Big news, 'Love Boat' fans: Princess is planning a cruise with some of the show's biggest stars
Following its successful U.S. restart, Princess Cruises will host a themed "The Love Boat" sailing in honor of late actor Gavin MacLeod, who died in May 2021.
MacLeod played Captain Merrill Stubing on the popular television show, which aired for more than a decade, beginning in the late 1970s. Part of the series was filmed on Princess' Island Princess and now-retired Pacific Princess, and the line often hosts themed voyages for fans.
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The cruise will be joined by several members of the show's cast -- Princess Cruises Celebrations Ambassador Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing), Cynthia Lauren Tewes (Julie McCoy), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Fred Grandy (Gopher) and Ted Lange (Isaac) -- who will participate in a series of Q&As, parties and photo opportunities.
"While we always love to connect with fans, this cruise will be extra special because we will also celebrate the life and career of Gavin, our fearless leader, who not only played my dad on TV but was also a true father figure to me beyond the show," Whelan said.
The weeklong cruise -- Feb. 26 to March 5 onboard Majestic Princess, to coincide with MacLeod's Feb. 28 birthday -- will sail roundtrip from the port of San Pedro in Los Angeles and visit the Mexican Riviera, offering the same itinerary featured in the show. Ports include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.
Scheduled themed activities include:
- Sailaway party
- 1970s-inspired "Love Boat" Disco Deck Party
- Renewal of vows ceremony, hosted by Whelan and the cast on the top deck
- Q&A with the cast, sharing favorite memories of the show and MacLeod
- Birthday celebration honoring MacLeod
- "Love Boat" episodes airing on Movies Under the Stars and in staterooms
- "Love Boat" trivia with the Cruise Director
- Cast photo opportunities
- "Love Boat" themed menus and specialty cocktails
- Themed decor, photo backdrops and merchandise
In addition to this sailing, the cast has reunited with Princess on several occasions, including for the christenings of Dawn Princess in 1997 and Regal Princess in 2014. They also appeared on the line's Rose Parade float and sailed on a throwback cruise in 2015 to celebrate Princess' 50th anniversary. The cast and cruise line also have a joint star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated in 2018.
The voyage is currently open for booking with fares starting at $499 per person for an inside cabin.
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- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
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Why We Chose It
The Citi Premier’s 3 points per dollar spent across a wide range of popular categories is one of the more lucrative offerings in the world of points and miles. The Citi Premier comes with a $95 annual fee and is currently offering a solid sign up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. It also has some valuable transfer partners to make the most of your rewards. Add in access to Citi Entertainment plus a $100 hotel credit for any single-stay hotel booking that exceeds $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through the Citi travel website, there are few reasons why the Citi Premier should not be in every traveler’s wallet.Pros
- Earns 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
- Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases