Best of · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Tea Cruises & Boat Trips That Earn Their Price

23 tea experiences  ·  from $10 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 tea cruises & boat trips worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames - Boarding at Tower Pier beside the Tower of London
Afternoon Tea Cruises, Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, UK Tea Experiences

London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

1.Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,274 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $53Our pick

Enjoy sandwiches, warm scones, cakes, and unlimited tea on a 90-minute City Cruises boat from Tower Pier. Cruise past Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Shard, the London Eye, and Parliament, with live or recorded commentary and an onboard bar.

“This was the second time my family and I have done the High Tea River Cruise and we love it so much. The boat staff and crew are amazing, and the our captain had an amazing sense of humor it made the ride even better! The cruise is great and there’s a good chance our next visit to London, we may be on this cruise again!!”

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Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min) - Starting at the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon
Australia Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Morning, Tour Reviews

Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

2.Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 973 reviews · from $37

Start at the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon for a 90-minute Brisbane River cruise. Expect views of Customs House, Story Bridge, South Bank, Brisbane’s city center, and Kangaroo Point Cliffs, with onboard commentary, tea, coffee, and scones with jam and cream.

“We had a great cruise on Brisbane river , the Skipper was very informative and skillful and the crew were helpful and great .”

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Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames - Tea with London moving past the windows
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tea Experiences, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, UK Tea Experiences

Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

3.Afternoon Tea River Cruise on the Thames

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 884 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Board City Cruises at Tower Pier for a 90-minute afternoon tea sailing past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and Westminster. Enjoy sandwiches, cakes, scones, unlimited tea or coffee, and panoramic river views from the indoor saloon or open-air deck.

“This was such a fun and memorable experience for my family! The snacks and cakes were delicious and there were generous portions. The staff were very attentive and the views were spectacular! This was a fun twist on afternoon tea on the river, rather than at a hotel or restaurant.”

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Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford - Passing through Iffley Lock
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, UK Tea Experiences

Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford

4.Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise in Oxford

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 583 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80Top rated

Set out from The Folly at Folly Bridge for a 90-minute Oxford river cruise with afternoon tea, live commentary, and views of Christ Church Meadows, rowing boathouses, Iffley Lock, and quiet water meadows. Guides may include Nick, Henry, Dexter, or Louis, depending on the departure.

“Unfortunately, this event did not rise to expectations. We begin with the fact that there is no parking close to the restaurant. As two in our party have mobility issues, this started the day on a bad note. The morsels on the tea tray were fine but actually, it amounted to one sandwich per person, cut into quarters, a macaroon per person, two scones per person with Devon cream & a pot of jam, and a few other sweet items...nothing near what one would expect of a tea costing what this tea cost. The trip was uneventful. We were not treated to any facts along the journey, it was just…”

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Brisbane: Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min) - What the MV Neptune is like onboard
Australia Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Morning, Tour Reviews

Brisbane: Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

5.Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 521 reviews · 1h 30m · from $34

Join River City Cruises aboard the MV Neptune at South Bank for a 90-minute English-language cruise. Sip tea with scones, hear stories about Brisbane, and see the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, city centre, and Story Bridge from the river.

“very interesting about the old building going up the river loved the river cruise trip well worth the money.”

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Dynamic Tokyo: Tokyo Tower, Tea Experience, Bay Cruise Day Tour - Imperial Palace grounds and the view of Nijubashi
Cruises & Boat Tours, Japan Tea Experiences, Tea Experiences, Tokyo Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Dynamic Tokyo: Tokyo Tower, Tea Experience, Bay Cruise Day Tour

6.Dynamic Tokyo: Tokyo Tower, Tea Experience, Bay Cruise Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 521 reviews · from $99

Spend about nine hours touring Tokyo by coach, foot, boat, and elevator. Visit the Imperial Palace grounds, Senso-ji, Nakamise, a matcha experience, Tokyo Tower, and a bay cruise, with buffet lunch and major admissions included. Guides such as Mina and Aki are praised for clear, lively commentary.

