Part 3: The post-Love Boat Years The TV series The Love Boat ran from 1977 to 1986. For the quarter century that has followed, both characters have continued to entertain television aficionados and cruise ship passengers alike. While there's so much more to Gavin MacLeod than Captain Stubing, they share one majorcharacteristic. If the Captain… Continue reading Gavin MacLeod, The Captain and More
Tag: Grand Princess
Friday: The Love Boat's Captain
For people who remember the start of the cruise boom, there's really only one ship captain whose name will stand forever. Merrill Stubing is his name and he wasn't really a captain at all…just a man who played the role on The Love Boat, the 30-minute TV show that did something special for cruising. So… Continue reading Friday: The Love Boat's Captain
Sampler Cruises in Faraway Places
Last week, we wrote about "sampler" cruises on the West Coast of North America. It also applies on other coasts. If you happen to be going to London after the Olympics are done and you're not sure how you feel about cruising, or you want to take somebody who is a reluctant cruiser, here's… Continue reading Sampler Cruises in Faraway Places
Grand Princess Starting a Trend?
To put cruise ships in an athletic context, they're like floating free agents. Every city wants one of its own. The economic impact of having a star of the sea around year after year makes the bean counters salivate. It's one thing to have cruise ships stop by with a few thousand tourists from… Continue reading Grand Princess Starting a Trend?
Case Against Smokers Thickens
Earlier this year, there was yet another independent survey on smoking. Specifically, smoking on cruise ships. Doing the math was, if nothing else, interesting. According to the survey, 48% of cruisers want smoking on cruise ships banned. Completely. No smoking on the deck, nor in the stateroom, bar or designated smoking area. Butt out. According… Continue reading Case Against Smokers Thickens