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Shaquille O'Neal's mom named Carnival cruise ship godmother

Nov. 17, 2021
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2 min read
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Shaquille O'Neal's mom named Carnival cruise ship godmother
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Carnival Cruise Line has named Shaquille O'Neal's mother, Dr. Lucille O'Neal, godmother of the newest vessel in its Sunshine Class.

Dr. O'Neal, who is an author, public speaker and philanthropist, dedicates much of her time to charitable organizations. In addition to her positions as a board member of the Orlando Ovarian Center Alliance and president of Mothers of Professional Basketball Players (which she also cofounded), Dr. O'Neal established the Odessa Chambliss Center for Health Equity on the campus of Bethune Cookman University, where she earned her bachelor's degree. The university also awarded her an honorary doctorate degree.

"Lucille's longstanding commitment to caring for others is a reflection of what we look for in a godmother, and as the mother of our amazing chief fun officer, Shaquille O'Neal, we also know she's got some fun in her DNA," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, in a statement.

Shaq, who has served as Carnival's "CFO" (chief fun officer) for several years, has a large presence throughout the fleet, particularly on the line's newly built Mardi Gras, which boasts Big Chicken, a free onboard restaurant that offers some of the best chicken we've ever tasted.

Dr. O'Neal, who will be in attendance for Carnival Radiance's naming ceremony on Dec. 13 in the port of Long Beach, in California, will also help Shaq cut the ribbon on the second at-sea Big Chicken outpost, which is found on board.

"When Shaquille was named chief fun officer ... never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be named godmother of a cruise ship," Dr. O'Neal said. "To think that my name will be forever associated with Carnival Radiance and that I'm joining other esteemed women who have served as a Carnival godmother is truly an honor."

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Like the other ships in its class, Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory) underwent an extensive dry dock refurbishment.

In addition to Big Chicken, the $200 million overhaul added several other popular Carnival staples, including Guy Fieri's Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse; the Heroes Tribute Bar, dedicated to members of the military; family-style Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano; Bonsai Sushi; and the RedFrog Pub.

Carnival Radiance will sail three-day cruises to Ensenada and four-day voyages to Ensenada and Catalina Island.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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