Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Information

As stated in the brochure for the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, “The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the great shows on earth.  It showcases music, dance and precision display against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.” Click here for a YouTube video of the 2015 Tattoo!  Here's a photo of the Tattoo brochure that I just received! 

For those of you who are interested in attending the Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the evening of August 16^th, (our overnight evening in Edinburgh), here is some information that should be helpful.  The Tattoo event begins at 9 pm and lasts approximately 1 ½-2 hours.  FYI, the Celebrity Silhouette is scheduled to anchor at 11:00 am.

Celebrity Cruises is offering two excursion options to the Tattoo (subject to availability). The excursions are for "Front Stands" at a cost of $329 per person and for "Side Stands" for $229 per person.  According to the excursion description, the tour will depart at 6:30 pm and is 5 hours 30 minutes duration. 

You can also order tickets direction online at the official Edinburgh Military Tattoo website, www.edintattoo.co.uk 
I booked tickets online for section 8.  You pay with your credit card and tickets will be dispatched beginning in April. 

Direct ticket prices through the official Tattoo website:

Side stands (center) £46 (US Dollars today’s conversion would be about 69)

Premier seats (front & higher with padded seats, seat backs and arm rests) £120 (US Dollars today’s conversion would be about $180) and more sections are available, priced lower and higher.  Hospitality packages are also available. 
Here’s a link to the seating chart and pricing http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/tickets/2016-seating-plan-and-prices

Risk/Benefit to ordering directly rather than going through Celebrity:

Benefit:  Better seats and lower prices

Risk:  Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded

           Transfer from pier to event and back will be on your/our own 
  

Some other considerations:

Edinburgh is a tender port; as such there is a rare possibility that the ship won’t be able to anchor and we could miss the port on this day… if purchased through Celebrity, your excursion fare will be refunded; if purchased directly from the Tattoo, the tickets are nonrefundable.

The Tattoo has never been cancelled.  It goes on rain or shine.  You will need to be prepared for cool (or cold) and/or wet weather.  Be aware, too, that the taxis/buses can’t get too close to Edinburgh Castle, so there will be a bit of walking on cobblestone streets.  Wear layers, bring something waterproof (even a plastic sheet!); umbrellas are not allowed in the stands, and enjoy!

 

Itinerary Update for British Isles Cruise

ITINERARY UPDATE:

We are now docking in Dublin, rather than anchoring in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland (where tenders would have been required).  This is great news!  Large cruise ships typically dock at Alexandra Quay, an industrial area. The port is about two miles from the city center. While it is possible to walk along the River Liffey to the city center from the North Wall Quay Extension, the traffic on the roads around Alexandra Quay can be quite heavy, making it very dangerous to walk. However, the port authorities usually offer (for a fee) a shuttle bus into the city center (Kildare Street), in the heart of the city and next to Trinity College.  HOHO (hop-on hop-off) buses are close by.

News Flash! Celebrity Cruises New Dress Code!

I’ve been on 37 cruises, 12 of which were to Europe so I’ve learned a lot by trial and error of what to pack… and what not to pack!  For our first European cruise, the airlines allowed each passenger to check two bags of 70 pounds or less each at no charge.  And can you believe that I did this??? Oh yes… the more shoes and outfits that I could take, the better.  Admittedly these bags were a bit difficult to maneuver through busy airports.  So, in a way, I breathed a sigh of relief when the baggage limit was reduced to one 50-pound bag per passenger.  It took me a few tries to get this down to a science, but I have mostly done this… as Ken smiles.  You see, Ken is there to weigh my luggage prior to every trip to ensure that I do not exceed the limit!

I am now smiling even more!  Celebrity has adopted a new dress code where there are no formal nights where jackets and ties are required in the main dining room.  The new dress code, which the line calls evening chic, is dressier than the "smart casual" attire recommended for most evenings but less dressy than formal attire. Here's the scoop (from Celebrity's website): (Oh, I'll likely be bringing shoes like these!)

 

Smart Casual Wear

For smart casual cruise dining attire, women should wear a skirt or trousers (with no holes, rips or tears) complemented by a sweater or a blouse.

Gentlemen will need to pack trousers (with no holes, rips or tears) coupled with a collared sports shirt or sweater for smart casual dining events. Any shirts must have sleeves.

Evening Wear

For evening wear allow for:
- Smart casual and above – skirt or trousers complemented by a sweater or blouse for women; or trousers with shirt, polo shirt or sweater for men. Men's shirts must have a collar and sleeves (short sleeves are fine).
- Evening Chic – While also having the option to wear your formal best, Evening Chic nights are relaxed, yet sophisticated, attire.
> Women should feel comfortable wearing a cocktail dress, skirt, trousers, or designer/smart jeans with an elegant top.
> Men should feel comfortable wearing trousers or designer/smart jeans with a dress shirt or button-down shirt or sweater, with sport coats/blazers optional.

For this 14 night cruise, there will be 9-12 smart casual events and at least 3 evening chic nights.