Princess Cruises launches Department of Romance

Jason · February 10, 2007

USA. Princess Cruises launches Department of Romance

Source: BYM Marine & Maritime News

Long known as a leader in romance, Princess Cruises is stepping up its commitment to love. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the hit TV series The Love Boat, famously set aboard a Princess ship, the company is debuting a new Department of Romance made up of a "dream team" of romance experts, and is launching a number of new "romantic pursuits" on its ships and on its web site.

Princess has tapped noted relationship experts to serve in its new Department of Romance including prominent dating and romance guru Trish McDermott, everyone's favorite couples therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, seasoned wedding planner Alba Carreras, and America's favorite Love Boat captain, Gavin MacLeod. Together, these authorities will guide and inspire the line's passengers to rediscover romance, and incorporate it into their everyday lives.

"I don't think there's any better company to be an expert in romance than Princess Cruises," says MacLeod, former Captain Stubing of The Love Boat. "Ever since our show launched, which is 30 years ago this year, I have been amazed by the number of passengers who come up to me and share their romantic stories, for instance that they met their future spouse onboard, or that a moment on the cruise brought them closer together. Princess is synonymous with love on the high seas, and I'm delighted to play a role in helping couples embrace this important aspect of our lives."

"We consider the art of romance so integral to our passenger experience that it makes sense for us to dedicate an entire department to the cause," says Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president.

The department has planned a busy 2007, with a variety of romantic pursuits scheduled to launch throughout the year:

Romance by Room Service

Couples who want to snuggle up in their stateroom can create the perfect atmosphere by ordering Princess' new "Romance by Room Service" package, which includes a special presentation of champagne and chocolate, scattered fresh rose petals and flameless scented candles, all set to a background of romantic music. Adding the line's "Ultimate Balcony" dinner provides all the ideal ingredients for a romantic evening.

"Become a Certified Romantic" ScholarShip@Sea Course

For couples seeking to rekindle the romantic side of their relationship, Princess will be introducing an entertaining new class for its popular ScholarShip@Sea learning program Become a Certified Romantic. The course will offer tools on how couples can rediscover romance, as well as tips for sustaining romance long after passengers return home from their cruise.

Romance TV

The romantic cabin ambience will be enhanced with the introduction of in-stateroom Romance TV programming featuring timeless romance movies such as "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle."

Daily Romance Advice

Passengers aboard Princess ships will receive daily reminders on how to celebrate and strengthen their relationships, as the daily Princess Patter activities program will feature a romantic tip or quotation to inspire affection.

Virtual Romance

A new section of the Princess website will be devoted exclusively to the subject of romance, with tips, Q&As, resource information for romantic travelers, articles from the department experts and more.

Romance Report

A semi-annual Princess Romance Report will debut on February 14th, in which the company's romance experts sound off on the "state of love" with facts, stats and forecasted trends.

These programs, to be launched with the debut of Emerald Princess this coming April, will join Princess' already existing line up of amenities and services for travelers with romance on their minds. Princess was the first and is still, currently, the only major North American cruise line on which passengers can be wed at sea by the ship's captain (with the "Tie the Knot" Wedding Program). In 2006, Princess launched a unique "Engagement Under the Stars" program for passengers who want to "pop the question" with a surprise video-taped proposal on the ship's 300-square-foot LED Movies Under the Stars screen.

"As our lives get busier and more complex, romance easily drops to the bottom of our 'to-do' lists." says Swartz. "We want to remind our passengers that it's important to rediscover those connections that brought them together in the first place."