'Love Boat' Cast Reunites for Cruise Line's Anniversary

CruiseCritic.co.uk
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November 7, 2014

Fred Grandy (Gopher,) Ted Lange (Isaac,) Bernie Kopell (Doc,) Lauren Tewes (Julie,) Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing,) and Jill Whelan (Vicki) gathered for a "Love Boat" party celebrating Princess Cruise Line’s 50th anniversary. The line announced a special Mexico itinerary on the Pacific Princess, Dec. 3, 2015

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - With a nod to nostalgia and a big pop culture wink, the original cast of The Love Boat christened Regal Princess, in a star-studded ceremony that kicked off an upcoming year of 50th anniversary festivities for Princess Cruises.

All of the original TV cast members – Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing,) Fred Grandy (Gopher,) Ted Lange (Isaac,) Bernie Kopell (Doc,) Lauren Tewes (Julie,) and Jill Whelan (Vicki) – pulled the lever to smash 50 bottles of champagne against the vessel's side. A 51st bottle was smashed on deck, culminating in fireworks and streamers.

The crashing bottles were the culmination of an hour spent honoring Princess' past, through videos that looked at how the line evolved. Founder Stanley McDonald came up with the idea after a series of pleasure cruises for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair sold out. His first ship, Princess Patricia, inspired the line's name.

"The theme of our 50th anniversary is love," said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruise Lines. "But I propose that the story of the last 50 years has been passion. Passionate people are the secret sauce of Princess Cruises."

Regal Princess debuted on May 20th with Eastern Mediterranean itineraries. Like its sister ship Royal Princess, the 3,560-passenger vessel features the "SeaWalk," a see-through walkway extending over the water; a soaring atrium known as "The Piazza" and dancing fountains in its central pool; as well as Princess stalwarts such as Movies Under the Stars.

The modern ships represent a step forward for Princess, which became synonymous with The Love Boat during that TV show's run in the 1970s and 1980s. Two signature features –Chocolate Journeys, an onboard chocolate experience by chocolatier Norman Love andNight Sky Lounge, an outdoor Miami-style party on the top deck's "Retreat Pool" – are also debuting on Regal Princess' christening cruise.

Charo and Loni Anderson were both frequent guest stars on the popular 'Love Boat' television series.

(Carolyn Spencer Brown, Cruise Critic's editor in chief, is the ship's madrina, a godmother who cuts the cord when the vessel leaves the shipyard for its float out.)

The christening began with a "gold carpet," where "cruise director" Jill Whelan interviewed former guest stars from the show. While many of the celebs would be unknown to today's Millennials, most were popular prime time TV stars in the '70s and '80s, including Jamie Farr (M*A*S*H,) Loni Anderson (WKRP in Cincinnati,) Marion Ross (Happy Days,) and Dick Van Patten (Eight is Enough.)

Actress Tori Spelling – daughter of the late TV producer Aaron Spelling, who created the show - had been slated to serve as master of ceremonies, only to pull out after an injury. Florence Henderson, known most famously as "Mrs. Brady" from The Brady Bunch, took her place.

"You might have been expecting someone younger," Henderson said as she started, before taking a motherly dig at Spelling's "questionable" husband. Henderson, who did 14 guest stints on the show, is godmother of Emerald Princess, along with Marion Ross.

Jack Jones, who crooned the inimitable "Love Boat Theme Song," took the stage to do a rendition of the tune. Charo – whose catchphrase "cuchi cuchi" and frequent guest appearances made her an honorary cast member – played a flamenco tune and mugged for the crowd, looking fabulous in a sparkly teal blue sleeveless jumpsuit.

Father Donald Perkins of Seafarers House in Port Everglades looked a little concerned as he took the podium after Charo's performance. "I've had some tough acts to follow, but I've never had to follow Charo!" he said before invoking the blessing.

