Holland America Royal Dutch Tea Menu & Afternoon Tea Guide
Holland America Line has a long connection with Dutch culture, and one of the ways the cruise line celebrates that heritage onboard is through Royal Dutch Tea. This special afternoon tea combines traditional tea-service favorites such as finger sandwiches and scones with Dutch-inspired pastries and sweets.
Royal Dutch Tea is not limited to a particular Holland America ship. It is a fleetwide experience, and Holland America currently describes it as part of its onboard Dutch traditions. The cruise line says Royal Dutch Tea is served on the first sea day of each voyage, while additional regional and traditional afternoon tea services may be offered on later sea days.
The menu photographed for this guide includes Dutch cream puffs, stroopwafel Napoleon, boterkoek, appeltaart, seafood and chicken sandwiches, scones and other savory and sweet selections. Holland America itself continues to promote several of these exact foods when describing Royal Dutch Tea, making this a particularly useful menu to document.
CruisePrism readers can also explore our Holland America menus, Holland America drink menus and Holland America onboard guides for more onboard food and beverage information.
What Is Royal Dutch Tea on Holland America?
Royal Dutch Tea is Holland America’s Dutch-inspired version of afternoon tea.
The experience takes the familiar format of tea, sandwiches, pastries and scones and adds foods inspired by the cruise line’s Dutch heritage.
Holland America describes Royal Dutch Tea as being presented on three tiers with Dutch sandwiches, scones and Dutch sweets. The cruise line’s current Dining Room information similarly describes the service as including finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, pastries, sweet treats and a premium tea selection.
It is also an included onboard experience rather than a specialty restaurant meal.
Holland America Royal Dutch Tea Menu
The photographed Royal Dutch Tea menu is divided between sweet pastries and savory sandwiches, followed by assorted scones.
Chocoladebol – Dutch Cream Puff
The Chocoladebol is described on the menu as a Dutch cream puff served with:
- Whipped cream
- Mandarin
Holland America continues to specifically mention Chocoladebol when promoting its Dutch culinary traditions.
Maple Stroopwafel Napoleon
The Maple Stroopwafel Napoleon combines:
- Cream
- Fresh berries
Stroopwafels have become closely associated with Holland America’s celebration of its Dutch roots, appearing in multiple experiences across the cruise line.
Boterkoek – Dutch Butter Cake
Boterkoek is a traditional Dutch butter cake.
The Royal Dutch Tea version is served with:
Almond slice
It’s one of the menu’s more distinctly Dutch alternatives to the conventional cakes and pastries associated with afternoon tea.
Gevulde Koeken – Dutch Cookie
Gevulde Koeken is described on the menu as a Dutch cookie made with:
- Marzipan
- Short sugar pastry
Appeltaart – Mini Dutch Apple Tartlets
The Appeltaart consists of miniature Dutch apple tartlets with:
- Cookie base
- Cinnamon
- Raisins
Holland America also specifically highlights Appeltaart when discussing Royal Dutch Tea and its Dutch culinary traditions.
Savory Sandwiches at Royal Dutch Tea
Royal Dutch Tea isn’t limited to sweets. The menu includes four savory selections incorporating seafood, egg and chicken.
Bay Shrimp on Brioche
The Bay Shrimp on Brioche is served with:
Dutch cocktail sauce
This is one of two seafood selections on the photographed menu.
Egg Salad and Cress
The Egg Salad and Cress sandwich combines:
- White bread
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
Smoked Salmon and Dill
The smoked salmon sandwich is served with:
- Dill
- Cream cheese
- Whole wheat bread
Coronation Chicken
The Coronation Chicken sandwich combines:
- Whole wheat bread
- Curry
- Yogurt
- Dried apricots
- Cilantro
This adds a sweeter and more aromatic savory option alongside the seafood and egg sandwiches.
Scones at Holland America’s Royal Dutch Tea
No traditional afternoon tea would be complete without scones.
The photographed Royal Dutch Tea menu includes an assortment of:
Raisin and plain scones with jam and whipped cream.
Scones remain part of Holland America’s current description of Royal Dutch Tea and its broader afternoon tea service.
What Tea Is Served at Royal Dutch Tea?
Holland America has expanded the tea itself into a signature part of the experience.
The cruise line partnered with Art of Tea to develop its own Dutch Tea Time Blend, specifically designed around Holland America’s Dutch heritage.
The custom blend is a robust black tea featuring notes of:
- Orange
- Bergamot
- Marigold
- Rose hips
Holland America says the Dutch Tea Time Blend is now featured during its afternoon tea services across the fleet.
When Is Royal Dutch Tea Served?
Holland America’s current schedule places Royal Dutch Tea on the first sea day of each voyage.
The cruise line says its broader tea program is structured around sea days:
First sea day: Royal Dutch Tea
Second sea day: Regionally themed afternoon tea
Third sea day on cruises of seven days or longer: Standard afternoon tea
Exact times can vary by sailing, so passengers should check the ship’s daily schedule for the time and location.
Where Is Royal Dutch Tea Served?
Royal Dutch Tea is associated with Holland America’s main Dining Room.
The cruise line’s current Dining Room page specifically includes Royal Dutch Tea Time among its dining experiences, and Holland America’s announcement for its Dutch Tea Time Blend confirms that afternoon tea service takes place in the main dining room.
