Princess wins Ospitalità Italiana for onboard Alfredo’s pizzerias; Carnival (CCL)

Princess wins Italy’s top hospitality seal for onboard pizzeria

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb 9 (Reuters) - Princess Cruises says Alfredo’s Pizzeria aboard the Sun Princess and Star Princess is awarded the Ospitalità Italiana Certification, the highest global recognition for authentic Italian cuisine and hospitality. The certification validates the line’s commitment to Neapolitan-style, made-to-order, hand-stretched pizzas baked in a stone Moretti Forni oven, and it is announced as the company marks National Pizza Day.

Princess emphasizes that the honor stems from a fleetwide collaboration with chef Tony Gemignani, a 13-time World Pizza Champion, who devises five signature pizzas now available across 17 ships. The menu features premium combinations such as soppressata with hot honey and Gorgonzola with sweet fig preserves, and Princess cites these offerings as factors behind a USA Today nod for “Best Pizza at Sea.” Vice President of Food and Beverage Sami Kohen says the certification is a meaningful validation of the line’s focus on authentic Italian culinary standards and service.

Operational practices underlining the award include trained onboard chefs, strict ingredient sourcing, and preservation of traditional techniques such as hand-stretching dough and stone-oven baking adapted for the shipboard environment. Princess frames the certification as a way to ensure consistent quality and guest experience across itineraries, positioning Alfredo’s as a destination dining option that brings Italian tastes and hospitality to passengers at sea.

Fleetwide menu rollout and public recognition

The certification accompanies a visible marketing push around National Pizza Day and the chain’s recent media accolades. Princess is using the Ospitalità Italiana mark to highlight its culinary credentials and differentiate its onboard food-and-beverage offerings amid growing competition in the cruise sector.

Implications for cruise dining strategy

The move reflects a broader industry trend toward elevating onboard dining through branded partnerships, celebrity chefs and accredited programs to drive guest satisfaction and onboard revenue. For Carnival Corporation’s Princess brand, the seal serves both as a quality assurance signal and a competitive tool to attract passengers seeking authentic culinary experiences while cruising.