PHOTO: The cast of "The Love Boat" onboard the Pacific Princess for the 50th anniversary of the cruise line. (Courtesy of Princess Cruises)
Onboard the Pacific Princess, Princess Cruises celebrated its 50th anniversary with a group of executives, media and their most famous crew, the cast of the television show "The Love Boat."
All hands were on deck in Los Angeles to toast the momentous day and, extra special guests included the mayor of the Santa Clarita, who announced that Dec. 3 would be forever recognized as Princess Cruises day in both Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County.
"We've had so much to celebrate this year - from our first-ever float in the iconic Rose Parade on New Year's Day, to our exciting new partnerships with Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, award-winning chef and restaurateur Curtis Stone and the introduction of our Discovery at Sea program," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Today, it's fitting that 'The Love Boat' cast is here with us to celebrate our 50th anniversary since they played a key role in the success of our company."
In a touching speech, Gavin McLeod, who played the captain onboard "The Love Boat," addressed the audience, expressing what Princess Cruises mean to him.
"People always ask us why 'The Love Boat' was so popular and I always say it's because it gave people something to dream about," he said. "They could dream about being out on the open seas on a cruise and discovering the world's greatest destinations, dreaming about love and of course happy endings since the shows always ended on a high note. I'm proud to have played a role in the growth of the cruise industry - to see where these ships have come from the days we filmed aboard the original Pacific Princess to now experiencing the 18 magnificent ships in the fleet."
Princess Cruises began 50 years ago, with a cruise to Mexico onboard the Princess Patricia. Now 50 years later, Princess Cruises is the third largest cruise line in the world, with a fleet of 18 cruise ships carrying 1.7 million travelers each year to some of the most fascinating cruise destinations around the globe. It is fitting that part of the 50th anniversary festivities would include a seven-night Mexico cruise on the Pacific Princess.
Princess Cruises has been celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the year, with an incredible lineup of new dining, shopping and entertainment aboard its ships. The festivities will continue through April 2016.
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