Explorer Of The Seas

The Da Gama Dining room is the second tier of the ship's three deck main dining room aft of the ship and accommodates up to 540 guests.

Open for dinner only with the same menu as the other two levels of the main dining room, main seating is at 6.00pm and second seating at 8.30pm.

Magellan is the lower tier (deck 3) of the ship's main dining room which extends over three floors with each level named after famous explorers and open from the bottom tier to the top in the central section providing a light and airy feel to all three levels. Two sweeping staircases connect the three levels with a feature wall adorned with three mosaic murals (covering an area of 663 sq. ft.) also dominating the area. The murals, rendered in stone and glass mosaic depict the constellations in the night skies that guided three explorers (Christopher Columbus, Vasco Da Gama and Ferdinand Magellen) through uncharted waters. A large sun inlaid in the centre of the room, surrounded by stars and mimicked on the floor below which features large pillars towering up to the ceiling add to the nautical theme of the ship's dining room.

Seating 540 guests, The Magellan dining room also includes two separate areas for private functions called Cortes and Balboa (seating 58 guests each).

Opening times for Magellan are (subject to change depending upon ships itinerary):

Breakfast 8.00am to 10.00am
Brasserie 30 Lunch Noon to 1.30pm (Sea days only)
Main Seating Dinner 6.00pm
Second Seating Dinner 8.30pm

Breakfast is á la carte with waiter service and features the usual breakfast fare of omelettes made to order, egg benedict, bacon, sausages, pancakes, French toast, smoked salmon bagels and a special of the day dish. Meats, cheeses, cereals, fruits, toast, pastries and yogurts are also available.

Lunch features a Brasserie 30 menu (designed to enable guests to complete their meal in 30 minutes) and includes a “Tutti” salad bar with everything from lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, sweetcorn and grated carrot to meats, prawns, tuna, cheeses and breads.

Examples of dishes available on the Brasserie 30 menu are as follows:

Royal Caesar Salad
Fennel Roasted Pork Salad
Fattoush Salad
Chicken Sliders
Potato, Leek and Spinach Gratin
Harissa Barramundi Fish
Fish Enchilada
Tomato Risotto
Char Grilled Palm Sugar Chicken
Pasta Dishes
Tutti Salad Bar
Almond Polenta Cake
Praline Chocolate Crunch
Warm Cherry Custard Crepes
Caramelized Banana Mille Feuille

Both breakfast and lunch are open plan seating where guests are seated at whichever tables are available at the time.

For dinner, passengers can choose between assigned dining (at the same table each night) or opt for My Time Dining in which guests select a preferred mealtime each night and are seated at different tables each night.

The dinner menu offers different daily choices with nine appetizers to choose from, three different types of soups, ten entree choices, seven desserts and classics (which are always available each night). Options also include gluten free, lactose free, vegetarian and vitality (healthy) options which are indicated by the symbols next to the dishes on the menu. Additionally the menu lists the Chef’s Inspiration which is the Chef’s recommendations for a starter, main and dessert each day.

Examples of dishes on offer are as follows:

STARTERS
Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melon
Bay Scallop Gratin
Traditional Lobster Bisque
Oakwood Smoked Chicken Breast
Double Broiled Chicken Consommé
Chilled Banana and Rum Soup
Roman Vignole Salad
Royal Shrimp Cocktail
Escargots Bourguignonne
Caesar Salad

MAIN COURSES
Grilled Salmon Vignole Salad
Shrimp Ravioli
Pan-Fried Fillet of Barramundi
Roasted Duck
Carve Filet of Beef Tenderloin
Artichoke-Filled Crepes au Gratin

DESSERTS
Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé
Double Strawberry Cheesecake
Sky High Lemon Meringue Pie
Low-Fat Berry Bliss
Sugar-Free Chocolate Pot de Crème
Crème Brulee
Chocolate Sensation
Royal Cheese Plate

CLASSICS (Always Available)
Linguin Pomodoro
Premium Angus Beef Sliders
Broiled Filled of Atlantic Salmon
Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast
Aged Hand-Cut Manhattan Strip Steak

The top level (deck 5) of the main dining room is Columbus, seating 723 guests and opens for dinner only with the same menu on offer as the Magellan dining room.

