Afternoon Tea on board Queen Anne

Afternoon Tea on a Cunard ship is something of a tradition. We first sailed with Cunard in October 2025, aboard their newest ship, Queen Anne; a 7-night trip to Spain and Portugal. Afternoon tea takes place every day at 3.30pm in the Queens Room, a double-height ballroom with subtle lighting, elegant decor and seating around the edge. Afternoon Tea is included in your cruise fare and it is clearly a popular activity. We took our seats about 40 minutes before the event, even then many tables were taken, however we managed to grab a table on the ballroom edge.

Cunard use their signature fine bone china for Afternoon Tea, with cups, saucers and plates showing off their elegant patterned design. Both tea and coffee are available, served alongside a range of finger sandwiches, scones (with cream and jam) and different pastries and cakes. There is no shortage of food, the white-gloved waiters are always available to bring more delicious treats. If you want to elevate your experience, there is a choice to buy a glass of champagne or prosecco - we did this, and why not? This is an ocassion after all.

Our Afternoon Tea was hosted by a male singer, backed by the Queen Anne band. He sang a range of easy-listening songs, interspersed with some chat and humour along the way. It really is the most civilised way to spend an afternoon.

What we didn't expect was the number of passengers who had brought their dancing shoes. So many couples danced, it was a terrific thing to watch for us, especially considering we barely know one dancestep from another. Did it inspire us to take dance lessons? Well, maybe. We loved our Queen Anne experience and this was perhaps the highlight. Do not miss it.