Independent cruise ship reviews - Explora Journeys - MSC Yacht Club - Luxury Experiences - Cruise news
Explora Journeys Restaurants & Dining Guide
Explora Journeys restaurants are one of the biggest reasons we keep returning to the brand.
After sailing on EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II and EXPLORA III, we have eaten across the restaurants, tried hundreds of dishes and used everything from fine dining and casual venues to afternoon tea and In-Suite Dining.
This Explora Journeys Dining Guide brings all of that experience together in one place — restaurant information, menus, reservations, typical opening hours and our searchable Dining Finder.
500+ dishes searchable | EXPLORA I · II · III | Menus & opening hours | First-hand experience
Prefer a more visual guide? Watch our videos
Explora Journeys Dining Guides | Explora I, II & III
Find what you actually want to eat
Search by dish, ingredient, restaurant, meal or ship.
Save dishes to your personal wishlist before your journey.
Download Explora Journeys Menus
MSC Explora Journeys I EXPLORA III, II & I | Guides, dining & VLOG
How dining works on Explora Journeys
All about Explora Journeys Dining in one place
How to Reserve Explora Journeys Restaurants
Explora Journeys combines restaurants with assigned dining times and venues where you can simply arrive when you are ready.
Understanding the difference before your journey makes dining much easier to plan.
Reservations are required for Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill and Anthology.
Med Yacht Club and Fil Rouge operate with open seating, although you can still reserve them if you want to guarantee a particular evening or dining time.
Emporium Marketplace is open seating without reservations.
When can I book restaurants?
Dining reservations currently open according to your suite category:
-
Ocean Terrace Suites: 75 days before sailing
-
Ocean Penthouses: 90 days before sailing
-
Ocean Residences: 120 days before sailing
-
Owner’s Residences: 180 days before sailing
Explora Journeys allows more than one dining experience to be booked in advance, although repeat reservations for the same restaurant may be limited to ensure all guests have an opportunity to dine there.
Our reservation strategy
If Sakura and Marble & Co. are important to you, we prefer booking those restaurants early in the journey rather than during the final nights.
Once onboard, additional availability can sometimes appear through cancellations or released capacity. It is never guaranteed, but having your first visit early gives you more time to look for another opportunity later in the cruise.
For Med Yacht Club and Fil Rouge, we are much more relaxed. Walking in often works perfectly well, but if there is a particular evening or time you really want, reserving it removes the uncertainty.
If you want to experience Anthology, we recommend booking it before the journey rather than waiting until you are onboard.
The core Explora Journeys restaurant experience is remarkably consistent across the first three ships.
Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill, Med Yacht Club, Fil Rouge, Anthology and Emporium Marketplace form the foundation of the dining experience.
But the ships are not completely identical.
Shore Club on 11
Among EXPLORA I, II and III, Shore Club on 11 at The Conservatory is an EXPLORA III concept.
It adds a completely different lunch option: relaxed enough to visit almost straight from the pool, but still with proper table service, premium glassware and a menu with plenty of Mediterranean and international influences.
Officially, the concept continues on the newer EXPLORA ships as the fleet expands.
Gelateria & Crêperie
On EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, Gelateria & Crêperie is a dedicated venue at The Conservatory.
EXPLORA III has a different setup.
Gelato and sorbet are still available around The Conservatory, but the dedicated experience feels more integrated and scaled down compared with the first two ships.
Explora currently lists the standalone Gelateria & Crêperie specifically for EXPLORA I and II.
Anthology
Anthology has evolved considerably.
Some dishes and ideas remain familiar, while others have changed between the ships.
On EXPLORA III we experienced a substantially refreshed menu, which is why our Dining Finder keeps different Anthology versions separate when the recipe genuinely differs.
In-Suite Dining
This is another area where the menus are not identical.
EXPLORA III introduced a significantly revised main In-Suite Dining menu compared with the versions we experienced on EXPLORA I and II.
Explora Lounge
The concept remains the same, but the actual food selection differs between EXPLORA I/II and EXPLORA III.
This is exactly why our Dining Finder lets you select a ship rather than assuming that every dish is available everywhere.
A Day of Dining on Explora Journeys
One of the things we enjoy most about Explora Journeys dining is how different the experience can feel depending on the time of day.
There is no need to follow the same routine every day.
Breakfast
You can start your morning in four completely different ways.
