🌊 Bring the Carnival Cruise Pizza Experience to Your Kitchen
Missing that late-night pizza from your Carnival cruise? You’re not alone. Carnival Cruise Line is known for its legendary pizza — thin crust, melty cheese, and fresh toppings available whenever you need it while on board.
Here’s how to recreate that cruise-style pizza magic at home with a simple recipe for dough, sauce, and toppings — plus cheesy tips to make it authentic.
🍕 Carnival-Style Pizza Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour ( I use “00” flour )
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp fast rise yeast
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.
- Mix water and oil, then add to the dry mix.
- Knead on a floured surface for 2+ minutes.
- Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1.5 hours.
- Knead lightly and let rest for 10 minutes before rolling out.
🔑 Pro Move: Carnival’s pizza is ultra-thin — roll your dough out as flat as possible without tearing.
Also you can make your dough 48 hours ahead of time and store in the fridge for ultra airy dough. Just remove from the fridge a few hours before cooking for best results.
🍅 Signature Cruise Tomato Sauce
Use San Marzano tomatoes for that classic sweet and rich cruise-style sauce flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 can San Marzano tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- ¾ tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. No cooking needed. Spoon directly onto your pizza base.
🧀 Cheese Like They Do on the Ship
Carnival’s secret? A quality mozzarella base, often enhanced with provolone or parmesan for extra depth.
- Mozzarella: Use whole milk for creamier melt
- Provolone: Add for a tangy twist
- Parmesan: Sprinkle post-bake for a salty finish
🍍 Carnival-Inspired Pizza Toppings
Try these combos to match what you’d find at sea:
- Pepperoni & mozzarella (a classic ship favorite)
- Ham & pineapple (the tropical twist)
- Mushroom & provolone (for a rich bite)
- Margherita (fresh tomato, mozzarella, basil)
🌶️ Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of olive oil to finish, just like Carnival does.
🔑 Pro Move: DO NOT over load your dough. Less is more!
🎓 Why This Recipe Works
This isn’t just any homemade pizza—it’s Carnival Cruise pizza in spirit. With a super-thin crust, bold tomato base, and the perfect cheese blend, you’ll feel like you’re floating off the coast of Cozumel with every bite.
And the best part? It’s budget friendly, easy to make, and ready in under 2 hours.
🧠 Cruise Pizza Fun Facts
- Carnival’s pizza is readily available and it’s one of the most loved late-night eats.
- The pizza ovens on Carnival ships are custom-built for thin crust perfection.
- You can even request gluten-free or custom-topped pies while cruising.
🛳️ Final Slice: Make Carnival Pizza at Home Tonight
Whether you’re fresh off a Carnival cruise or dreaming of your next one, this Carnival Cruise Pizza Recipe brings a taste of vacation home. Grab the dough, sauce, and cheese — and let your kitchen set sail.
