A recent poll by MSC Cruises of 2,000 people revealed that three-quarters (76%) of British travelers declare that tea never tastes the same aboard a cruise. As a result, 51% bring their own tea bags when they leave England and 37% go as far as to bring their own kettle, mug, and even sugar bowl.
There is a lot more that goes into making the perfect cuppa than some boiling water, a standard tea bag, and a drop of milk.
Showing they know their guests, MSC Cruises has launched the MSC Tea Library on board MSC Virtuosa filled with nearly 100 types of tea – such as PG Tips, Tetley, Clipper, Yorkshire Tea, Twinings and even supermarket-owned brands – as well as dozens of varieties of milk, sugar, sweeteners, mugs, cups, teapots, tea cosies, and more. And to top it off, authentic tap water from the hardest water in London to the softest water in Dundee, to make sure it's just like home.
A firm favorite with British travelers, MSC Virtuosa has arrived back to UK shores with sailings from Southampton this summer. What's more, guests staying in the MSC Yacht Club can take advantage of daily afternoon tea, which MSC Cruises increased from weekly.
Guests can enjoy a tasty cuppa while taking in the beautiful scenery of Northern Europe, The Med, and The Norwegian Fjords, which will hit the spot as nearly six in 10 (58%) believe drinking British tea abroad can improve the overall experience when traveling.
The British stereotype of politeness certainly rings true too, with 45% of Brits admitting that they would still drink an awful cup of tea. A quarter (40%) would even express their gratitude to the person who has made it. However, a very confident 8% would refuse to drink it all together.
"Brits are very particular about their tea, and they should be," said Antonio Paradiso, VP of International Sales and Managing Director of MSC Cruises UK and Ireland. "When it doesn't taste right abroad, it can change the whole experience. It might be that the tea bags are wrong, or the water tastes off, or it might be that UHT milk – it's very hard to replicate the components that make the perfect cuppa when you're not at home."
MSC Virtuosa will be trialing the new Tea Library this month. "We're always listening to our customers to ensure their sailing experience is truly remarkable, and if this trial is successful, we will roll it out during 2025," said Paradiso. "The trial is an extension of a previous survey amongst our fans to find out which tea bag they wanted when cruising with us to inform the tea brands we offer on board. We want our guests to feel like they're in a home away from home when sailing with us, which is why we have always taken tea seriously on board MSC Virtuosa and perfected even the smallest of details so that our guests can sit back and relax with their perfect cuppa, whatever their tastes."
Plan to Attend or Participate in World Tea Expo, March 24-26, 2025
To learn about other key developments, trends, issues, hot topics and products within the global tea community, plan to attend World Tea Expo, March 24-26, 2025 in Las Vegas, co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo. Visit WorldTeaExpo.com.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at World Tea Expo, or to inquire about advertising and sponsorship opportunities at World Tea News, contact:
Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos, Business Development Manager, Questex
Phone: +1-212-895-8493; Email: [email protected]
Also, be sure to stay connected with World Tea Expo on social media for details and insights about the event. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.