“Excellent tour! Our tour guide was very good and we got a chance to see excellent highlights of the city. Lunch was delicious and tea ceremony was an amazing traditional experience. Highly recommended for those visiting for a few days.”

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Skipton: 2-Hour Afternoon Tea Cruise - Two hours on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
2-Hour Experiences, Afternoon Tea Cruises, Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, UK Tea Experiences

Skipton: 2-Hour Afternoon Tea Cruise

7.Skipton: 2-Hour Afternoon Tea Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 508 reviews · 2 hours · from $44

Settle into a warm, comfortable canal boat in Skipton for a two-hour cruise along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. You’ll enjoy sandwiches, scones, cakes, unlimited tea and coffee, plus countryside views through the windows. A licensed bar serves extra drinks, including local beer.

“absolutely brilliant from start to finish thanks so much”

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Afternoon Tea Cruise in North Yorkshire - Snaygill, old boundaries, and quiet countryside
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Afternoon Tea Cruise in North Yorkshire

8.Afternoon Tea Cruise in North Yorkshire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 388 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $45

Settle into a two-hour Skipton Boat Trips cruise from Coach Street and watch the Yorkshire countryside pass at a gentle pace. You get sandwiches, scones, desserts, tea or coffee, a reserved table, and access to a licensed bar. The boat returns to the same meeting point.

“Allow plenty of time to get parked. We nearly missed the boat because of the queue at the parking meter. The food was nice and fresh but the scones were very small. The cruise was very nice, but no running commentary on history etc. because there was really nothing to comment on, just lovely views of fields and trees.”

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Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea - Rowers, punts, and the pleasure of Oxford at play
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, UK Tea Experiences

Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea

9.Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 328 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $78

Meet at The Folly Restaurant for a 1.5-hour cruise with afternoon tea. Sail past Christ Church Meadows, boat houses, Iffley Lock, and Rose Island while an English-speaking skipper such as Nick, Will, or Rory shares local stories.

“Excellent knowledge from skipper Nick and a great way to see some of Oxford for 1.5hrs. The afternoon tea was really nice and in my opinion just slightly overpriced but still worth it for the experience.”

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Adelaide: River Torrens Popeye Devonshire Tea Cruise - A cream tea with a view of the Torrens
Afternoon Tea Cruises, Australia Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews

Adelaide: River Torrens Popeye Devonshire Tea Cruise

10.Adelaide: River Torrens Popeye Devonshire Tea Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 207 reviews · 45 min · from $28

Board the heritage Popeye at Elder Park for a 45-minute River Torrens cruise. Your English-speaking skipper points out Adelaide landmarks and South Australian history while you enjoy two scones with jam, whipped cream, and tea or coffee. You can also disembark near Adelaide Zoo and the Botanic Garden.

“Lovely relaxing river cruise. My husband and I were running late due to roadworks. I ran down to the jetty while husband parked the car and the Captain was kind enough to pick us up 10minutes later when he turned the boat round. Excellent customer service!”

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Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary - Upstream past gardens, bridges, and the MCG
Australia Tea Experiences, City Tours, Coffee Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Melbourne Tea Experiences, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews

Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary

11.Melbourne City Cruise with Tea, Coffee, and Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 189 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Choose an upstream cruise past the Royal Botanic Gardens and MCG, or a downstream trip through Docklands toward Hobson’s Bay. You’ll get live English commentary, panoramic indoor views, an outside sun deck, and complimentary tea or coffee for $29 per person.

“The ferry trip was wonderful, with a lovely breeze blowing. Only one complaint: the windscreen where the ferry captain sat was badly cracked. Not safe.”