After the ceremony, passengers onboard for the christening were invited to a gala dinner with menu items from each of the line's five decades. Instead of formal, guests were told to dress "Love Boat Nautical." The menu, which includes Duck Terrine and Filet of Turbot with Truffle Chive Sauce, will be served once per cruise on all the line's ships during 2015.

That celebration of the past will continue on Princess throughout 2015. Logos honoring 50 years of Princess will be on all the ships and on stateroom keys. Passengers will receive a 50th anniversary tote bags and special drinks will be offered. During sailings, ships will also hold a new "Love Boat Disco Party" with 1970s music and videos, montages from the show, a Love Boat sing-a-long, and trivia.

Finally, the line has announced a special Mexico itinerary on the 670-passenger Pacific Princess that will visit many of the ports made famous by The Love Boat, including Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. The 14-day trip will kick off December 3, 2015, exactly 50 years to the day after Princess Patricia, set sail on the first Princess cruise.

Original Story

The 10 Best Places to Visit in Mexico that Are Beautiful and Safe

insidermonkey.com

By Milagros Valdez 

October 15, 2014

Read more at http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/the-10-best-places-to-visit-in-mexico-that-are-beautiful-and-safe-331992/?singlepage=1#dZGKSLObG7pk00PK.99

Whether you are already planning your next vacation, or just daydreaming about paradisaical beaches, we give you the best places to visit in Mexico. If money is a little tight and you cannot afford a transatlantic European destination, this neighboring country to America might be just the answer. So, in this list, we are traveling south of the border into a land of color and contrasts. Mexico has it all: idyllic beaches, vibrant nightlife, colonial towns, mysterious jungles, mesmerizing cities, archeological sites and so much more.

However, the news we get from Mexico is rather alarming, even scary. Drug cartels, murders, trafficking and poverty are some of the topics that constantly make the headlines regarding the U.S’ Southern neighbor, and it is naturally off-putting. Some wonder if it is safe to choose Mexico as a holiday spot, and it actually is, if you know where to go and where not to. But if you are still feeling uneasy about visiting Mexico, you should take a look at The 10 Best Places to Visit in the USA. If you still haven’t traveled along and around our beautiful country, it’s about time you did so.

Adventure, pleasure, relaxation, history, culture and endless fun await in the best Mexican vacation spots. So, let’s take a look at the countdown for the best places to visit in Mexico.

10. Mexico City

 

Mexico City was founded by Amerindians and is one of the oldest capital cities in the Americas. It was originally built by the Aztecs in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, so the history behind this city is one of the best attractions it has to offer. Around every corner of the Mexican political, cultural and financial center, a secret waits to be revealed by curious tourists. Don’t let rumors and myths about this city fool you, Mexico City cleaned up nicely for the bi-centennial and now has a crime rate about a third of Washington, DC’s. 

9. Acapulco

 

Southwest of the capital lies the largest beach and balneario resort city of Mexico. This 1950s hotspot for Hollywood stars and millionaires is still renowned for its nightlife and keeps attracting many tourists. In fact, nowadays Acapulco is a popular destination for American spring breakers who are looking to party and enjoy the beach life.

8. Guadalajara

 

Another urban vacation spot, Guadalajara is a cultural center where one can enjoy mariachi music, go to film festivals, book fairs and other cultural events. And, if you like sports, this city is home to one of the most popular soccer teams in Mexico. Moreover, it has a great nightlife to offer, and you should experience drinking real tequila at the city where it was born.

7. Oaxaca

 

This colonial city is located in a valley at 5,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by the mountains of Sierra Madre del Sur. Its cultural value is worth exploring: visit the churches and museums and rejoice in the colonial architectural wonders, eat traditional Mexican cuisine or experience the typical Oaxaca festivals. This city is a great getaway to immerse in Mexico’s authentic culture.