Columbus Opens at 6.00pm for main seating dining, 8.30pm for second seating and is also the sole location for guests opting for “My Time Dining” which is available between the hours of 5.30pm and 9.00pm.

Overlooking the starboard side of Explorer on deck 11 outside the Windjammer Cafe is Portofino, Explorer’s Italian select 98 seat restaurant offering an intimate atmosphere designed to emulate an Italian Villa and upscale cuisine.

Open from 5.30pm to 9.45pm with reservations recommended and a charge of $20 per person, the menu offers appetizers, soups and salads, pasta, main courses and desserts, examples of some of which are as follows:

APPETIZERS, SOUPS & SALADS
Carpaccio of seared tenderloin
Tiger shrimp risotto
Double baked goat cheese soufflé
Cream of asparagus soup
Gorgonzola, pear and roasted walnut salad

PASTA
Penne pasta with tomatoes, prosciutto and basil
Lobster spaghetti

MAIN COURSES
Tiger shrimps
Veal served with mushroom risotto
Grilled beef tenderloin
Marinated tuna steak
Corn-fed chicken
Grilled fillet of Halibut

DESSERTS
Flourless chocolate cake
Tiramisu
Panna cotta
White chocolate truffle cake

Cheese plate with samples of Italian cheeses.

Portofino’s also provides an alternative venue to continental breakfast available in the Concierge Lounge for suite guests serving a similar menu to that on offer in the ships main dining room from 8.00am to 10.00am. After that sandwiches are also provided here for suite guests between noon and 1.30pm.

N.B. Portofino’s is set to be replaced by Giovanni’s Table during Explorer of the Seas upgrade scheduled for February 2015.

Johnny Rockets is styled on an American 50’s diner with red booths, formica counters and jukeboxes. It is Explorer's additional charge burger bar with waiters dancing in the aisles from time to time providing entertainment whilst you eat.

Located aft of deck 12, starboard, and with a $4.95 cover charge, the diner seats 248 guests and opens from 11.30am to 11.30pm.

Along with burgers and fries, sandwiches such as grilled chicken breast, tuna and BLT’s are available as well as hot dogs and desserts including Oreo Fudge sandwiches and Apple Pie. Sides served include onion rings, chilli bowls and chilli fries.

Milkshakes, as with the rest of the beverages on the menu, are additional charge at $4.95 per milkshake.

Located by Cafe Promenade is Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream stand offering a range of flavours (examples and prices listed below) and open from 7.00am to 3.00am.

Cup $2.50 (small), $3.25 (medium), $4.00 (large)
Cone $2.50 (small), $3.25 (medium), $4.00 (large)
Waffle $3.25 (small), $4.00 (medium), $4.75 (large)

Ice Cream Sodas & Floats $3.75
Great Shakes $4.50
Toppings $0.50

Flavours:
Sweet Cream and Cookies
Cherry Garcia
Mint Chocolate Chunk
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chunky Monkey
Butter Pecan
Phish Food
Chocolate
Vanilla
Strawberry
Coffee
Mango/Lime
Black Raspberry

Café Promenade is located along the Royal Promenade on deck 5 and seats 105 guests. It is open 24 hours serving snacks and drinks.

With a pay for coffee bar selling Starbucks coffee and tea, complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water is also available throughout the day. In addition to beverages are complimentary snacks ranging from a selection of Danish Pastries served up until 11am and sandwiches (such as salami on sour dough rolls, ricotta, red pepper and olive tapenade rolls and ham and cheese croissants) pizzas and desserts including granola cranberry bars, mocha brownies, and blueberry pound cake served through until 3am, with anything remaining on offer until early morning breakfast begins again.

