Explora Journeys Anthology Restaurant Review — Fine Dining at Sea or Emperor’s New Clothes?
Every luxury cruise line needs its showpiece restaurant — the place designed to make you feel that you’re dining somewhere truly exclusive. On Explora I, that place is Anthology. Billed as a culinary journey curated by world-class chefs, it’s the ship’s premium dining experience and carries an equally premium price tag — €165 per person, or €235 with wine pairing.
We review Anthology, Explora Journeys’ fine dining restaurant at sea. A €165 tasting menu that’s elegant and refined — but is it truly worth the splurge?
We dined at Anthology during our six-night sailing aboard Explora I in August and filmed the entire experience, from amuse-bouche to petits fours.
The service, presentation, and atmosphere were, as you’d expect, immaculate but was the food itself worth such a price at sea? In this post (and in our full video below), we’ll take you course by course through the menu and share our honest verdict. Just as a tip they do expect a little smarter dress here too.
Anthology sits quietly tucked away towards the aft of Deck 5 — understated, elegant, and softly lit, a deliberate contrast to the ship’s more social spaces. Unlike the complimentary restaurants on board, dining here feels like stepping into another world entirely and very Very different from our only other cruise experience on a day cruise just for fun
You’ll find crisp linens, hushed tones, and staff who seem to glide rather than walk. The promise is simple: a tasting menu inspired by European fine dining, created in, at least previously, partnership with rotating guest chefs from Michelin-starred establishments. Now its currently an Italian menu designed by Explora Journeys Head of Culinary, Franck Garanger
On paper, it sounds extraordinary — but as we soon discovered, it’s an experience that’s as much about perception as it is about palate. is it worth the extra cost when so many other included options are available?
You can check out our Explora Journeys Restaurants ranked article here on the site as well.
The Courses — A Culinary Journey (Mostly)
Amuse Bouche – A Promising Start
Dinner began with a pair of amuse-bouches — a delicate soup and a small cream-filled pastry The names Excape me at the moment but as with the video and the other courses we have photos for you to identify them.
Both were light, well-balanced, and beautifully presented, the sort of bite-sized elegance that whispers “you’re in fine dining territory now.” It set the stage well: understated confidence and impeccable plating.
Course Two – Ricordo del Mare & Gambero Rosso di Mazara del Vallo
The first real test came with a duo from the sea. Ricordo del Mare combined Oscietra Royal caviar, lobster, green apple, and sweet-sour vinaigrette, while the Gambero Rosso dish paired Sicilian red prawns with burrata cream, tomato coulis, and lemon zest.
Both looked exquisite — the kind of dishes you’d expect to see in a Michelin-tasting menu on land. The flavours were subtle, refined… perhaps too subtle for anyone used to bolder cuisine. Still, the quality of the seafood itself was faultless, and presentation was pure theatre.
Course Three – Cannelloni di Capasanta & Vitello Tonnato
Next came two very different plates: Scallop cannelloni with black truffle and Parmigiano foam, and Veal loin with tuna espuma and caperberries.
The scallop dish was rich and creamy — perhaps too much so — while the veal played the modernist card with its smooth, almost mousse-like tuna layer. Technically impressive, yes, but we started to wonder whether the kitchen might be trying a little too hard to wow us with complexity rather than comfort and flavour.
Course Four – Ravioli allo Scampo & Risotto del Colle del Veneto
The midpoint of the meal brought some familiar Italian reassurance. The langoustine ravioli in tomato consommé was delicate and perfectly cooked, while the risotto with radicchio, goat cheese, and 25-year balsamic was one of the evening’s surprises. Balanced, flavourful, and beautifully executed although very, very red!
A quick palate cleanser followed — a lemon sorbet with popping candy, which was perhaps more novelty than necessity, but still a fun intermission.
Course Five – La Montagna & Il Mare
Back to indulgence. La Montagna featured Jersiaise beef fillet with Amarone sauce and truffled potato, while Il Mare showcased Mediterranean sea bass paired with coffee and tonka bean notes.