In-Suite Dining is the most relaxed option. Breakfast arrives directly to your suite, and if you have a terrace, there are few better ways to start a day at sea.
Fil Rouge offers a calmer, more traditional à la carte breakfast with full table service.
Emporium Marketplace gives you the widest choice, from pastries, fruit and charcuterie to pancakes, eggs and freshly prepared breakfast dishes.
Crema Café is our choice when we want something quicker before heading ashore: coffee, pastries, fruit and lighter breakfast options without committing to a full restaurant breakfast.
Lunch
Lunch is where Explora becomes particularly flexible.
Depending on the day you might choose Med Yacht Club, Sakura, Emporium Marketplace or, on EXPLORA III, Shore Club on 11.
Sakura and Med Yacht Club often alternate lunch service. In our experience Sakura frequently appears on port days while Med Yacht Club often serves lunch on sea days, but this is not a fixed rule. Always check the daily programme onboard.
Afternoon
Between the main meals there is still plenty happening.
Explora Lounge serves food and snacks for much of the day, and afternoon tea is typically served between 16:00 and 17:00.
Expect a rotating selection rather than an identical fixed menu every day: scones, small sandwiches, pastries, tartlets and teas are among the things we have repeatedly seen.
Crema Café is another easy stop, and later in the day we particularly enjoy the Italian antipasti selection.
Dinner
This is when the full range of Explora Journeys restaurants comes into play.
You might choose:
-
Pan-Asian flavours at Sakura
-
A steak at Marble & Co. Grill
-
Mediterranean cooking at Med Yacht Club
-
French-inspired international cuisine at Fil Rouge
-
The full tasting experience at Anthology
-
A completely casual evening at Emporium Marketplace
-
Or dinner in the privacy of your own suite
Late Night
You are not finished when the restaurants close.
Explora Lounge remains useful late into the evening, while the main In-Suite Dining menu is available 24 hours a day.
Sometimes the best dining decision is simply ordering something to the suite, opening a bottle or ordering a drink, and staying on your own terrace for the evening.
Explora Journeys Restaurants – Our Complete Guide
Sakura
Pan-Asian cuisine | Lunch on selected days | Dinner | Reservation required
Sakura combines Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian influences in one of the most distinctive restaurants on Explora Journeys.
The menu moves from smaller dishes and soups to seafood, meat, poultry, curries and an extensive sushi selection. Across our Explora cruises, we have tried a very large part of the menu, and Sakura remains one of the venues where it is easy to create a completely different dinner on a second visit.
The Sakura Sushi Bar is particularly useful to know about. It offers a more spontaneous way to enjoy sushi, nigiri and sashimi without turning the evening into a full restaurant dinner.
Best for: sushi, Asian flavours and sharing several different dishes.
Marble & Co. Grill
European steakhouse | Dinner | Reservation required | Included
Marble & Co. is often described simply as the steakhouse, but that undersells it.
Premium meat is naturally the focus, and our own steak experiences here have been remarkably consistent, but some of our favourite dishes have come from the starters, sides and desserts.
It is worth exploring the full menu rather than ordering only steak and leaving.
Best for: premium meat, a more intimate evening and classic steakhouse-style dining with an Explora twist.
Med Yacht Club
Mediterranean | Lunch on selected days | Dinner | Open seating
Med Yacht Club has become one of our favourite restaurants on Explora Journeys.
The menu draws from Mediterranean cuisines rather than focusing on one country, with pasta, risotto, seafood, meat and some genuinely excellent desserts.
Do not overlook lunch. It is a different experience from dinner and one of the dining options we actively try to fit into the journey.
Best for: Mediterranean food, pasta, relaxed dinners and one of the best sit-down lunches onboard.
Fil Rouge
French-inspired international cuisine | Breakfast | Dinner | Open seating
Fil Rouge feels closest to a traditional elegant dining room, but without becoming formal.
At breakfast it offers a quiet à la carte alternative to Emporium Marketplace.
At dinner the experience becomes more refined, combining French inspiration with broader international dishes.
Service has consistently been one of the strengths for us here.
Best for: a relaxed sit-down breakfast, classic service and a more traditional restaurant evening..
Anthology
Fine dining tasting experience | Dinner | Reservation recommended | Additional charge
Read our full Anthology review here
Anthology is different from the other Explora Journeys restaurants.
This is not simply another place to have dinner. The food, wine, service and storytelling are designed to work together as a complete tasting experience.
