The end of an era - the former cruise ship Pacific Princess, aka
" The Love Boat", featured in the hit 1970s and ’80s television show is headed
to the breakers yard to be broken up and sold for scrap metal.
The Turkish demolition company Cemsan reportedly bought the ship for just over
2.5 million euro, or about $3.3 million.
Built in 1971 for $25 million for Flagship Cruises as the Sea Venture, the ship
was originally built for New York to Bermuda cruise service and sailed between
Bermuda and U.S. ports for three years, before it was sold to Princess Cruises
in 1974, and renamed “Pacific Princess”.
The 600-passenger ship, tiny by today's standards, gained fame and recognition
as the scene for ABC's "The Love Boat", which aired from 1977 to 1986. The ship
continued to sail for Princess Cruises until 2003. After changing hands a couple
times, the ship last sailed for Spanish-based Quail Cruises.
Cruise industry experts say the hit show which starred Gavin MacLeod as Captain
Stubing and his lovable crew: yeoman-purser "Gopher'" Smith (Fred Grandy),
bartender Isaac Washington (Ted Lange) and cruise director Julie McCoy (Lauren
Tewes) help popularize the cruise industry during that time.
Other Pacific Cruises ships doubled for the Pacific Princess in some episodes,
but most ship-board footage was shot on the former Sea Venture.
The ship’s sale came after its owner failed to pay a Genoa, Italy company about
$7 million for asbestos removal and refurbishment, the newspaper said. |
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Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.
150 S. University Dr. Ste E,
Plantation, FL 33324 - USA
Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954
252 3945
EMail:
sales@cruiseco.com |
