Eating pizza after 2 a.m. is a tradition limited to New York City streets and cruise ships.
Most cruise lines offer pizza until the wee hours of the morning. It's an easy way to keep passengers who may have overused their drink package in a good mood. And it fits the "I'm on vacation" vibe, which enables passengers to forgive themselves for all sorts of bad choices.
Carnival Cruise Line, however, recently made a major change to its pizza offering. It's now closing its dedicated Pizza Pirate and Pizzeria del Capitano locations at midnight and serving completely different pizza on its late-night buffet.
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The cruise line has not changed its website and posted the following about Pizzeria del Capitano on its website.
On Carnival ships, the captain tends to be kind of a big deal — almost a celebrity. On a few select ships, they’ve even got their own pizza spot. The best news? Pizzeria del Capitano is open all day, and late into the night… and you’re invited. And since our captains tend to be Italian, you know we’re talking primo ingredients. Hand-tossed dough, made from imported Italian flour, plus fresh mozzarella form a solid base, and a choice of toppings put the finishing touches on this piping hot, fresh-from-the-oven mealtime — or snacktime — classic. (Also, try our caesar salad — buono, capisce?)
The cruise line does not celebrate Pizza Pirate (really just a different name for the same offering) quite as much, but it does promise "freshly-made pizza."
Carnival's late-night-dining changes have angered people for a number of reasons, including that instead of a fresh-made New York-style pizza, the buffet offers premade sheet pizzas.
In addition, passengers are angry for another reason, but the cruise line is not giving in.
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Image source: Carnival Corp.
Carnival's late-night dining is not so late now
Carnival passenger Brian Borgesen wrote to Brand Ambassador John Heald about the late-night changes. On Heald's popular Facebook page the cruiser begged Heald to get the cruise line to reconsider its late-night-dining changes.
"Can you please reconsider the decision to close the pizza early? The midnight buffet, which is being offered as an alternative, is only open until 2:30 a.m. Previously, pizza was open until 4 a.m.," he wrote.
Most activities on the ship stop by 2 a.m. but the casino and the nightclub can be open later.
"Now we only have late-night food until 2:30 a.m. Some of us are up late at the nightclub or casino, enjoying the drink package, and may want to get late night food beyond 2:30 a.m.," he added.
"Pizza being open until 4 a.m. was a good option for that. But now we are stuck with no options. There was always a line even that late, so demand was definitely there."
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Heald pushed back on the idea that there is demand after 2:30 a.m.
"Thank you, actually it’s very few and records show that less than half a percent of the Ship are up that late," the brand ambassador replied. "But you still have room service and that is open 24 hours. Thank you so much, have a wonderful time when you cruise and let me know what you think of all the offerings that we now have."
Room service is 24/7, but late-night pizza comes with a $5 delivery fee, whereas the buffet and pizza counters do not cost extra.
Carnival passengers are not happy
While Heald's comments seem plausible, given that very few people tend to be out and about on a cruise ship after 2:30 a.m., some passengers did not agree.
"Room service….you mean the room service that now costs money, and a service charge and the 'expected' delivery tip? That free pizza just turned into a $10-$15 pizza….but wait…it’s not about the money," wrote Andrew Snyder.
Renee Young also took issue with Heald's comments.
"Andrew Snyder, also, did you notice originally the reason behind this was complaints about long lines and wait times? Today it went to only less than half a percent of the ship are up that late. Talk about contradictions," she posted.
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Heald responded to the complaints.
"No it’s not about the money, absolutely 100% not about the money, and every time you say this, I’m going to repeat what I know to be 100% true because I actually work for the company," he wrote.
"It’s actually costing us more money because of the variety of food we're offering and also from staffing and also, as always when people eat late at night the food waste is increased as well. This has nothing to do with money."
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