Marella The Dining Club Menu: Explorer & Explorer 2
The Dining Club is one of Marella Cruises’ premium speciality restaurants, offering a more formal fine-dining experience than the cruise line’s included restaurants. Found aboard both Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2, the restaurant focuses on contemporary French cuisine, with dishes ranging from Champagne-butter scallops and crab bisque to chateaubriand, lamb, duck and lobster.
This photographed The Dining Club menu provides a look at the actual food choices available, including four appetizers and six main courses. It also identifies vegetarian and gluten-free options, making it useful for passengers deciding whether the speciality restaurant is worth adding to their Marella cruise.
For more onboard information, see our Marella Cruises dining menus, Marella Cruises bar menus, and other Marella onboard guides.
What Is The Dining Club on Marella Cruises?
The Dining Club is a speciality restaurant found on Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.
Marella describes the venue as a fine-dining restaurant serving contemporary French cuisine with a modern twist. Unlike the ships’ included dining venues, The Dining Club carries an additional charge and can be reserved in advance.
The restaurant is located on Deck 5 on both ships.
The experience is designed as one of the more upscale dining choices aboard Marella Cruises, making it particularly suitable for passengers looking for a special-occasion dinner or simply a more elaborate meal during their cruise.
The Dining Club Appetizers
The photographed menu offers four appetizers.
Seared Sea Scallops, Champagne Butter
The Seared Sea Scallops are marked gluten-free and served with:
- Champagne butter
- Lemon zest
- Coral foam
This is one of the dishes most closely associated with The Dining Club. Marella specifically highlights seared scallops with Champagne butter when describing the restaurant.
Oxtail Pithivier
The Oxtail Pithivier comes with:
- Golden puff pastry
- Shallot puree
- Red wine reduction
Pithivier is a French-style pastry preparation, fitting with the contemporary French direction of The Dining Club.
Crab Bisque, Cognac Infused Cream
The seafood theme continues with Crab Bisque accompanied by:
- Cognac infused cream
- Pear confit
This provides another distinctly French-influenced option among the starters.
Truffle Cream Cheese, Caramelised Fig and Onion Tarte Tatin
The vegetarian appetizer combines:
- Truffle cream cheese
- Caramelised fig
- Onion tarte tatin
- Pumpkin seed dressing
It is marked vegetarian on the menu.
The Dining Club Main Courses
The main-course selection contains six dishes covering beef, lamb, duck, lobster and a vegetarian risotto.
Chateaubriand for Two
One of the centerpiece dishes at The Dining Club is the Chateaubriand for Two.
The gluten-free dish consists of a 16-ounce Black Angus fillet of beef served with:
- Pommes mousseline
- Baby vegetables
- Béarnaise or Bordelaise sauce
Marella specifically promotes chateaubriand as one of the signature choices available at The Dining Club.
Because this dish is identified as being for two, it is particularly suited to couples who want to share the restaurant’s signature beef option.
Angus Beef Fusion
Passengers who want beef without sharing the Chateaubriand can choose the Angus Beef Fusion.
This gluten-free entrée combines two different beef preparations:
- Slow-roasted beef short ribs in whisky sauce
- Petite filet mignon with peppercorn sauce
- Fondant potatoes
- Medley of baby vegetables
The combination of slow-roasted short rib and filet mignon makes this one of the more substantial meat dishes on the photographed menu.
Cannon of Lamb with Parsley Butter Crust
The Cannon of Lamb is served with:
- Parsley butter crust
- Mint Hollandaise
- Pommes Anna
- Sautéed spinach
- Tian of ratatouille
The dish is identified as gluten-free.
Lamb is another selection Marella highlights when describing The Dining Club’s menu, alongside its chateaubriand and lobster.
Confit Duck Breast and Leg
The duck entrée combines both breast and leg preparations.
It is served with:
- Dauphinoise potatoes
- Fried beetroot
- Baby courgette
- Raspberry sauce
The dish is also marked gluten-free.
This is another example of the French influence behind The Dining Club menu, particularly through the use of confit and Dauphinoise potatoes.
Sautéed Lobster Medallions, Morel and Chicken Mousse
Seafood fans have a more elaborate option with the Sautéed Lobster Medallions, Morel and Chicken Mousse.
The gluten-free entrée comes with:
- Rissoleé potatoes
- Braised fennel and asparagus
- Sabayon
Marella specifically identifies lobster as one of the main-course choices passengers can expect at The Dining Club.
Spring Vegetable Risotto
The vegetarian main course is Spring Vegetable Risotto.
It comes with:
- Cheese crisp
- Port wine sauce
The menu identifies the dish as both vegetarian and gluten-free.
This gives passengers who do not eat meat or seafood a dedicated main-course option rather than simply adapting one of the other entrées.
Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Options
The Dining Club menu uses symbols to identify dietary options.
The photographed menu defines:
- V – Vegetarian
- GF – Gluten-free
- GO – Gluten-free option available
- VE – Vegan
- VO – Vegan option available
Several of the photographed dishes are specifically marked gluten-free, including the Seared Sea Scallops, Chateaubriand for Two, Angus Beef Fusion, Cannon of Lamb, Confit Duck Breast and Leg, Sautéed Lobster Medallions, and Spring Vegetable Risotto.
