There's nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a perfectly crafted pizza while sailing the open seas. After 40+ cruises, I've tasted pizza on every major cruise line, and let me tell you – some ships absolutely nail it while others serve up cardboard with cheese. The good news? I've managed to recreate the best cruise ship pizza recipes at home, and I'm sharing all my secrets with you.
Princess didn't win USA TODAY's "Best Pizza at Sea" award by accident. Their secret is in the dough preparation and using San Marzano tomatoes. I watched the pizza chef on the Emerald Princess (Deck 5, Alfredo's Pizzeria) make dozens of pies, and here's what I learned:
The Dough (Makes 4 personal pizzas):
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water for 10 minutes until foamy. Mix flour and salt in a large bowl, create a well, then add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth. Let rise for 2 hours – this is crucial for that airy Princess crust.
Princess-Style Sauce:
They use minimal sauce – just crushed San Marzano tomatoes with a pinch of salt and dried oregano. No cooking required. The key is using very little sauce, maybe 3 tablespoons per pizza.
The pizza chef told me they stretch each dough ball to about 10 inches and bake at 500°F for exactly 8 minutes. Top with fresh mozzarella, never pre-shredded cheese.
MSC takes their pizza seriously – they fly in Italian pizza masters to train their chefs. I've had incredible pizza on the MSC Seashore and MSC Divina, particularly at their poolside pizza stations on Deck 16.
MSC-Style Dough (Feeds 6):
Mix water and yeast first, let sit 5 minutes. Combine flour and salt, then gradually add yeast water while mixing. Knead until smooth and elastic – about 12 minutes by hand. Here's MSC's secret: let the dough rest for at least 6 hours or overnight. This develops the flavor.
Divide into 6 portions, roll each into a ball, and let rest another hour before stretching. Bake at 450°F for 10-12 minutes until the crust has those signature leopard spots.
I learned from an MSC pizza chef that they never use a rolling pin – always hand-stretched to maintain air bubbles in the dough.
Sorrento's pizza on Royal Caribbean ships gets mixed reviews, but when it's fresh, it's actually pretty decent. The key to their style is a thicker, chewier crust and a tangier sauce. I perfected this recipe after eating way too much pizza on the Wonder of the Seas (Deck 5, Promenade level).
Sorrento's-Style Sauce:
Sauté garlic in olive oil for 30 seconds, add tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer for 15 minutes. The sugar balances the acidity – that's Royal Caribbean's trick.
For the dough, use the Princess recipe but add an extra 1/2 cup flour for a thicker, more substantial crust. Stretch to 12 inches instead of 10.
Pro tip: Order Sorrento's pizza around 11 AM or 5 PM when they're making fresh batches. Avoid the dried-out slices that sit under heat lamps for hours.
The Haven's exclusive pizza offerings on Norwegian ships are leagues above their buffet pizza. I had an incredible truffle mushroom pizza on the Norwegian Breakaway that I've been trying to recreate for years.
Haven-Style Truffle Mushroom Pizza:
Start with the Princess dough recipe. For toppings:
Sauté mushrooms and garlic until golden. Brush dough with truffle oil instead of tomato sauce. Add cheeses, then mushrooms. Bake at 500°F for 8 minutes. Top with fresh arugula after baking.
This pizza costs $18 through NCL's room service, but you can make it at home for about $6.
Carnival's poolside pizza gets a bad rap, but their cheese pizza is actually solid comfort food. The secret is in their cheese blend and the slightly sweet sauce.
Carnival's Cheese Blend:
Mix 60% whole milk mozzarella, 30% provolone, and 10% Romano cheese. Grate it yourself – pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting.
For the sauce, use the Royal Caribbean recipe but add an extra teaspoon of sugar. Carnival's sauce is noticeably sweeter.
Insider tip: On Carnival ships, ask for "extra crispy" when ordering pizza. They'll leave it in the oven an extra 2-3 minutes, and it's dramatically better.
After testing these recipes dozens of times, here are the mistakes that'll sabotage your cruise pizza dreams:
Temperature Problems: Most home ovens don't get hot enough. Use a pizza stone and preheat it for at least 45 minutes at your oven's highest setting. If you have a gas grill, even better – mine hits 600°F.