Our recommendation for first-time Explora guests is usually to experience the included restaurants before deciding whether Anthology is important to you. There is already an exceptional amount of dining included in the fare.
If you have experienced the other restaurants and want something more elaborate, Anthology can be a very memorable evening.
The current listed price is EUR 165 per person for the tasting menu, with an optional EUR 70 wine pairing.
Best for: a special evening, tasting menus and guests who want to explore beyond the included restaurants.
Explora Journeys’ NEW Anthology Menu - Now on all three ships: Is It Worth €165?
Shore Club on 11
EXPLORA III | Lunch | Included
Shore Club was one of the biggest dining additions on EXPLORA III — and one of our favourite changes.
The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed. You can arrive from the pool area without turning lunch into a formal event, yet the table service, glassware and presentation still feel premium.
The menu mixes familiar dishes with more interesting Mediterranean and globally influenced flavours.
For us, Shore Club alone is a meaningful improvement to the daytime dining experience on EXPLORA III.
Best for: relaxed lunches, sharing dishes and something different from Emporium Marketplace.
Emporium Marketplace
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | No reservation | Included
Emporium Marketplace deserves much more than a few paragraphs.
It combines multiple live cooking stations with sushi, seafood, pasta, pizza, grilled dishes, burgers, salads, charcuterie, cheese, pastries, desserts and daily rotating dishes.
It is not a traditional self-service cruise buffet. Much of the food is plated or prepared for you, while many dishes are cooked to order.
We created a separate complete guide covering the individual stations, recurring dishes and how the experience changes between breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Read our complete Emporium Marketplace Guide →
Explora Lounge
Food & snacks | Afternoon Tea | Included
Explora Lounge is one of the easiest dining venues to miss because many guests primarily see it as a lounge.
In reality, food is available through much of the day and into the evening, with dishes ranging from sandwiches and lighter meals to sushi-style options, desserts and snacks.
Afternoon tea typically takes place from 16:00 to 17:00, with the exact selection changing slightly from day to day.
Best for: light meals, snacks between restaurant opening times and afternoon tea.
Crema Café
Coffee | Breakfast | Light bites | Italian antipasti | Included
Crema Café is much more than a coffee bar.
In the morning it works extremely well for a quick breakfast with coffee, pastries, fruit and lighter choices. Throughout the day there are small bites and sweet options.
Later in the afternoon and evening, the Italian antipasti are easy to overlook but absolutely worth trying.
For us, Crema is one of the spaces that helps Explora feel less scheduled. You can simply stop when you want something small rather than organising another full meal.
Best for: speciality coffee, quick breakfasts and lighter food.
Gelateria & Crêperie
EXPLORA I & II | Gelato | Sorbet | Crêpes | Included
On EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, the Gelateria & Crêperie at The Conservatory is a dedicated stop for gelato, sorbet and freshly prepared crêpes.
It is simple, casual and exactly the sort of venue you end up visiting more often than expected.
EXPLORA III has a different arrangement, with the offering more integrated around The Conservatory at the Shore Club on 11 and in the conservatory bar, rather than presented in exactly the same standalone format.
Explora officially lists the dedicated Gelateria & Crêperie for EXPLORA I and II.
In-Suite Dining
24 hours | Breakfast | All-Day Dining | Included
In-Suite Dining is one of the strongest parts of the Explora Journeys dining experience.
We have used it repeatedly across EXPLORA I, II and III, and the combination of food quality, presentation, timing and consistency has been exceptional.
This is not something we would save only for the occasional room-service breakfast.
You can have a proper meal in your suite, enjoy dinner on your terrace, order something late at night or simply request drinks and small bites while relaxing in your own space.
The main In-Suite Dining service is available 24 hours a day.
Best for: terrace breakfasts, quiet evenings and making full use of your suite.
What Should You Book First?
Bookingguide for Explora Journeys Restaurants
If this is your first Explora Journey, you do not need to schedule every meal before you board.
A little planning is useful. Over-planning is not.
1. Book Sakura and Marble & Co. early
These are the two included restaurants where we would prioritise securing the times we want.
If possible, we prefer having our first visits relatively early in the journey. That gives us more time to look for additional availability later if we decide we want to return.
2. Decide whether Anthology matters to you
If Anthology is something you already know you want to experience, reserve it before sailing.
If you are unsure, remember that the included restaurant selection is already extremely strong.
