cruise director love boat tv show

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User reviews

The Love Boat

The romantic and comic tales of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess. The romantic and comic tales of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess. The romantic and comic tales of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess.

Wilford Lloyd Baumes
Gavin MacLeod
Bernie Kopell
42 User reviews
11 Critic reviews
4 wins & 21 nominations total

Episodes 250

Captain Merrill Stubing …

Doctor Adam Bricker …

Bartender Isaac Washington

Ship's Purser 'Gopher' Smith …

Cruise Director Julie McCoy …

Vicki Stubing

Ship's Photographer Ashley 'Ace' Covington Evans …

Cruise Director Judy McCoy …

Susie - Love Boat Mermaid …
Maria - Love Boat Mermaid …
Jane - Love Boat Mermaid …

Amy - Love Boat Mermaid …
Patti - Love Boat Mermaid …
Sheila - Love Boat Mermaid …
Starlight - Love Boat Mermaid …
Mary Beth - Love Boat Mermaid …
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

Trivia This series was based upon Jeraldine Saunders novel titled, "The Love Boats." She wrote the book from her personal observations while serving as a hostess on a cruise ship.
Goofs While it made for interesting stories during the run of the show, romantic and sexual liaisons between passengers and crew members were (and still are) forbidden aboard cruise ships for a host of reasons.
Crazy credits In the opening credits, the episode's guest stars are listed first in alphabetical order; then the show's regulars, who are referred to as "your Love Boat crew" (e.g. "Gavin MacLeod as your Captain", etc.).
Connections Edited into Intrepid (2000)
Soundtracks The Love Boat Written by Paul Williams and Charles Fox Sung by Jack Jones

User reviews 42

audreypawloski
Nov 7, 2004
What is Gopher's first name? On his cabin door it has an initial plus "Smith" for his last name.
Gopher was the *Assistant* Purser?
May 5, 1977 (United States)
United States
Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA
Aaron Spelling Productions
Douglas S. Cramer Company
The Love Boat Company
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour

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Cruising The Past Cruise News

Coulter’s steamlined modern department store miracle mile los angeles.

‘The Love Boat’: How a TV show transformed the cruise industry

Posted by: Michael Grace May 23, 2022

Last week, CNN writer Tamara Hardingham-Gill interviewed me on my involvement as a writer for The Love Boat in the 1980s, and a book I am writing on the landmark hit TV series was a major factor in creating today’s cruise industry.

Also, as a Travel Historian focusing on the late 1930s through the 1970s, I was able to share insights about cruise and passenger maritime history during those times.

Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN

From steam-powered ships, to mega-liners, the cruise industry has been through quite a transformation over the years. And the market has skyrocketed.

Back in 1970, an estimated 500,000 people went on a cruise holiday. That figure had jumped to five million by 1997.

So what brought about this sudden surge in interest? According to industry experts, it was mainly down to a certain TV show with a catchy theme tune.

“Come aboard, we’re expecting you!”

Produced by TV legend Aaron Spelling,”The Love Boat” first aired in 1977 and went on to become one of the most successful shows in TV history during its decade long run.

The program, which is still available on streaming services such as Paramount Plus, partnered with Princess Cruises, and episodes were filmed aboard various Princess Cruise ships, the Pacific Princess and Island Princess being the most noted.

‘Greatest product placement’

It’s spawned various spin-offs. The latest, reality dating competition show “The Real Love Boat,” will be filmed on board a Princess Cruise ship, just like the original show, and is due to air on CBS later this year.

Based on a non-fiction book written by former cruise director Jeraldine Saunders, “The Love Boat” centered around ship captain Merrill Stubing (played by Gavin MacLeod) and his on board crew, while different guest actors played passengers each episode.

The show has since been described as “the greatest product placement” ever, serving as a complete introduction to cruising for many of its avid viewers.

“The Love Boat’ really created the cruise industry,” says Michael L. Grace, who worked as a scriptwriter on the program during the 1980s. “Because you had 50 million people watching, and they all wanted to go on a cruise.”

Several modern cruise lines existed when the show began, including Princess, founded in 1965 with a single ship cruising to Mexico. Royal Caribbean had launched in 1968, and Carnival Cruise Line was founded in 1972.

But the cruising demographic was very different to what it is now.

Although cruise companies were apparently keen to attract younger passengers, many people simply didn’t know much about cruising, and those who did had a very specific idea of it.

“Back in the day, people would say cruising was for the nearly dead or newlywed,” says cruise journalist Carolyn Spencer Brown, chief content officer for Cruise Media, LLC.

