Extras On ‘The Love Boat’ Were Actual Real Life Passengers

Viewers in the late ’70s to early ’80s were always longing for Saturday nights so they can relax and watch ABC’s romantic comedy TV series, The Love Boat. Also, fans enjoyed singing along to the catchy theme song featured in the movie. “…Love boat. Love, exciting and new. Come aboard. We’re expecting you,” the lyrics read.

Since the show ended in 1986, there have been several attempts to bring it back in different ways such as The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage (1990), and the short-lived sequel series, The Love Boat: The Next Wave. Also, The Love Boat inspired a 2022 reality series, The Real Love Boat, hosted by real-life couple Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell. The movie captures love-seeking singles on a Mediterranean cruise and the winning couple gets a cash reward alongside a luxury Princess cruise.

The Show Featured Paying Passengers Aboard The Boat

The Love Boat started out as three pilot TV movies, 1976’s The Love Boat, 1977’s The Love Boat II, and The New Love Boat, before officially becoming a weekly TV show. According to Groovy History, the film was shot on two real-life cruise ships— Pacific Princess and Island Princess which included actual passengers on board.

RELATED: The Cast Of ‘The Love Boat’ Then And Now 2022

The production team wanted the pool scene to look real, so they filmed it on an actual cruise ship with people aboard. However, there were a few exceptions to that as some scenes were also shot on look-alike sound stages.

Everyone Was On The Love Boat

The passengers aboard were different each week, with the constant ship crew typically involved in at least one of the stories. The crew included Captain Merrill Stubing, played by Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell as Dr. Adam Bricker, the Purser, Gopher Smith, Bartender Isaac Washington, and the Cruise Director Julie McCoy Lauren Tewes.

Also, many Hollywood icons made at least one appearance on the show, with Florence Henderson, Carol of The Brady Bunch, topping the record at nine appearances. Other members of the Brady family also made appearances on The Love Boat.