Love Boat Starring Pacific Princess and Island Princess

The Two Princess Cruise Ships were the Real Love Boat

The Love Boat TV Series was one of the best loved series ever. It was a true family TV program, set aboard a cruise ship. Though the opening credits listed stars such as Gavin McLeod, Bernie Kopell, and others, for some of us, the real star of the show, as far as some of us are concerned, was the vessel itself.

In the series, her name was the Pacific Princess. Bbut that role was played by more than one actual ship. Most frequently, it was the REAL Pacific Princess, and sometimes also the Island Princess that were the most frequent real star of the show, playing the 'role' of the cruise ship on TV.

Others were used on occasion, but those two were always the stars of the show for me. I have some photos to share with you, courtesy of a friend, who was actually on board while filming took place for one of the segments of the show.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Some of the photos on this page were taken by a friend when he and his wife honeymooned on the Island Princess. During that cruise, Love Boat filming was taking place on board.

These photos are property of and are used by special permission from

Blizzard at CruiseLineFans.

Enjoy!

Vote for Your Favorite - Character from the Love Boat

This postcard was given to passengers on that cruise

Pacific Princess and Island Princess

Belonged to P&O Princess Cruises

The Love Boat was filmed primarily in a studio, with some segments being filmed aboard a real cruise ship.

The ship was always called the Pacific Princess. Much of the filming done at sea was aboard Pacific Princess, but a good amount also was aboard Island Princess.

They were built in 1971, for Flagship Cruises, and sailed between the US and Bermuda, under the names Sea Venture and Island Venture, until 1974, when P&O bought them.

P&O Princess Cruises (a division of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company) renamed the ships Pacific Princess and Island Princess.

(Today, Princess Cruises is a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines.)

A 1987 Photo - Of Pacific Princess

The Pacific Princess is No More

The Pacific Princess was ~ 550 feet long and 80 feet wide.

She carried 626 passengers, and could cruise at 21.5 knts (just under 25 mph)

The Pacific Princess continued sailing for Princess Cruises until late 2002.

She was sold to Pullmantur, and sailed the Caribbean unter the name of Pacific, and was subequently leased to two other companies.

Since sometime in 2008 or 2009, she has been laid up in Genoa, having been impounded with overdue repair bills.

In March of 2013, she was, sadly, sold for scrap.

Island Princess Was Also Used for the Show

She Sails Today as Discovery

Island Princess in 1986

Island Princess, being a sister ship to Pacific Princess, originally had the same design and capacitiy as the Pacific.

Princess Cruises continued operating I sland Princess until she was sold to a South Korean company in 1999.

In 2003, she again changed hands, this time to Voyages of Discovery, who renamed her Discovery.

Today, Discovery still sails to various destinations, including the Mediterranean, and to the Indian, European, and South American continents.

On The Gangway

See The Love Boat Again

Accommodations and Amenities

on The Love Boat in 1978

Accommodations and amenities on the Island Princes and Pacific Cruise ships in 1978 were sparse by today's lavish standards. The Love Boat decks plans, below, will give you some idea of how limited the ships were bgy today's mega-ship standards. But back then, this was luxury!

For example:

THEN

1 - Staterooms were very small, with separated single beds, even in the 'nicer' oceanview staterooms.

2 - The "gym" consisted of two pieces of basic exercise tucked away in a corner.

3 - Nightly entertainment was limited, and, shall we say, more intimate.

NOW

1 -Today's ships offer a variety of cabins to choose from, ranging all the way up to elaborate multi-room suites with their own hot tubs and grand pianos.

2 - Gyms are state of the art, with rows of exercise equipment, plunge pools, and a full range of spa services.

3 - Entertainment takes place in settings all over the ship, from piano bars to full-blown discos, to a broadway style theatre.

Island Princess & Pacific Princess Deck Plans -Pt I

Pacific Princess & Island Princess Deck Plans -Pt II

In an OceanView Cabin

Entertainment - Up Close and Personal

The Entire Gym on the Island Princess

Would You Like to Have Cruised on The Love Boat?

Would you like to have cruised on the Love Boat? Or, do you prefer today's larger ships with more space and seemingly endless options in entertainment, amenities, and amusements?

The Princesses Had Something Today's Ship's Don't

THE LOVE BOAT

Those must have been pretty special times.

Not only did you get to watch the filming, you might even get a chance to play an 'extra.'

And on such a smallish ship, you got to pal around with some pretty big stars!

Filming On The Love Boat

With Captain Stubing

Bernie Kopell as Doc

An Autograph from Isaac

Clowning Around with Gopher

Gavin MacLeod Autographs

Gavin MacLeod autogrpahs being auctioned off right now on eBay. Place your bid before it's too late!