Too Much Sauce: Cruise ship pizza uses way less sauce than you think. More sauce = soggy crust. Stick to 2-3 tablespoons max per 10-inch pizza.
Wrong Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains cellulose that prevents proper melting. Fresh mozzarella from the deli counter makes a huge difference.
Overworked Dough: If your dough springs back when stretching, let it rest another 30 minutes. Overworked dough creates tough, chewy crusts.
After 40+ cruises, here's my brutally honest pizza ranking:
1. Princess (Alfredo's): Consistently excellent, especially on newer ships
2. MSC (Marketplace Buffet): Authentic Italian style when fresh
3. Virgin Voyages (Slice): Creative toppings, adult-focused flavors
4. Celebrity (Oceanview Café): Solid but unremarkable
5. Royal Caribbean (Sorrento's): Hit or miss depending on timing
6. Norwegian (Garden Café): Usually overcooked
7. Carnival (Poolside): Bottom tier, but nostalgic comfort food
Honestly? Making cruise-quality pizza at home requires good ingredients and patience. The 00 flour alone costs $8 a bag, and San Marzano tomatoes run $4 per can. But when you nail it, you'll have restaurant-quality pizza that beats most delivery options.
My advice: start with the Princess recipe. It's the most forgiving and consistently produces great results. Once you master that, experiment with the MSC Neapolitan style.
The real secret isn't just the recipes – it's understanding that cruise ship pizza succeeds because of fresh ingredients, proper technique, and eating it immediately while it's hot. That's something you can definitely recreate at home.
Ready to share your own cruise pizza experiences or ask questions about perfecting these recipes? Join the conversation in our Cruise Food & Dining forum where fellow cruisers swap recipes and dining tips!
Princess Cruises' Award-Winning Alfredo's Pizza Recipe
Princess didn't win USA TODAY's "Best Pizza at Sea" award by accident. Their secret is in the dough preparation and using San Marzano tomatoes. I watched the pizza chef on the Emerald Princess (Deck 5, Alfredo's Pizzeria) make dozens of pies, and here's what I learned:
The Dough (Makes 4 personal pizzas):
- 3 cups 00 flour (this Italian flour makes ALL the difference)
- 1 cup warm water (105°F exactly)
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water for 10 minutes until foamy. Mix flour and salt in a large bowl, create a well, then add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth. Let rise for 2 hours – this is crucial for that airy Princess crust.
Princess-Style Sauce:
They use minimal sauce – just crushed San Marzano tomatoes with a pinch of salt and dried oregano. No cooking required. The key is using very little sauce, maybe 3 tablespoons per pizza.
The pizza chef told me they stretch each dough ball to about 10 inches and bake at 500°F for exactly 8 minutes. Top with fresh mozzarella, never pre-shredded cheese.
MSC's Authentic Neapolitan Pizza from Marketplace Buffet
MSC takes their pizza seriously – they fly in Italian pizza masters to train their chefs. I've had incredible pizza on the MSC Seashore and MSC Divina, particularly at their poolside pizza stations on Deck 16.
MSC-Style Dough (Feeds 6):
- 2.2 lbs (1kg) Italian 00 flour
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- 0.35 oz fresh yeast (or 1 packet dry yeast)
- 0.7 oz sea salt
Mix water and yeast first, let sit 5 minutes. Combine flour and salt, then gradually add yeast water while mixing. Knead until smooth and elastic – about 12 minutes by hand. Here's MSC's secret: let the dough rest for at least 6 hours or overnight. This develops the flavor.
Divide into 6 portions, roll each into a ball, and let rest another hour before stretching. Bake at 450°F for 10-12 minutes until the crust has those signature leopard spots.
I learned from an MSC pizza chef that they never use a rolling pin – always hand-stretched to maintain air bubbles in the dough.
Royal Caribbean's Sorrento's New York Style Pizza
Sorrento's pizza on Royal Caribbean ships gets mixed reviews, but when it's fresh, it's actually pretty decent. The key to their style is a thicker, chewier crust and a tangier sauce. I perfected this recipe after eating way too much pizza on the Wonder of the Seas (Deck 5, Promenade level).