“So when ‘The Love Boat’ came on and showed people of all ages and races having fun and being lively on a cruise ship, that opened up cruising to a world that didn’t really know it existed.”

Each week, tens of millions of people around the world would tune in to follow the exploits of Captain Stubing, Dr. Adam Bricker (Bernie Kopell), cruise director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes), bartender Isaac Washington (Ted Lange) and the captain’s daughter Vicki, played by Jill Whelan, and suddenly going on a cruise soared to the top of many a wish list.

“They [the passengers] would come on the ship,” Grace says of the formula for the hour-long show.

“They’d have a problem. Then the problem is solved and they all come together again. They [the episodes] were like small movies.”

Cruise-building boom

The launch of the “The Love Boat” came at a time when the vast majority of cruise ships on the water were former liners that had been converted. There were few new ships in service.

However, this quickly changed when demand shot up thanks to the success of the show.

“It [the show] did so well that Princess Cruises were selling out their ships,” cruise historian Peter Knego tells CNN Travel. “And that led to the first boom of new cruise ship building in the early 1980s.”

The fact that scenes from “The Love Boat” were occasionally filmed aboard real life cruises, with the passengers serving as extras, only added to the appeal.

“So many cruise lines want to create experiences for you that you probably couldn’t create on your own,” notes Spencer Brown.

“That [becoming an extra on a popular TV show] certainly qualifies as something that doesn’t happen to most people.”

Keen to strike while the iron was hot, existing cruise lines began building brand new purpose-built cruise ships in order to cater to this fast-growing market, while new companies emerged like Celebrity Cruises, founded in 1988.

“Back then, to build new cruise ships, that was a big deal,” says Knego.

During the 1980s, almost 40 new cruise ships were constructed, including Tropicale, from Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Princess, Princess Cruises’ first purpose-built cruise ship.

“It [Royal Princess] had new features like balconies, which were pretty rare with mainstream cruising,” he adds.

As more cruise lines emerged and began competing with each other, cruising became more affordable, expanding the market even further.

Entertainment focus

“The Love Boat” may also have played a part in the heavy entertainment focus we see on modern day cruise ships.

Outlandish musical performances were often featured on the “The Love Boat,” and they proved to be a big hit with viewers.

During one of the show’s specials known as “The Love Boat Follies,” iconic stage and screen stars Della Reese, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing and Ann Miller sing a rendition of “I’m The Greatest Star” from the 1968 musical “Funny Girl” together.

“It was very spectacular,” says Grace, who is working on a book about the impact of “The Love Boat.”

“And what was so strange is, when they would flash back to the people watching in the audience, it was like a small little club. But the stage was the size of a West End theater.”

Off screen, the Island Princess and its sister ship Pacific Princess, the two ships primarily used for filming towards the start of the series, held main stage production shows that became hugely popular with cruising fans.

This led to the introduction of some grand new features on cruise ships in later years.

“Princess and other cruise lines went on to build ships with state of the art showrooms with huge stages, sound and lighting effects that are now standard on modern cruise ships,” says Knego, adding that the modern atriums seen on cruise ships today can also be traced back to “The Love Boat” ships.

“The two deck lobbies with the grand staircase that was replicated for the studio shoots were early versions of the big atriums that are now popular features on modern cruise,” he says.

Romantic adventures

Romance was understandably a very important factor in “The Love Boat.” While the relationship plots certainly kept viewers entertained, Spencer Brown stresses that this focus was also beneficial when it came to maintaining the notion that “cruises really are quite romantic.”

“For a long time, Princess had all sorts of enhanced amenities that were pointed to romance,” she adds.

“They really embraced this concept all the way through. You could have a balcony, sunset dinners, and rose petals strewn on your bed. All of these lovely, romantic things.”

Long-time cruise enthusiast Judi Patterson, who met her husband Andy when he was working on board another cruise ship, P&O’s SS Oriana, was a fan of “The Love Boat,” but says her own cruising experiences were very different to what was portrayed on screen.

“It [the show] bears no resemblance to reality,” says Patterson. “But it was fun. I don’t know if people actually believe that that’s what happens [on cruise ships].

“It was fun to watch and think that these things might possibly happen.”

“The Love Boat” reruns were still airing around the world years after its last episode, and the show’s fan base has remained incredibly loyal.

Lasting legacy

Spencer Brown, who also met her now husband on board a cruise ship — the couple even got engaged on a cruise — believes that the partnership between “The Love Boat” and Princess Cruises has been the key to its longevity.

