Explora Journeys Anthology Review – Is the €165 Dinner Worth It?
Updated: Oct 4
Anthology's New Menu on all ships since september 2026
Anthology is Explora Journeys’ only restaurant with an additional charge. At €165 per person for the seven-course tasting menu, it is also one of the most talked-about dining experiences onboard. Add the optional wine pairing at €70 per person, and a couple pays €470 in total.
Having experienced Anthology aboard EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II and EXPLORA III, we think the answer depends on what you want from dinner. Anthology is not necessary to eat very well on Explora Journeys.
It is, however, a slower, more theatrical and detailed fine-dining experience for guests who want to make dinner the main event of the evening.
What Is Anthology on Explora Journeys?
Anthology is Explora Journeys’ signature specialty restaurant and the only dining venue in the fleet with an additional charge. It presents a multi-course tasting menu built around contemporary Italian cuisine, combining familiar references with premium ingredients, detailed presentation and a more formal style of service.
Anthology is not intended to replace the included restaurants. Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill, Med Yacht Club, Fil Rouge and Emporium Marketplace already offer plenty of variety, and it is entirely possible to eat very well throughout a sailing without paying extra.
How Much Does Anthology Cost?
The seven-course Anthology tasting menu costs €165 per person. The optional wine pairing costs €70 per person. Two guests choosing both pay €470 in total.
At €165, Anthology is expensive. The question is whether the additional time, service, ingredients and presentation justify the price for you.
A New Anthology Menu Debuting on EXPLORA III
The latest Anthology menu debuted aboard EXPLORA III. It was created by Franck Garanger, Head of Culinary at Explora Journeys, who was present in the restaurant during our dinner aboard EXPLORA III.
The menu feels like a confident continuation of the concept, rather than a complete departure from it.
How Does the Seven-Course Anthology Dinner Work?
The official menu consists of seven courses: First Course; Second Course; Pasta & Risotto; Palate Cleanser; Main Course; Pre-Dessert; and Dessert.
Most courses offer a choice. Amuse-bouches arrive before the official menu, and Piccole Delizie, a selection of Italian mignardises, concludes the meal. The pacing is deliberately slow.
DOWNLOAD THE NEW ANTHOLOGY MENU HERE
The Full New Anthology Menu
Course — Choices
First Course —
Ricordo del Mare: Oscietra Royal caviar, lobster, green apple and sweet & sour vinaigrette; Gambero Rosso di Mazara del Vallo: Sicilian red prawns, burrata foam, green peas and white peach;
Panzanella: tomato tartare, cucumber, bell pepper, olives and rustic Tuscan bread.
Second Course —
Vitello Tonnato: veal loin, Albacore tuna espuma, caperberries, gremolata and Lessatini olives;
Astice al Burro e Acqua Pazza: butter-poached lobster, Datterino tomato nage, braised fennel and Taggiasca olives;
La Mia Primavera: cauliflower and Sicilian Avola almond panna cotta with morel ragout.
Pasta & Risotto —
Caramelle Ripiene di Granchio Reale: king crab caramelle, zucchini, lemon caviar and a tomato, lobster and sea urchin broth;
Risotto delle Colline Venete: Acquerello Carnaroli rice, Treviso radicchio, goat cheese and 25-year-aged traditional balsamic vinegar “Extravecchio”; Calamarata di Sogliola: Pietro Massi calamarata pasta, Dover sole, saffron broth, Amalfi lemon butter and confit Datterino tomatoes.
Palate Cleanser —
Granita alla Grappa di Bolgheri Sassicaia, based around Bolgheri Sassicaia grappa.
Main Course —
La Montagna: A5 Japanese Wagyu beef, Amarone sauce, potato-truffle millefoglie and vegetable bouquetière;
Il Mare: Mediterranean sea bass in potato scales with DOP Contratto vermouth and Sicilian blood orange sauce, plus baby zucchini;
La Campagna: plant-based braised celeriac prepared “osso buco” style with thyme flower, almond foam and tonka bean.
Anthology La Campagna
Pre-Dessert —
Fior di Latte Gelato: milk ice cream, rosé Champagne granita and Ligurian pesto.
Dessert —
Millefoglie: caramelised crispy puff pastry, vanilla cream and fresh raspberries;
Arancia & Espresso: mascarpone cream, orange and smoked Chantilly;
Euforia di Cioccolato: 85% dark chocolate and silken tofu with amaretto and toasted almond.
After Dinner —
Piccole Delizie: a selection of Italian mignardises.
Before the Seven Courses Even Begin
Before the official menu started, we were served sea urchin and langoustine tartare, fried pizza prepared à la minute with Parmesan cream, arugula pesto and Taggiasca olive, a foie gras bite infused with Marsala, and rustic tomato bread. The fried pizza was particularly memorable: refined, but relaxed and recognisably Italian.
The Food – What Is the New Menu Actually Like?
The menu is built around recognisable Italian references such as Panzanella, Vitello Tonnato, risotto, pasta, sea bass and Millefoglie, but they are reconstructed through a fine-dining format.
