Finding Big Chicken on Carnival Cruise Ships

If you’re a fan of Shaquille O’Neal (also known as Shaq), you’ll be excited to know that his restaurant Big Chicken is now open on select Carnival cruise ships! As a casual dining option onboard, Big Chicken serves up delicious fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, and more. But with over 20 ships in Carnival’s fleet, which ones actually have Big Chicken? Let’s break it down

I wanted to get the full scoop, so I did some digging on Carnival’s website and other cruise blogs to find out exactly which ships have Big Chicken Here’s what I learned

Current Carnival Ships with Big Chicken

• Carnival Celebration – This new ship debuted in 2022 and was the first to feature Big Chicken As Carnival’s third Excel-class vessel, Celebration has all the modern amenities

• Carnival Jubilee – Set to launch in 2023, Jubilee will be the second Excel-class ship with Big Chicken on the menu. It will homeport in Galveston, TX.

• Carnival Radiance: Radiance joined the Big Chicken fleet in 2020, after a huge $200 million makeover. It sails from Long Beach, CA.

• Mardi Gras – As Carnival’s first LNG-powered ship, Mardi Gras began sailing from Port Canaveral in 2021 with Big Chicken onboard. It’s the flagship of the new Excel-class.

As of now, those are the only 4 Carnival ships where you can get Shaq’s famous fried chicken and sides.

Upcoming Carnival Ships to Have Big Chicken

Luckily, more Carnival ships will be adding Big Chicken very soon:

• The Carnival Venezia will be launched in 2023 and will go on trips in the Mediterranean. When it goes into service, Big Chicken will be on board.

• Carnival Jubilee’s Sister Ship – A second Excel-class vessel is planned for a 2024 arrival, complete with Big Chicken of course.

• Additional Excel-Class Ships – Carnival has plans for at least 2 more Excel-class ships down the road. Given the pattern so far, it’s a safe bet these will also have Big Chicken!

It looks like Carnival wants to make Big Chicken a standard on all of its newest ships.

Carnival Ships Without Big Chicken

Now for the bad news…as of today, these Carnival ships do NOT have Big Chicken:

• All Fantasy-Class Ships – This includes Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Paradise.

• All Spirit-Class Ships – Such as Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, and Carnival Magic.

• All Conquest-Class Ships – For example, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Freedom.

• All Splendor-Class Ships – Which are Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Vista.

• All Sunshine-Class Ships – Like Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Horizon.

• All Other Existing Ships – This covers any remaining vessels in Carnival’s fleet that pre-date the new Excel-class, such as Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, etc.

Essentially, any Carnival ship that is older and not part of the new Excel-class does NOT have Big Chicken…yet. Of course, that could potentially change with future renovations.

The Lowdown on Big Chicken

So what exactly is Big Chicken and why is it only on Carnival’s newest ships? Here’s a quick rundown:

• Big Chicken is a casual restaurant created by Shaquille O’Neal to serve up his favorite fried chicken recipes.

• It debuted on Carnival Celebration in 2022 and is being added only to the latest Excel-class ships going forward.

• The menu features fried chicken sandwiches, chicken baskets, chicken strips, breakfast options, and sides. Everything is included in your cruise fare.

• As a brand new dining concept, adding Big Chicken requires extra galley space and planning. Older, smaller ships simply can’t accommodate it.

• But based on popularity so far, expect Big Chicken to spread to more of Carnival’s fleet over time via renovations and newbuilds!

So while not every Carnival ship has Big Chicken just yet, more are being added all the time as the cruise line rolls out its new class of Excel ships. For the best chance at sampling Shaq’s signature chicken, book a sailing on one of the newer vessels. And get ready to “get chicken” in true Shaq style!

Pro Tips for Finding Big Chicken

Want to make sure your next Carnival cruise includes a meal at Big Chicken? Use these tips:

• Stick to the Excel-class ships – Celebration, Jubilee, Radiance, Mardi Gras and beyond. These vessels are designed with Big Chicken in mind.

• Check deck plans – On ships with Big Chicken, you’ll find it on an upper, aft deck. It’s usually near the basketball court.

• Ask at booking – Just request confirmation that the specific ship and sailing you’re choosing has Big Chicken on the menu.

• Follow the fun – Look for Shaq’s larger than life personality and theming near the entrance of Big Chicken.

• Arrive hungry – Bring your appetite and try the chicken sandwiches, strips, and signature baskets paired with sides like potato salad and slaw.

• Go early or late – For a seat without a wait, opt for off-peak dining times like mid-afternoon or late evening.

• Consider breakfast – Big Chicken serves chicken biscuits, omelets, and more in the morning on sea days. Fuel up before a busy day of fun!

Get Excited for Big Chicken!