Afternoon Tea Will Be Returning

[sunonfire]

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-brings-back-another-guest-favorite/80653
 

We always go to the Military Appreciation Tea.

[wemjam]

Just now, sunonfire said:

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-brings-back-another-guest-favorite/80653
 

We always go to the Military Appreciation Tea.

Yea, I saw this on John Healds facebook page too.  Almost 50 cruises I have never gone, but might just have to watch for it and give it a try.

[Joebucks]

Another reason why the "permanent cutback" thread was just another thread of over-reaction. Few things in there ever intended to be permanent. Cruise lines have and will continue to evaluate all activities on ships. Guest satisfaction, cost, staffing, etc. are all factors to consider.

 

My other half will be super excited to do this again on our next cruise.

[shof515]

when i was on the magic last month they had tea time on the sea day late in the afternoon, around 3pm

[wesorbeth]

I enjoy tea time, i'm glad it's back.  

[1kaper]

21 minutes ago, shof515 said:

when i was on the magic last month they had tea time on the sea day late in the afternoon, around 3pm

 

It was still available on sea days on sailings over a certain amount of days.  I want to say 7 day or more but can't quite recall. 

[asalligo]

I was so excited when John Heald announced this today. Sea Day Afternoon Tea is definitely in my top three favorite events on a cruise. I hope that it really happens though and it is not just talk. Before the Covid hiatus afternoon tea was often being dropped from sea day schedules with no explanation. 

 

[Drew B 58]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

Another reason why the "permanent cutback" thread was just another thread of over-reaction. Few things in there ever intended to be permanent. Cruise lines have and will continue to evaluate all activities on ships. Guest satisfaction, cost, staffing, etc. are all factors to consider.

 

My other half will be super excited to do this again on our next cruise.

In the announcement from Carnival on which the “permanent cutbacks” thread was based, they made it clear that the absence of Afternoon Tea (as well as the Chocolate Extravaganza buffet) were NOT intended to be permanent.  The other changes were.  That doesn’t mean they may not change their minds and reverse course down the road, but the stated plan is that those other things are gone for good.

[asalligo]

1 minute ago, Drew B 58 said:

In the announcement from Carnival on which the “permanent cutbacks” thread was based, they made it clear that the absence of Afternoon Tea (as well as the Chocolate Extravaganza buffet) were NOT intended to be permanent.  The other changes were.  That doesn’t mean they may not change their minds and reverse course down the road, but the stated plan is that those other things are gone for good.

I understand where this concern comes from though. If I put you on a cruise from 2000, you would be amazed at the long slide of cutbacks in the Carnival experience. Reasonable for people to think that this is just another shave off the experience that may never come back. I am happy to see that this was not the case for afternoon tea. 

[Drew B 58]

5 minutes ago, asalligo said:

I understand where this concern comes from though. If I put you on a cruise from 2000, you would be amazed at the long slide of cutbacks in the Carnival experience. Reasonable for people to think that this is just another shave off the experience that may never come back. I am happy to see that this was not the case for afternoon tea. 

 

Funnily enough, my very first cruise was in 2000.  I’m honestly amazed by how much MORE they offer today than they did back then.  Everything from dining options to entertainment to attractions to cabin types to home ports and itineraries.  They have all EXPLODED!  And, yes, we have lost some things along the way (midnight buffet, I hardly knew you!), but we have gotten so much more.
 

And the prices are actually comparable!  I’m paying LESS for my upcoming 7-night Mexican Riviera with two people in a balcony cabin on Panorama than I paid in 2000 on Elation with three people in an interior cabin!

 

I think people make a habit of reacting negatively to what they’ve lost without balancing it with what they’ve gained…

[cyntil8ing]

We were on Pride last month and it was held at 3:00pm all three sea days. I assumed it was because we were sailing from England.

 

Usually, just my daughter and I go, but my teen son went with us one afternoon. We were seated at a shared table full of eight very friendly, very chatty ladies who had no filter, and I think he was a little traumatized by some of the topics. He was a good sport, but the very second my napkin touched the table, he was up and out of there! I doubt he will ever return to tea time. 😀

[Tiger0613]

Afternoon Tea took place on the Radiance on 9/1/22.  It was a 4 day cruise.

