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Dining · Explora Journeys

Every Explora dining venue, what's included, and what's worth paying for.

Explora ships carry nine included culinary venues and a handful of extra-charge experiences. Most of what other luxury lines charge for (the steakhouse, the Japanese room, specialty coffee) is included here. Here's the whole map, with what each one actually serves.

Venue details from Explora's published Ship Guide materials, summarized for advisor reference. Photography: Explora Journeys.


Included with every fare

Fil Rouge, Explora's French-influenced main restaurant

Fil Rouge

All-day main restaurant · French-influenced All ships

The everyday main dining room. French-influenced à la carte, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The default, and on most nights, plenty.

The Mediterranean Yacht Club, Explora's all-day Mediterranean dining venue

Mediterranean Yacht Club

All-day · Mediterranean All ships

Relaxed Mediterranean dining, indoor-outdoor, near the pool. The lunch venue most guests gravitate to on a sea day.

Marble & Co, Explora's steakhouse

Marble & Co. Grill

Steakhouse All ships

The steakhouse. Dry-aged cuts, a marble-topped room, the closest thing to a classic chophouse at sea. Included, which is unusual; most lines charge for the steakhouse.

Sakura, the Japanese sushi bar aboard Explora

Sakura

Pan-Asian · Japanese All ships

Pan-Asian with a sushi bar, and the one we kept going back to, three times in a week. The teriyaki is the standout. Multiple early reviewers also name it the strongest specialty room on the ship, ahead of the steakhouse. Worth a standing reservation.

Emporium Marketplace

Market-style · all-day All ships

The market-hall buffet, reimagined. Chef stations rather than steam trays. Breakfast and lunch workhorse, far better than the word 'buffet' implies.

Crema Café, Explora's coffee and pastry bar

Crema Café

Coffee & pastry All ships

Espresso, pastries, and the gelato-and-light-bites stop between meals. Included specialty coffee, no per-cup charge.

Explora Lounge

Afternoon tea · light bites All ships

Afternoon tea and light all-day bites in the main lounge. The civilized in-between option.

In-Suite Dining

24-hour room service All ships

Full 24-hour in-suite dining, included. On the Residence tiers, courses can be served sequentially by your Host.

Gelateria & Crêperie / Shore Club on 11

Casual · ship-dependent I & II: Gelateria & Crêperie · III–VI: Shore Club on 11

The ninth included venue changes by ship. Explora I and II have a Gelateria & Crêperie at The Conservatory; Explora III onward replaces it with Shore Club on 11, a beach-club-style restaurant. You don't choose, the ship does.


A few plates from aboard

A row of small opening plates at dinner aboard Explora I
The opening plates at dinner.
A beef carpaccio plated like a flower at dinner aboard Explora I
Carpaccio at dinner.
Three small plates seen from above at dinner aboard Explora I
Dinner, from above.
A plated main course at dinner aboard Explora I
A course at dinner aboard.
A plated dessert at dinner aboard Explora I
Dessert aboard.
A composed dessert plated on white at dinner aboard Explora I
A last course aboard.
Open-deck dining tables set over the sea aboard Explora I
Dining on deck, over the water.

Worth paying extra for

Four experiences carry a charge. None is an upcharge on something you'd otherwise expect free. They're genuinely separate experiences. Anthology is the one most guests choose.

Anthology, Explora's chef-hosted tasting-menu restaurant

Anthology

Signature Italian fine dining · extra All ships

The chef-hosted signature room, led by Head of Culinary Franck Garanger. A seasonal Italian tasting menu with optional wine pairing, around €165 per person for the menu and €70 for the pairing. These are the only dining charges most guests will see.

The Chef's Kitchen

Hands-on experience · extra All ships

An immersive, hands-on session for twelve guests, guided by the chefs. Ingredients, techniques, traditions. Booked as an experience, not a meal.

The Chef's Table

Private dining · extra Explora III & IV only

Private dining where you build the menu with the chefs from scratch. Sized for an intimate group; usually booked for a celebration. Exclusive to Explora III and IV.

The Cellar

Wine bar · extra Explora III & IV

A wine bar guided by Cellar Masters. Old World classics, New World favourites, rare vintages by the glass. On Explora III and IV only.


Pre-bookable Destination Experiences

Separate from the included venues, Explora sells a slate of culinary and Ocean Wellness experiences you can reserve before you sail, often at a saving versus booking onboard. They're billed in euros. A few worth knowing about, with approximate pre-purchase pricing:

Tastings & the Chef's Kitchen

Culinary & beverage · pre-bookable Per person, approximate

The Chef's Kitchen hands-on session runs from ~€165. Beverage tastings span the range: a whisky tasting from ~€70, a Champagne tasting from ~€90, cognac and cigar from ~€110, a caviar pairing from ~€120, and a Super Tuscany wine tasting from ~€260. Reserve the ones you care about before you sail; the small rooms book out first.

Ocean Wellness spa

Spa treatments · pre-bookable Per treatment, approximate

Pre-purchase the spa before your Journey and Explora takes 10% off the treatment menu, with pre-purchase savings of roughly 17 to 24% on the bundled options. The 90-minute Restore and Glow and Aromatic Restore Body run from ~€290, a Gentleman's Reset from ~€160, and Tips and Toes from ~€220. Worth booking ahead if a spa day is part of the plan.

Experience collections

Bundled · pre-bookable Per collection, approximate

Explora also bundles experiences into collections sold ahead of the Journey, with savings of up to ~41% versus booking the pieces separately. The Epicurean runs from ~€440, the Connoisseur from ~€300, and the Culinary Craft from ~€240. The right pick depends on whether you lean dining, beverage, or spa, and I can size it to your voyage.

*Pre-purchase savings vary; terms apply. Prices are approximate, billed in euros, and set by Explora.


Bars & lounges

The Malt Whisky Bar aboard Explora

The Malt Whisky Bar

Whisky & cocktail bar All ships

A serious whisky list and a quiet room to drink it in. Pours are included up to the premium tier; rare bottles priced separately.

Lobby Bar

All-day bar All ships

The central all-day bar. Coffee in the morning, aperitivo in the evening. Included.

Astern Lounge

Aft lounge & bar All ships

The aft-facing lounge with the wake view. The sunset-drink spot. Included.

Sky Lounge

Observation lounge & bar All ships

The high, forward observation lounge. Quiet by day, a nightcap room after dinner. Included.

Want a dining-forward voyage recommendation?

If the food is the reason you're considering Explora, and for a lot of Aman and Belmond buyers it is, I can point you to the voyages and suites that make the most of it, and get you the Anthology and Sakura reservations that book out first.

Book a 30-min Pre-flight or send your dates