Afternoon Tea

Does princess still do a nice white glove afternoon tea?

If so, is it everyday? Is it in the dining room?

Thanks for your input.

Does princess still do a nice white glove afternoon tea?

If so, is it everyday? Is it in the dining room?

Thanks for your input.

Yes, it will be listed in the patter. Most days from 3p-4p in one of the DR's.

You can also get scones, cream and jam in the buffet during that time, if that is all you are looking for - yum!

So looking forward to it in two weeks.

Good to know. Thanks everyone. I love having afternoon tea

on a cruise :)

I LOVE the afternoon teas. I believe it's at 3pm and on sea sailing days. Those little scones with cream and jam...oooooh delicious. And little tea cakes. YUM!!

You can also get scones, cream and jam in the buffet during that time, if that is all you are looking for - yum!

Is this the case on all cruise ships? I doubt that I've gone through the HC (buffet) during this time of the day so I had never noticed. We enjoy a break for tea but sometimes with the larger tables generally used in the DR during tea it takes more than an hour for the full service. I'll have to check it out.

They have tea in dining room 3:30-4:30 on each day except embarkation day. Also Regal and Royal have a Royal Tea. That is more a true white glove service. There is a small charge for that and can include Champagne. But been to MDR tea and truly did enjoy it.

Does princess still do a nice white glove afternoon tea?

If so, is it everyday? Is it in the dining room?

Thanks for your input.

On Grand Princess in September - every day tea from 3.30 pm on sea days, don't remember if they had it on port days. No music.

No mentioning of gloves. Haven't noticed any "better" clothing. They asked if we want to sit by ourselves, or share the table - 2 people. Yes, in the dining room.

Offered sandwiches, some good, some yucky. Selection of pastries. And of course scones with clotted cream and jelly - yum!

Also at the same time cookies and milk in the "piazza" on 5th deck. Music quality varied.

Does princess still do a nice white glove afternoon tea?

If so, is it everyday? Is it in the dining room?

Thanks for your input.

Every sea day, and we always make a point to go. Still white gloves the last time we went, but less happy with the pace/wait we had. No question the scones and jam/cream was the main attraction. :D

Every sea day, and we always make a point to go. Still white gloves the last time we went, but less happy with the pace/wait we had. No question the scones and jam/cream was the main attraction. :D

Princess web site says every day afternoon tea is served except embark day.

Just got off the Regal. I was surprised that they offered afternoon tea in the Piazza, but it was with a $10 charge, $20 included champagne. I was surprised to see many people partake. What is different than the usual one served in one of the dining rooms????

We really loved afternoon tea on our first two cruises, on the Sapphire and then the Emerald. Couldn't wait for cozy tea on our Ruby trip in June, but we were really disappointed. They said (quite abruptly) they weren't doing tables of two for afternoon tea, and the only option was to join a large table. We weren't offered choices in types of tea, and had to wait a long time to be served any food. It felt very awkward, and not special at all. We drank our tea, and then left, feeling like we may have well have just gone to the buffet :confused: We never went back.

Cruising again in a few weeks, on the Star, and will try to persuade DH to try tea again. We definitely had a table for two on the Sapphire, so hoping the Ruby's policy of large tables only won't apply on the Star.

Just got off the Regal. I was surprised that they offered afternoon tea in the Piazza, but it was with a $10 charge, $20 included champagne. I was surprised to see many people partake. What is different than the usual one served in one of the dining rooms????

No Champagne option. Less variety of teas. Not as fancy food items.

Regal also has the no-charge one in a dining room.

Just got off the Regal. I was surprised that they offered afternoon tea in the Piazza, but it was with a $10 charge, $20 included champagne. I was surprised to see many people partake. What is different than the usual one served in one of the dining rooms????

We saw it being served on the Royal, and I was very impressed. It was held in a raised area in the piazza which was closed off for the tea. The violin quartet serenaded them, too. The tea was the Mighty Leaf that is served in the IC-for a fee or on the coffee card. Each table had its own three tier serving plate which I'm sure could be refilled. Unfortunately we saw it on the last day, or we would have definitely signed up for it.

Princess afternoon tea is second only to Cunard and Oceania.

Forgot to mention, while the tea was good, they just poured it in your cup, there was no choice, just one type of tea.

Forgot to mention, while the tea was good, they just poured it in your cup, there was no choice, just one type of tea.

All you have to do is ask. If they have it in the buffet, it is available at the afternoon tea. I prefer Earl Gray and they bring me a pot when I ask.

While docked in Ensenada last year my 4 year old twin girls got all dressed up and had a tea party with their 90 year old grandmother and their aunt while the rest of us explored Ensenada- they loved every moment of it and it was a very special memory for all of them that we hope to repeat again this year!

We really loved afternoon tea on our first two cruises, on the Sapphire and then the Emerald. Couldn't wait for cozy tea on our Ruby trip in June, but we were really disappointed. They said (quite abruptly) they weren't doing tables of two for afternoon tea, and the only option was to join a large table. We weren't offered choices in types of tea, and had to wait a long time to be served any food. It felt very awkward, and not special at all. We drank our tea, and then left, feeling like we may have well have just gone to the buffet :confused: We never went back.

Cruising again in a few weeks, on the Star, and will try to persuade DH to try tea again. We definitely had a table for two on the Sapphire, so hoping the Ruby's policy of large tables only won't apply on the Star.

Its so dreadful being forced to socialise at tea-time, you have my sympathy.

We've also experienced Tea Time both ways. It's been special; filled with lovely finger sandwiches, cookies, cakes and scones. With friendly and quick service. Then we've had the "hurry-up-and-drink" type service. The tea came quickly but the food came sparsely or not at all! And, the servers were very friendly and made us feel welcomed or they were hurried and made us feel like we were in their way.

I much prefer to be treated like I'm special and welcomed. I promised myself that I would not allow me or my family to feel badly again. I would tell the Matre d' and ask that the "specialness" of Tea Time be kept to the high standards that I'm so used to onboard Princess.

I have had the pleasure to have tea on Cunard twice, and doubt any tea will top that I experienced on the QE2. True white glove service, served to you using two spoons (not just tongs :), real clotted cream and preserves not just whipped cream and jam, lol. I appreciated it and realize that level of service is a thing of the past on the lines that I cruise. At home I snuggle up with a mug of tea and some bread and butter I had to prepare myself so, anything different than that will be a step up. As someone mentioned earlier, it is really about the scones anyway :)

A cup of tea, a scone, a view of the ocean, and I am a happy girl

Bit disappointing last two times. Celebrity and even P&O Aus do it better, but I live in hope and will try again on Regal in June. LOL

Best tasting "cream tea" I've ever had was in Falmouth, Cornwall, England! The real clotted cream was very thick and light yellow; totally delicious with wonderful strawberry perserves. The scones melted in my mouth.

Best "High Tea" experience with superb service at 2 places: Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC and at The Wolseley in London, England.

My experience on Princess is that afternoon tea is offered on both sea and port days. Sometimes music and/or white gloves, sometimes not. But I love getting back from an excursion and relaxing during tea time. :p

I do go to the afternoon teas on my Princess cruises. My favorite part is meeting all the cruisers. Years ago the first Princess tea we went to we had a couple from Scotland and one from England at our table. Always very diverse and interesting people to meet and chat again when you see each other on the cruise. After that first tea encounter I joyfully try to attend as many teas as possible.( except when it conflicts with my zumba classes ). Luckily I don't have to wait too long for my next Princess tea, since I will be doing a Regal b2b in the beginning of November.

Sali