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The Love Boat promises something for everyone.

After World War Two, the American economy was thriving with a population that had more time and money to spend on leisure. The history of the lucrative entertainment industry is too big to cover here, but it is important to keep in mind when tracing the rise of leisure cruising. Film and television brought images of a bigger world to millions across the United States. Combined with new knowledge of the globe from World War Two, Americans had a new lust for travel.

The cruise ship industry grew slowly, but surely, through the late 60s and early 70s. In 1977 the cruise industry got a surprising boost from a little show called The Love Boat. While the claim on The Love Boat Unofficial Home Page that the show "was the most important factor in making cruising popular for a whole new generation" is a bit extreme, The Love Boat did play a part in creating cultural expectations for the cruise experience. Through the 80s, cruise ships were the places where baby boomers could vacation, catch some sun, sit by the pool, sip drinks, and listen to their Lawrence Welk. Back.

Sources:

Grimm, Matthew. "Anchors Aweigh." American Demographics. Mar 2001 vol 23 no 3, p.74-5.

http://www.asb.com/usr/indtvprd/loveboat/lbp1.htm