“They truly embraced each other in a way that was really genuinely heartfelt,” she says.”The cast members became such a part of the cruise line, and they still are.”

Princess Cruises often holds reunion cruises, with the actors from “The Love Boat” appearing as special guests. The next one is scheduled for October 2022, sailing from Los Angeles to Mexico.

“People stand in line for hours just to get their picture taken with cast members,” says Knego, who’s due to attend the upcoming reunion. “They [the cast] sign autographs and it’s quite a wonderful situation to this day.”

MacLeod was a regular on the popular cruises until his death in 2021.

“People always ask us why ‘The Love Boat’ was so popular and I always say it’s because it gave people something to dream about,” the actor said back in 2015.

“They could dream about being out on the open seas on a cruise and discovering the worlds’ greatest destinations, dreaming about love and of course happy endings since the shows always ended on a high note. I’m proud to have played a role in the growth of the cruise industry.”

Now a billion dollar industry, cruising has evolved considerably since “The Love Boat.” There are currently over 1,200 cruise ports across the world.

More than 100 new ships were built during the 1990s, with most of them significantly bigger than the vessels that featured on the show.

Royal Caribbean’s MS Sovereign of the Seas, considered to be the first mega ship, with a passenger capacity of 2,850, took its maiden voyage in 1998, while Disney Cruise Line was established that same year.

At present, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, an 18-deck cruise ship that has capacity for 6,988 guests and 2,300 crew members, is the current record holder for world’s biggest ship.

While the Covid-19 pandemic undoubtedly devastated the cruise industry, and the past two years have been shaky, things are looking up once again.

Last month, leading global cruise industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association, announced that 75% of its member ships had already returned to service, and nearly all were forecast to be back by late summer.

“To me, the cruise industry is almost a victim of its success,” says Knego, who runs YouTube channel MidShipCinema, which is dedicated to old and new cruise ships.”Because the mainstream cruise ships now carry up to 5,000 people and they’re absolutely massive.

“They don’t have the same kind of intimacy that you had back when ships only carried 800 or maybe 1,200 people like the Love Boats.”

However, there are various cruise companies that offer smaller ships for those keen for a more Love Boat style cruising experience.

Patterson and her husband have taken many trips with leading small ship cruise line Viking, and will be setting off on a world cruise in January 2023.

“We only travel on small ships now,” she says, noting that it’s slightly more expensive to travel on smaller ships. “We had our turn on the bigger ones.”

New Chapter

Pacific Princess and Island Princess, the original Love Boats, have been scrapped in recent years.

Knego managed to photograph the Island Princess during its final days at a scrapyard in India and was able to rescue a few of the furnishings and ornaments, including a bronze mermaid sculpture and some of the furniture from the lobby area of the ship.

He hopes to bring some of the items onto the “The Love Boat” reunion cruise this fall so that the fans on board “can have a tactile connection with the original ships.”

Later this year, “The Real Love Boat” will see another Princess ship, the Regal Princess, take center stage in a TV show, albeit on a very different format.

“It’s good for the cruise industry,” Spencer Brown says of the upcoming series, albeit noting that a reality show is “a pretty radical reinterpretation” from the original show.

“It’s good for all of cruise, because it tells a different story. It tells a fun and romantic story.”

Top image: “Love Boat” cast members, from left, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, Jill Whelan, Bernie Kopell, Lauren Tewes and Fred Grandy. Credit: TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection

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'Love Boat' cruise director: 'The show was about free sex'

It was called "The Love Boat," but cast members recall that the show's popularity had less to do with love than getting physical.

For Sunday's episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?," three prime members of "The Love Boat" cast gathered to reminisce about their days aboard the Pacific Princess.

"I don't think I knew how successful the show was until it was over," Cynthia Lauren Tewes, who played cruise director Julie McCoy, said on the reunion show. When prompted by co-star Jill Whelan (captain's daughter Vicki Stubing) to explain the show's appeal, she had several thoughts.

"At the time nobody could afford to go on a cruise, or they thought they couldn't," Tewes said. "And so here, they were able to take a vacation every week. (And) a lot of people love seeing the guest stars. Especially the older guest stars."

Fans who look back fondly back on the Saturday-night staple, which ran from 1977 to 1986, may be forgetting some of the racier elements, however.

"Now people remember the show in a whole different reality than it really was," Tewes said, with Whelan agreeing. "Which I think is funny because they remember it being this sweet, lovey show — and I remember people giving us trouble for, you know, being all about sex and free sex. 'Cause it was about free sex. Julie never actually had any but she tried to hook people up three and four times a cruise if possible. I mean, that was her — my — job."

