Marella Cruises Great Musical Afternoon Tea Menu
Marella Cruises’ Great Musical Afternoon Tea takes the traditional cruise ship afternoon tea and builds an entire experience around songs and shows from musical theatre.
Instead of a standard selection of sandwiches and cakes, the menu gives many of the dishes names inspired by famous musical numbers, including Food, Glorious Food, Defying Gravity, Thank You For The Music, On My Own and I Like To Be In America.
The experience includes savouries, sweets, Twinings teas, coffee and a choice of a Sparkling Kir, G & Tea Time Cocktail or Pineapple Sunshine Mocktail. Marella describes the Great Musical Afternoon Tea as a weekly event that brings the West End to its ships.
If you are considering booking the Great Musical Afternoon Tea on a Marella cruise, here is the complete menu shown in the photographs, along with the ships where it is offered and what you can expect to pay.
Which Marella Ships Have the Great Musical Afternoon Tea?
The Great Musical Afternoon Tea is offered across the Marella Cruises fleet. Marella has described it as a weekly event available fleetwide.
That includes:
- Marella Discovery
- Marella Discovery 2
- Marella Explorer
- Marella Explorer 2
- Marella Voyager
The venue varies depending on the ship.
On Marella Discovery and Marella Discovery 2, the Great Musical Afternoon Tea is hosted in 47°, the ships’ main restaurant.
On Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2, the experience is associated with The Dining Club.
On Marella Voyager, the Great Musical Afternoon Tea is hosted in Silver Fork.
How Much Is the Marella Great Musical Afternoon Tea?
The Great Musical Afternoon Tea is a chargeable experience rather than part of Marella’s standard included dining.
Marella Cruises published a price of £18.95 per person for the experience when announcing its fleetwide afternoon tea offerings.
Prices can change, so passengers should check the current price available for their sailing before booking.
The photographed menu also offers the option to upgrade to The Great Musical Champagne Afternoon Tea, but no upgrade price is printed on the menu shown here.
Marella Great Musical Afternoon Tea Menu
The menu is divided into savouries and sweets, with the dishes carrying names inspired by musical theatre.
A Selection of Savouries
The savoury portion begins with Food, Glorious Food, a chilled strawberry and Cointreau soup.
The menu then moves into sandwiches and small dishes.
- Food, Glorious Food
- Chilled strawberry and Cointreau soup
- School Lunch
- Truffle egg mayonnaise and cress on white bread
- Hand carved Wessex ham and English mustard on brown bread
- Mature cheddar and apricot chutney on pumpernickel bread
- By Royal Appointment
- Coronation chicken | tiger bread
- Thank You For The Music
- Infused watermelon with feta mousse | mint chips
- Ooh La La… French Connection
- Raisin and caramelised onion compote
- Torched brie | brioche toast
- Vietnamese Melody
- Beef tenderloin yakitori | homemade teriyaki sauce
- Defying Gravity
- Smoked salmon, watercress and cream cheese roulade on mini wheat baguette
This gives the savoury selection considerably more variety than a conventional plate of afternoon tea sandwiches, with dishes ranging from coronation chicken and smoked salmon to beef tenderloin yakitori and torched brie.
Great Musical Afternoon Tea Sweets
The second half of the food menu is devoted to sweets.
- Naughty… But Nice
- Selection of warm homemade scones
- Preserves | clotted cream
- Gateau Opera
- Almond sponge | ganache | buttercream
- A Spoonful of Sugar
- Eton mess | brandy snap basket
- On My Own
- Petit choux | lemon cream
- I Like To Be In America
- The ultimate New York cheesecake
Traditional scones therefore remain part of the experience, but the menu also includes desserts such as Gateau Opera, Eton mess, petit choux and New York cheesecake.
Tea and Coffee Menu
The second photographed page covers the drinks served with the Great Musical Afternoon Tea.
The Twinings tea selection shown includes:
- English Breakfast
- Earl Grey
- Darjeeling
- Jasmine Green Tea
- Peppermint
- Cozy Chamomile
- Four Red Fruits
- Lemon & Ginger
The menu notes that decaffeinated versions of English Breakfast and Earl Grey are also available.