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Tokyo: Full-Day Tour w/Tea Experience,Buffet Lunch & Cruise - Starting at Tokyo Station or Shinjuku
Buffet Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Japan Tea Experiences, Lunch Experiences, Tea Experiences, Tokyo Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Tokyo: Full-Day Tour w/Tea Experience,Buffet Lunch & Cruise

12.Full-Day Tour w/Tea Experience,Buffet Lunch & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 151 reviews · from $105

Spend 9 to 9.5 hours touring Tokyo by bus with an English-speaking guide. Visit the Imperial Palace Plaza, Senso-ji, Nakamise, Odaiba, and Tokyo Tower, with a casual tea ceremony, Hilton buffet lunch, and Tokyo Bay cruise included. Guides such as Mina, Aki, Atsushi, and Keiko are praised for clear, warm commentary.

“Awesome! Awesome trip! Our tour guide Mina was excellent! She was very thorough and kept us informed throughout the trip. Mina is very funny and made our experience of Japanese culture and sites very memorable. The buffet lunch at the Hilton was first class! Wide selection of foods! Plus the desserts were tasty and delicately presented. The cruise portion of the tour was good …. as it was nice to see the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo pier from that vantage point. Overall the tour was excellent and a great way to see some of the major areas/sites in Tokyo in a day! The tour bus was comfortable, clean and we…”

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High Tea Cruise on Sydney Harbour - High tea that is more than cake and tea
Afternoon Tea Cruises, Afternoon Tea Experiences, Australia Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews

High Tea Cruise on Sydney Harbour

13.High Tea Cruise on Sydney Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 91 reviews · from $75

Board Captain Cook Cruises at Circular Quay for a 90-minute Sydney Harbour high tea cruise. You’ll receive sparkling wine, tea, coffee, sandwiches, scones, blinis, and petit fours while passing the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and city skyline. Smart casual dress is expected.

“What a lovely experience. We had a couple of hours to fill before a wedding and this was perfect. The food was delish and the views amazing.”

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Sydney: Relaxing High Tea Cruise on Sydney Harbour - What the 90-minute cruise is like
Afternoon Tea Cruises, Afternoon Tea Experiences, Australia Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews

Sydney: Relaxing High Tea Cruise on Sydney Harbour

14.Relaxing High Tea Cruise on Sydney Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 83 reviews · 1h 30m · from $74

Board Captain Cook Cruises at Circular Quay Wharf 6 for a 90-minute afternoon sail around Sydney Harbour. You’ll enjoy sparkling wine, fine tea, prawns, sandwiches, quiches, scones, macarons, and views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and city skyline.

“Lovely tea experience! You get tons of tea choices, a glass of rose and a tower of sandwiches, quiches, rolls and desserts. The views were lovely and it was a very enjoyable experience. I did this solo and still had a wonderful time taking in the views! It circles around two areas, stops to let some people off and then heads back to where you got on.”

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Lake District - Rail Tour from London with Cream Tea and Cruise - Meeting your guide at Oxenholme
Afternoon Tea Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, London Tea Experiences, Tea Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences, UK Tea Experiences

Lake District – Rail Tour from London with Cream Tea and Cruise

15.Lake District – Rail Tour from London with Cream Tea and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 75 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $460

Take a reserved train from London Euston to Oxenholme, then tour the Lake District by minivan with a local guide. See Lake Windermere, Hawkshead, Tarn Hows, and Beatrix Potter sites, with a cruise from April to October and cream tea included.

“Booked first class rail on Saturday. Breakfast -sandwich??, dinner Muffin and cup of tea, no wine??. Comment from Virgin train staff - first class is 'rusbbish' on the weekends' At least in first class we were away from the drunks in stanard class.This train is the London to Glasgow and return so shall we say a wide range of travellers As for the tour - Mountain Goat Tours, Peter our guide was execellent, very knowledgable, took us to all the key locations, lake cruise was good. Would recommend Mountain Goat tour, suggest do first class rail but not on weekends.”

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Pick a kind of tea day

A ceremony, a garden, a tasting bench or a tiered stand.

The ceremony

Tea CeremoniesIn KimonoMaking ClassesBrush & BowlSweets & Tea

The gardens

Plantation DaysFactory FloorsTastingsFarm Visits

Afternoon tea

Afternoon TeaBus TeasBoat TeasCakes & Sweets

And the rest

MatchaTurkish TeaBubble TeaCoffee