Discovering the exquisite restaurants and bars on EXPLORA I

Explora Journeys is the newest cruise brand in the world. Does the food, beverage, pools and lounges offered on their first ship EXPLORA I live up to the ultra-luxury aspirations of the brand? We find out.

The canary in the mine for a cruise line is its food and beverage offering. Delivering the elevated dining experience luxury guests expect will go a long way to ensuring customer satisfaction and the cornerstone of an enduring cruise product.

This is the third and final instalment of our EXPLORA I review. The first two instalments were the EXPLORA I overview for general insights and the EXPLORA I accommodation review.

EXPLORA I Restaurants

There are six restaurants onboard plus an extensive 24-hour in-room dining menu that is included in the cruise fare.

Emporium Marketplace

The marketplace is an all-day dining restaurant that is easily described as a buffet but is more like a self-serve private kitchen. Most of the dishes are prepped to order – to preserve freshness and cut down on food waste.

Enjoy all-day dining at Emporium Marketplace.

The seafood stations are a highlight and the evening French oysters are a must. Ideally, every evening would start with a glass of champagne and a few oysters before heading to dinner.

A culinary paradise awaits.

The stations change from breakfast lunch and dinner. To set expectations, the menu will range from burgers to freshly made pasta and roasts and stir-fries.

Dine al fresco with breathtaking views.

Sakura

The Pan-Asian restaurant is a firm favourite. As mentioned in the overview review the lobster pad Thai should not be missed.

Savour the essence of Pan-Asian cuisine at Sakura.

Alongside the lobster, the Yellow Tail sashimi with jalapeno and coriander cream and the soft shell crab tempura and the Wagyu beef tataki are favourites.

Sit under the enchanting cherry blossom canopy.

Marble & CO

Sweden Swami, Bavaria Simmental, France Jersiaise or France Aubrac. No, not a list of ancient tribes towled up by Julius Caesar but the regions from which your preferred steak has come.

It underscores the ‘Europeanness’ of Explora Journeys. The steaks are accompanied by larger casseroles like fried Brussels sprouts with ricotta cream and roasted shallots and traditional fries, mash or baked tatty sides.

Seafood is on the menu and the wife loved her starter of lobster bisque.

But my advice, for a delight for your palate choose the Marble & Co signature starter – Crushed fingerling potatoes and Normandy butter with chives, Calvisus Oscietra caviar and crème fraiche.

A startling texture of the creamy potato with a little bit of chives and the popping candy salty burst of caviar. It is an indulgent journey for your tastebuds.

Anthology

Known as the world’s most expensive and delicious prawn in the world, the Sicilian Mazara red prawn is just one of the dishes at the only additional charge restaurant on Explora 1 Anthology.

The Anthology restaurant is the pinnacle of fine dining at sea.

The six-course menu is a serious fine dining Italian food experience. The tasting menu traverses the entire Italian countryside and includes all my favourite signature dishes such as vitello tonnato, spaghetti vongole and la montagna beef fillet with porcini mushrooms. My wife hit the jackpot though. The cannelloni di capasanta – scallop cannelloni with black truffle, herb salad and Parmigiano Reggiano foam had us both oohing and aahing. When I see a foam on the menu I can’t help but roll my eyes, however, it added a delicate bite to the truffle and scallops that made me admire the craft of exec chef Franck Garanger to think, ‘You know what will nail this dish? A wee bit of Parmigiano foam’.

Its interior, along with the menu, is Italian-inspired.

Med Yacht Club

With a menu like patatas bravas, shrimp saganaki, Santorini fried tomato fritters and crispy fried calamari the Yacht Club takes you to your favourite Med town, beach or island.

The veal scaloppini was a favourite amongst our party and heavier options included Rhodes-style lamb shanks or roasted Galician salted cod.

This was the comfort dining option of choice for us.

Fil Rouge

This was my least favourite of the restaurants on board. I ordered badly and the beef Wellington was just a little insipid and the foie gras a little stringy.

The restaurant’s white and bright design gives off a sophisticated vibe.

My dining companions were delighted with their lobster thermidor and I had food envy for another in the group whose Dover sole, filleted at the table, was light and delicate.

Fil Rouge delivers an elevated dining experience.

EXPLORA I – Pools, Bars and Lounges

For just 461 suites and a max of 922 guests, there is a plethora of options for lounging, pool side dozing, morning coffee or sunset drinks. I have been completely self-indulgent and listed them in order of my favourites. I just wish I had more time to enjoy them all.

Sky Bar

The outdoor bar is perfect for lounging and a sunset drink to farewell your favourite ports.

Lobby Bar

This is the bar for a nightcap. It is an art deco-esque speakeasy with bulky lounges perfect to sink into for a tete-a-tete with an unnecessary but thoroughly enjoyable espresso martini or negroni.

Crema Café

As Australians, we will forgo a lot but coffee is a non-negotiable and thankfully the baristas at Crema Café are up to scratch. Ordering a flat white is met with a knowing nod and the team went to ridiculous lengths (three attempts) to please the exacting coffee standards of my wife.

Sit down for coffee at Crema Café.

Atoll Pool and Bar

THE pool for me. Huge day beds right next to the pool were always available. And in the middle of the day, space under shade. The view of the wake is always mesmerising and made more special with a virgin or fully leaded daiquiri.

Laze on the sun lounges in the warm Mediterranean sun.

Explora Lounge

Do not miss this lounge if you are seeking solitude and time with a good book. In the afternoon they serve a high tea, a lovely surprise for those not expecting it.

Malt Whisky Bar

A nook off the Explora Lounge, this a rival to the Lobby Bar for the best nightcap bar on the ship. This space is more chesterfields and intimate.

Astern Pool and Bar

This pool and bar are much lower than my favourite Atoll pool. The pool is a shallow paddle but Europeans will flock to the sun lounging.

Relax on day beds while watching the waves go by.

Helios Pool and Bar

The aft pool is a secret that many did not find. While at sea it can be a bit blowy, it is the least populated of all the pools and bars.

The Conservatory Pool & Bar

The main pool and bar with a retracting roof this is a gorgeous space if you are looking for lots of shade.

The poolside lounge transforms into a cinema at night.

Astern Lounge

An entertainment lounge for more interactive sessions like educational lectures or trivia. The space is great and perfect if the programming suits.

Journeys Lounge

The more traditional theatre-style lounge, my only visit was to pick up shore excursions. The Adele-inspired performance received rave reviews from fellow passengers.