Coffee choices are:
- Freshly brewed filter coffee
- Americano
- Latte
- Cappuccino
Cocktails and Mocktails
In addition to tea or coffee, the menu states that guests can choose one of three drinks.
- A Glass of Sparkling Kir
- Sparkling wine and crème de cassis.
- G & Tea Time Cocktail
- Gin, club soda, fruit tea, citrus, berry liqueur and spice.
- Pineapple Sunshine Mocktail
- Pineapple juice, orange juice, citrus mix, grenadine and soda.
The Pineapple Sunshine Mocktail provides a non-alcoholic choice alongside the two alcoholic options.
Great Musical Champagne Afternoon Tea
The menu also mentions an upgraded version of the experience.
It states:
“If you would like to upgrade to The Great Musical Champagne Afternoon Tea then please speak to your waiter.”
No price for the Champagne upgrade appears on the photographed menu, so passengers should check the current onboard price rather than relying on an older published charge.
Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Options
The photographed menu states that vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available.
Passengers with allergies or other dietary requirements should still speak with the onboard team. The menu specifically warns that some food and drink products may contain allergens and asks guests who are sensitive to them to speak to a member of staff before dining.
Is the Great Musical Afternoon Tea Included on Marella Cruises?
No. Although Marella Cruises operates on an all-inclusive basis for its standard food and drink offering, the Great Musical Afternoon Tea is a separate chargeable event. Marella’s own dining information identifies the experience as chargeable.
How Often Is the Great Musical Afternoon Tea Held?
Marella describes the Great Musical Afternoon Tea as a weekly event.
The exact schedule can depend on the cruise, so passengers should check the onboard information for the day and time offered during their sailing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Marella Great Musical Afternoon Tea?
Marella has published a price of £18.95 per person for the Great Musical Afternoon Tea. Prices can change, so the current charge should be confirmed for your sailing.
Which Marella ships have the Great Musical Afternoon Tea?
Marella has described the Great Musical Afternoon Tea as a fleetwide weekly event. It is offered aboard Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery 2, Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager.
Is the Great Musical Afternoon Tea included in the cruise fare?
No. Marella identifies the Great Musical Afternoon Tea as a chargeable event.
What food is served at the Great Musical Afternoon Tea?
The photographed menu includes sandwiches, coronation chicken, smoked salmon, torched brie, beef tenderloin yakitori, scones, Eton mess, Gateau Opera, petit choux and New York cheesecake, among other dishes.
What drinks are included?
The photographed menu offers Twinings teas and several coffee choices, plus a choice of a Sparkling Kir, G & Tea Time Cocktail or Pineapple Sunshine Mocktail.
Is there a non-alcoholic option?
Yes. The Pineapple Sunshine Mocktail contains pineapple juice, orange juice, citrus mix, grenadine and soda.
Can you get Champagne?
The photographed menu says guests can upgrade to The Great Musical Champagne Afternoon Tea by speaking with their waiter. The menu does not show the upgrade price.
Are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available?
Yes. The menu specifically states that vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available.
Is the Great Musical Afternoon Tea offered every day?
Marella describes it as a weekly event rather than a daily dining service. The exact schedule should be checked onboard for your particular cruise.
Conclusion
The Great Musical Afternoon Tea is one of Marella Cruises’ more unusual speciality dining experiences, combining a traditional afternoon tea with food and presentation inspired by musical theatre.
The photographed menu mixes familiar afternoon tea staples such as sandwiches, scones, preserves and clotted cream with more distinctive dishes including chilled strawberry and Cointreau soup, beef tenderloin yakitori, torched brie and smoked salmon roulade.
Desserts continue the musical theme with names including A Spoonful of Sugar, On My Own and I Like To Be In America, while the drinks selection includes Twinings teas, coffee and a choice of an alcoholic cocktail or non-alcoholic mocktail.
Marella offers the Great Musical Afternoon Tea across its fleet as a chargeable weekly event, with the exact venue depending on the ship.
For passengers who want to try it, the current price and schedule should be confirmed for the individual sailing, particularly because speciality dining prices and availability can change.