The Island Princess Cruise Ship

Love Boat Memorabilia - Being Auctioned on eBay

Now that the Love Boat really is gone, related memorabilia will become ever more scarce. Right now, we're still seeing it on eBay, but as time goes by. . . well, you know.

Some Other Pages About Cruise Ships

• About Getting Sea Sick on a Cruise
  Have you ever decided against taking a cruise vacation because you're afraid of falling seasick? Seasickness is nothing more than motion sickness at sea. Yes, it can be bad. It's far worse for some people than others. And some people don't seem to...
• Cruise Ship Sea Days
  What's it like on a cruise Sea Day - one of those long days way out at sea, with no land in sight? Will you be bored? Probably not. Here's why.

See All of Blizzard's Love Boat Photos Here

• Cruise Photos - The Love Boat
  One of our members actually sailed on The Love Boat. He's graciously shared these vintage photos of the Princess, Captain Stubing, and the gang with us. Many Thanks, Blizzard!

Pages about Gifts for Cruisers

• Nautical Ties and Other Cruise Wear Accessories for ...
  Let's dress for dinner! It's a phrase you don't hear often these days, but you hear it on cruise ships. Nautical ties and accessories are just perfect for the gentleman cruiser.
• Nautical Totes and Cruise Travel Bags
  Nautical themed totes and travel bage that are perfect for a sea voyage, or just gadding about town. Plus, four important packing tips.
• Nautical Kids Clothes and Cruise Wear
  So, you're planning on a family cruise. Cogratulations! Now, what should you pack for the kids? Will they attend formal night or stay in the children's area ?

Are you a Love Boat fan or a cruise ship fan? Or both?

The Guestbook is: OPEN

anonymous on July 12, 2013:

i've got pic of pacific princess, she is lying in front of my windows, very sad....

Sharyn Read from ... either in the kitchen or at my laptop... on March 27, 2012:

I love cruising too - it's my favorite type of vacation! The one I really want to do is the loooong Mediterranean cruise... then I'd be cruising and in Europe, and I could tick off two goals! Enjoyed the walk down memory lane in this lens, thanks!

Cynthia Sylvestermouse from United States on March 16, 2012:

I used to love the Love Boat! The photos were very entertaining here. Looks like a lot of fun.

KimGiancaterino on March 13, 2012:

Sold for scrap? Oh, that's sad. What a memorable show and theme song. Jill Whelan (Vicky Stubing) is from my hometown, so we were all fans of the show.

Brandi from Maryland on March 12, 2012:

I used to watch The Love Boat every day...great show! I love that you chose to feature the Island Princess here. :)

anonymous on February 10, 2012:

The Love Boat memories flow! :)

CruiseReady (author) from East Central Florida on January 29, 2012:

@anonymous: Ho very cool - what neat memory to have!

anonymous on January 29, 2012:

I was on the Island Princess when they were filming Love Boat on her. One of the guest stars was "Ironside" and he was walkng!! Very tall guy.

CruiseReady (author) from East Central Florida on January 21, 2012:

@anonymous: OH, what a shame.

anonymous on January 21, 2012:

Love the Photos too. Have sailed with Princess 8 times. Had a cruise booked on the origonal "Pacific" on the next to the last cruise it ever made, but had to cancel. So hate I missed it.

WriterJanis2 on December 30, 2011:

Love the photos!

Treasures By Brenda from Canada on December 21, 2011:

Great idea to do a lens on The Love Boat.

Lisa Morris on December 21, 2011:

I loved watching The Love Boat when I was a kid. Wonderful lens. You have been blessed.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

cruiselinefans on November 16, 2011:

How have I missed this lens until now? Oh my! AWESOME. The ship, celebrity and personal pics are excellent. Thanks so much for sharing. I hope some Princess ship lovers out there get a chance to see this article.

CruiseReady (author) from East Central Florida on September 13, 2011:

@anonymous: Doc was always my favorite.

anonymous on August 10, 2011:

Sweet! Love the friend pictures, how great to get to be in on Love Boat fun. We used to watch the show as a family when I was growing up and we all liked Gopher best.

Ibiza1 from Ibiza on August 02, 2011:

Loooooveeeee...this soundtrack

WindyWintersHubs from Vancouver Island, BC on July 30, 2011:

My hubby is the cruise lover and I'm more of land lover but we both enjoy traveling.

blizzard54 on July 30, 2011:

That first cruise will always have special memories for us.

anonymous on July 30, 2011:

The photographs and the Love boat seems timeless! Thanks for sharing. :)