Passengers should still check the daily onboard schedule because operating arrangements can change.
Is Royal Dutch Tea Available on Every Holland America Ship?
Yes. Royal Dutch Tea is a Holland America fleetwide tradition, rather than an experience belonging to one particular vessel.
Holland America’s current materials describe Royal Dutch Tea as part of its onboard traditions across its cruises, and the cruise line says its custom Dutch Tea Time Blend is available fleetwide.
That means this article is best treated as a general Holland America Royal Dutch Tea guide rather than a ship-specific menu page.
Is Royal Dutch Tea Free on Holland America?
Holland America categorizes its onboard Tea Time experience as included.
Royal Dutch Tea therefore isn’t treated like a specialty restaurant requiring a separate dining cover charge.
Optional beverages or other items outside the included tea service could be subject to different rules, so passengers should check onboard if ordering anything beyond the standard service.
How Is Royal Dutch Tea Served?
Holland America describes the Royal Dutch Tea food as being served on three tiers, combining sandwiches, scones and sweets.
That gives the experience the familiar presentation associated with traditional afternoon tea while allowing Holland America to incorporate distinctly Dutch dishes into the selection.
The exact selection can change, which is why the menu photographed here is best viewed as an example of what passengers may encounter rather than a permanent list of dishes.
Royal Dutch Tea vs. Regular Afternoon Tea
Royal Dutch Tea is one component of Holland America’s larger afternoon tea program.
The key difference is its Dutch theme.
A standard afternoon tea emphasizes familiar sandwiches, scones, pastries and tea. Royal Dutch Tea incorporates Dutch-inspired foods such as Chocoladebol, Appeltaart, boterkoek and stroopwafel-based desserts.
Holland America can also offer regionally themed afternoon tea, meaning passengers on a cruise with several sea days may encounter more than one version of tea service during their voyage.
Holland America’s Dutch Heritage at Sea
Royal Dutch Tea isn’t an isolated theme.
Holland America incorporates its Dutch origins into several onboard traditions, including Dutch Day, the Orange Party and stroopwafels. Royal Dutch Tea provides the culinary afternoon component of that broader celebration.
That connection also explains why this tea differs from a generic cruise-ship afternoon tea. Foods such as boterkoek, gevulde koeken and appeltaart reinforce the Dutch identity of the experience.
Holland America Royal Dutch Tea FAQ
Does Holland America still have afternoon tea?
Yes. Holland America continues to offer afternoon tea, including Royal Dutch Tea and other tea services depending on the voyage and number of sea days.
What is Royal Dutch Tea?
Royal Dutch Tea is Holland America’s Dutch-themed afternoon tea featuring tea, savory sandwiches, scones and Dutch-inspired pastries and sweets.
When is Royal Dutch Tea served?
Holland America currently says Royal Dutch Tea is offered on the first sea day of each voyage. Exact times should be checked in the onboard daily schedule.
Is Royal Dutch Tea complimentary?
Yes. Holland America categorizes Tea Time as an included onboard experience.
Is Royal Dutch Tea available fleetwide?
Yes. Royal Dutch Tea is a Holland America tradition rather than a ship-specific restaurant or event.
What food is served at Royal Dutch Tea?
The photographed menu includes Chocoladebol, Maple Stroopwafel Napoleon, Boterkoek, Gevulde Koeken, Appeltaart, Bay Shrimp on Brioche, Egg Salad and Cress, Smoked Salmon and Dill, Coronation Chicken and assorted scones.
Does Holland America serve stroopwafels at Royal Dutch Tea?
The photographed menu includes a Maple Stroopwafel Napoleon. Stroopwafels are also used elsewhere in Holland America’s Dutch-themed culinary program.
Are there sandwiches at Royal Dutch Tea?
Yes. The photographed menu includes shrimp, egg salad, smoked salmon and Coronation chicken selections.
Are scones served?
Yes. The menu includes raisin and plain scones with jam and whipped cream.
Where is Royal Dutch Tea held?
Holland America’s current information places the tea service in the main Dining Room. Passengers should check their daily schedule for the exact location and time on their sailing.
Do I need a reservation?
The menu itself doesn’t specify a reservation requirement. Passengers should follow the information provided in the ship’s daily schedule for their particular sailing.
Is the menu always the same?
No. Food selections and onboard programming can change. The photographed menu provides a real example of a Holland America Royal Dutch Tea menu, but individual items shouldn’t be assumed to appear on every sailing.
Final Thoughts on Holland America Royal Dutch Tea
Royal Dutch Tea is much more useful to document than a generic afternoon tea because it is a recognizable fleetwide Holland America experience tied directly to the cruise line’s Dutch heritage.
The menu combines classic afternoon tea elements such as finger sandwiches and scones with foods that give the experience its own identity: Chocoladebol, boterkoek, gevulde koeken, appeltaart and a stroopwafel-inspired Napoleon.
Holland America has also continued investing in the experience, including introducing a dedicated Dutch Tea Time Blend with Art of Tea and incorporating Royal Dutch Tea into its current fleetwide Dutch traditions.
For passengers researching what food and activities are available during a Holland America sea day, Royal Dutch Tea is therefore one of the line’s distinctive included experiences—and the photographed menu provides a useful example of exactly what may be served.
