Tea for 2?

Whether you’re in it for the social hour or the warm buttery scones there’s nothing like an afternoon tea where dapper wait staff serve a selection of premium Champagne, teas and coffees, espresso, lattes and cappuccinos, finger sandwiches; and desserts pastries, scones, truffles and pate de fruit as you sail toward your next port with tea sipped from fine china cups and tasty finger food – whether you reach for Earl Grey or Darjeeling, afternoon tea services on our favourite cruise ships will be just your Cup of Tea!

The heritage of afternoon tea goes back to the 1840s, when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford couldn’t wait for the 8pm dinner hour and began requesting a cup of tea and a little cake each afternoon at 4pm to tide her over. The habit stuck and then became a trend, which is now a British institution.

Typical menus include– mint, celon, jasmine, orange pekoe and the classic English breakfast tea. The choices of sandwiches include – salmon cream cheese, roast beef with horseradish and shrimp salad. The afternoon tea service is topped off Followed by calorie bursting scones with clotted cream and jam, and pastries like Black Forest cake, fruit tarts and eclairs.

So who does it best? The British or the Americans?

Cunard’s Tea Time has a parade of white-gloved butlers circulate the ballroom with a special mix of Ceylon, Assam, and Kenyan — crafted specifically for Cunard by Twinings — while a live string quartet or harpist plays in the background. The fresh warm scones, topped off by airy clotted cream and jam from Essex, are something to write home about. Before you’ve finished your first cucumber sandwich, the white-gloved butlers will return to fill your bottomless cup.

Exotic pop cake, smoked salmon in spinach bread, lemon meringue trifle… P&O’s Food Hero Eric Lanlard offers guests an exclusive afternoon tea with a twist and has devised an array of unique sweet and savoury creations to challenge the concept of traditional afternoon tea. Your taste buds will be spoilt for choice. Think smoked salmon in a lemon and black pepper macaroon, roast beef brioche buns, cheese éclairs, pop cake and cotton candy, dark chocolate cannelloni, orange infused almond cake with a hint of lavender, lemon scented scones and much more. Choose your favourite from a selection of fine teas to complement the flavour combinations. Or add a glass of fizz if you are celebrating a special occasion – or simply toasting your holiday.

Celebrity knows how to pull out all the stops for its Champagne High Tea. Served once during seven-night cruises and at least twice on longer itineraries, it really is a voyage highlight. The location differs depending on which ship you’re sailing, but it most often takes place in one of the specialty restaurants. You’ll be greeted with a glass of bubbly and the lovely musical stylings of a live string quartet.  Each table is topped with fine linens, Wedgewood china and Riedel crystal. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into the tearoom at Windsor Palace!