Loveboat cast christen Regal Princess
Regal Princess, Princess Cruises latest ship, has been christened at a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, by the original cast of the iconic television series The Love Boat.
The event, which also launched the company’s 50 year anniversary celebrations, saw 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) pull a lever to send 50 champagne bottles smashing against the ship’s hull in a new world record.
This was followed by the 51st bottle, a giant Nebuchadnezzar-style champagne bottle, signifying future success for the company.
“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.
The Love Boat was filmed on Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, Pacific Princess and Island Princess. Later specials were filmed on other ships in destinations around the world.
Regal Princess will now complete its maiden season out of Fort Lauderdale, on Caribbean itineraries.