The lively venue is the ideal location to sit and enjoy a drink and snack whilst watching the activities taking place along the busy promenade or visit for an early morning drink, or snack before bedtime after a busy day.

Island Grill is the aft part of the Windjammer Cafe and seats 454 guests. It is essentially just the same as Windjammer with virtually the same dishes but also offers eggs cooked to order in the morning and Asian and Thai dishes in the evening. The layout also differs slightly in that it is set out more in a long line rather than lots of separate stations like Windjammer.

Due to its location at the rear of Windjammer, it often tends to be quieter as a lot of guests head straight to Windjammer instead especially on sail away day before they discover the area.

Located aft of deck 11 with large windows offering sea views and room for 310 guests, the Windjammer Cafe is Explorer’s large buffet restaurant offering a wide range of food stations including Asian Flavours, Carvery, Vegetables and Salads, Pasta, Seafood, Daily Specials and Desserts plus a tea, coffee and water 24 hour self service stand (starboard side) and self-serve soft ice cream with choice of vanilla, chocolate and vanilla chocolate twist (located just outside Windjammers near the pool called the Arctic Zone).

The cafe offers buffet-style breakfasts and lunches whilst in the evenings the casual atmosphere is complemented by a changing menu and restaurant-style service. Themed evenings such as Indian Night and Oriental night including offerings such as sushi which guests can enjoy as an appetiser are held with pasta, carving stations and Mongolian Wok stir fry on offer every night.

Opening times are as follows:

Continental Breakfast 6.30am to 7.00am
Buffet Breakfast 7.00am to 11.00am
Lunch 11.30am to 3.00pm
Casual Dinner 6.30pm to 9.00pm

The breakfast selection ranges from cereals, oatmeal, breads, muffins, pastries and doughnuts to cold cuts of meat and cheeses, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage and baked beans. There is also an omelette station for freshly prepared eggs and area serving Asian speciality selections (in the Island Grill area).

Lunch options include pizza, burger and sandwich stations, a pasta station (with choice of sauces) and hot dishes such as barbecue pork ribs, grilled fish filet, lasagne, aubergine parmigiana and beef stroganoff. An Asian section is also offered each day offering the likes of sushi and stir-fries whilst the salad bar station has everything from lettuce, tomatoes, coleslaws, sweetcorn and carrots to cold cuts of meats and cheeses.

The dessert bar houses a selection of cookies, cakes and pastries.

Dizzy’s Jazz Lounge on deck 14 is the location for Explorer of the Seas Murder Mystery dinner which takes place on a number of cruises. With reservations required and a charge of $55 per person, guests get to turn detective to try and solve the murder staged by a professional team whilst enjoying a four course menu, an example of which is below.

Antipasto Plate
Soup of the Day or Salad
Grilled Fillet of Beef Tenderloin served on truffle mashed potatoes and vegetables
OR Tiger Shrimps with grilled asparagus and baby vegetables
Tiramisu served with freshly marinated raspberries

Room Service is available onboard any time of the day and night. Whilst it is complimentary, any orders between midnight and 5am incur a service charge of $3.95 per delivery.

Room Service can be ordered from the room service menu located in staterooms - either via the stateroom phone or interactive TV service.

Breakfast service begins at 5.00am for a continental option with full breakfast served between 7.00am and 10.00am daily (or 5.00am for just a continental breakfast) (with the exception of departure morning) and orders need to be placed prior to 3.00am on the outside door handle of guest’s staterooms on the order forms provided. Food available for breakfast includes a selection of juices and hot beverages, cereals, fresh fruit, yogurt, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, tomatoes, toast and a selection of pastries and preserves.