Bartender Isaac helped out in that regard, said Ted Lange, who played him. "Yeah, I was getting them soused so they could do it," he chimed in.

Tewes agreed: "And if (one relationship) didn't work out, Julie will find you another one."

Sunday's episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" also includes appearances by Charo, Dave Coulier of "Full House," and D.B. Sweeney. It airs at 9 p.m. on OWN.

Follow Gael Fashingbauer Cooper on Google+.

What Happened To The Cast Of The Love Boat?

As an hour-long sitcom with a laugh track featuring new guest stars every week and multiple storylines per episode, The Love Boat is a bit of an odd beast, even today. That said, it's hard to deny its success: The series ran for well over 200 episodes, from 1977 to 1987. That's not even counting multiple made-for-TV movies, nor the spinoff series, Love Boat: The Next Wave . The world just couldn't spend enough time aboard the SS Pacific Princess. Fascinatingly, The Love Boat was actually based on a nonfiction book by an actual cruise director. Just how many of the show's high-seas hijinks were based on true events, however, is left up to the fans' imagination.

Though waves of new guest stars arrived every week, the core cast of The Love Boat remained intact, giving viewers steady footing as they sailed the stormy seas. Let's take a closer look at that beloved cast, and discover what they've gotten up to since the show came to an end. Set a course for adventure, and your mind on a new romance: This is the cast of The Love Boat .

Gavin MacLeod -- Captain Merrill Stubing

Actor Gavin MacLeod was already a well-known television star before becoming the captain of the Pacific Princess on The Love Boat . It wasn't even his first tour at sea: He co-starred on McHale's Navy with Ernest Borgnine in the 1960s, as Happy Haines. His charming attitude proved to be a perfect fit for Captain Stubing on The Love Boat .

The series was MacLeod's last major role, though he continued to appear in guest spots on television series up until about 2014. Some more recent shows MacLeod appeared on include That 70s Show , JAG , Oz , King of Queens , Touched By an Angel, and Murder, She Wrote . His last on-screen appearance came in 2014, on an episode of The Comeback Kids . MacLeod isn't resting on his laurels, however. A devout Christian, he has appeared in a few Christian films from director Rich Christiano, and written a couple of books, including his memoir, This is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage through Hollywood, Faith and Life .

Bernie Kopell -- Adam "Doc" Bricker

Bernie Kopell had experience in the actual Navy prior to becoming an actor, so he was a natural fit on The Love Boat . He was a well-known television talent prior to being cast on the series as well: He'd had previous roles on shows like Bewitched , When Things Were Rotten, and Get Smart . He even landed a cameo in the 2008 film remake of Get Smart , due to his role in the original series.

Despite being born in 1933, Kopell continues to stay busy acting in film and television. Recently, he appeared in The Last Sharknado: It's About Time , and a plethora of guest roles on TV. Some of those small-but-mighty roles have come on shows like Arrested Development , Raising Hope , Superstore , Silicon Valley, and Monk . Essentially, if you've watched television over the last few decades, you've probably seen Kopell pop up more than once.

Outside of acting, Kopell has been married since 1997 to Catrina Honadle . They have two children together.

Fred Grandy -- Burl "Gopher" Smith

Fred Grandy wasn't quite the known commodity that some of the other stars of The Love Boat were when he was cast as Gopher Smith. Yet neither was he a total nobody. Grandy had appeared on several television series prior to the show, including starring on Monster Squad . After The Love Boat concluded, Grandy took a long break from acting, to pursue his original ambition: politics.

Before going into acting, Grandy served as an aide to Representative Wiley Mayne. Once The Love Boat pulled into harbor for the last time, Grandy ran for an open seat in Congress for his home state of Iowa. He won that election, and served from 1987 to 1995. His Congressional career ended when he ran for governor of Iowa in 1994. He lost that election, and has not returned to elected office. Instead, Grandy returned to acting. He's had a few guest roles on a variety of series, and also had a recurring role on The Mindy Project as Dr. Ledreau. His most recent credit came in 2020, in the final episode of the Netflix miniseries Hollywood .

Ted Lange -- Isaac Washington

Ted Lange's striking mustache is recognizable from a (nautical) mile away, and viewers will forever associate it with bartender Isaac Washington, one of The Love Boat 's most memorable characters. Lange continues to act in both movies and television, but he might be better known now as a director than a performer.