3. Use Med Yacht Club and Fil Rouge for flexibility
These are ideal restaurants to leave some space in your schedule.
You can reserve them, but you do not necessarily need to.
4. Check the lunch schedule when you board
Do not assume Sakura and Med Yacht Club will both be serving lunch every day.
Look at the daily programme early in the cruise so you do not miss the lunch you wanted.
5. Leave room for the experiences people forget
Some of our favourite dining moments are not traditional dinners.
Do not miss:
-
Med Yacht Club lunch
-
Sakura Sushi Bar
-
Afternoon Tea in Explora Lounge
-
Italian antipasti at Crema Café
-
In-Suite Dining
-
Shore Club on EXPLORA III
-
A casual evening at Emporium Marketplace
6. Do not book every evening
One of Explora Journeys’ strengths is flexibility.
Leave at least a few evenings open. You may discover a restaurant you want to revisit, decide to eat later than expected, stay outside for sunset or simply choose dinner on your terrace instead.
What to wear in the restaurants
Explora Journeys Dress Code for Restaurants
Explora Journeys has no formal nights, and the overall atmosphere is considerably more relaxed than on many traditional luxury cruise lines.
During the day there is no formal dress code, although swimwear, bathrobes and workout clothing should not be worn in restaurants or indoor bars.
From 18:00 onwards, Explora asks guests to adopt an elevated resort-casual style. Sleeveless T-shirts, baseball caps, sportswear and informal beach footwear are not appropriate in restaurants and indoor bars.
Tailored shorts are allowed in the evening, except when dining at Anthology. Explora Journeys
For us, this balance works extremely well. You can dress nicely without feeling that every dinner requires formalwear, and if you enjoy dressing up more, you certainly will not feel out of place.
Dietary Requirements
Dietary Requirements, Vegetarian Food and Allergies
Explora Journeys offers vegetarian and plant-based dishes throughout its restaurants, and many menus also include specific dietary indicators. Explora Journeys
In our Dining Finder, we reproduce the dietary labels that are actually printed on the menus:
PB — Plant Based
VG — Vegetarian
GC — Gluten Conscious
O3 — Omega 3 Oily Fish
We do not add dietary labels simply because a dish appears to meet a particular diet. If Explora has not labelled it that way on the source menu, we do not invent the classification.
Important for allergies
The Dining Finder should never be treated as an allergy-safety tool.
Ingredients, preparation methods and menus can change, and cross-contact requirements need to be handled directly with the cruise line.
Explora Journeys asks guests to provide dietary restrictions when making the booking and recommends informing the onboard team as well. The company also states that its culinary team can accommodate a wide range of dietary requirements, including severe allergies.
If you have a serious allergy or intolerance, always speak directly with Explora Journeys and the restaurant team onboard.
Experience all in visuals
Watch Our Explora Journeys Dining Guide
Prefer to see the restaurants, dishes and atmosphere rather than just read about them?
Our Explora Journeys videos take you inside the ships and show the dining experience as we actually experienced it — including the food, restaurants, menus and the smaller details that are easy to miss before your first journey.
EXPLORA III – The Dining Experience
Our complete look at dining on EXPLORA III, including the new Shore Club, Anthology, the main restaurants, breakfast, afternoon tea, In-Suite Dining and more.
Explora III | The Dining Experience on Explora Journeys - Is This the Best Food at Sea?
EXPLORA III – Full Ship Walkthrough
See where the restaurants are located and how the dining venues fit into the wider layout of EXPLORA III.
Explora III | We Boarded Explora Journeys Newest Luxury Cruise Ship - Full Walkthrough
EXPLORA I – What Changed?
A return to EXPLORA I one year later, with another look at the ship, experience and how Explora Journeys has evolved.
MSC Explora I | Explora Journeys After 1 Year - What’s Changed?
The Dining Experience on an Ultra-Luxury Cruise
Our earlier complete Explora Journeys dining guide, covering the restaurants, food and casual dining experiences across the ship.
The Dining Experience on an Ultra-Luxury Cruise | Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys Dining Guides | Explora I, II & III
Explora Journeys Dining Guides | Explora I, II & III
Explora Journeys’ NEW Anthology Menu - Now on all three ships: Is It Worth €165?
Explora III | The Dining Experience on Explora Journeys - Is This the Best Food at Sea?
The Dining Experience on an Ultra-Luxury Cruise | Explora Journeys
