Princess Cruises rang in the New Year in a big way this year, with a colorful float in the 126th Rose Parade on New Year’s morning. To top off the event, the entire six-member cast of the hit 1970s TV show The Love Boat sailed aboard the flowery faux boat.
The 60-foot-long float represented Princess Cruises’ newest addition to its fleet: the Regal Princess, which was christened late last year with the cast of The Love Boat serving as her godparents. People watching the parade could see the mini-Regal Princess sailing among artistic depictions of some of the world’s most notable destinations. Crafted from over 24,000 flowers and flower vials signed by thousands of company employees, the beautiful replicas included the Golden Gate Bridge, the mountains of Alaska, the Sydney Opera House, and a Japanese pagoda.
The theme of this year’s Rose Parade was “Inspiring Stories.” This led designers at Princess Cruises to launch their float with the theme of “50 Years of Inspiring Travel.” The cruise line drew on travel tales submitted by its faithful passengers in order to select the destinations shown on the float. Among the most inspiring stories was one from the grand-prize winner, World War II veteran Nathan Keith Abbott, who sailed on a Princess cruise to revisit the Pacific islands that he served on many decades ago.
The float’s artistry and emotional appeal certainly left quite an impression. It received the parade’s Craftsman Trophy in recognition of its outstanding dramatic impact and showmanship.
So why all the excitement around a float?
The spectacular Rose Parade appearance served as a kickoff event for Princess Cruises’ 50th anniversary festivities this year. Since its founding, the company has grown into one of the world’s most recognized cruise lines, with an 18-ship fleet that carries 1.7 million cruisers every year throughout the world. In recognition of this success, and as a thank you to its loyal guests and crew, Princess Cruises is planning to extend its birthday celebration throughout the year with sales and onboard celebrations on all of its vessels.
