LOVE BOAT MARATHON and appreciating modern cruising

As cruising evolves and changes, I often find myself waxing nostalgic over cruising in the past. Direct TV is showing a LOVE BOAT marathon today. Once I quit laughing at the overacting, especially by 'Captain Stubing', I realized that even though I miss some of the grand traditions of cruising past, there are many aspects of modern cruising that I would not trade for the midnight buffet, mints on my pillow and theme dinners in the dining room. The ships were very small, mostly white painted steel. You boarded the ships by walking up an uncovered ramp after standing in long lines. Views were limited, mostly on deck. There were very few balconies. I remember being excited to have a round porthole on the Emerald Seas back in 1973. Our view was the waterline, until the porthole became encrusted with dry sea spray, and then we had no view. We slept in narrow bunks, two that folded down from the wall. We now travel with a wheelchair and a walker. That would have been impossible back then. I remember that one ship we went on had one small elevator, but most in the late 60's and 70's had only stairs. We have more choices of food today, and if you choose, you can find healthy options onboard. I do still miss the flaming Baked Alaska parade, but the dessert was not as good as the spectacle of its delivery. I also realized that some of the changes, even though I may not like them, are necessary. Non-sailing guest were allowed aboard the ship to wish passengers 'bon-voyage', leaving only when the ship's horn sounded that it was time to go. There were no security checks and metal detectors to deal with. Necessary evils, and I would not want to give them up in today's world. All in all, watching "The Love Boat" made me appreciate modern cruising more than it made me miss cruising in the past.

Thank you for your post! You provided fun insight into what cruising was like back in the "Love Boat" days! :)

Emerald Seas was my first cruise in 1991! I was 5 and we also had a port hole cabin on deck 3. It was such a tiny ship! The casino workers used to let me play the slot machines as long as I was with my mom. And one of the stewards gave me a teddy bear and a letter. I think I still have it somewhere.

I enjoy watching the Love Boat reruns, too! Those were the days, as the song says. I remember being on Princess and going over to where the HAL Rotterdam was docked and being able to tour the ship. Some passengers came over to tour our Royal Princess, she was a big deal in the mid-80s, all outside staterooms.

I sailed from Hawaii to Vancouver on the little Island Princess, solid fog for days once we left the islands and people were cranky! :) :D I thought it was a great cruise!

My favorite older cruise memory was a Big Band cruise with Les Brown and his band. It was awesome. I was 39, one of 10 passengers under 50. A 2 week Panama Canal cruise 1986, the food, clothes, entertainment was awesome. Watching everyone dance every night before dinner was special, whole cruise was unlike any other I had taken before that one or since.

That's funny that you posted this. My local "antenna" TV station just aired an episode of Love Boat. It was my favorite show when I was growing up--I guess I was meant to be a cruiser. But I too was thinking how different it is now. It's such a funny show to watch now!

Non-sailing guest were allowed aboard the ship to wish passengers 'bon-voyage', leaving only when the ship's horn sounded that it was time to go.

If you miss this, Princess has it. They call it the Bon Voyage Experience. It costs $39 (refundable as OBC if you book within 3 months) and includes a boarding picture for everyone in the party, lunch in the MDR with wine and opportunity to purchase Future Cruise Credits (if desired). It can be booked without knowing anyone who is cruising, if you just want a "taste" of the ship. It isn't available for all sailings.

If you miss this, Princess has it. They call it the Bon Voyage Experience. It costs $39 (refundable as OBC if you book within 3 months) and includes a boarding picture for everyone in the party, lunch in the MDR with wine and opportunity to purchase Future Cruise Credits (if desired). It can be booked without knowing anyone who is cruising, if you just want a "taste" of the ship. It isn't available for all sailings.

Thank you. We actually considered a Princess cruise this December, but since our son is graduating from college and it is his graduation cruise, he chose to go back on Allure.

Next March is our 25th anniversary and we would love to have a 'bon voyage' gathering before sailing away on a cruise!