2014 Tattoo Schedule

[cole]

Before you book a cruise that includes Edinburgh, thinking you will attend one of the 2014 Tattoo performances, be sure to check the date you are port compared to the dates the performances will be available. We had booked the August 19 cruise on Ocean Princess and later found out we are in port on Sunday and they do not have Sunday as an option. Fortunately, we were able to change our dates, so we will be able to attend. :D

Cole

[phabric]

The 2014 dates are August 1-23, 2014, Monday to Saturday only.

 

http://www.edintattoo.co.uk

 

If you plan on purchasing your own tickets, I would suggest joining the Friend of the Tattoo as you are able to purchase the tickets earlier in November than the public, Dec 2, 2013 8am (GMT). You are able to purchase up to 8 tickets.

 

We were on the August 16, 2013 cruise. We had a private tour of 16 going to the Tattoo. I purchased all tickets together. I joined the Friend of the Tattoo with a joint membership and was able to purchase 16 tickets together. They mail the tickets out in the spring. We wanted all the seats together so we were able to exit at the same time to get to our coach before the crowds. We were in Section 12, row N, excellent seats.

 

If you are taking the Princess excursion, book when the excursions are available as this is a popular excursion.

[Chesie]

We had section 4 row Q. Wonderful seats. We were able to see all come down and then perform. Seemed the end sections were only able to see what was in front of them and not the rear performers.

[bunzini]

What is the Tattoo?

[MMDown Under]

What is the Tattoo?

 

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands ...

 

wikipedia

http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/about-the-tattoo/about-the-edinburgh-military-tattoo

[cole]

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands ...

 

wikipedia

http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/about-the-tattoo/about-the-edinburgh-military-tattoo

 

If you go to You Tube and type in Tattoo there will be many videos that people have taken at the event. People purchase tickets for this production (which is only done in August) as soon as they are available and many times they are sold out far in advance.

Cole

[bunzini]

Thank you!

[Keith1010]

The Military Tattoo is a wonderful experience.

 

Keith

[jtamchay]

...do not think of this performance as "bagpipes for 90 minutes"...this was more like watching an Olympics Opening Ceremony...they are telling a story and the technology stuff is very exciting as well as the musical performances.

We saw this August 21, 2013 while the ship was docked in Glasgow.

Our group of 16, (with Phabric) took an all day tour of the Glasgow area and Edinburgh...we had a reserved dinner at The Hub restaurant about 1/2 way up the Royal Mile and very near the entrance to The Castle.

The street is steep and it is cobblestone...but very manageable. We joined the queue after our dinner at the mid point of the ascent. They do a bag search on your way up the hill.

We were in the Parade Grounds about 30 minutes before the performance. ..lots of announcements and lots going on.

Our section was excellent for viewing all of the performance...I would not want to be higher than the row we were in...Row N. The individual seats in the bleacher stands are comfortable and the stairs to our row were manageable. They do have handicapped seating just ask.

This performance should be watched, from your seats, to its completion. We left early because we did not think we would be able to find our coach in a timely manner in the crush of the crowd, and get back to the ship on time.

This was not the case and with everyone in the group seated together, and making good progress towards the coach you will have plenty of time to get back to the ship. We did not see the fireworks nor the finale by the lone bagpiper...our loss...I ordered the DVD.

Our coach had some drivability issues and we still arrived before any of the Princess busses and within the 90 minute timeframe the coach company had assured us it would take.

Were we anxious driving to the ship...YES we were but the driver was speaking with the maintenance department of his company and they assured him, we could hear the dialogue, it was safe to drive the coach.

All aboard was 1:30AM and we arrived at 12:30AM...

I would have no trouble recommending the company we used...sometimes stuff happens but it all worked out.

I also would recommend the private tour we were on for all day, our meals and other incidentals costing less than 1/2 what just the tickets/transportation alone would have cost through Princess.

Our group split the cost of the membership so that we were able to order the tickets as a package deal...we pre ordered our programs for the performance and separately arranged for the prix fixe meal at The Hub...the food was very good and the choices were varied and included vegetarian.

 

Hope this helps...and just ask questions if you have them

[ckap]

How does one get tickets if you live in the USA

[phabric]

How does one get tickets if you live in the USA

 

If you plan on ordering your tickets early (November) before the general public (December 2 at 10am GMT), I would call the Friends of the Tattoo and join for the year, single membership is 25GBP and joint 45GBP, phone number on the Edinburgh Tattoo website http://www.edintattoo.co.uk. With the Friends of the Tattoo, you can purchase up to 8 tickets with the single membership and with a joint membership 8 tickets for a total of 16. They send you a colourful brochure with details of the Tattoo, 2 Friends of the Tattoo pins and your membership number. They will advise you of the day for the members to purchase the tickets. I purchased ours 16 group's tickets online on the membership date.

 

If you plan on ordering your tickets December 2, you can either phone or order online. You can order only 8 tickets with each order. On December 2, it can get very busy so be patient.

 

They mail out the tickets in the spring.

 

Remember the time difference when ordering online or phone, it is 10am Edinburgh time.

[cole]

If you plan on ordering your tickets early (November) before the general public (December 2 at 10am GMT), I would call the Friends of the Tattoo and join for the year, single membership is 25GBP and joint 45GBP, phone number on the Edinburgh Tattoo website http://www.edintattoo.co.uk. With the Friends of the Tattoo, you can purchase up to 8 tickets with the single membership and with a joint membership 8 tickets for a total of 16. They send you a colourful brochure with details of the Tattoo, 2 Friends of the Tattoo pins and your membership number. They will advise you of the day for the members to purchase the tickets. I purchased ours 16 group's tickets online on the membership date.

