Case Study: Tea at Sea with Tea Forté and Celebrity Cruises

The Opportunity

Tea Forté partnered with Celebrity Cruises to support the launch of their High Tea at Sea program. Celebrity wanted to offer guests an elevated tea tasting experience led by a tea sommelier onboard.

This was not about serving tea. It was about creating an immersive, educational moment at sea.

Guests would examine loose leaf teas, learn about origin and flavor profiles, experience the aroma, and then taste with context. The physical presentation needed to reflect Tea Forté’s luxury positioning while enhancing the premium hospitality environment Celebrity is known for.

The Challenge

Design a tasting kit that would:

• Showcase six loose leaf tea varieties in an elegant format
• Reinforce Tea Forté’s premium brand identity
• Support an interactive, guided tasting experience
• Align seamlessly with a luxury cruise dining setting
• Deliver both beauty and functional precision

Every detail needed to feel intentional.

The Solution

We designed a custom wooden tea tasting box that became the centerpiece of the experience.

Key Design Elements

• Matte black wood construction for a refined, modern aesthetic
• Gold foil Tea Forté logo on the exterior lid
• High Tea at Sea printed in gold foil inside the lid
• Six square glass jars with etched Tea Forté logos
• Gold metal lids for elevated detailing
• Black high density foam insert for secure and precise placement

Each jar holds a different loose leaf tea variety. During the tasting, guests visually inspect the leaves, experience the aroma, receive education from the sommelier, and then taste with a deeper understanding of the blend.

The box serves as both display and storytelling tool.

Why It Works

Reinforces Brand Positioning

The combination of matte wood, etched glass, and dual gold foil accents communicates refinement and quality. The presentation feels unmistakably aligned with both Tea Forté and Celebrity Cruises.

Elevates the Guest Experience

Rather than simply serving tea, the box creates ceremony. It slows the moment down, encourages exploration, and transforms tasting into an event.

Connects Product to Education

The physical design supports storytelling. Guests engage visually and emotionally before they ever take a sip.

Designed for Luxury Hospitality

Every material choice and finishing detail was selected to feel cohesive within a premium cruise dining environment.

The Impact

The High Tea at Sea tasting box transforms tea service into a curated brand experience.

• elevates product perception.
• enhances the onboard program.
• strengthens emotional connection.
• creates a memorable touchpoint for guests.

At SOBO Concepts, this is how we transform brands into creative, results driven products that connect, wow, and deliver.