Orange Crush Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 As I complete the "live" blog of my recent Christmas cruise on the Majesty at a glacial pace, there's something I really need to talk with other cruisers about. Let me start by saying that I am FAR from a pizza snob. While I've enjoyed some excellent pizza in my time, and I frequently make my own cast iron pan pizzas from scratch, I still appreciate a slice from a national chain, the mall, Cici's or even Digiorno's and Red Barron. I was a firm believer that there's no such thing as bad pizza. Just good pizza and better pizza. I was wrong. Sorrento's is bad pizza. What in gods name do they DO to it? They appear to be using pre-made crusts with a normal-looking sauce and shredded mozzarella. The toppings are kinda skimpy, but that's not a big deal. The problem is that it's got a texture I can only describe as gluey as all hell. Like Elmer's school glue. The crust crisps up reasonably well on the bottom and edges, the cheese browns on the top, but there's something going terribly wrong at the crust-sauce-cheese interface. The entire mass stuck to the roofs of our mouths and left an unpleasant film on our teeth and tongues. I tried multiple different kinds across different days to see if it was just a particular variety to rule out a bad batch, strange customized recipe or something that's been sitting out too long. It was consistently gluey and terrible. An especially well-done pie, fresh out of the oven was only marginally better. It was still noticeably gluey. Soggy elementary school cafeteria pizza is superior to this. I'm just baffled how the pizza can miss the mark so much. Are they using artificial cheese or some peculiar ingredient? Pizza isn't a complex food and doesn't require any ingredients they don't already carry for their otherwise excellent bakery and galley operations. How can it possibly be this bad? henrysea13, Gears, Suzanne and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS8VN Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 You know, I hate that all the terrible reviews of Sorrentos is just convincing me that I have to try it when I cruise. If everyone told me "oh you have to eat here, it's the best pizza ever" then I might try it. But with so many people talking about how bad it is, now I feel I must try it to see how pizza can possibly be that badly done. Why in the world would that be my reaction?? Rey Santos, DocLC and henrysea13 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 I completely agree @Orange Crush. It reminds me of the pizza they used to serve at Chuck E Cheese. The last time I had the cheese pizza, it was kind of soggy and if folded over treated more like a cheese quesadilla than pizza. And once you've tried the pizza on some of the other lines, you realize how bad the pizza is on Royal. Sadly, though, it doesn't stop me from eating it when hungry late at night. For what it's worth, the pizza has been terrible since the 1990s, so at least they've been consistent. :) RestingBird, henrysea13 and Gears 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Crush Posted December 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 1 hour ago, NS8VN said: You know, I hate that all the terrible reviews of Sorrentos is just convincing me that I have to try it when I cruise. If everyone told me "oh you have to eat here, it's the best pizza ever" then I might try it. But with so many people talking about how bad it is, now I feel I must try it to see how pizza can possibly be that badly done. Why in the world would that be my reaction?? Oh, I'm exactly the same way. I heard the bad reviews online and I couldn't quite believe it myself. No pizza can be that bad! It was. I had to try multiple slices of different kinds on different days because I still didn't completely believe it. Same result. Every time. DocLC, NS8VN and RestingBird 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 Perhaps they purposely make the pizza bad so that everything else tastes better by comparison. ;) Orange Crush and JennyB 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 After a night of exercising my drink package, I think it taste good... JennyB, henrysea13, mamabdw and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monorailmedic Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 I heard a call. Did someone set off the "bash Sorrentos" siren? Yeah, I'm not a fan - at all. Many lines do pizza poorly and Sorrentos is definitely one of them. We had pretty great pizza (from a similar style venue) on HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam recently, so floating and good pizza are not incompatible. Orange Crush and DocLC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 I am a pizza snob, and Sorrentos is awful. It is what it is: mass produced quickly produced pizza. My kids generally like it. That being said, the pizza on Independence was inedible in my opinion. Not sure why Indy's version of Sorrentos was different from the rest of the fleet. Orange Crush, Gears and RobWhatley 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Crush Posted December 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 1 minute ago, Matt said: I am a pizza snob, and Sorrentos is awful. It is what it is: mass produced quickly produced pizza. My kids generally like it. That being said, the pizza on Independence was inedible in my opinion. Not sure why Indy's version of Sorrentos was different from the rest of the fleet. Frozen, microwaveable pizza they sell at gas stations still beats Sorrentos and that's about as mass produced as it gets. There has to be more to it than that. I must understand this! You mention Indy's pizza being different and somehow more horrible, so maybe that's a clue? Majesty's my only Sorrentos experience so far. I'm sailing on the Allure this coming March. I will try the Sorrentos there and report back. For science. RestingBird and marton2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 I like how you can't stack