It was only a matter of time before Carnival‘s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal would expand his role within the company, and he’s doing it in a big way. Carnival Cruise Line has announced that in 2020 when the Carnival Radiance comes out of dry dock from its $200 million refurbishment, the ‘Big Chicken’ restaurant will be on board, O’neal’s passion project that recently launched in Las Vegas in late October. The menu will feature a variety of fried chicken sandwiches and fries, with flavors to match Shaq’s larger than life personality, all free of charge.
“As Chief Fun Officer, I want to bring even more fun to every aspect of a Carnival cruise, including what guests eat. Big Chicken has been a dream of mine and now that our land-based restaurant is open, it’s only natural to bring it to sea, as well. I’m really excited that Carnival Radiance guests will be able to enjoy my own delicious creations alongside all the other great food offerings on board.”
– Shaquille O’Neal
It seems as though Shaq is taking a page out of his Carnival colleague’s playbook by bringing ‘Big Chicken’ to sea. Food Network star, Guy Fieri has done exceptionally well with ‘Guy’s Burger Joint’ and now, ‘Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse‘.
Located aft on Lido Deck, Big Chicken will treat cruisers with various fried chicken favorites, all developed by the man himself. Along with him sharing his own recipes, the big guy had a big say in naming the sandwiches using the long list of nicknames he has.
What I’m most excited about is their breakfast menu. Just think about how good the chicken and egg biscuits will be. Similar to ‘Guy’s Burger Joint’, Big Chicken is aiming to have fast, stellar service with very little wait. Patrons place their order at the counter and pick it up almost instantly.
Big Chicken is among the many new culinary and beverage offerings that will be available on Carnival Radiance when it debuts in 2020. Other outlets include Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse developed by Food Network star and longtime partner Guy Fieri, a classic American steakhouse called Fahrenheit 555, the Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub.
To learn more about the Carnival Radiance and start planning your next cruise, head on over to Carnival.com.
