If like me you love a cuppa then you won’t want to miss afternoon tea on the Queen Mary 2.
One Cunard tradition stands out amongst the rest when taking a voyage with them – the afternoon tea. Imagine sailing across the sea, surrounded by luxury and elegance while sipping a cuppa and nibbling on a piece of cake.
As one of the must-do experiences when sailing with Cunard you might expect this to come at an extra cost but no. This quintessential British experience is included in your cruise fare.
It takes place every day (except embarkation day) in the Queen’s Ballroom. A selection of sandwiches, scones and of course plenty of tea is served. All set to the gentle sound of music.
If you are wondering if it is an experience not to be missed or one you can forgo, I thought I’d share what it is like to have afternoon tea on the Queen Mary 2 to help you decide if it is something you’d like to do on your cruise.
Queen Mary 2 Afternoon Tea Experience
It’s no secret I love a good cuppa. So when I was looking for things to do during my cruise on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the famous Cunard afternoon tea was top of my list.
It is served daily between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, the only exception to this is embarkation day. As befitting such a tradition it served in the grand Queen’s Ballroom with its magnificant dance floor, tall ceilings and glittering chandeliers.
The room can hold around 550 people so just over a quarter of the ship at full capacity. I’d done a bit of research beforehand and saw that people were recommending getting there early, particularly on a sea day, to ensure you got a table.
Let me say they were not wrong.
I arrived just after 2.30pm (on a sea day) expecting to find a bit of a queue. Instead, the room was open with almost half the tables already been taken. I grabbed one by the window. While the tables by the dancefloor were popular I was keen to be able to look out to sea with my cuppa.
By 3pm the room was pretty much full with people wandering around looking for a spare table hidden away. Not long after a queue started to form at the door.
As I was cruising solo and sitting at a table on my own, a couple asked if they could share with me. I didn’t mind at all. However, a waiter noticed and came over to ask if I was ok with that. Of course I was but I thought it was a nice touch and a great example of the attentive service Cunard offers.
Setting a table for afternoon tea is an art form. It is designed to be special and an occasion. Here was no exception. First, the white tablecloth was placed over the table, followed by white fine china cups and saucers topped with a napkin and cutlery. All were perfectly placed.
As all the tables were full of people eagerly waiting the waiters had to set up around everyone. They did an amazing job and the room looked great.
Just before 3.30pm, a string trio on the dance floor stuck up as white-jacketed and white-gloved waiters entered the room holding sparkling silver trays with the all-important tea. The theatre of it all gave a real sense of occasion to the proceedings.
The tea is served first. You have a choice of different types of Twining’s (another British institution) fine leaf tea and throughout the hour there are unlimited refills. Definitely my idea of heaven.
Unlike the afternoon tea you may experience in a hotel where you are often presented with a stand of sandwiches, cakes and scones, here waiters walk around offering them. This actually works much better. You just take what you can manage, whether that is a little or a lot! Hopefully, it helps to reduce some waste too.
First to arrive was the dainty finger sandwiches. Crustless, the choices included salmon, roast beef, ham and cucumber. Honestly, it was hard to choose between them, they all looked delicious.
Next up were the cakes. Choices here included fruit cake, profiteroles and chocolate eclairs. I’ve got a bit of a confession to make here. I’m not really a fan of cakes and desserts. I much prefer the sandwich part of an afternoon tea. That said, I still managed to try a couple and they were all as delicious as they looked.
Finally, some freshly baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry preserves appeared. Or should that be strawberry preserve and Devonshire clotted cream? Has the debate of what goes on the scone first ever been settled? Either way, they tasted great and were the perfect way to finish off the afternoon.
The sandwich and cake menu changes each day so you can go more than once on your cruise and have a slightly different experience – or taste – each time.
Other Afternoon Tea Options
While afternoon tea in the Queen’s Room is something worth doing at least once if you are cruising with Cunard, there are other options available if you would like something less formal or would like to make more of an occasion of it.
If you would like an afternoon cuppa and a bit of cake but don’t fancy the full Cunard afternoon tea experience you can go for a more casual vibe in the Lido or Kings Court depending on which ship you are cruising on. For Grill guests, afternoon tea is also served in the Princess Grill restaurant. This provides a more intimate experience than the grand ballroom.
If you are celebrating a special occasion – or just fancy treating yourself – you can make it extra special and upgrade to a champagne afternoon tea at the Champagne Bar on Queen Mary 2 or The Verandah on Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria. This can be booked via My Cunard before you travel or once on board.
The Last Word
Afternoon tea aboard the Queen Mary 2 is an experience that blends tradition, luxury and of course some fabulous cakes. The attentive service, majestic setting of the Queen’s Room and sense of occasion combine to make it a memorable event.
Whether you like to gaze out to sea or enjoy the buzz near the dance floor it is a lovely way to spend an hour or so in the afternoon during a cruise. With a rotating menu of sandwiches and cakes, each afternoon tea is a unique experience.
I really enjoyed my experience and can’t wait to do it again when I next sail with Cunard.
More on Cunard and the Queen Mary 2
- Cruising on the Queen Mary 2
- Sheltered balcony cabin review
- Cunard dress code: What to wear on your cruise