"Come Aboard We're Expecting You": 'Love Boat' Cast Reunites to Christen New Princess Ship
As they say in that super-memorable theme song, “The Love Boat soon will be making another run.”
Princess Cruises is reuniting the original cast of the “Love Boat” TV series to christen the newest Princess vessel, the Regal Princess. Gavin MacLeod (the stalwart Captain Stubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher the chief purser), Ted Lange (Isaac the bartender), Bernie Kopell (“Doc,” the ship’s doctor), Lauren Tewes (Julie the cruise director) and Jill Whelan (Vicki, the captain’s daughter) will also be the ship’s godparents.
“The Love Boat" crew is getting back together (Photo: Princess Cruises)
The gigantic Regal Princess, which can accommodate more than 3,500 guests, actually entered service in May. But the christening, scheduled for November 5 in Fort Lauderdale, will commemorate its maiden Caribbean season.
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The christening will also mark another special occasion: the launch of Princess Cruise Lines’ 50th Anniversary celebration in 2015.
"The Love Boat” cast will christen the Regal Princess, one of the largest ships in Princess’ fleet (Photo: Princess Cruises)
”[‘The Love Boat’] has been such a visible part of our company’s history,” Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz says in a statement. “It made sense to kick off our anniversary celebrations with this special tribute.”
“The Love Boat” cast, pictured here in 1983, has had a long relationship with Princess
“The Love Boat,” which debuted in 1977, was a lighthearted look at the romantic goings on a cruise ship. But it was also a valuable one-hour commercial for Princess. The show prominently glamorous shots of Princess ships in exotic locations. And even though it went off the air in 1987, it continues to be a promotional gold mine for Princess. Gavin “Captain Stubing” MacLeod has even worked as a Princess Cruises spokesman and ambassador. He says in a statement: "The fact that The Love Boat continues to air in international syndication around the globe is a testament to the show’s longevity and the world’s fascination with romance on the high seas.”
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