At a star studded event, Princess Cruises just christened the line’s newest Regal Princess – sister-ship to the successful Royal Princess unveiled last year. The christening ceremony also inaugurated the line’s 50th anniversary.
Celebrating the role The Love Boat television show played in the success of the cruise line across those 50 years, all six cast members – Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher, the chief purser), Ted Lange (Isaac, the bartender), Bernie Kopell (Doc, the ship’s doctor), Lauren Tewes (cruise director, Julie) and Jill Whelan (Vicki, the captain’s daughter) – were on hand to release 50 champagne bottles to splash upon the ship’s hull, followed by one more giant bottle representing the future.
“The Love Boat put Princess Cruises on the map, bringing the romance and adventure of our cruise vacations into millions of viewers’ homes for the decade it was on air. So it was fitting that the cast was selected as godparents for Regal Princess as we begin our 50th anniversary celebrations,” said Jan Swartz, the line’s president.
25 former Love Boat guest stars were also in attendance among celebrities that included Florence Henderson, Charo, Jack Jones, Loni Anderson, Joyce DeWitt, Jamie Farr, Pam Grier, Christopher Knight, Diane Ladd, Lorenzo Lamas, Carol Lawrence, Rich Little, Kristy McNichol, Lee Meriwether, Don Most, Tracy Nelson, Mackenzie Phillips, Doris Roberts, Marion Ross, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Charlene Tilton, Joan Van Ark, Dick Van Patten and Adrian Zmed.
Now the 3,560-guest Regal Princess sets sail on her maiden season in the Caribbean out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. For more information on the Regal Princess, visit Princess Cruises‘ website here.
HEADER IMAGE SOURCE: PRINCESS CRUISES