Come Aboard, We're Expecting You

"Hello! Welcome aboard, I'm Julie McCoy and I'll be your cruise director!"

Inspired by the Jeraldine Saunders' best-selling memoir of the same title, The Love Boat was the brainchild of legendary producer Aaron Spelling.

During its 9 year run, The Love Boat was the show to appear on for anybody who was anybody or wanted to be somebody.

Among the seemingly endless list of notable personalities to make appearances on The Love Boat as passengers are Carol Channing, Ben Vereen, Ethel Merman, Gene Kelly, Vincent Price, Ginger Rogers, Billy Barty, Jamie Lee Curtis, Annette Funicello, John Ritter, Telly Savalas, Bob Crane, Richard Dawson, Bill Bixby, Scatman Crothers, Milton Berle, Tom Hanks, Don Knotts, David Hasselhoff, Tori Spelling, Minnie Pearl, Florence Henderson, Sonny Bono, Andy Warhol, Reggie Jackson and Charo.

Although The Love Boat may have made Charo famous for her "Cootchie Cootchie," in her recurring role as April Lopez, she is also considered one of the world's best classical guitarists.

Fred Grandy, who played the role of Yeoman Purser Burl "Gopher" Smith, embarked on a political voyage after the final season. He served two terms in Congress for the land-lubbing state of Iowa before losing the primaries by a 4% margin in an attempt to throw the incumbent Governor, Terry Branstad, overboard. Grandy is now president of Goodwill Industries.

UPN created and graciously cancelled "Love Boat: The Next Wave" after a few weeks.

For those who don't find enough pleasure in sea-sickness induced vomit sessions, there appears to be a loyal fan base who are scheduling fan cruises with former cast members, including Bernie Kopell (Doc), Jill Whelan (Captain Stubing's [Gavin MacLeod] Daughter) and aforementioned author, Jeraldine Saunders.