Since The Love Boat ended, Lange hasn't had many starring roles. He has, however, had several guest appearances on series like Family Matters , Martin , Psych , Drake & Josh and Scrubs . But Lange hasn't been completely out of the spotlight: He's just shifted to directing. He was behind the camera for over half the episodes of the series The First Family , 25 episodes of Players at the Poker Palace, and 23 episodes of Mr. Box Office , among others. His most recent directorial effort was a 2020 episode of the television series The Myth of Control . Lange doesn't just direct TV, either – he directed and starred in a 1989 production of Othello , and a number of TV movies.

Lauren Tewes -- Julie McCoy

Lauren Tewes played Cruise Director Julie McCoy on The Love Boat , and was relatively unknown prior to her casting. She had made a few small appearances on various shows and in advertisements, but The Love Boat was her first major gig. Happily, since the show ended, she has continued to find success as an actor. Much of Tewes' best-known work is voice acting: You can hear her in a number of video games, including Police Quest: SWAT 2 , Freddi Fish 3 , Putt-Putt Travels Through Time , Pajama Sam 3, and The X-Files Game . She has also performed in several roles on the radio drama Imagination Theatre .

Tewes does not limit herself to just voice acting, however. After The Love Boat , Tewes appeared in guest roles on shows like Martin , Who's the Boss and My Two Dads . She also appeared in a single episode of the Twin Peaks revival season. When she's not acting, she's pursuing a whole different passion and career: Tewes, who has attended culinary school, is a cheese specialist . Seattle fans, take note — she works as a sous-chef for a catering company near you.

Jill Whelan -- Vicki Stubing

Actress Jill Whelan was first cast on The Love Boat at just 11 years old. Her appearances as Captain Stubing's daughter, Vicki, were originally billed as guest roles, but she later became a series regular. Whelan went on to appear in numerous other television series, including several soap operas and sitcoms. Not long after The Love Boat came to a close, Whelan appeared in guest roles on several shows, including Martin , Diagnosis Murder, and The Young and the Restless . Some of her more recent appearances have come on series like Criminal Minds and The Bold and the Beautiful . Whelan is not just a screen actor, however. She has also appeared in stage performances and hosted a podcast with Brian Phelps. That project, aptly named The Brian and Jill Show, came from Whelan's love of improv comedy.

Her last on-screen role came in 2017. She has also leveraged her role on The Love Boat into becoming a " Celebrations Ambassador " for Princess Cruises.

Ted McGinley -- Ashley Covington Evans

Ted McGinley is one of the few regular cast members from The Love Boat who might be known much more for his other roles. He first gained fame on the television series Happy Days as Roger Phillips, and as the villainous Stan Gable in Revenge of the Nerds before joining The Love Boat for its last few seasons. He continued his career trajectory upward from there.

After The Love Boat , McGinley went on to star on series like Married ... with Children and Hope & Faith . He reprised his role as Stan Gable in a few sequels to Revenge of the Nerds , and has appeared both in person and as a voice actor in numerous other shows and films. Some of his credits include series like Mad Men , Transformers: Robots in Disguise, and Family Guy , and movies like Do You Believe? and Pearl Harbor. Some of his most recent credits include a starring role on The Baxtors and a guest spot on the sitcom Mom .

Outside of acting, McGinley has been married to Gigi Rice since 1991.

Pat Klous -- Judy McCoy

Once Lauren Tewes left the cast of The Love Boat , the show needed a new Cruise Director. Pat Klous was cast and brought on as Judy McCoy, the sister of Tewes' character Julie, and she stayed on the series until it ended a few years later. Klous was the last regular cast member added to the show before it went off the air, unless you count the Love Boat Mermaids ... which we absolutely do not.

Klous was already well-known when she joined the cast of The Love Boat, due to her role on Flying High , another sitcom on around the same time. She had appeared on other series prior to being cast as well, including Fantasy Island and Aloha Paradise. Still, The Love Boat was easily her biggest role. Unfortunately, the show was already on its way out, and only lasted a few more seasons after she joined.

Interestingly, Klous only has one acting credit from after The Love Boat ended: She appeared on a single episode of Murder, She Wrote . She seems to have retired from acting and apparently lives a quiet life out of the spotlight.

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Meet the 12 singles hoping to find love on The Real Love Boat

Thirty-six years after The Love Boat finale, the ship will once again set sail — but this time, real passengers are searching for romance.

The Love Boat will soon be making another run.

