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B M & T ••• March/April 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 50 C R U I S E N E W S CARNIVAL RADIANCE CHRISTENED BY GODMOTHER DR. LUCILLE O'NEAL Newest Carnival Ship Based Year-Round in Long Beach Sets Sail Today on Inaugural Cruise In a celebration of all things fun and family, Carnival Cruise Line christened its newest ship Carnival Radiance(ebi) recent- ly in a naming ceremony in Long Beach, Calif., with the ship's Godmother Dr. Lucille O'Neal and her son, Carnival Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O'Neal as featured guests of the event. C a r n i v a l Radiance under- went a $200 mil- lion bow-to-stern makeover and is Carnival's third ship sailing year- round from Long Beach, joining Car- nival Panorama and Carnival Mir- acle. The heartfelt naming ceremony began with a "We Are Family" video of Carnival Radi- ance crew mem- bers preparing the ship for guests. " C a r n i v a l Radiance features all of Carnival's fan favorites and more, so we are beyond excited to finally welcome her to the West Coast and to our fleet," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "And having Shaq's mom, Lucille, an accomplished speak- er who donates her time and talent to a wide range of charitable organizations as the ship's Godmother has made it even more special." Duffy presented Lucille with a $25,000 donation to the Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund that honors the lifetime accomplishments of Lucille's mother who worked in the med- ical field as a nurse. The fund's primary mission is to provide financial contributions to help support students seeking a career in nursing and education. As part of the ceremony, Lucille and Shaquille helped pour champagne atop a traditional ship's bell, officially naming the ship. The City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir from Gardena, Calif. rocked the house with a gospel rendition of "We Are Family" as event guests waved light sticks during an emotional grand finale. "What a special evening it was to celebrate the debut of Carnival Radiance with my son by my side in what truly felt like a "We Are Family" event," said Lucille. "It has been such a pleasure to be included in these exciting festivities, so I can only imagine how incredible it will be for guests to sail aboard this spectacular ship – they're going to love it." Prior to the naming ceremony, the evening kicked off with the mother-son duo cutting a ribbon to officially open Big Chicken, the second seagoing restaurant created by Shaquille, which debuted on Mardi Gras earlier this year, featuring dishes based on his family's recipes. Carnival Radiance's West Coast-based itineraries include three-day voyages to Ensenada and four-day sailings calling at Ensenada and Catalina Island. She joins Carnival Panorama operating week- long Mexican Riviera cruises and Carnival Miracle sailing four- and five-day Mexico voyages 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 salut- ing those that serve in the Armed Forces; Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant; Bonsai Sushi; and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub. All of the ship's public spaces have been transformed as well – includ- ing the water park, youth facilities, retail shops, Cloud 9 Spa and a new Liquid Lounge home to Carnival's award-winning Playlist Productions shows. The exterior of the ship has also been adorned with the line's new red, white and blue hull livery fashioned after its flagship, Mardi Gras. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise, meeting planners should call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK), is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line with a total of 24 ships, sailing from 14 U.S. homeports and employing more than 40,000 team members from 120 national- ities. Carnival's newest ship, Mardi Gras, featuring the first roller coaster at sea and the first cruise ship in the Americas powered by eco-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), sailed from Port Canaveral, Fla., July 31, 2021. As part of its 50th Birthday festiv- ities, Carnival Celebration, sister ship to Mardi Gras, is sched-