Cruise Food
P&O Australia
Pacific Explorer
Stop.
I mean, don't read any further before you finish reading this disclaimer: The below review is not mine. In other words nary a morsel of food passed these lips of mine, nor was a mouthful masticated by my chompers. This abridged review of some of the dining options comes straight from my darling sister's mouth who recently spent three glorious nights aboard the Pacific Explorer. Bon Appétit!
* Shell & Bones
“The jewel in Explorer’s crown. Delicious, fresh, generous. Thank you P&O for treating us for our wedding anniversary, we would gladly have paid – and will on our next cruise – as it was amazing. Highly recommended and the best eatery aboard. Top-class seafood. Every mouthful was a delight. "
Dragon Lady
“Gorgeous atmosphere, not the best Asian food I’ve had, but the best at sea. Everything was beautiful, loved the concept and the decor. Dessert was fair, but every other course was delicious. Our second favourite eatery aboard.”
The Pantry
“We didn't enjoy it as much as we did aboard the Pearl and the Jewel, however we enjoyed the cleanliness, the set up and the seating. Down side was that often the food was not hot enough and some dishes lacked flavour. We had breakfast at the Pantry once and only ate there as we woke up late. We prefer breakfast the Waterfront. Lunch was good on the first day. Desserts were great.”
* 400 Gradi
“Absolutely delicious. Great value for money, except for ‘the lot’ pizza, which we felt was a little pricey at $18. The dough was incredible and tasted authentically Italian. Would definitely recommend and look forward to sampling other pizzas on the menu next time.”
The Waterfront
“Just as great as we remember on the Pearl and the Jewel. The food was plentiful, very tasty, the staff AMAZING.
Could not fault the breakfast, every item was delicious and will definitely eat breakfast there every day aboard our next cruise – and make a point of waking up early not to miss out. Service was incredible.”
* Luke’s
“The lines were too long, so unfortunately missed out. However, speaking with other cruisers aboard, we heard glowing reviews. Wish we tried the burgers, but on a 3-night cruise, there just aren't enough hours in the day!”
Angelo’s
Angelo’s
“We enjoyed Angelo’s the least. We loved the set up, the art, the seating, the design, the colours. But the food was a bit disappointing. The dishes lacked Italian flavour or flair. The lamb shank was tender but was sitting on a pool of what resembled baked beans. The risotto was mushy. The fettuccine tasted exactly like the risotto, except the sauce was mixed with pasta instead of rice. Gnocchi was stodgy. Desert was okay, but again, not what we expected in an Italian restaurant. The tiramisu tasted like plain sponge."
* The Bonded Store
“A beautiful addition and very unique. We especially enjoyed discovering the secret door. Cocktails AMAZING!”
"Would I recommend Explorer to my friends? Definitely! We ate wonderful food, the ship is beautiful and the crew friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed having three days – without our six wonderful kids – being pampered and relaxing at sea!"
P.S * denotes an additional charge 
