Formal Tea??

[bbappel]

I searched and couldn't determine the answer. My husband and I are doing our first RC cruise on Explorer to Alaska in June with our son & his family (7-yo granddaughter and 18-yo grandson).

 

Will there be a formal tea given on one of the sea days? We can go to the Empress in Victoria, but it seems pricey and maybe over-elaborate for a 7 year old; I would enjoy doing it with her, but if the ship has one, even a for-fee one, it might be a better choice and since it would be less costly, maybe I could buy her a pretty hat for the event. I guess gloves are passe.

 

Is there any other elegant event on the ship that would be perfect for a girl who loves to dress up? Luckily we have 2 formal nights, and I'm sure she will enjoy them.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Beth

[Clarea]

Royal does not do a formal tea. They have afternoon snacks in the Windjammer (buffet) and you might find some scones, but that's as close as it gets.

[cb at sea]

NOpe...not on RCI!

[Merion_Mom]

I searched and couldn't determine the answer. My husband and I are doing our first RC cruise on Explorer to Alaska in June with our son & his family (7-yo granddaughter and 18-yo grandson).

 

Will there be a formal tea given on one of the sea days? We can go to the Empress in Victoria, but it seems pricey and maybe over-elaborate for a 7 year old; I would enjoy doing it with her, but if the ship has one, even a for-fee one, it might be a better choice and since it would be less costly, maybe I could buy her a pretty hat for the event. I guess gloves are passe.

 

Is there any other elegant event on the ship that would be perfect for a girl who loves to dress up? Luckily we have 2 formal nights, and I'm sure she will enjoy them.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Beth

 

Royal Caribbean doesn't do formal tea. Princess' is very nice. :)

 

But the Empress is not your only option in Victoria.

 

http://www.10best.com/destinations/canada/victoria/restaurants/afternoon-tea/

[Langley Cruisers]

Tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria is hugely overpriced. I'm actually shocked at how much it is now - more than dinner! Ridiculous. And agreed, your DGD would probably not enjoy it. I don't really think it's a place for children (no offense intended - - yes, I have children, and yes I have been to tea at the Empress - I used to live there :p ).

.

[LMaxwell]

There has not been a tea time on Royal in the MDR maybe the last 10 to 12 years.

Edited February 19, 2016 by LMaxwell

[yuvraj]

Royal does not do a formal tea. They have afternoon snacks in the Windjammer (buffet) and you might find some scones, but that's as close as it gets.

 

They didn't even have the afternoon snacks on last cruise on Oasis. Returned from port stop. WJ close at 3:00pm. Yes I appreciate there are other venues but was still surprised.

[yuvraj]

Royal Caribbean don't do afternoon tea but that is a blessing because if they did it would be horrible. I can almost guarantee it.

 

Celebrity do afternoon tea and if you get a suite it is even served in the cabin. However for me Princess, P&O and Cunard are best at making tea. Formal tea best in Cunard and P&O IMO.

[Clarea]

They didn't even have the afternoon snacks on last cruise on Oasis. Returned from port stop. WJ close at 3:00pm. Yes I appreciate there are other venues but was still surprised.

I've read that about another ship, can't remember which. Hope it's not a trend.

[yuvraj]

I've read that about another ship, can't remember which. Hope it's not a trend.

 

I tried to work this out and concluded that RCL see Central Park Café and promenade as alternative venues. Not sure they understand that especially on port days people look forward to a snack in the WJ. Also for number of people on board, alternative venues are not big enough.

[Clarea]

I tried to work this out and concluded that RCL see Central Park Café and promenade as alternative venues. Not sure they understand that especially on port days people look forward to a snack in the WJ. Also for number of people on board, alternative venues are not big enough.

It's especially bad on ships that only have one alternative venue, such as Vision class ships that only have Park Cafe, with it's strange hours.

[hancogran]

Royal Caribbean don't do afternoon tea but that is a blessing because if they did it would be horrible. I can almost guarantee it.

 

Celebrity do afternoon tea and if you get a suite it is even served in the cabin. However for me Princess, P&O and Cunard are best at making tea. Formal tea best in Cunard and P&O IMO.

 

Never sailed P&O but to me (so far) nothing can beat the afternoon tea on the Queen Mary 2.. It was fantastic! :) Now I buy only Twinnings tea because that's the brand they use on Cunard.. pricey but excellent tea!

[yuvraj]

Never sailed P&O but to me (so far) nothing can beat the afternoon tea on the Queen Mary 2.. It was fantastic! :) Now I buy only Twinnings tea because that's the brand they use on Cunard.. pricey but excellent tea!

 

Twinnings is what I use at home (UK). I have been on the QM2, Queen's Grill. Great experience, totally different to Royal Caribbean.

[yuvraj]

 

Is there any other elegant event on the ship that would be perfect for a girl who loves to dress up? Luckily we have 2 formal nights, and I'm sure she will enjoy them.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Beth

 

In my experience RCL guests do not dress up as much. Some do on formal nights but it is not mandatory and not everyone does.

 

We still do and it is handy if you want to have pictures taken.

[maryann2]

Carnival still serves afternoon tea in the MDR on sea days. Cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream, cakes pastries etc.