6. Los Cabos

 

Los Cabos is a municipality that includes two towns: Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, as well as the Resort Corridor that lies between the two.  The outstanding transformation this region underwent in the twentieth century left the rural appeal behind; nowadays Los Cabos welcomes about two million visitors per year. This place where the desert meets the sea, is famous for its resorts, golf hotspots and sport fishing opportunities.

5. Mazatlan

 

A great destination if what you like is relaxing at the beach. Once famous in the 1970s and 1980s, Mazatlan is re-attracting tourists to its historic sites, renovated museums, and, of course, gorgeous beaches.

4. Cozumel

 

This island’s economy is based mainly on tourism. And, no wonder, for it is extremely beautiful and a great place to learn about Mayan culture. Located in the Caribbean Sea, tourists like to scuba dive or snorkel in the crystal clear warm waters of Cozumel. Other water-related attractions are the cruise boats and the coral reef.

3. Tulum

 

Tulum is the site of a Mayan walled city and the ruins are located along the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. But this port is not only of historical relevance, it is also one of the new beach hotspots. A tranquil and rural retreat, Tulum is chosen by tourists who want to void the mega-resorts that have taken over other Mexican beaches.

2. Puerto Vallarta

 

This city has it all: wild nightclubs and raves, spectacular beaches, colonial landmarks, jungle mountains, regional cuisine restaurants… and what is great about it is that it is not as crowded as other typical tourist centers such as Cancun.

1. Playa del Carmen

 

“Playa” is now a lively resort town with breathtaking beaches, entertainment venues and commercial buildings, but it once was only a small fishing village.  Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, souvenir shops: everything is right by the beach and available at all hours.

GET READY FOR A FIESTA ON MEXICO CRUISES IN 2014-15

hollandamericablog.com
BY: HAL DESTINATIONS TEAM

Stunning sunsets await at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

 

From a traditional Mexican fiesta to ziplining through a lush canopy of trees, the 2014-15 Mexico season has exciting itineraries that showcase seven ports along the Mexican Riviera.

Sailing roundtrip from San Diego, Calif., where ships conveniently dock near downtown, the seven and 12-day cruises visit Mexico in October, November and December, then return in March for a month of sun and fun.

Westerdam and Veendam sail seven-day cruises that call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, and also feature scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena. Cabo, as it is simply called by those who frequent this beautiful port, lies along the southern tip of Baja California. It is the entertainment hub and the end of the road, where the peninsula goes off a cliff into the sea. San Jose del Cabo is the old town, and exudes classic Mexico. In between the two cities, the resort-fringed coast is slathered in sunshine. Cruise visitors will find that Cabo is fine, the shopping divine, and the beaches all shine. Lover’s Beach is a great place to see the arch at Land’s End. Medano and Chileno beaches are placid and lovely. Las Playitas is a series of mini-beaches tucked into weathered coves.

Clockwise from left: Divers soar from the cliffs in Mazatlan, Cabo’s famed “El Arco” and beautiful Puerto Vallarta from the rooftops.

At first, Mazatlan may appear like a cosmopolitan western Mexico beach city serving up great weather, venerable iglesias and an array of beaches. But immerse yourself a little bit and the city gets ever more remarkable. Cliff divers wait at the top of a rocky outcrop for the right wave then plummet 45 feet into the sea. Sunlight filters in through myriad panels of stained glass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Waves crash on the esplanade along Olas Altas beach, providing a soundtrack for an evening stroll. And, mmm, the shrimp. Mazatlan serves it up fresh: Try some al mojo de ajo (with garlic) or in the shell with a tangy squeeze of lime.

Puerto Vallarta squeezed into the thin space between Banderas Bay and the verdant folds of the Sierra Madre. It’s no longer the well-kept secret of the artists, writers and Hollywood stars who first “discovered” it in the 1960s, but “PV” (as it is affectionately known) still retains the essence of the fishing village it once was. Viejo Vallarta, the old town, is a mix of red-tiled buildings, cobbled streets, chic shops and busy open markets. Other highlights include Mismaloya Beach, Gringo Gulch, and Conchas Chinas, the Beverly Hills of Vallarta. Head inland for more adventure, up into the rugged canyons and luxuriant jungles of the mountains.

