The Love Boat is an American romantic comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from September 24, 1977 to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series and four specials and a TV movie aired after it. The series was set on the cruise ship MS Pacific Princess, and revolved around the ship's captain Merrill Stubing (played by Gavin MacLeod) and a handful of his crew, with passengers played by guest actors for each episode, having romantic, dramatic and humorous adventures.