the pieces.. because when you take off the top slice, it brings all the toppings from the slice underneath because they have glued together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 It is...hands down...the WORST pizza I have had in my life....from any restaurant or store or from my deep freeze. Hands down the worst, whether drunk or sober. The amazing this is...how consistently bad it is on ANY Royal ship....no matter what. I don't get it, I really don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 Just give me the pizza kit in a box that we used to make as kids, I'll be happy Gears, Floski and NS8VN 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 1 hour ago, Orange Crush said: You mention Indy's pizza being different and somehow more horrible, so maybe that's a clue? Majesty's my only Sorrentos experience so far. I think it was the cheese. Tasted and felt different than Sorrentos on other ships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 I haven't tried it yet and was looking forward to trying it. I did have the pizza on Carnival Splendor in Nov and I hate to say this, but I think there on to something over there at Carnival. I couldn't get enough of it, It was fabulous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 On a positive note, they do offer a gluten free crust for those with Celiac it an intolerance. BTW, it's not any better, but it's not any worse either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 In Canada where I grew up we had the Molson scale. While normally applied to other subjects I find it applicable to Sorrentos. I'm on Indy now and pizza is a 10! (On the Molson scale). henrysea13 and Gears 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS8VN Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 49 minutes ago, twangster said: In Canada where I grew up we had the Molson scale. While normally applied to other subjects I find it applicable to Sorrentos. I'm on Indy now and pizza is a 10! (On the Molson scale). Sorrentos: Second best reason to get the drink package! Rey Santos, RobWhatley, mworkman and 4 others 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestingBird Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 I agree with you, our experience was the same...terrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runderekrun Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 16 hours ago, mworkman said: I haven't tried it yet and was looking forward to trying it. I did have the pizza on Carnival Splendor in Nov and I hate to say this, but I think there on to something over there at Carnival. I couldn't get enough of it, It was fabulous! Oh my goodness - on Carnival Victory earlier this year for a 4 day cruise and I think my wife and I had at least 15 pizzas. It was AMAZING! We are taking our 10 year old daughter on her first cruise on Mariner in 2018 and was really looking forward to the pizza on board :-( DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betatke1480 Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Maybe I'm alone, or I just got a good batch, but back in November on Majesty I didn't think it was terrible. Was it the best pizza I've had, no, not at all. But I would put it in the realm of pizzas made for school fundraisers here in the midwest. I think it's all about how you go into it. If you didn't know it was bad before you got on board, it would be really terrible. Since I'd already heard horror stories, it was more of "that wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Sorrentos is about the only thing I tell people to stay away from. Hard to understand how something so bad can be repeated over and over again with incredible consistency. I equate it to dipping a slice of gooey white bread into tomato soup and sprinkling some ultra cheap Parmesan cheese on it. henrysea13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 For the record I've never been a fan of Carnival pizza either across 10 ships. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 1 hour ago, twangster said: For the record I've never been a fan of Carnival pizza either across 10 ships. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Molson score for Carnival's pizza? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 28 minutes ago, Gears said: The Molson score for Carnival's pizza? 15! (The limit of the Cheers! drink package) To me it's very close to something you buy at a big box store, preheat to 450 and bake for 12-15 mins. but greasier. Like dab paper towels on it to soak up some of the liquid oil on top before consuming. Sorrentos is generally better but to each their own. On Indy it's a weird taste but at least it doesn't ooze oil. Gears 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 I have never, on any cruise, had a bite of pizza....now I am curious...might have to try it in 69 days just to see how bad it is...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 I’m a born and bred New Jerseyan, enjoying good pizza is in my blood. I want to thank everyone here for the multiple warnings about Sorrentos. I’ll be sure to avoid it, as having it might lead me to swear off ever cruising again, and that would be a Bad Thing. RobWhatley, Lovetocruise2002, Orange Crush and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 On 12/31/2017 at 5:36 AM, JLMoran said: I’m a born and bred New Jerseyan, enjoying good pizza is in my blood. I want to thank everyone here for the multiple warnings about Sorrentos. I’ll be sure to avoid it, as having it might lead me to swear off ever cruising again, and that would be a Bad Thing. That's horrible news. You MUST try it. It's part of the shared experience talking about how bad it is. coneyraven, mamabdw, RestingBird and 5 others 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 On 12/31/2017 at 8:36 AM, JLMoran said: I’m a born and bred New Jerseyan, enjoying good pizza is in my blood. I want to thank everyone here for the multiple warnings about Sorrentos. I’ll be sure to avoid it, as having it might