Less than a year after Andolini’s Pizzeria in Tulsa set a Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party at the University of Tulsa (TU), Princess Cruises has claimed its own title: the world’s largest pizza party at multiple venues. The event took place on July 12, the cruise line said, and celebrated a new partnership with acclaimed chef Tony Gemignani of Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Slice House by Tony Gemignani and other pizza brands.
Gemignani has created two new pizzas and shared three of his existing recipes with Princess Cruises, which claims to serve “the best pizza at sea.” The new pies feature “an exciting blend of savory flavors and premium ingredients, from soppressata sausage and hot honey to agave pesto and fresh goat cheese,” according to a press release.
Gemignani and his World Pizza Champions organization had a hand in the Andolini’s party held at TU’s Reynolds Center on January 21, 2023. Taking place prior to a TU men’s basketball game against Tulane, it drew 3,357 participants, easily shattering a previous record of 1,046 held in Rome in 2019.
Princess Cruises says its own record-breaking event took place at multiple venues aboard its fleet of “Love Boats,” where guests devoured more than 60,000 slices of pizza prepared by Princess Cruises’ chefs. Guinness World Records adjudicators were on site to confirm the new record.
Building the pies required 6,512 pounds of dough; 3,417 pounds of flour; 1,393 pounds of pepperoni; and 2,323 pounds of cheese.
Gemignani’s recipes will debut at Alfredo’s onboard the new Sun Princess, with plans to extend to the rest of the fleet this summer. Princess Cruises said Gemignani personally trained its chefs at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco and on Princess ships, “ensuring all five pizzas are thoughtfully prepared to replicate his original, hand-crafted pizzas at sea.”
“Princess is the original Love Boat, and its magnificent ships are known to all the world,” Gemignani said. “Bringing my original-recipe hand-crafted pizzas, inspired by the destinations Princess visits, to the world-class line up of culinary offerings onboard their ships is not only exciting but an honor.”
Princess Cruises President John Padgett said the cruise line “has long been known for having the best pizza at sea” and “decided to take it up an entirely new level with the legendary Tony Gemignani and also set a Guinness World Records title in the process. Tony is the ‘GOAT’ with unparalleled world championships, expertise and passion for crafting the perfect pizza.”
Gemignani personally holds or participated in records that include building the world’s longest pizza; most people tossing pizza dough at once; the largest pizza base spun in two minutes; and the most consecutive pizza rolls across the shoulders in 30 seconds.
