Which line has the best cruise pizza? I ordered pies and slices across 7 brands to find out

Whether you’re a big pizza fan or simply looking for a quick bite on your next cruise, you’d be hard-pressed to find any of the industry’s most popular lines without a place to snag a pie or a slice.

From standard options like gooey cheese to pies with interesting combinations of truffle and egg or meat and seafood, delicious options abound. Here’s my list of the best cruise pizza places on ships.

Scoring rubric:

5 – Fresh and amazing with great variety and atmosphere
4 – Great flavor but not a perfect experience
3 – Tasty and filling but not a standout
2 – Tasteless
1 – Avoid or get sick

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Room service pizza, MSC Cruises

Where to find it: All MSC ships

Cost: $6-$9.50 (plus a $4.99 delivery fee for cruisers with the Bella experience)

TPG Take: Available in seven varieties — margherita, vegetable, pepperoni, four cheese, marinara, MSC style (tomato sauce, ham, arugula, mozzarella, Grana Padano cheese and olive oil) and supreme — or a build-your-own option, MSC‘s pizza is some of the best at sea. With a soft, doughy crust that’s just as mouthwatering as the toppings, you won’t regret getting a pie or two delivered to your cabin via room service.

Be aware that there is a charge; if you’re interested in an equally tasty free version (albeit in a communal setting where options are limited and you won’t get a whole pie to yourself), head to the buffet.

TPG rating: 5/5

Buffet pizza, Norwegian Cruise Line

Where to find it: All ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet

Cost: Free

TPG take: I was intrigued to discover that not all Norwegian Cruise Line vessels offer dedicated pizza joints on their ships. That’s why, on a recent voyage, I was forced to try the buffet version when I had a craving. Options included cheese, pepperoni and veggie, among other varieties.

I went with plain and was pleasantly surprised that the cheese was just the right amount of melted, the thin crust was delightfully crispy and I could eat two slices without feeling overly stuffed. The flavor wasn’t the most intense, but that’s easily fixed with seasonings found throughout the buffet area.

Room-service pizza is also available, but you’ll pay a delivery fee of $9.95 per order (not per pie). It’s not a terrible deal if you are hungry at off-times, especially if you order more than one.

TPG rating: 3/5

Pizza Place, Virgin Voyages

Where to find it: All Virgin Voyages ships

Cost: Free

TPG take: Open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, Pizza Place is great for a snack between lunch and dinner or as a way to cure late-night munchies — particularly after drinks and dancing. Plus, the pizza itself is stellar.

You won’t get a single slice at Pizza Place but, rather, an entire made-to-order pie. It’s not huge, but it’s still larger than most personal pizzas. The menu features The Classic (tomato sauce with mozzarella), Chicken Pesto, Pretty Fly for a White Pie (mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan with roasted garlic), and White Truffle & Egg varieties, as well as pepperoni and vegan options. You’ll receive a pager that will buzz when your order is ready. Expect a thin crust, bubbly cheese and lots of flavor.

Want to enhance the experience even more? Pour on some of the balsamic vinegar or olive oil that you’ll find on each table.

TPG rating: 5/5

Sorrento’s, Royal Caribbean

Where to find it: All Freedom, Oasis, Icon and Quantum Class ships

Cost: Free

TPG take: As far as complimentary onboard pizza goes, Sorrento’s is pretty good. It’s made fresh, and the melty cheese, pepperoni and vegetable options — plus a few rotating specialty selections — are great for a between-meal snack; it’s also good for lunch or dinner if you’re looking for something free and fast. If your ship has a Sorrento’s location, it’ll usually be in Royal Caribbean‘s Royal Promenade. Grab a table in this central location to people-watch while you enjoy a slice or several.

TPG rating: 3/5

Slice, Princess Pizzeria and Prego Pizzeria, Princess Cruises

Where to find it: Slice on Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess and Sky Princess; Princess Pizzeria on Coral Princess and Island Princess; and Prego Pizzeria on Diamond Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess

Cost: Free

TPG Take: Generally, Alfredo’s Italian eatery grabs all the glory for best pizza on Princess ships. However, with the line’s recent decision to charge for pizza there, I’ve lost interest.

Enter Slice, Prego Pizzeria and Princess Pizzeria (depending on the ship). These pool-deck staples are near the Movies Under the Stars screens on Princess‘ vessels. They are ideal for a quick bite if you’re watching an alfresco movie or sporting event, if you want a late-night snack or if you’re peckish between meals. They have some of the best pizza I’ve ever tasted at sea, which means the lines might be long (particularly at peak times). However, it’s always worth the wait.

You can’t order entire pies, but you can request more than one slice at a time in always-available varieties like plain, margherita, veggie and pepperoni — as well as specials that rotate daily.

TPG rating: 4/5

Pizzeria del Capitano, Pizza Pirate, Miami Slice and Coastal Slice on Carnival Cruise Line

Where to find it: Pizzeria del Capitano on Carnival Dream, Carnival Firenze, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras; Pizza Pirate on Carnival Breeze, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride and Carnival Valor; Miami Slice on Carnival Celebration; and Coastal Slice on Carnival Jubilee

Cost: Free

TPG take: You’ll find Carnival‘s free pizza at one of four outposts, depending on the ship you’re sailing. On most vessels, pies are positioned near the pool, making it easy to grab slices during breaks from swimming or sunbathing. On the line’s newest vessels — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee — the location has been moved to an indoor promenade area.

Regardless of the location, you’re in for a treat. Carnival offers some of the best pizza you’re likely to have on a cruise ship. Plus, the line’s pizza joints are open nearly around the clock, making them perfect for late-night cravings after you finish at the onboard nightclub. Order by the pie or the slice, and choose from margherita, funghi (mushroom), prosciutto (ham), pepperoni or quattro formaggi (four cheese) pizza. Caesar salad is also available.

TPG rating: 5/5

Oceanview Cafe pizza, Celebrity Cruises

Where to find it: All ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet

Cost: Free

TPG take: Celebrity doesn’t have stand-alone pizza outlets on its ships, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snag a terrific slice or two. At the Oceanview Cafe buffet fleetwide, you can enjoy plain, pepperoni and other truly tasty varieties, totally free. Plus, as promised in the venue’s name, you can enjoy your pizza with gorgeous, sweeping views of the sea.

Although the flavor of the pizza itself is wonderful, the counter from which it’s served can be hidden within the buffet, knocking our rating down to a 4.

TPG rating: 4/5

Bottom line

Of all the pizzas included in this piece, my favorite is Virgin Voyages’ Pizza Place. Not only is it free, but this joint offers entire pies rather than just slices. It also has comfy alcoves where you can sit down to dine in an actual restaurant atmosphere versus merely a table by the pool.

Additionally, the menu has some fun and unusual options, which convinced me to try something I wouldn’t have considered before — truffle pizza with egg. My pie was made to order and was ready quickly, which means that, in my personal opinion, it sets the gold standard for at-sea pizza.

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