Gambero Rosso di Mazara del Vallo was delicate and fresh, while La Mia Primavera brought cauliflower, Sicilian Avola almond and morel ragout together in an earthy, creamy course.
Caramelle Ripiene di Granchio Reale combined king crab pasta with zucchini, lemon caviar and tomato, lobster and sea urchin broth. Calamarata di Sogliola paired Pietro Massi pasta with Dover sole, saffron, Amalfi lemon butter and confit Datterino tomatoes.
The risotto used Acquerello Carnaroli rice, Treviso radicchio, goat cheese and 25-year-aged balsamic vinegar, creating a dish with plenty of contrast.
The Most Playful Course Might Be the Palate Cleanser
The granita combined crushed ice, lime, sugar and popping candy around Bolgheri Sassicaia grappa. In the formal setting of Anthology, it brought a welcome sense of fun and gave the meal a playful side.
La Montagna – A5 Wagyu as the Centrepiece
La Montagna features A5 Japanese Wagyu beef, Amarone sauce, potato-truffle millefoglie and vegetable bouquetière.
It is visually impressive and naturally works as the hero image or central dish in a review. Il Mare offers Mediterranean sea bass, potato scales, DOP Contratto vermouth, Sicilian blood orange and baby zucchini.
La Campagna is a plant-based option featuring braised celeriac prepared in an osso buco style with thyme flower, almond foam and tonka bean.
Do Not Underestimate the Pre-Dessert
Fior di Latte Gelato combines milk ice cream, rosé Champagne granita and Ligurian pesto. It sounds unusual on paper, but works as a good example of Anthology’s creative style.
Desserts include Millefoglie, Arancia & Espresso and Euforia di Cioccolato, followed by Piccole Delizie.
The €70 Anthology Wine Pairing
The wine pairing is an important part of the complete experience, but it is not essential.
During our dinner, the wines included Contratto Millesimato Alta Langa DOCG Pas Dosé 2022; Allucià Grillo Sicilia DOC 2025 from Tenute Navarra; Pennisi Etneide Etna Bianco; Fior di Rovere Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG from I Moncalvi; Ronchedone 2023 from Ca’ dei Frati; and La Morandina Moscato d’Asti.
The pairing moves through different Italian regions, grape varieties and styles. The pours during our dinner were generous. Personally, we might choose a bottle next time instead of the full pairing.
Wine selections can change, so this list applies specifically to the dinner reviewed.
Is Anthology Worth €165?
No, you do not need Anthology in order to eat very well on Explora Journeys. The included restaurants Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill, Med Yacht Club, Fil Rouge and Emporium Marketplace provide plenty of choice.
First-time guests with only a few evenings onboard may want to prioritise these restaurants first.
Yes, Anthology can be worth the money if you want a complete tasting-menu evening with a slower pace, more presentation, storytelling, service and wine.
It offers a more complete fine-dining experience, rather than simply better food than everything included onboard.
Who Should Book Anthology?
Anthology is likely to appeal to food-focused travellers, guests who enjoy long tasting menus, couples celebrating an anniversary or birthday, returning Explora guests who have already experienced the included restaurants, and guests who want dinner itself to become the main event of the evening.
It may not suit guests on a short first journey who have not yet experienced the included restaurants, people who dislike long dinners or detailed presentations, guests uninterested in wine pairings, or travellers who mainly prefer relaxed and quick dining.
Our Verdict After Anthology on EXPLORA I, II and III
Anthology does not need to rescue Explora Journeys’ dining offering. The included food is already very good. Anthology instead offers a separate and more advanced evening, and the new menu feels like a confident continuation of the concept.
The luxurious ingredients matter, but details such as the fried pizza, granita, presentations, wine and pacing also make the experience memorable.
We recommend Anthology for the right type of guest, but would not describe it as essential. It can be very good value for guests who appreciate tasting menus, wine, service and presentation.
Watch Our Complete Anthology Dinner
Watch: Explora Journeys’ NEW Anthology Menu – Now on All Three Ships: Is It Worth €165? This video, filmed aboard EXPLORA III, shows the complete Anthology experience course by course, including the wine pairing.
Earlier footage from EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II is used where necessary to show every dish on the current menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anthology included on Explora Journeys?
No. It is an additional fine-dining experience. The price is €165 per person.
How much is the Anthology wine pairing?
€70 per person.
How many courses are served at Anthology?
The official menu consists of seven courses, but amuse-bouches and mignardises make the experience feel more extensive.
Who created the Anthology menu?
Franck Garanger, Head of Culinary at Explora Journeys.
Is Anthology available on EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II and EXPLORA III?
Anthology is available across Explora Journeys’ current fleet. The latest menu debuted aboard EXPLORA III and is being progressively introduced across the fleet.
Do you need to book Anthology in advance?
Reservations in beforehand are recommended, particularly if dining at Anthology is an important part of your journey.
Do you need the €70 wine pairing?
No. It adds another dimension, but a bottle may be a better choice for some guests.
Is Anthology worth it?
Yes, for guests looking for a special fine-dining evening who appreciate tasting menus, service, presentation and wine. No, if the main goal is simply to find better food than what is already included onboard.
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