It’s A “Love Boat” Happy New Year At The Rose Parade!

“Today” show’s co-anchor Al Roker joins the cast of
“The Love Boat” to sing the show’s theme song.

A New Year’s Day tradition in our home is to grab an early breakfast and then settle in to watch the Rose Parade on television. This year’s is pretty special as we’ll be watching for Princess Cruises’ Rose Parade float to make its inaugural appearance.

Widely known for its starring role in television’s “The Love Boat,” Princess Cruises’ float in the Rose Parade launches the cruise line’s 50th anniversary year and pays tribute to the light-hearted TV show which played such an integral role in the line’s early history.

Earlier this week, the original cast of “The Love Boat” gathered to help decorate the Princess Cruises’ float that they will ride “on board” in the parade. Pictured above being interviewed by “Today” show co-anchor Al Roker in front of the float are, from left from right: Fred Grandy, Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell, Roker, Gavin MacLeod, Lauren Tewes, and Jill Whelan.

Named “50 Years of Inspiring Travel,” the float depicts Princess’ newest ship Regal Princess symbolically sailing through the world’s most fascinating cruise destinations and iconic landmarks that Princess guests have experienced over the past 50 years. Look for the Sydney Opera House, the leaning tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, a traditional Japanese pagoda, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the tropical flowers and water falls of the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico, as well as the majestic mountains and wildlife as featured on Alaska cruises—just some of the sights travelers will see when sailing with Princess, whose ships visit 350 destinations around the globe.

The float is 60 feet long and 24 feet high with more than 24,000 flowers and natural materials. Flowers include roses, orchids, and carnations, dendrobs, tulips, cymbidiums, delphiniums, and gerbera daisies. Regal Princess will be covered in large white navy beans, white mums, and button mums. The water will be accented by dark blue and white iris. Potatoes, green grapes, and seaweed will also be used on parts of the float.

A little factoid revealed by Julie Benson, Princess Cruises’ spokesperson, is that blueberries were used to craft the “Seawitch” company logo. According to Ms. Benson, “Our float builder says that blue is the hardest color to do... I think they nailed it!”

Images Courtesy Princess Cruises