Westerdam sails this itinerary Oct. 3, 2014, while Veendam cruises the seven-day route Nov. 8and Dec. 20 and 27, 2014, and March 7, 14, and 21 in 2015.

Guests looking for a more in-depth exploration of Mexico can embark Statendam for a 12-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Dec. 3, 2014. In addition to scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena, the ship calls at Cabo, Pichilinque (La Paz), Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo and ends with an overnight call at Puerto Vallarta.

A tranquil way of life abounds in La Paz, which means “peace.” Among its simple pleasures: strolling the palm-shaded malecón, lazing on the beautiful beaches of nearby Pichilingue Peninsula, snorkeling sapphire seas at lovely Los Islotes, home to a colony of inquisitive sea lions.

La Paz, left, and Loreto are two pretty ports featured on the 12-day Mexico itinerary.

Loreto is a peaceful seaside community, founded in 1697 by Jesuit priest and explorer Juan Maria Salvatierra. Interestingly, it was the first European settlement in the Californias. Stroll the cobbled plaza to the Mision Nuestra Se ora de Loreta, burnished with years of devotion, and commune with nature as you snorkel the crystal-clear lagoons of Isla Coronados.

Guaymas lies in a quiet bay in the sparkling Sea of Cortez. Step back in time as you tour the neoclassic San Fernando Church and the Moorish 13 de Julio Plaza in the historic town center. Explore the popular beaches and picturesque bays in nearby San Carlos. Visit a world class pearl farm or journey to magical Las Barajitas Canyon, home to three separate ecosystems.

Have you heard of Topolobampo? Good, don’t tell anyone. Holland America Line is the only major cruise line to call on this peaceful port on Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. Awaiting your arrival: playful bottlenose dolphins; the mansion of Don Diego de la Vega, “El Zorro”; grand visions of the Chihuahua-al-Pacifico Railway and a luxury train through Mexico’s scenic Copper Canyon.

Could the Mexican Riviera be Cruising's Comeback Kid?

