Princess Cruises Honors “Love Boat” Captain Gavin MacLeod for 30 Years Serving as Global Ambassador
MacLeod to Appear as
Celebrity Judge on "The Voice of the Ocean"
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (July
6, 2016) – Princess Cruises celebrated Gavin MacLeod today, the
beloved award-winning actor who played Captain Merrill Stubing on the iconic "Love Boat" TV show, for his 30 years serving as the cruise line's
global ambassador. The City of Santa Clarita, Calif., home of the world
headquarters of Princess Cruises, honored MacLeod by proclaiming July 6 "Gavin
MacLeod Princess Cruises Ambassador Day" during a special ceremony hosted by
Captain Stubing's TV daughter Jill Whelan, aka "Vicki Stubing," which was
attended by hundreds of Princess employees and fans.
MacLeod has now served as the cruise line's
celebrity ambassador for three decades, exclusively promoting the premium
cruise line to millions of consumers through thousands of media interviews,
public appearances, travel industry conferences and on board the Princess
Cruises fleet,
proudly sharing the joys of cruising.
Princess Cruises president, Jan Swartz, also
made an exclusive announcement at the event. MacLeod will continue his
ambassador duties for the line with an upcoming role as celebrity judge on the
ship's newest onboard entertainment offering, "The Voice
of the Ocean."
The show is based on the excitement and
spectacle of TV's wildly popular international singing competition and is
brought to life throughout the cruise with auditions, mentor rehearsal
sessions, the iconic "I Want You" chairs, three charismatic team coaches and
ultimately a live finale performance where guests choose the winner.
"We are so proud to honor Gavin MacLeod as
our beloved global ambassador and treasure the impact he's had on not only
Princess Cruises but the entire industry over the last 30 years," said Jan
Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "In this role, Gavin has truly touched
millions of people, sharing and listening to cherished cruise memories. If
you've been lucky enough to swap stories with Gavin, shake his hand or take a
photo, you've been lucky enough to experience his pure passion for cruising and
love of life."
From 1977-1986, MacLeod won the hearts of
millions of viewers playing everyone's favorite cruise ship captain on "The
Love Boat," as Princess Cruises served as the backdrop for what became one of
the highest-rated primetime television shows in history. The show has been
widely credited with introducing millions of viewers to contemporary cruise
vacations sparking a dramatic expansion of the industry.
"I am deeply humbled by this occasion marking
my 30th year serving as
global ambassador for Princess Cruises," said MacLeod. "Promoting Princess has
truly been one of the highlights of my life. People still come up to me and
tell me that ‘The Love Boat' gave them something to dream about and now all
these years later, cruising is a reality for millions and the growth of the
industry just proves that dreams really do come true."
With a successful career spanning more than
60 years, MacLeod is a celebrated television, film and theater actor widely
known for his leading role as Merrill Stubing on "The Love Boat" and Murray Slaughter
on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Recently he published a best-selling
autobiography, "This is Your Captain Speaking," starred in a two-man play
"Happy Hour" in his hometown Palm Springs, Calif., and received a star on the
Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
Additional information about Princess Cruises
is available through a professional travel consultant, by calling
1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at princess.com.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the
best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise line and tour
company operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships renowned for their
innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and
amenities, all provided with the experience of exceptional customer service. A
recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess carries 1.7 million guests
each year to more than 360 destinations around the globe on more than 150
itineraries ranging in length from three to 111 days. The company is part of
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Newsroom:
Additional
media information is available at www.princess.com/news.
For further
information, contact:
Brea
Burkholz, bburkholz@princesscruises.com, 661- 753-1542
Negin Kamali, nkamali@princesscruises.com, 661-753-1539