lead me to swear off ever cruising again, and that would be a Bad Thing. Nope, you need to try it for "research purposes" and then live blog it ? coneyraven, JLMoran, RestingBird and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrysea13 Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 I must have been on a different cruise I found it tolerable not terrible I will be on the indy in 10 days I will give it a try I did find the royal old room service menu fit for a vulture but the new menu is pretty good maybe the sorrentos pizza will be improved if enough people b---h or maybe if we all cater a sorrentos lunch directly to boss bayley if I am not mistaken carnivals pizza is on flatbread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Carnival Pizza is not on flat bread, as your can watch them make the pizza dough and roll it out and put the toppings of your choosing on it. It's fresh made and if it sits longer than 15 minutes they throw it in the trash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 On 12/31/2017 at 3:36 PM, JLMoran said: I’m a born and bred New Jerseyan, enjoying good pizza is in my blood. I want to thank everyone here for the multiple warnings about Sorrentos. I’ll be sure to avoid it, as having it might lead me to swear off ever cruising again, and that would be a Bad Thing. Its not that bad, If you use your Alcohol package as it should and you pour on the slice half of Tabasco bottle with some of the dry spices its eatable .... Also there are two things I love about the Sorrento : It reduce the lines in cafe promenade. It add seating area in the promenade ... UkuleleCruiser, JLMoran and JennyB 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdurney Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 I couldn't agree more about how bad Sorrentos is.It amazes me that Royal Caribbean can be so consistently good at everything else but so consistently bad at something as basic as pizza. bcarney and RestingBird 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkuleleCruiser Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 I have strong gastronomic empathy for you. I actually didn't have a problem with the pizza on my last cruise on Liberty. Is it possible that it is different from ship to ship? Or that the recipe has changed since last year? Or am I just a pizza boar, whose opinion is not to be trusted? Either way, I trust the rest of the cruise was pleasurable. You might try to grab a passable pizza slice in one of the ports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason.H. Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 I am picky about good food and I like sorrento's better than johnny rockets. Johnny rockets is terrible. Greasy cold fries and onion rings, Cheap frozen pre-formed patty's with no seasoning, limp greasy undercooked bacon. AND IT COSTS EXTRA! At least sorrento's is free and their sandwiches/stromboli's are good. Carnival has Guy Fieri's Burgers and I have heard from everyone that has tried them how great they are and it's included! Royal Caribbean needs to up their burger/pizza/bar food game. JennyB, Traveler and Floski 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiny260 Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 On 1/1/2018 at 11:33 AM, DocLC said: That's horrible news. You MUST try it. It's part of the shared experience talking about how bad it is. Nothing like a piece of pizza after drinking all day (Sea day) and night, best hangover cure on the ship. DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 1 hour ago, tiny260 said: Nothing like a piece of pizza after drinking all day (Sea day) and night, best hangover cure on the ship. Couldn't this be said about just about anything? If Sabor was open, then that would be the best hangover food, too. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkuleleCruiser Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 5 hours ago, Jason.H. said: I am picky about good food and I like sorrento's better than johnny rockets. Johnny rockets is terrible. Greasy cold fries and onion rings, Cheap frozen pre-formed patty's with no seasoning, limp greasy undercooked bacon. AND IT COSTS EXTRA! At least sorrento's is free and their sandwiches/stromboli's are good. Carnival has Guy Fieri's Burgers and I have heard from everyone that has tried them how great they are and it's included! Royal Caribbean needs to up their burger/pizza/bar food game. Frankly, I was not at all impressed with Guy Fieri's burgers on Carnival. But the pizza was pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constable145 Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 Sorrentos is not good. I'd gladly take any of the big chains over it- Dominos, Papa John's , Pizza Hut, or even up here in Canada Pizza Pizza.... that is saying something Michael Bayley has said they are working on the pizza... There had been no improvement on my last cruise.. we'll see what the Anthem has in store for me in a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 2 hours ago, constable145 said: or even up here in Canada Pizza Pizza.... that is saying something Sure , if you prefer Pizza Pizza over Sorrentos its saying allot about Sorrentos Pizza Pizza is something we used to have during the middle of sleepless night which we had huge production problem , it was the only things that was open and after I was eating it I use to cruised myself for doing so. Agree that any chain will be better , but even not a chain (since they will need to pay for the name and guess who will pay for what they are paying) , just better recipe and better cheese (they should find something else to do with the recycle plastic bottles, Sorrento "cheese" is not the answer for everything) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose City Cruiser Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 Sorrento's Pizza or the shady shrimp sandwich at Cafe Promenade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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