As is so often the case, many people tend to remember their vacations through what they had the opportunity to eat. With our relationship to food being so intimate, this is a natural reaction. And when that food happens to be the unique culinary offerings of Explora Journeys, the “taste memory” is beyond vivid.
The six restaurants aboard the EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II offer not merely conventional dining, but culinary excellence, a celebration of gastronomic talent and international cultures – the absolute pinnacle of the luxury cruise food-and-beverage chain to be exact.
Charting a new culinary course
One of the more interesting things Explora Journeys is doing with regard to their culinary philosophy is offering a selection of restaurants that guests can choose from each evening. Inspiring an Ocean State of Mind comes with allowing guests to really tailor their ideal culinary journey to their exact tastes.
With regard to all-day dining, Explora takes a different tack. Rather than just laying out a giant buffet restaurant, the Explora fleet goes about things more conceptually, in the form of the food-hall style of the Emporium Marketplace. Here, guests can choose items from 18 different culinary stations offering everything from fresh salads, pizzas and rotisserie to oysters and sushi. Diverse and indulgent meals are focused on the destinations the ships visit. Charcuterie, fromagerie and boulangerie stations elevate the experience.
Find ample choice for fine dining
Anthology is also charmingly different, a new way of executing the chef’s table experience – by inviting celebrity guest chefs on board to showcase their talents for a limited time. These exclusive experiences become almost “dinner theater,” the chefs working right in full view of the diners, creating meals that represent international cultures.
Speaking of which, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisines are all represented in Explora’s pan-Asian restaurant Sakura, open for lunch and dinner. “Sakura” is the Japanese word for “cherry blossom,” Japan’s national flower. Under a puffy, pink installation of blossoms, diners enjoy an elegant, traditional Japanese setting with a full ocean view. Signature dishes can include wagyu beef tataki and a mouth-watering makrut lime pavlova. Sushi-bar seating here is also available. Guests can also expect Asian-inspired drinks, along with a dedicated sake sommelier.
Where would a cruise ship be without a French restaurant? Lost at sea, one would expect. Explora ships come through on this category with the dazzling, French-inspired, international cuisine of Fil Rouge. Treats like Burgundy Escargot and Lobster Wellington make this sophisticated and intimate restaurant a real knock-out, right down to the dessert cart.
True carnivores will fall in love with the menus at the 80-seat Marble & Co. Grill. This European-style steakhouse champions sustainably raised cuts of the finest beef from around the world, aged to perfection in-house. And oh my, the Hollandaise.
A word about the wine – the cellars on board the Explora fleet are filled with gems sourced from boutique wineries. Taken together, the lists are intriguing, more than tempting and incredibly satisfying. Both established and newer wine regions are explored, so you can rotate between familiarity and originality – the best of both worlds. Keep in mind that themed wine shore excursions dig even deeper into the taste sensation.
Set sail with culinary expertise
It’s time you connected with the Tully Travel Designers to start making dinner reservations with Explora Journeys – up to 60 days before your departure. They will be happy to see you sailing along on a new culinary journey – night after night.