CBS has revealed the cast and crew for their new reality series, The Real Love Boat , premiering Oct. 5, which combines elements of a dating show with the luxury of a romantic cruise. Twelve singles will board the ship, complete with its own captain, bartender, and cruise director (a nod to classic characters from the original series).

Hosted by Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell , the cruise will set sail throughout the Mediterranean, making ports of call in Barcelona, Marseille, Rome, Santorini, Athens, and more. The singles will search for true love, all while tasked with competing in challenges to test their compatibility with other players.

However, much like Love Island , new contestants will be joining the game throughout the cruise, so players will need to couple up... or walk the plank (metaphorically).

So, who are the first batch of seafaring singles boarding The Real Love Boat ? See the list below for the ship's crew and initial group of passengers looking for love on the high seas.

Hosts Jerry O'Connell and Rebecca Romijn

Fun fact: Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell are married in real life — they tied the knot in 2007.

Captain Paolo Arrigo

Home : Italy

Fun fact: A highly accomplished mariner whose career spans more than a quarter-century at sea, Captain Paolo Arrigo joined Princess Cruises as a deck cadet in 1996 after serving for a year in the Italian Coast Guard.

Bartender Ezra Freeman

Home : U.S.A.

Fun fact : For Ezra, matchmaking is a passion, and romance is her weakness. She believes there is no better place to have an intense romantic experience than aboard a cruise ship surrounded by beautiful views and beautiful people. Ezra has been with Princess Cruises since 2019.

Cruise director Matt Mitcham

Home : Canada

Fun fact: For 14 years, Matt lived the real-life version of The Love Boat making vacation dreams come true as a cruise director. He even met the girl of his dreams onboard in 2016, and they are now happily married. Matt is a total romantic who jumped at the opportunity to help people find what he has.

Michael Gonzalez

Home : New York, N.Y. /Los Angeles, Calif.

Daniel Cooper

Home : Atlanta, Ga.

Brett De Laura

Home : Dana Point, Calif.

Emily Stone

Home : Colgate, Wisc.

Brooke White

Home : Los Angeles, Calif.

Marty Hassett

Home : Charlotte, N.C.

Jordan Malabanan

Home : Windsor, Ontario

Shea-Lynn Noyes

Home : Toronto, Ontario

Forrest Jones

Home : Houston, Texas

Nicole Wong

Home : Vancouver, British Columbia

Nathan Kroger

Home : Cincinnati, Ohio

Home : San Diego, Calif.

The Real Love Boat premieres Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

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‘The Love Boat’: How a TV show transformed the cruise industry

F rom steam-powered ships, to mega-liners, the cruise industry has been through quite a transformation over the years. And the market has skyrocketed.

Back in 1970, an estimated 500,000 people went on a cruise holiday. That figure had jumped to five million by 1997.

So what brought about this sudden surge in interest? According to industry experts, it was mainly down to a certain TV show with a catchy theme tune.

“Come aboard, we’re expecting you!”

Produced by TV legend Aaron Spelling, ”The Love Boat” first aired in 1977 and went on to become one of the most successful shows in TV history during its decade-long run.

The program, which is still available on streaming services such as Paramount Plus, partnered with Princess Cruises , and episodes were filmed aboard various Princess Cruise ships, the Pacific Princess and Island Princess being the most notable.

‘Greatest product placement’

Based on a non-fiction book written by former cruise director Jeraldine Saunders, “The Love Boat” centered around ship captain Merrill Stubing (played by Gavin MacLeod) and his on-board crew, while different guest actors played passengers each episode.

The show, which spawned several spin-offs, has since been described as “the greatest product placement” ever, serving as a complete introduction to cruising for many of its avid viewers.

“‘The Love Boat’ really created the cruise industry,” Michael L. Grace, who worked as a scriptwriter on the program during the 1980s, told CNN Travel in 2022. “Because you had 50 million people watching, and they all wanted to go on a cruise.”

But the cruising demographic was very different to what it is now.

Although cruise companies were apparently keen to attract younger passengers, many people simply didn’t know much about cruising, and those who did had a very specific idea of it.

“Back in the day, people would say cruising was for the nearly dead or newlywed,” says cruise journalist Carolyn Spencer Brown, chief content officer for Cruise Media, LLC.

The passengers “would come on the ship,” Grace says of the formula for the hour-long show. “They’d have a problem. Then the problem is solved and they all come together again. [The episodes] were like small movies.”

Cruise-building boom

The launch of the “The Love Boat” came at a time when the vast majority of cruise ships on the water were former liners that had been converted. There were few new ships in service.

However, this quickly changed when demand shot up thanks to the success of the show.