For the remainder of the day and night guests can choose from soup of the day, fruit plates, Caesar salad, Mediterranean chicken salad, smoked salmon and brie sandwiches, turkey and Swiss cheese Panini, steak sandwiches, fried chicken, beef burgers, spinach and artichoke dip, breaded fish, cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza. Desserts include a cheese plate, chocolate and pear tart, raspberry cheesecake and cookies. Hot beverages and milk are also available.

As well as choosing from the selection of meals and light snacks, guests can also order some dishes from the Main Dining Room menu (at certain hours).

My Time Dining allows guests to enjoy dinner in the main dining room, while reserving their preferred seating times during their cruise holiday.

To ensure prompt seating, reservations for each evening are strongly encouraged and can be made pre-cruise or once guests board. Due to demands for seating in the main dining room varying nightly, especially following evening shows, it is recommended that guests reserve their preferred dinner times as early as possible, especially if done after boarding.

Daily Reservations is an online reservation system for guests enrolled in the My Time Dining program via royalcaribbean.co.uk and can be accessed from the 'Book Cruise Add-Ons' link at the foot of the page Through Daily Reservations. It allows My Time Dining guests to make their preferred reservations in the main dining room for each night of the cruise themselves, as well as including other guests at their table. Reservations are subject to availability and as guests may be served by a different wait team each evening, any guest wishing to take up My Time Dining must pre pay their service charge (gratuities) as part of their booking.

Reservations can be made anywhere from 3 months before sailing, up to 4 days prior to sailing, or once guests arrive on board at the My Time Dining Reservations Desk

Reservations are available between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm, although these times can vary depending on where the ship is sailing. Availability of times will be shown when guests book and some time slots may already be fully booked so guests will have to find the nearest suitable alternative.

Guests can choose to share their table with other guests, or just dine with their own party. Sharing preferences cannot be guaranteed although the maitre’d on the ship will make every effort to accommodate the guest’s sharing preference onboard.

Daily Reservations will be shown on the guest’s cruise calendar (once logged in to their booking on-line), along with any Shore Excursions and Specialty Dining reservations already booked.

My Family Time Dining allows kids to enjoy a complete dinner within 45 minutes, freeing parents to enjoy coffee and dessert at their leisure. Available only during the first seating in the main dining room and for those registered in the complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Programme and My Family Time Dining, once seated kids are served immediately and then met by Adventure Ocean counsellors at the main dining room entrances at 6.45pm to be taken back to the Adventure Ocean spaces for on-going evening activities, while parents can continue to enjoy their dinner.

A children’s menu is available on Explorer of the seas in the main dining room for those who don’t want to eat from the main menu. Example dishes available are listed below:

Guacamole and sour cream dip with tortilla chips
Vegetable crudités with ranch dressing
Kid’s fruit platter
Toasted tomato and cheese sandwich with apple chips or fries
Chicken noodle soup
Grilled chicken breast
Grilled minute steak
Beef burger or turkey burger
Grilled catch of the day
Chicken fingers
Spaghetti with choice of sauces
Macaroni cheese
Cheese or pepperoni pizza
Jell-o
Banana split
Pudding
Cookie of the day
Ice Cream
Mini brownie madness

Some of Royal Caribbean staterooms provide guests with a mini bar which offers snacks and drinks, examples of which are below:

Choice of three different cans of drinks (Coca Cola, Diet Coke or Sprite) $2.25 each
Sparkling Perrier Water $2.75
Large bottle of still water $4.25 each
Red Bull drink $3.95
Snacks (M&M’s, Shortbread, Honey roasted peanuts or mini Snickers box) $4.95 each

(A 15% gratuity also applies to all mini bar purchases).

When Explorer of the Seas goes into dry dock, currently scheduled for February 2015, a separate venue is set to be added to accommodate the select $95 per head Chef’s Table wine and dinner pairing experience.

The Solarium is due to receive the popular Park Cafe currently found on the likes of Splendour of the Seas, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, during its refit scheduled for February 2015. The complimentary Park Cafe will open for light and healthy fare throughout the day from Breakfast options through to late night snacks and drinks.