It’s hard not to admire the ambition here — but again, the flavours felt restrained, leaning elegant rather than exciting. The beef, however, was faultlessly cooked and for most would be a highlight, for me it did honestly taste more of fat than beef but maybe thats the point of Wagu A5?
Course Six – Agrumi
Dessert began with a zesty Amalfi lemon creation served with vanilla-grapefruit compote and blood orange sorbet. A refreshing and welcome burst of acidity after so many rich dishes — light, clean, and pretty on the plate.
Course Seven – Millefoglie & Euforia di Cioccolato
The final flourish paired Millefoglie, that classic caramelised pastry with vanilla cream and raspberries, alongside Euforia di Cioccolato — a dense 85% dark chocolate and almond dessert with a hint of amaretto.
Both were rich, indulgent, and more straightforwardly satisfying than many earlier courses. We requested the petit fours be sent to our cabin – time was against us as we had to get to the Emporium Marketplace to (sorry to say, have some better food),
If you wish to check out the menu you can access it on the Explora Journeys Website or in the video above.
Verdict & Reflections — Fine Dining or Fine Marketing?
After seven courses, there’s no denying that Anthology is an elegant experience. The service was seamless apart from the issues highlights in this video, the presentation meticulous, and the setting refined — all the hallmarks of luxury dining. But when the plates were cleared and we headed upstairs for a proper meal as we called it, we couldn’t shake the feeling that it was our least favourite meal on board.
That’s not to say it was bad — far from it. Every dish was technically sound and beautifully presented. But compared with the other venues on Explora I — particularly The Emporium Marketplace, the ship’s Take on a buffet — Anthology simply lacked warmth and flavour. Where Emporium delivered perfectly cooked food and vast choices, Anthology often felt overly delicate, as if afraid to be memorable.
Perhaps it’s a matter of taste. We both enjoy bold, layered flavours — the kind you find in a well-made curry or a rustic Mediterranean meal. Anthology’s precision and restraint, while impressive, left us admiring the artistry more than enjoying the eating.
At €165 per person (plus €70 for wine pairing), it’s an expensive experiment — especially when the included dining venues already set such a high bar. For us, it was a case of “the emperor’s new clothes” — a beautiful show, but not a satisfying dinner.
That said, fine dining is subjective. Many guests we spoke to loved the experience, describing it as the highlight of their cruise. And that’s part of the beauty of Explora I: there’s something for every palate, from casual to culinary theatre.
Practical Details & Final Thoughts
If you’re planning to dine at Anthology on Explora Journeys, there are a few details worth knowing before you book.
The restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis, and there’s an additional charge of €165 per person, or €235 with the optional wine pairing. The menu changes periodically, often featuring collaborations with guest chefs, so what you experience may differ slightly from ours.
The atmosphere is formal but not stuffy — smart attire fits best here, though jackets and ties aren’t required. Service is unhurried, and you can expect to spend around two and a half hours from start to finish.
One point that caused some confusion during our sailing was the wine list. At the time, we were told that only Anthology’s own wine list was available — meaning that the included wines from the rest of the ship couldn’t be ordered here. We didn’t check this so don’t know the veracity of it.
However, we’ve since heard that this may no longer be the case, and that guests might now be able to access their included drinks package while dining in Anthology. Policies can change, so it’s worth confirming with your sommelier when you book or guest services, or even as you are planning your cruise to check what the actual rules are.
In the end, Anthology is a beautifully executed concept — a touch of Michelin-style dining at sea. For some, it will be the highlight of their cruise. For us, it was more an experience to appreciate once and not than rush back to.
If you’re curious about fine dining on Explora I, it’s certainly worth trying for yourself — just go in knowing that the ship’s included restaurants offer equally high standards, often with more memorable flavours.
For our full visual walkthrough (and our unfiltered reactions course by course), you can watch the video below. And if you’ve dined at Anthology, we’d love to hear what you thought — was it worth the splurge, or would you have rather spent those euros elsewhere on board?
???? Watch the full video review on YouTube: Anthology Video Review
