Carnival Cruise Line celebrated the christening of its newest ship, the Carnival Radiance, in a ceremony in Long Beach, California, with the ship's godmother, Dr. Lucille O'Neal, and her son, Carnival's Chief Entertainment Officer, Shaquille O'Neal, as special guests. The Carnival Radiance underwent a $200 million bow-to-stern refurbishment and is the third Carnival ship to sail year-round from Long Beach, joining the Carnival Panorama and the Carnival Miracle.
The ceremony began with a “We Are Family” video featuring Carnival Radiance crew members preparing the ship for guests. “Carnival Radiance has all the Carnival fan favorites, so we are beyond excited to welcome her to the West Coast and our fleet,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “And having Shaq’s mother, Lucille, an accomplished speaker who lends her talents to a wide range of charities, as the ship’s godmother has made it even more special.”.
Duffy presented Lucille with a donation to the Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund, which provides financial support to students pursuing nursing careers and education. The City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir from Gardena, California, performed a gospel rendition of “We Are Family” as event guests waved light sticks during a moving grand finale.
“It was a very special night celebrating the debut of the Carnival Radiance with my son by my side in what truly felt like a family event,” said Lucille. “It has been a great pleasure to be included in these exciting festivities, so I can only imagine how amazing it will be for guests to sail aboard this spectacular ship – they are going to love it.”.
Before the christening ceremony, the evening began with the ribbon-cutting by the mother-son duo to officially inaugurate Big Chicken, the second seafood restaurant created by Shaquille, which debuted at Mardi Gras earlier this year, with dishes based on his family's recipes.
The ship departs from the Port of Long Beach on its inaugural four-day cruise. Carnival Radiance's West Coast itineraries include three-day trips to Ensenada and four-day voyages with stops in Ensenada and Catalina Island. It joins Carnival Panorama, which offers week-long cruises along the Mexican Riviera, and Carnival Miracle, which offers four- and five-day trips to Mexico.
In addition to Big Chicken, new offerings added to Carnival Radiance include Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, created by Food Network star and longtime partner Guy Fieri; Heroes Tribute Bar, which pays homage to those serving in the Armed Forces; the family-friendly Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano; Bonsai Sushi; and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub. All of the ship's public spaces have also been transformed, including the water park, youth facilities, shops, Cloud 9 Spa, and the new Liquid Lounge, home to Carnival Playlist Productions' award-winning shows. The ship's exterior has also been adorned with the line's new red, white, and blue hull livery, inspired by its flagship, Mardi Gras.