The Truffle Cream Cheese, Caramelised Fig and Onion Tarte Tatin is marked vegetarian, while the Spring Vegetable Risotto is marked both vegetarian and gluten-free.
The menu also carries an allergen warning explaining that food and drinks are prepared in environments where ingredients containing allergens and gluten are used, meaning traces may be present. Passengers with allergies or intolerances are advised to speak with their waiter about suitable menu choices.
Is The Dining Club Included on Marella Cruises?
No. The Dining Club is a speciality dining experience rather than one of Marella’s included restaurants.
An additional charge applies to dine here.
Marella currently allows The Dining Club reservations to be made before departure on both Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2. Speciality dining can generally be booked through Marella Cruise Control approximately six months before departure, with payment required when making the reservation.
Passengers can also make reservations onboard, although booking early may be worthwhile if The Dining Club is a priority for the cruise.
Which Marella Ships Have The Dining Club?
The Dining Club is available aboard:
- Marella Explorer
- Marella Explorer 2
It is not a fleetwide Marella Cruises restaurant.
That distinction is important when researching Marella restaurant menus because several other speciality concepts appear across more ships in the fleet, while The Dining Club is specifically associated with Explorer and Explorer 2.
Where Is The Dining Club?
The Dining Club is located on Deck 5 aboard both Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.
Marella describes the restaurant as a more intimate fine-dining venue, and passengers are expected to follow the restaurant’s Smart dress code.
What Is The Dining Club Dress Code?
The Dining Club has a Smart dress code.
Marella’s current guidance for Smart restaurants allows clothing such as:
- Shirts or polo shirts
- Trousers
- Tailored shorts
- Skirts
- Dresses
- Smart trainers
- Shoes
- Sandals
Sportswear, flip-flops and non-tailored shorts are not considered appropriate for the Smart dress code.
Passengers do not necessarily need formal eveningwear simply because they are dining at The Dining Club. The requirement is Smart rather than formal.
Is The Dining Club Worth Considering?
The Dining Club is aimed at a different experience from Marella’s standard included restaurants.
Rather than providing a large selection of familiar dishes, this photographed menu concentrates on a relatively small number of more elaborate choices. Ingredients such as Champagne butter, truffle cream cheese, Cognac-infused cream, morels, lobster, chateaubriand and confit duck reinforce its position as one of Marella’s premium restaurants.
It could be particularly appealing to passengers celebrating a birthday, anniversary or another special occasion, as well as anyone who wants to try one of the more upscale dining experiences aboard Marella Explorer or Marella Explorer 2.
Whether the additional charge represents good value will ultimately depend on how much importance a passenger places on speciality dining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Dining Club on Marella Cruises?
The Dining Club is a chargeable fine-dining speciality restaurant serving contemporary French-inspired cuisine aboard Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.
Which Marella ships have The Dining Club?
The Dining Club is available on Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.
Is The Dining Club included in the Marella cruise fare?
No. The Dining Club is a speciality restaurant and carries an additional charge.
Where is The Dining Club located?
The Dining Club is located on Deck 5 aboard Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.
Can you book The Dining Club before a Marella cruise?
Yes. Marella currently lists The Dining Club among the speciality restaurants that can be booked through Marella Cruise Control approximately six months before departure.
What food is served at The Dining Club?
The photographed menu includes dishes such as seared sea scallops with Champagne butter, oxtail pithivier, crab bisque, chateaubriand for two, Angus beef, lamb, confit duck, lobster medallions and vegetable risotto.
Does The Dining Club have vegetarian food?
Yes. The photographed menu includes a vegetarian Truffle Cream Cheese, Caramelised Fig and Onion Tarte Tatin appetizer and a vegetarian Spring Vegetable Risotto main course.
Does The Dining Club have gluten-free options?
Yes. Most of the main courses shown on this menu are marked gluten-free, along with the Seared Sea Scallops appetizer.
What is the dress code at The Dining Club?
Marella lists The Dining Club as having a Smart dress code.
Is Chateaubriand available at The Dining Club?
Yes. The photographed menu features a Chateaubriand for Two consisting of a 16-ounce Black Angus fillet of beef with pommes mousseline, baby vegetables and a choice of Béarnaise or Bordelaise sauce.
Conclusion
The Dining Club is one of the most upscale restaurant experiences available aboard Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2, combining contemporary French influences with premium ingredients and a relatively focused menu.
The photographed menu offers four appetizers and six main courses, with highlights including Seared Sea Scallops with Champagne Butter, Oxtail Pithivier, Crab Bisque, Chateaubriand for Two, Angus Beef Fusion, Cannon of Lamb, Confit Duck, and Sautéed Lobster Medallions.
There are also clearly identified vegetarian and gluten-free choices, making the menu accessible to passengers with a range of dining preferences.
Because The Dining Club carries an additional charge, it will not appeal to everyone — especially with numerous dining choices already available aboard both ships. But for passengers looking for a special dinner or one of Marella Cruises’ more refined restaurant experiences, The Dining Club is designed to provide exactly that.
