is a way of preserving maritime heritage and allowing a new generation of travelers to live within it. For those seeking a destination that combines history, relaxation, and a story unlike any other, the Doulos Phos Ship Hotel is a journey back in time anchored firmly in the present.