Cruise ship passengers know that the mandatory safety drill is important and necessary. Maybe not fun but a procedure that must be done before the ship sets sail. Stateroom videos also help reinforce that safety message.

Taking its safety as seriously as it takes its fun, Carnival Cruise Line combined the two. And who better to spread that big message but the line’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal. The result? Carnival is unveiling an entertaining and creative new safety briefing video.

“Keeping our guests and crew safe is our No. 1 priority,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president. “Carnival is known for having fun, so we’ve taken a different twist on the typical safety video to engage with our guests and capture their attention in an entertaining way while still remaining informative, clear and directive.”

Produced with the important goal of getting and keeping guests’ attention and improving the knowledge of safety policies, the new video is being show in all 34,000-plus staterooms throughout the Carnival fleet.

The video is captioned in English and Spanish as well as having audio descriptions for visually impaired guests.

“Our guests know they can count on me to show them how to have fun at sea, but I’m really excited because now I’m showing them how to stay safe as well. The two go hand in hand,” Shaquille O’Neal said in a news release.

“Safety is Serious Fun” stars Shaq who appears in his nautical-themed CFO office and guides guests through the safety messages delivered by three Carnival crew members. The crew tour the ship and experience the dining, entertainment and recreation features that await the 5.2 million guests who annually sail with Carnival on its 26 ships.

In the video, Shaq is joined by three Entertainment Team members who encounter colleagues – and even a few towel animals – along the way. All are working together to ensure that guests understand and follow safety policies.

“No one is as committed to fun as I am. After all, I am the Chief Fun Officer,” Shaq said. “But in order to take advantage of all the great options onboard Carnival’s ships, we all must be safe.”

The new safety briefing can be viewed at https://youtu.be/JP-hdWHBEcU.

Story By Jackie Sheckler Finch – Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line