The show “did so well that Princess Cruises were selling out their ships,” cruise historian Peter Knego tells CNN Travel. “And that led to the first boom of new cruise ship building in the early 1980s.”

The fact that scenes from “The Love Boat” were occasionally filmed aboard real-life cruises, with the passengers serving as extras, only added to the appeal.

“So many cruise lines want to create experiences for you that you probably couldn’t create on your own,” notes Spencer Brown.

Becoming an extra on a popular TV show “certainly qualifies as something that doesn’t happen to most people.”

Keen to strike while the iron was hot, existing cruise lines began building brand-new purpose-built cruise ships in order to cater to this fast-growing market, while new companies emerged like Celebrity Cruises, founded in 1988.

“Back then, to build new cruise ships, that was a big deal,” says Knego.

During the 1980s, almost 40 new cruise ships were constructed, including Tropicale, from Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Princess, Princess Cruises’ first purpose-built cruise ship.

Royal Princess “had new features like balconies, which were pretty rare with mainstream cruising,” he adds.

As more cruise lines emerged and began competing with each other, cruising became more affordable, expanding the market even further.

Entertainment focus

“The Love Boat” may also have played a part in the heavy entertainment focus we see on modern-day cruise ships.

Outlandish musical performances were often featured on “The Love Boat,” and they proved to be a big hit with viewers.

“It was very spectacular,” says Grace, who is working on a book about the impact of “The Love Boat.”

“And what was so strange is, when they would flash back to the people watching in the audience, it was like a small little club. But the stage was the size of a West End theater.”

This led to the introduction of some grand new features on cruise ships in later years.

“Princess and other cruise lines went on to build ships with state-of-the-art showrooms with huge stages, sound and lighting effects that are now standard on modern cruise ships,” says Knego, adding that the modern atriums seen on cruise ships today can also be traced back to “The Love Boat” ships.

“The two deck lobbies with the grand staircase that was replicated for the studio shoots were early versions of the big atriums that are now popular features on modern cruise,” he says.

Romantic adventures

“For a long time, Princess had all sorts of enhanced amenities that were pointed to romance,” she adds.

“They really embraced this concept all the way through. You could have a balcony, sunset dinners, and rose petals strewn on your bed. All of these lovely, romantic things.”

The show “bears no resemblance to reality,” says Patterson. “But it was fun. I don’t know if people actually believe that that’s what happens [on cruise ships].

“It was fun to watch and think that these things might possibly happen.”

“The Love Boat” reruns were still airing around the world years after its last episode, and the show’s fan base has remained incredibly loyal.

Lasting legacy

Spencer Brown, who also met her now husband on board a cruise ship – the couple even got engaged on a cruise – believes that the partnership between “The Love Boat” and Princess Cruises has been the key to its longevity.

“They truly embraced each other in a way that was really genuinely heartfelt,” she says. “The cast members became such a part of the cruise line, and they still are.”

Princess Cruises often holds reunion cruises, with the actors from “The Love Boat” appearing as special guests.

The cruise line recently announced that Jill Whelan – now Celebrations Ambassador for Princess Cruises – Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange and Fred Grandy (who played Gopher) would be reuniting for a seven-day trip from August 31 to September 7.

Ezra Freeman, the bartender who appeared on short-lived reality show “The Real Love Boat,” which aired on CBS in 2022, will be joining the cast for the cruise, according to a press release issued by Princess Cruises.

Knego, who has attended previous reunion cruises, says that he’s often struck by the strength of the fan’s love for the show and its stars.

“People stand in line for hours just to get their picture taken with cast members,” says Knego. The cast “sign autographs and it’s quite a wonderful situation to this day.”

MacLeod was a regular on the popular cruises until his death in 2021.

“People always ask us why ‘The Love Boat’ was so popular and I always say it’s because it gave people something to dream about,” the actor said back in 2015.

Now a billion-dollar industry, cruising has evolved considerably since “The Love Boat.”

There are currently over 1,200 cruise ports across the world.

More than 100 new ships were built during the 1990s , with most of them significantly bigger than the vessels that featured on the show.

At present, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, a 20-deck ship and a crew of 2,350, is the current record-holder for world’s biggest ship.

While the Covid-19 pandemic undoubtedly devastated the cruise industry, things have bounced back considerably since then, with 14 new ships expected to enter service in 2024 alone.

“To me, the cruise industry is almost a victim of its success,” says Knego, who runs YouTube channel MidShipCinema, which is dedicated to old and new cruise ships.

