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A star on Hollywood Boulevard for 'Love Boat' cast and PrincessA star on Hollywood Boulevard for 'Love Boat' cast and Princess

'The Love Boat' has had a lasting role in television and popular culture, while also serving as an early popularizer of cruising.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

May 1, 2018

3 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Just over 40 years ago, in May 1977, this new television show premiered, set aboard a cruise ship, featuring stories of romance, hijinks and adventure on the high seas involving characters portrayed by Hollywood stars.

The original ensemble cast along with ocean-going co-star Princess Cruises will be honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star on Hollywood Boulevard.

May 10 ceremony at the Dolby Theatre

Actors Gavin MacLeod (Capt. Stubing), Jill Whelan (Vicki), Ted Lange (Isaac), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Lauren Tewes (Julie) and Fred Grandy (Gopher) will be honored at a May 10 ceremony in front of the Dolby Theatre.

'What an unexpected thrill for our cast to be honored with Princess Cruises on Hollywood Boulevard!' said MacLeod, a 30-year brand ambassador for Princess Cruises. '"The Love Boat" offered us many opportunities to see the world, create lifelong friendships and, of course, introduce the joys of cruising. People still approach me and say that the show gave them something to dream about—falling in love, finding happiness—all while sparking the desire to travel.

'Now, more than 40 years later,' he added, 'cruising is a vacation option for everyone and the growth of the industry just proves that dreams really do come true.'

In the mid-1970s, television producer Douglas S. Cramer, who had created the popular television series 'Love, American Style,' decided to transplant his comedy vignette series from its studio setting to a modern cruise ship. The resulting 'The Love Boat' has been widely credited with introducing millions of viewers to the concept of a cruise vacation, helping fuel the industry's growth.

'We’re proud to welcome the original cast of "The Love Boat" and Princess Cruises as Friends of the Walk of Fame, recognizing their contribution to the history of television and support for the preservation of the Walk of Fame,' said Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

1977 pilot shot aboard Sun Princess

After the 1977 pilot show, shot aboard the line's original Sun Princess in Mexico, Cramer teamed up with top television producer Aaron Spelling and 'The Love Boat' went on to phenomenal success, continuing for 10 seasons until 1987 as one of the highest rated, prime-time television shows in the country.

Princess soon became a household name as the primary setting and co-star of the popular series, and continues to be known as the 'Love Boat' line today. Pacific Princess and Island Princess were the two original ships but as the show grew in popularity it was filmed aboard many Princess ships at exotic destinations around the globe.

More than 1,000 celebrity guest stars

'The Love Boat' featured more than 1,000 celebrity guest stars including Tom Hanks, Florence Henderson, Charo, Debbie Reynolds, Milton Berle, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman and Ginger Rogers, to name a few.

'The Love Boat' cast reunited in late 2014 to collectively serve as the godparents for Regal Princess during naming festivities at Port Everglades. A number of guest stars from the show were also on hand.

The original series is currently in worldwide syndication, having been translated into more than 29 languages, and is viewed by millions of fans in more than 93 countries. Episodes are available on MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television.

 

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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