Craving Carnival Cruise Pizza? Here’s The Carnival Recipe You Need

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.

Although I love making pizza when we are at home, the pizza while on a cruise ships just hits a bit different. We were lucky enough to take part in a Carnival Kitchen Pizza Making Class on the [ccl_cruise] Mardi Gras and got out hands on the recipe. You can now try and duplicate the pizza in the comfort of your own home but it maybe easier to just book another cruise and experience it!

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
  Author Note: We use “00” Dough at Home and find Caputo to be the best.
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp fast rise yeast
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.
2. Mix water and oil, then add to the dry mix.
3. Knead on a floured surface for 2+ minutes.
4. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1.5 hours.
5. 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.

🔑 Pro Move: The longer you let the dough proof, the better the flavor.

• 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.
• Plan ahead because the late night lines can be a little long

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.