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Ah, Carnival Cruise Line, the floating paradise where dreams come true, diets go to die, and late-night pizza is supposed to be the ultimate reward for a day filled with sunburns and karaoke embarrassment. But alas, in their latest attempt to reinvent the late-night snacking wheel, Carnival seems to have run the proverbial ship aground.
Instead of the mouthwatering, handmade pizzas once available well into the wee hours, Carnival has rolled out a new “efficient” pizza option at the Lido Marketplace. And let me tell you, the reception from cruise-goers has been as warm as a half-melted ice cream cone on a Caribbean dock.
The Great Pizza Swap: Efficiency Over Flavor
In the good old days of cruising (by which I mean two weeks ago), guests could swing by Carnival’s famed Pizza Pirate or Pizzeria del Capitano after midnight for fresh, handmade pizzas. These weren’t just pizzas—they were slices of heaven lovingly crafted with the finesse of a Michelin-star chef on holiday.
But now? The midnight magic is gone. The standalone pizza counters shut their doors at 12 a.m., and the buffet takes over, offering a pizza product that some guests claim tastes like cardboard topped with regret. Carnival insists this change is about faster service, but for many, it feels more like a betrayal.
A Slice of Backlash
Cruisers haven’t been shy about voicing their discontent. Social media and Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, have been bombarded with passionate pleas and biting critiques.
“Please reconsider having the marvelous handmade pizzas available after midnight,” one commenter begged. “The Chicago deep dish is not the pizza that made Carnival’s pizza the best at sea.”
Another guest lamented, “The pizza looks like old school lunch pizza, the cheese is hard, and so is the bread.”
Ouch. When your pizza gets compared to cafeteria food, you know it’s time to reevaluate your life choices—or in this case, your menu.
Carnival’s Response: Sticking to Their Dough
Despite the tidal wave of criticism, Carnival isn’t budging. According to Heald, the change was necessary because the previous setup led to long waits and hangry mobs.
“Thank you, we won’t be changing anything,” he stated firmly. “This is a big decision for us, and we’re going to stick with it.”
Heald elaborated that complaints about slow pizza service between midnight and 2 a.m. were piling up like unused deck chairs on embarkation day. His assistant Jacinta echoed this sentiment, explaining that shifting staff to the Lido Marketplace was supposed to streamline service and cut wait times.
But while efficiency sounds great on paper, the execution has left much to be desired. The new Chicago-style pizzas might come out faster, but guests say they lack the quality that made Carnival’s pizza a fan favorite.
Can You Still Get Pizza 24/7?
Technically, yes—but there’s a catch. While the buffet’s late-night pizza offerings end at 2:30 a.m., room service still offers made-to-order pizza around the clock.
Sounds promising, right? Not so fast. First, the room service pizza menu is bare-bones, featuring just two options: cheese and pepperoni. Second, each pizza costs $6, with an 18% service charge slapped on top.
So, yes, you can satisfy your midnight cravings, but you’ll pay for the privilege. And let’s be honest—nothing ruins a slice of pizza faster than knowing it’s no longer “free” (or at least included in the price of your cruise).
A Crusty Conclusion
Let’s call this change what it is: a cost-cutting measure masquerading as a guest-friendly improvement. Carnival claims it’s about addressing complaints, but wouldn’t a better solution have been to speed up the handmade pizza process rather than swapping it out for a subpar product?
And let’s not forget the irony of Carnival touting this as a win for efficiency. Guests who long for the old pizza now face the choice of standing in buffet lines for a less satisfying product or shelling out extra cash for room service.
Is this the end of late-night pizza joy as we know it on Carnival? For now, it seems so. But knowing the passion of cruise enthusiasts, don’t be surprised if this story continues to unfold like a poorly sliced deep dish.
Carnival Cruise Line, if you’re reading this, we’re not mad—we’re just disappointed. Now, excuse me while I mourn the loss of my post-midnight pizza bliss with a microwaved slice and a cocktail of salty tears. Bon appétit!
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