Sorrento's-Style Sauce:
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauté garlic in olive oil for 30 seconds, add tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer for 15 minutes. The sugar balances the acidity – that's Royal Caribbean's trick.
For the dough, use the Princess recipe but add an extra 1/2 cup flour for a thicker, more substantial crust. Stretch to 12 inches instead of 10.
Pro tip: Order Sorrento's pizza around 11 AM or 5 PM when they're making fresh batches. Avoid the dried-out slices that sit under heat lamps for hours.
Norwegian's Specialty Pizzas from The Haven
The Haven's exclusive pizza offerings on Norwegian ships are leagues above their buffet pizza. I had an incredible truffle mushroom pizza on the Norwegian Breakaway that I've been trying to recreate for years.
Haven-Style Truffle Mushroom Pizza:
Start with the Princess dough recipe. For toppings:
- 2 tablespoons truffle oil (don't cheap out here)
- 1 cup mixed mushrooms (shiitake, cremini, oyster)
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella
- 2 oz goat cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- Fresh arugula
- Sea salt and cracked pepper
Sauté mushrooms and garlic until golden. Brush dough with truffle oil instead of tomato sauce. Add cheeses, then mushrooms. Bake at 500°F for 8 minutes. Top with fresh arugula after baking.
This pizza costs $18 through NCL's room service, but you can make it at home for about $6.
Carnival's Poolside Pizza Perfection
Carnival's poolside pizza gets a bad rap, but their cheese pizza is actually solid comfort food. The secret is in their cheese blend and the slightly sweet sauce.
Carnival's Cheese Blend:
Mix 60% whole milk mozzarella, 30% provolone, and 10% Romano cheese. Grate it yourself – pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting.
For the sauce, use the Royal Caribbean recipe but add an extra teaspoon of sugar. Carnival's sauce is noticeably sweeter.
Insider tip: On Carnival ships, ask for "extra crispy" when ordering pizza. They'll leave it in the oven an extra 2-3 minutes, and it's dramatically better.
Common Mistakes That Ruin Homemade Cruise Pizza
After testing these recipes dozens of times, here are the mistakes that'll sabotage your cruise pizza dreams:
Temperature Problems: Most home ovens don't get hot enough. Use a pizza stone and preheat it for at least 45 minutes at your oven's highest setting. If you have a gas grill, even better – mine hits 600°F.
Too Much Sauce: Cruise ship pizza uses way less sauce than you think. More sauce = soggy crust. Stick to 2-3 tablespoons max per 10-inch pizza.
Wrong Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains cellulose that prevents proper melting. Fresh mozzarella from the deli counter makes a huge difference.
Overworked Dough: If your dough springs back when stretching, let it rest another 30 minutes. Overworked dough creates tough, chewy crusts.
Cruise Line Pizza Rankings (My Honest Take)
After 40+ cruises, here's my brutally honest pizza ranking:
1. Princess (Alfredo's): Consistently excellent, especially on newer ships
2. MSC (Marketplace Buffet): Authentic Italian style when fresh
3. Virgin Voyages (Slice): Creative toppings, adult-focused flavors
4. Celebrity (Oceanview Café): Solid but unremarkable
5. Royal Caribbean (Sorrento's): Hit or miss depending on timing
6. Norwegian (Garden Café): Usually overcooked
7. Carnival (Poolside): Bottom tier, but nostalgic comfort food
Making It Worth the Effort
Honestly? Making cruise-quality pizza at home requires good ingredients and patience. The 00 flour alone costs $8 a bag, and San Marzano tomatoes run $4 per can. But when you nail it, you'll have restaurant-quality pizza that beats most delivery options.
My advice: start with the Princess recipe. It's the most forgiving and consistently produces great results. Once you master that, experiment with the MSC Neapolitan style.
The real secret isn't just the recipes – it's understanding that cruise ship pizza succeeds because of fresh ingredients, proper technique, and eating it immediately while it's hot. That's something you can definitely recreate at home.
Ready to share your own cruise pizza experiences or ask questions about perfecting these recipes? Join the conversation in our Cruise Food & Dining forum where fellow cruisers swap recipes and dining tips!
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