FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 9, 2024 – Princess Cruises has announced an exciting new partnership with Tony Gemignani, the 13-time World Pizza Champion and a celebrated figure in the culinary world. This collaboration aims to further solidify Princess Cruises’ reputation for offering the best pizza at sea.
Chef Gemignani, renowned for his unparalleled expertise and passion for pizza, has crafted five unique pizzas exclusively for Princess Cruises. These pizzas feature an array of premium ingredients, including Soppressata sausage, hot honey, Gorgonzola, and sweet fig preserve. Initially, these artisan pizzas will debut at Alfredo’s on the new Sun Princess, with plans to extend them across the fleet this summer.
Princess Cruises’ chefs have undergone specialized training at Chef Gemignani’s acclaimed Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco. This training ensures that they can faithfully replicate his hand-crafted pizzas onboard, offering guests an authentic and exquisite pizza experience.
To celebrate this new culinary collaboration, Princess Cruises will attempt to set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Largest Pizza Party on July 12. This event will take place at multiple venues, where fresh-from-the-oven pizzas, including Chef Gemignani’s new creations, will be prepared by the line’s master chefs.
Chef Gemignani, a native of Northern California, is a highly decorated pizzaiolo and a significant figure in the American culinary scene. He is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author, known for his books “PIZZA,” “The Pizza Bible,” and “The Pursuit of Pizza.” His first restaurant, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, opened in San Francisco in 2009 and quickly gained acclaim for its diverse range of pizza styles, including Classic American, Italian, Sicilian, and Neapolitan, all made with artisan flours, authentic sauces, and seasonal ingredients.
“Princess is about delivering great experiences, and there is no more important element than pizza. While Princess has long been known for having the best pizza at sea, we decided to take it to an entirely new level with legendary Tony Gemignani,” said John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises. “Tony is the ‘GOAT’ with unparalleled world championships, expertise, and passion for crafting the perfect pizza.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Chef Gemignani has won 13 World Pizza Championships, two Food Network Gold Medals, and four GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titles. He has also opened over 30 restaurants and made numerous television appearances on shows like “Food Network Challenge” and “Bar Rescue.”
“Princess is the original Love Boat, and its magnificent ships are known worldwide,” said Gemignani. “Bringing my original recipe hand-crafted pizzas, inspired by the destinations Princess visits, to the world-class lineup of culinary offerings onboard its ships is not only exciting but an honor.”
The new Gemignani-designed pizzas will be featured prominently at Alfredo’s and Gigi’s specialty pizzerias, charming sit-down venues that offer an enticing menu of freshly prepared, individual-size pizzas, salads, wine, and beer. These venues have been voted “Best Pizza at Sea” by USA Today. Additionally, these pizzas will be available at the complimentary Slice locations found on the Lido Deck of Princess ships.