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Captain Stubing, the father of modern cruising

Mourned by millions, actor Gavin MacLeod was a Princess ambassador for three decades. He helped popularise modern cruising, with many buying their first cruise ticket after seeing him in The Love Boat.

As what marketing specialists call a ‘brand ambassador’, Gavin MacLeod was right up there with the best. Millions mourned his passing – particularly cruisers who enjoyed travelling with Princess.

For MacLeod, the American actor best known for his role as the smiling captain on the astonishingly successful 1970s and 80s sitcom The Love Boat, was the popular face of Princess for more than 35 years before he died at the age of 90. After all, he was Captain Merrill Stubing. And the real-life Love Boat was a Princess ship, right?

But this is a feelgood story that almost never happened. The big hit show almost wasn’t a hit. And MacLeod wasn’t quite your average Hollywood heartthrob.

After playing the role of a television news writer on The Mary Tyler Moore Show – one of the first big hit syndicated shows out of America long before the days of Netflix – in the 70s, MacLeod went on to play Captain Stubing on The Love Boat.

The show was initially panned by TV critics as “mindless television”. Imagine? It continued to be renewed for an incredible 10 seasons, and even hit the big screen with a series of movies.

Many believe the show popularised modern cruising as a preferred way to travel, by showcasing it as a vacation for people from all walks of life, not just for the rich and famous.

When the show closed, Princess Cruises hired MacLeod as a public relations ambassador. He would cheerfully done the captain’s uniform at the cruise line’s ship christenings and other public events. He even rode on a Rose Bowl parade float along with his fellow cast members. According to Princess’s Australian office: “After the Love Boat series wrapped, he made two visits to Australia, including leading The Love Tour in 2014, where he renewed the wedding vows of our Aussie and Kiwi guests aboard the Sun Princess leading into Valentine’s Day.” Princess’s US office said: “It is with sadness felt to the depth of the oceans that we mourn the passing of actor Gavin MacLeod, our beloved global ambassador, dearest friend and treasured member of the Princess Cruises family for more than 35 years. “From his 10 seasons staring as Captain Merrill Stubing on the hit TV show The Love Boat and for more than three decades following the show’s final season, Gavin enthusiastically shared his passion about the joys and adventures of exploring the world while cruising. He always reminded us that, like the popular TV series, “cruising gives people

Clockwise from top: something to dream about”.

Princess Cruises ambassador Gavin Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer and co-owner

MacLeod celebrates of Cruise Planners, said: “I was truly devastated to his 80th birthday with a spectacular cake; posing with the Pacific hear the news about Gavin’s passing. He was one of the reasons I fell in love with cruising.” Princess in 2008; with Garcia continued: “When I was growing up, my Jill Whelan, the actress who played the family and I watched The Love Boat together without character of Vicki missing an episode. And when ringtones for our

Stubing, Captain Stubing’s daughter, smartphones first came out, guess which one I had on The Love Boat. for years? Yes, The Love Boat theme. “He has been such a gentleman and pioneer for the cruise industry.”