Celebrity only did it for Elite guests once on a 15 day cruise.

[hancogran]

Carnival still serves afternoon tea in the MDR on sea days. Cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream, cakes pastries etc.

Celebrity only did it for Elite guests once on a 15 day cruise.

 

On our last Carnival cruise, we went to afternoon tea for the first time and we really weren't impressed. We sat for about 15 minutes before somebody came over with the tea and then sat again while we waited for the little fancies and goodies, etc. to arrive. There were no sandwiches or pastries .. simply two kinds of cookies and that was it. Definitely wouldn't go again. Maybe we just hit a bad one. :confused:

[maryann2]

On our last Carnival cruise, we went to afternoon tea for the first time and we really weren't impressed. We sat for about 15 minutes before somebody came over with the tea and then sat again while we waited for the little fancies and goodies, etc. to arrive. There were no sandwiches or pastries .. simply two kinds of cookies and that was it. Definitely wouldn't go again. Maybe we just hit a bad one. :confused:

That's a shame. I think you did hit a bad one. I went a couple of weeks ago and it was good.

I love going as it is a nice afternoon interlude.

They have started charging for fancy teabags and only supply Liptons for free. I always bring my own Yorkshire tea bags anyway.

[martincath]

Your cruise is RT Seattle, no? If so, you can do a Fairmont Afternoon tea before or after your cruise without eating into valuable Victoria time (e.g. if you want to visit Butchart gardens as many do, it's often dang near impossible to get enough time there in short cruise stops). The Fairmont Olympic should be almost done with renos by mid-June, and I believe the Georgian room has already been completed so is back to it's glory days when this was a five star hotel.

 

Pricing is unfortunately about as bad as the Empress, since our dollar is approx 72cents US right now. Kids are catered for specifically at all Fairmont teas though, with a 'Prince and Princess' tea experience involving paper crowns and more kid-appropriate snacks and drinks for about half the adult price. Personally though if your cruise timing does enable a 3hour plus visit to Butchart I'd do tea there - for barely over half the Fairmont price you get a better selection of food in a very pleasant conservatory type building.

[squadron]

Your cruise is RT Seattle, no? If so, you can do a Fairmont Afternoon tea before or after your cruise without eating into valuable Victoria time (e.g. if you want to visit Butchart gardens as many do, it's often dang near impossible to get enough time there in short cruise stops). The Fairmont Olympic should be almost done with renos by mid-June, and I believe the Georgian room has already been completed so is back to it's glory days when this was a five star hotel.

 

Pricing is unfortunately about as bad as the Empress, since our dollar is approx 72cents US right now. Kids are catered for specifically at all Fairmont teas though, with a 'Prince and Princess' tea experience involving paper crowns and more kid-appropriate snacks and drinks for about half the adult price. Personally though if your cruise timing does enable a 3hour plus visit to Butchart I'd do tea there - for barely over half the Fairmont price you get a better selection of food in a very pleasant conservatory type building.

 

Why not tea and treats at Murchies in Victoria? Good for the whole family and gives you a chance to buy some "different" blends to take home.

[jagsfan]

Twinnings is what I use at home (UK). I have been on the QM2, Queen's Grill. Great experience, totally different to Royal Caribbean.

 

 

Not only afternoon tea in the Queens Room outside the Grill, but served in our suite with everything you would get in London. Including Twining's Darjeeling tea, my favorite.

[Clarea]

Twinnings is what I use at home (UK). I have been on the QM2, Queen's Grill. Great experience, totally different to Royal Caribbean.

QM2 is on our bucket list.:)

[hancogran]

QM2 is on our bucket list.:)

 

It was on ours too until we made it a reality this past May! Since I hate flying, it was a perfect way to get home after our transatlantic this past May. The cost wasn't that much more than what we would have paid for one way flights home and we got an extra week of holidays out of it. I'm sure you will love it. :)

[Clarea]

It was on ours too until we made it a reality this past May! Since I hate flying, it was a perfect way to get home after our transatlantic this past May. The cost wasn't that much more than what we would have paid for one way flights home and we got an extra week of holidays out of it. I'm sure you will love it. :)

I assume the dress is more formal than Royal?

[hancogran]

Not only afternoon tea in the Queens Room outside the Grill, but served in our suite with everything you would get in London. Including Twining's Darjeeling tea, my favorite.

 

:( No suite for us when we sailed her so we HAD to go to the Queen's Room but no complaints. ;) We enjoyed watching the people dancing a few times in the Queen's Room at afternoon tea. There were some beautiful ballroom dancers on the cruise.

[hancogran]

I assume the dress is more formal than Royal?

 

Most definitely, Bob. ;) During the day it was much the same as RCI but after 6 all men needed jackets whether you were in the dining room or wanted to visit the casino, show or bars on the ship. There's a special area called Winter Garden lounge which is basically the only area you are supposed to visit after dinner if you don't have a jacket. If you didn't have a jacket, you needed to eat at Kings Court buffet which is the equivalent to the WJ on RCI ships.

 

We enjoyed "the experience" but not sure we'd do it again. We just feel a bit more comfortable on RCI ;)