“Because the mainstream cruise ships now carry up to 5,000 people and they’re absolutely massive.

“They don’t have the same kind of intimacy that you had back when ships only carried 800 or maybe 1,200 people like the Love Boats.”

However, there are various cruise companies that offer smaller ships for those keen for a more Love Boat-style cruising experience.

Patterson and her husband have taken many trips with leading small-ship cruise line Viking.

“We only travel on small ships now,” she says, noting that it’s slightly more expensive to travel on more modestly sized ships. “We had our turn on the bigger ones.”

New chapter

Pacific Princess and Island Princess, the original Love Boats, have been scrapped i n recent years.

In 2022, another Princess ship, the Regal Princess, took center stage, albeit on a very different format, when it appeared in “The Real Love Boat.”

“It’s good for the cruise industry,” Spencer Brown said of the series at the time, noting that a reality show was “a pretty radical reinterpretation” from the original show.

And the latest “Love Boat” themed cruise, featuring meet-and-greets, menus inspired by the show and episode screenings, will be held on board Princess Cruises’ 330-meter Enchanted Princess this summer, sailing from New York to Canada and New England.

“Sailing with our fans brings us so much joy and this cruise will undoubtedly be a special reunion,” Whelan says in a statement . “Taking us back to where it all began – on a Princess Cruise.”

This article was first published in 2022 and updated in 2024.

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"The Love Boat" centered around the adventures of the crew and passenger on board a luxury cruise ship. - Everett Collection

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Princess Cruises, known for its integral role as the ocean-going co-star in the iconic “The Love Boat” series, has officially unveiled a second themed cruise, reuniting cast members from the original show. Following the tremendous success of the inaugural Love Boat cruise in 2022, fans of the popular show can sail along with Doc, Gopher, Isaac and Vicki Stubing as they cruise roundtrip from New York to Canada & New England aboard Enchanted Princess, August 31-September 7, 2024.

Sail With The Original Cast

Princess Cruises Celebrations Ambassador Jill Whelan (aka Vicki Stubing) will join fellow Love Boat cast members including Bernie Kopell (Doc), Fred Grandy (Gopher), and Ted Lange (Isaac). Ezra Freeman, the bartender from the recently aired The Real Love Boat on CBS reality dating series, will join the cast, along with other surprise guests to be announced.

Highly anticipated Love Boat -themed activities, include:

Sailaway party introducing the cast
Meet-and-greet photo and signing opportunities
The Love Boat -inspired guest activities with prizes
Cocktail demonstration hosted by Ezra Freeman and Ted Lange – practice the finger point!
Symbolic renewal of vows ceremony, officiated by the cast, with commemorative certificate
Cast Q&As sharing favorite memories of the show and stories of their careers
The Love Boat episodes airing on Movies Under the Stars and in staterooms
The Love Boat trivia with the Cruise Director
The Love Boat inspired menus and specialty cocktails
Themed décor, photo backdrops and merchandise

“We had such a blast connecting with fans on our theme cruise in 2022, so bringing it back in 2024 feels like it was meant to be, especially with the addition of some surprise guests,” said Jill Whelan, Celebrations Ambassador for Princess Cruises. “Sailing with our fans brings us so much joy and this cruise will undoubtedly be a special reunion, taking us back to where it all began – on a Princess Cruise.”

Love Boat VIP Package

Super fans may opt for a special Love Boat VIP Package , featuring an invitation to an exclusive cast cocktail party, reserved seating for the cast Q&A in the Princess Theater, front-of-the-line access for autographs and photos, dinner at the Captain’s Table, plus a themed cruise t-shirt and mug. More details on cost and how to book coming soon.

Canada/New England Love Boat theme cruise

The seven-day Canada/New England Love Boat theme cruise aboard the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess sails roundtrip from New York City and visits Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Rockland, Maine; Saint John, Canada (for Bay of Fundy); and Halifax, Canada.

The Love Boat

The Love Boat is credited with bringing cruising to the masses and showcasing the romance of the sea, taking Hollywood’s biggest stars to sought-after destinations as story lines always ended on a happy note. In the fall of 2022, Princess was featured again as the setting of The Real Love Boat on CBS and Paramount+, reality dating adventure series where three real-life Princess crew members and 12 singles looking for love joined hosts Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell onboard Regal Princess sailing through the Mediterranean.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com .

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Translator Information

‘The Love Boat:’ How a TV show transformed the cruise industry

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN

(CNN) — From steam-powered ships, to mega-liners, the cruise industry has been through quite a transformation over the years. And the market has skyrocketed.