 

If you plan on ordering your tickets December 2, you can either phone or order online. You can order only 8 tickets with each order. On December 2, it can get very busy so be patient.

 

They mail out the tickets in the spring.

 

Remember the time difference when ordering online or phone, it is 10am Edinburgh time.

 

You can also become a member on line rather than telephoning. All good advice!

Cole

[rjcoon]

Question, the cruise I'm on does not stop in Edinburgh until the Tattoo is over. It does stop in Glasgow(Greenock) a few days before (Aug 20). Is it possible to attend the Tattoo from Glasgow and get back to the ship by its 1:00 am departure?

[cole]

Question, the cruise I'm on does not stop in Edinburgh until the Tattoo is over. It does stop in Glasgow(Greenock) a few days before (Aug 20). Is it possible to attend the Tattoo from Glasgow and get back to the ship by its 1:00 am departure?

 

Yes, definitely. In fact - the British Isle cruise we were on last month did the exact itinerary. We were docked in Glasgow until 2:00 a.m. and it was no problem at all getting back for those who attended. If you check the Princess Excursions for that port date, you will probably see that they have included the Tattoo as one of their options. Many people book private tours themselves. Go to the Roll Call for August 3, 2013 and read the posts and you will see all of the different options available. Just do a search for "Tattoo".

Cole

[phabric]

Question, the cruise I'm on does not stop in Edinburgh until the Tattoo is over. It does stop in Glasgow(Greenock) a few days before (Aug 20). Is it possible to attend the Tattoo from Glasgow and get back to the ship by its 1:00 am departure?

 

For your Glasgow port, the ship stays in port until 1am so that passengers can go to the Tattoo. Princess found it too difficult to tender at night while in Edinburgh. On the August 16 cruise, we had a private tour from Glasgow to Edinburgh for the Tattoo and we arrived back at 12:30am a good 1-2 hours before the Princess buses arrived back, some of their buses did not arrive back until 1:30am. Glasgow is about a 90 minute drive from Edinburgh. Princess changed our port time from 1am to 1:30am.

 

***** Check your Princess Patter (activity newpaper), the one you receive in your cabin when you come on, it will list all your port times (on the second page) as Princess changed a few of our port times without letting us know******

 

Check out our August 16, 2013 Roll Call, on post # 2965 it lists all our private tours.

[capriccio]

...do not think of this performance as "bagpipes for 90 minutes"...this was more like watching an Olympics Opening Ceremony...they are telling a story and the technology stuff is very exciting as well as the musical performances.

We saw this August 21, 2013 while the ship was docked in Glasgow.

Our group of 16, (with Phabric) took an all day tour of the Glasgow area and Edinburgh...we had a reserved dinner at The Hub restaurant about 1/2 way up the Royal Mile and very near the entrance to The Castle.

The street is steep and it is cobblestone...but very manageable. We joined the queue after our dinner at the mid point of the ascent. They do a bag search on your way up the hill.

We were in the Parade Grounds about 30 minutes before the performance. ..lots of announcements and lots going on.

Our section was excellent for viewing all of the performance...I would not want to be higher than the row we were in...Row N. The individual seats in the bleacher stands are comfortable and the stairs to our row were manageable. They do have handicapped seating just ask.

This performance should be watched, from your seats, to its completion. We left early because we did not think we would be able to find our coach in a timely manner in the crush of the crowd, and get back to the ship on time.

This was not the case and with everyone in the group seated together, and making good progress towards the coach you will have plenty of time to get back to the ship. We did not see the fireworks nor the finale by the lone bagpiper...our loss...I ordered the DVD.

Our coach had some drivability issues and we still arrived before any of the Princess busses and within the 90 minute timeframe the coach company had assured us it would take.

Were we anxious driving to the ship...YES we were but the driver was speaking with the maintenance department of his company and they assured him, we could hear the dialogue, it was safe to drive the coach.

All aboard was 1:30AM and we arrived at 12:30AM...

I would have no trouble recommending the company we used...sometimes stuff happens but it all worked out.

I also would recommend the private tour we were on for all day, our meals and other incidentals costing less than 1/2 what just the tickets/transportation alone would have cost through Princess.

Our group split the cost of the membership so that we were able to order the tickets as a package deal...we pre ordered our programs for the performance and separately arranged for the prix fixe meal at The Hub...the food was very good and the choices were varied and included vegetarian.

 

Hope this helps...and just ask questions if you have them

 

I was on this cruise with jtamachy and phabric in the second van. We did the same excursions, dinner at the Hub, etc. but each of us purchased our own tickets. I waited until the day reservations opened to the general public (thereby 'saving' the cost of the Friends of the Tattoo) in early December and went on line that morning. I was nervous that all the 'good' seats would be gone but we got fantastic seats in section 9, row H (if I remember correctly) immediately above one of the exits so no one was sitting in front of us and we could see the performers exit the Esplanade up close and personal and we were able to exit very quickly. Absolutely plan to stay until the end - the lone piper and the finale are the highlights of a wonderful performance. It was a very memorable day -- one of the best we have had touring anywhere.

[jtamchay]

all good advice...sometimes it helps with the nervous feelings about private tours when you see how manageable they are and you see how much money you save. I believe there are 2 performances on a Saturday night so check that out too....if you are there on a Saturday. Many people purchased their tickets online and whatever strategy you use will be fine.