[redsox1584]

Love tea time!! So excited it’s back this week considering I sail on Saturday 😀

[variable283]

Got off miracle the other day, (9/1-9/5) they had tea every sea day. 3-4pm

[Tradestock]

Very nice to read.  🙂

[sanmarcosman]

1 hour ago, Tiger0613 said:

Afternoon Tea took place on the Radiance on 9/1/22.  It was a 4 day cruise.

I was there! The server Rogie remembered me from the 8 Panorama cruises I sailed with him this year. Rogie was assigned to the dessert cart last Thursday and did a fine job. This was quite a difference from Panorama where he was working Guy's Burgers and was wearing a shirt with the name Possum stitched on it 🙂  

It's good to have tea service again on sea days.

[nybumpkin]

Tea time was every sea day at 3 pm on Magic last month. We love tea time, but I think in the future I'll bring my own tea bags. I'm not a fan of Art of Tea - I tried both Earl Grey and English Breakfast, and they were too weak. The other alternative is plain Lipton. Aside from that, though, we loved it.

 

[skrufy]

4 hours ago, sunonfire said:

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-brings-back-another-guest-favorite/80653
 

We always go to the Military Appreciation Tea.

Wife loves tea time, quess I'm of to tea time each afternoon again

[Tradestock]

39 minutes ago, skrufy said:

Wife loves tea time, quess I'm of to tea time each afternoon again

My husband was equally enthused, since this is our compromise activity before casino time.  Over a cup of tea, he tells me how he is sure to win in the casino.  Good laughs had all around.😁

[wemjam]

Ever since having my first proper teatime in Scotland and then in other European countries I was hooked!  Never done it on Carnival though.  I make my husband and go, and he does so to make me happy, but he could care less lol!  So, poor him, guess he will have to try it with me now on Carnival.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

4 hours ago, Drew B 58 said:

 

Funnily enough, my very first cruise was in 2000.  I’m honestly amazed by how much MORE they offer today than they did back then.  Everything from dining options to entertainment to attractions to cabin types to home ports and itineraries.  They have all EXPLODED!  And, yes, we have lost some things along the way (midnight buffet, I hardly knew you!), but we have gotten so much more.
 

And the prices are actually comparable!  I’m paying LESS for my upcoming 7-night Mexican Riviera with two people in a balcony cabin on Panorama than I paid in 2000 on Elation with three people in an interior cabin!

 

I think people make a habit of reacting negatively to what they’ve lost without balancing it with what they’ve gained…

Well said.  I’ll take the addition of Guys Burger, Blue Iguana, Teppenaki, Shack’s Chicken, Street Eats, etc

[DrSea]

9 hours ago, wemjam said:

Yea, I saw this on John Healds facebook page too.  Almost 50 cruises I have never gone, but might just have to watch for it and give it a try.

Honestly, you aren't missing much. Only lipton tea is covered. Every other tea is an upcharge. 

 

Viking does afternoon tea very well. Different cruise categories but worth mentioning imho bc it's that good. 

[rrraydon]

20 minutes ago, DrSea said:

Honestly, you aren't missing much. Only lipton tea is covered. Every other tea is an upcharge. 

 

Viking does afternoon tea very well. Different cruise categories but worth mentioning imho bc it's that good. 

Over 30 cruises with Carnival..never had an up charge at Tea Time. 

[DrSea]

Just now, rrraydon said:

Over 30 cruises with Carnival..never had an up charge at Tea Time. 

Do you have a beverage package? I was told that there was an upcharge on CCL for anything beyond lipton tea back in 2018. That was the first (and last) time I went to tea time. 

[rrraydon]

3 minutes ago, DrSea said:

Do you have a beverage package? I was told that there was an upcharge on CCL for anything beyond lipton tea back in 2018. That was the first (and last) time I went to tea time. 

No, no beverage package. 
 

No extra charges at Tea Time. They have a very nice selection of teas.