cruisecritic.com

May 23, 2014

In cruising's early years, it didn't get much more glamorous than a cruise on the Mexican Riviera. The popular TV show “Love Boat” showed Princess ships and the B-list celebrities they carried stopping at then-exotic ports such as Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find Acapulco on a mainstream cruise itinerary; in 2014, only a handful of luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Oceania, planned stops at the Pacific Ocean resort town. Concerns about the safety in some ports, along with negative perceptions and increased competition  from destinations elsewhere, moved Mexican Riviera itineraries off some cruise line's calendars all together. The numbers tell the story. Puerto Vallarta went from having a banner year in 2008, when 180 ships arrived,  to a mere 82 in 2013. Mazatlan suffered a significant financial hit when a string of violent incidents prompted cruise lines to pull out completely in 2011, losing all of the 520,000 passengers that had visited in 2010. Even Cabo San Lucas, which experienced a boom in tourists drawn to its hotels, resorts and bars, has seen its cruise business falter. In 2008, nearly 400 ships visited Cabo; this year, that number is down to 112. Those figures sound dire. But this week, the region received a major boost when Carnival announced it would be sailing in the Mexican Riviera year-round in 2015, including several stops at Mazatlan. The ports  have also been taking significant steps to attract more cruise business, including the following: Working Together. With a large expat community and a thriving restaurant scene, Puerto Vallarta has avoided perception problems that have hampered other cities along the Pacific coast. But to keep ships arriving, tourism officials realized it was time to reach out beyond state and local borders. Last year, the three states involved in cruising -- Baja Sur, Sinaloa and Jalisco -- formed an organization called Route Committee for the Pacific, said Carlos Gerard, the Puerto Vallarta director of tourism. The  group met for the first time in December 2013 and again in March 2014 before the cruise industry's biggest conference, Cruise Shipping Miami. At the event, the ports took meetings as a group, working together to entice Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian to add more Mexican Riviera itineraries in 2015 and beyond. “We used to see each other as competition, but now we need to see each other as a team. What happens  to one port affects the entire team,” Gerard said. “We're willing to work as a whole.” More Port Promotion. Besides developing a better relationship with the cruise lines, the three ports are actively working to promote the itinerary as a whole, Gerard said. This year, each port is contributing $200,000 for promotion and asking for a matching $600,000 from the federal government. “It's something  we should have done before, but it's all about the will to do it,” Gerard said. “The ‘Mazatlan effect' did create  consciousness between the states.” Increasing Communication. When cruise lines left Mazatlan in 2011, getting them back within three years  “seemed almost an impossible task,” said Frank Cordova, secretary of tourism for Sinaloa. “We sell fantasy.  It's hard to sell fantasy when people have a negative perception.” Cruise lines told him it could be five years  before they even considered returning. Despite the bad news, Mazatlan and Sinaloa officials got to work. They hired more police, Cordova said, and paid them better to reduce crime rate. They worked with the Organization of American States in a program that specializes in helping destinations with image problems. And they sent cruise lines bulletins  every month about improvements that were being made and increased press outreach. The first cruise line to consider coming back was Norwegian, Cordova said. After an initial meeting in 2012, the line committed to bringing Norwegian Star to Mazatlan in late 2013 (although Holland America's Veendam was the first ship to return in November 2013). Azamara followed in 2014; in 2015, Princess and Carnival will join those lines. “We've become a model in Mexico and Latin America in how we were able to turn things around,” Cordova said. “For every negative story that appears, we have 30 good stories.” Still, he doesn't think  the port is out of the woods yet. “Whenever anything that could hurt us happens, no matter how small,  people are biting their nails.” Improving Passenger Experience. In Mazatlan, cruise passengers disembark in a busy cargo port, taking a shuttle past containers stacked several feet into the air. Port director Alfonso Gil Diaz envisions a complete revamp of the operation, with a new cruise terminal that provides easier access into the city for passengers. In the meantime, the city developed the “blue line,” a painted stripe on the roads that directs passengers who want to walk into Mazatlan's colonial center. “Blue shirts” -- expats who speak English -- have volunteered their time and meet ships when they arrive to help passengers get their bearings. Each port is also doing more to make sure cruisers understand what makes them special. In Puerto Vallarta, cruise ships are greeted with mariachi bands, a signature of Jalisco (the Mexican state is also  the birthplace of tequila). Next year, all tour operators and taxi drivers will wear the same logo to  promote customer confidence, Gerard said. Highlighting the Culture. Even in Cabo, cruiser tastes are changing; on cruise line comment forms,  some people are complaining that Cabo isn't “Mexican” enough, said Fernando Hoyos Romero,  port facility security officer. The comment makes sense when you consider 20 percent of the population  in Cabo is from the United States or Canada. “Cabo's local dish is fish tacos,” he noted, wryly. To counter that backlash, Romero said he expects operators will start looking into tours that tap into greater Baja culture. That's particularly important as Cabo's Asian tourism base continues to grow; 10 percent of the area's visitors are from Asia, and they are less likely to indulge in Cabo's drinking and party culture. In Mazatlan, officials know many people come for the beach, but it's the history that makes it special.  “We're a real city with roots, tradition and culture,” Cordova said. “If you have enough money, you can build a Los Cabos or a Cancun. You can't build a Mazatlan. How do you build a center square that's 400 years old?” One thing is for sure: The city will celebrate every ship that does arrive. “It's like when you take your wife for granted. We didn't take care of (cruise tourists),” Cordova said. “We didn't take action until it was too late” ---By Chris Gray Faust, Destinations Editor