Thirty Years After Setting Sail on “The Love Boat”

Gavin MacLeod Muses About Romance on the High Seas

By Gavin MacLeod

Among the things I enjoyed most about my role as “Captain Stubing” on The Love Boat, were the occasions on which viewers would approach me to tell me that the show gave them something to dream about. Even today, fans share with me how much they looked forward to that one hour of television every week that would allow them to escape from the real world. I think it had something to do with the fact we were on a beautiful ship cruising the oceans, and that there were hundreds of incredible stars that appeared on the show, but I’m also quite sure it had to do with romance.

The producers of The Love Boat had a formula for each episode, and this was generally three story lines with separate funny and romantic scenarios about the ship’s crew and a passenger or two. At the end of each episode, the problems were solved and, of course, the crew and passengers found romance. Even though the TV critics panned the show, and predicted it would “sink like the Titanic,” The Love Boat enjoyed a decade of success due in part, I think, to the happy endings of each show.

A few years ago I was in my cleaners, and there was a new girl working there. She asked me if I was the captain. I told her, “I used to be,” and she said, “You’ve got to tell someone to put that show back on.” I asked her why and she replied, “That show used to give me something to dream about. Nothing on television gives me anything to dream about.” I’ve met hundreds of fans – and cruisers – over the years, and they tell me similar stories. The great thing is that romance doesn’t have to be a dream. Sure, you probably have to work at it, but making an opportunity to put yourself into a romantic environment – like a cruise – is a good step. My wife, Patti, and I make it a point to take a cruise vacation every year. And we would do this even if I didn’t enjoy a special relationship with Princess!

Why? First, there’s the inherent romance of the sea. There’s something about stepping on board a ship that makes you susceptible to the romance that naturally occurs when you’re surrounded by miles of ocean, crisp salty air, the sound of the water as the ship glides through the waves, an endless sky and, perhaps, the love of your life. There’s something contemplative about being at sea, and I think this helps set the stage to think about what’s really important in your life.

Also, a cruise offers built-in ways to celebrate being together. And it’s so easy! You don’t have to work hard at putting together the details of your time onboard as everything is done for you – deciding what to do when is about the hardest decision you’ll face. Not only can you spend time together in the usual ways such as enjoying dining and entertainment, but you can also learn something new together by attending a lecture, wine tasting or other enrichment class. You can sign up for a couple’s spa treatment, learn the latest ballroom dance or watch that movie you’ve been longing to see.

And being romantic doesn’t mean you have to do everything together, either. A cruise offers the perfect opportunities for couples to pursue their separate interests during the day – he can practice his golf swing and she can go to the spa, he can try his luck in the casino while she watches a movie. And sharing the experiences of the day over dinner can be the perfect start to a romantic evening.

So whether it’s taking the time to nurture an existing relationship or opening oneself to the chance that a fellow passenger may be that special someone, it’s all about making time to celebrate romance. At the time none of us involved in The Love Boat could have understood how our show would impact the future of modern day cruising which, in those early days, was in its infancy. I think it’s safe to say that The Love Boat nearly single handedly introduced the concept of vacation cruising to the masses and made it synonymous with romance. But in my mind, there’s only one cruise line that has such an authentic connection with love – and that’s Princess, of course.

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