BACKCultural Discoveries August 2017
Experience the rich culture across Britain and Ireland on a vacation where you only unpack once! While calling at ports in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, your days are filled with events onboard and trips ashore for every interest.
Music is always a good place to start and there are plenty of traditional and modern experiences across the region.
- At one of Dublin’s 1,000 pubs, traditional Irish musical performances and storytelling are an age-old tradition.
- In Liverpool, the Beatles Experience lets you see the Cavern Club and other places and artifacts associated with the fab four who rocked the world.
August is a good time to visit Edinburgh, Scotland for the world’s largest arts festival. The city is alive at Festival time with ongoing performances and exhibitions featuring art, music, drama, comedy, cabaret and children’s shows.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a highlight of the Festival with its stirring spectacle of regimental bands, Scottish music and dance right at Edinburgh Castle. Ships calling at Edinburgh in August offer trips to the Tattoo so it’s easy to attend.
Culinary-related trips are always popular with options like these:
- In Cork, Ireland, visit the Blue Haven Cookery School to prepare a meal of Irish fare.
- In Greenock, Scotland join the Robert Burns Club for a traditional Burns Supper of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties in celebration of Scotland’s legendary poet.
Whisky Tasting is a must in Scotland where many outings include tasting a ’Wee dram’ during the tour. Take a distillery tour for a more in-depth appreciation of the ‘water of life’. You can also visit the Jameson Distillery in Dublin and Cork.
In Dublin, the popularity of Guinness has created a tourist attraction at the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn the history, enjoy tastings, dine and shop at the historic building complete with rooftop Gravity Bar.
Golf on the links courses of Scotland and Ireland is the dream of many golfers and fans.
- Take a trip from Edinburgh to St. Andrews, the home of golf.
- On British Isles golf theme cruises, attend the British Open and play at six world-renowned courses on a single voyage. This unparalleled golf vacation sets sail in July 2018 on two different ships; Crystal Serenity and Azamara Journey.
There’s also a lot of cultural activity around the ship! With meals featuring British specialties, presentations on ports of call, and displays of music and dance, there’s always a lot happening, along with a range of information on the culture of your destination. The onboard experience enhances the experiences ashore. It’s one of the many wonderful things about cruising!
