The Fun Cruise: how does it end?

Warning, spoilers. The following article reveals key elements of the plot of “La Croisière s’amuse” as well as its ending.

Captain Stubing and his crew, bartender Isaac, Doctor Adam, cruise directors Julie and Gopher, welcome passengers on their luxury liner named the Pacific Princess every week for an exceptional cruise. Here is a synopsis that brings back good memories!

The one that began with a trio of TV movies in the 1970s finally became a series on September 24, 1977. It was just over 8 years later, on May 24, 1986, that La Croisière s’amuse (The Love Boat en VO) embarked on its last journey as a series. Several specials will subsequently be broadcast after the end of its weekly episodes, until 1990.

After 3 TV movies and 9 seasons, the last episode remained faithful to the show – produced by Aaron Spelling – adored: tenderness, jokes and absurd situations, the glamor of the 80s and, of course, 3 storylines and renowned guest stars – its brand.

Over 245 episodes, this formula has declined through infinite variations and countless guests, from Tom Hanks to Michael J. Fox, via Tim Robbins and Billy Crystal or even Rita Moreno, Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds, Ella Fitzgerald, the Village People, Andy Warhol… the eclectic list never ends! In this finale, we can even see a very young Teri Hatcher in the skin of a dancer (mermaid) in a corps de ballet.

Entitled “Happily Ever After / Have I Got a Job for You / Mr. Smith Goes to Minikulu” or simply “Sacred day” with us, we tell you about episode 25 of season 9, the one that closed one of the television’s most iconic series. Immediate boarding !

A CEREMONY IS PREPARING

On deck, Captain Stubing (Gavin MacLeod) waits impatiently for Emily Haywood (Marion Ross): if she doesn’t board in time, she’ll miss…their wedding! She finally arrives and rushes into his arms. Then she introduces him to Monica Douglas (Renée Taylor, Sylvia Fine from A Nanny from Hell), a star wedding planner who promises Stubing that after this one, he will never marry again!

At the front desk, Gopher (Fred Grandy) receives a video tape from a former client, Slade Collins (Clive Revill), a billionaire hotel magnate, to whom he had shared his ideas in the business. For his part, Spencer, he is exhausted by his new position of assistant cruise director and asks Ace (Ted McGinley) how he was doing: the latter offers him his precious advice.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

Preparations for the ceremony, which will of course take place aboard the Pacific Princess, are well underway. Monica proposes her ideas to the future spouses: Stubing begins to get nervous.

A WORK PROPOSAL

Gopher and Isaac watch the video sent by Slade Collins: he offers Gopher the position of manager of a resort on a Pacific island called Minikulu. The latter is intrigued and specifies that if he accepts, Isaac will come with him. A statement that leaves Isaac confused.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

Later, Gopher announces to Isaac and Doc (Bernie Kopell) that he initially turned down the offer because he loves his job but when offered more money he eventually accepted – and added that Isaac would be there. Isaac is still not thrilled.

In the evening, during a dinner, the captain takes him aside and warns him, but Gopher is determined… and even encourages Ace to apply for his position as purser! Now it’s Isaac’s turn to speak: he has decided to stay on the liner and will not be accompanying his lifelong friend on this new adventure. Gopher is very disappointed.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

DOUBTS AND HESITATIONS

Examined by Doc, Stubing explains that he was in his cabin trying to decide where the wedding would take place on the ship when he began to get out of breath: he thought he had a heart attack. But the doctor makes his diagnosis: it was just an anxiety attack… because of the wedding!

The next day, Ace submits his candidacy to Gopher but the latter announces to him that he finally thinks not to leave. Ace is furious to have spent the night writing his paper. Later, Gopher is visited by Slade Collins himself who tries to persuade him.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

While Emily visits Vicky (Jill Whelan) to try to understand the recent strange behavior of the young woman’s father, at the reception, Doc finds Ace asleep. He tells her that he needs to pull himself together before Gopher’s farewell party which takes place the same evening as he is leaving the next day. Ace no longer understands anything: at one point he stays, at another he leaves and he has thrown away his candidacy which he then begins to search frantically in the trash can.

While Emily and Monica are still preparing for the wedding, Stubing continues to miss the call, too nervous to make any decisions about it. From then on, the organizer warns Emily that he may not be ready to take the plunge, which leaves her worried. Another member of the crew is nervous: Gopher questions his decision again and decides to stay again. Ace is about to explode.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

CONFESSIONS AND DECISIONS

The commander and his future wife finally end up talking. The reason Stubing is so upset is because he hasn’t told Emily everything: he admits he never married Vicky’s mother. Emily is aware because Vicky told her everything and also knows that the latter’s mother ran away before telling her that she was pregnant. He confesses a second secret to her: he is a former alcoholic. Again, Emily replies that she figured it out on her own. He snores: she knows that too!

It’s Emily’s turn to tell him that she, too, had been nervous the week before, until she doubted the wedding, but when she tried to imagine her life without him, she couldn’t and felt reassured. She offers Stubing to do the same thing: he tries but also can’t imagine a life without her. He wants to marry her. They are kissing.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

Gopher’s farewell party takes place…without Gopher! Isaac finds him in his cabin, pensive. He does not think he is up to the job offered to him. Isaac reassures him but Gopher says he won’t do it alone and he needs him. The latter tries to persuade him: only cowards pass up such opportunities and his friend Gopher Smith is not a coward.

HAPPY EVER AFTER

Gopher finally shows up at his party and takes the stage to bid farewell to his job and his friends. The emotion is at its height when he thanks his colleagues one by one, taking the time to say a few memorable words – with tears in his eyes – to each of the people present.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

D-Day has arrived. Emily prepares, helped by Vicky and Judy (Pat Klous) while Doc, Gopher, Isaac and Ace help Stubing. They then offer him cufflinks which the captain says he cannot accept but his friends tell him that everyone participated. Moved, he ends up accepting them and the group helps him put them on. This is a real declaration of love from the whole crew for their captain.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

It’s finally time to say yes and it’s a simple and very moving wedding that closes the series: it’s brief but says it all. The newlyweds then descend the stairs cheered by a crowd that has come to celebrate them.

ABC / Aaron Spelling Productions

Emily then throws her bouquet and Vicky catches it: will the commander’s daughter be the next to get married? That we will never know. As rice is thrown at them, the couple go into raptures and the image freezes on their broad smiles: end of La Croisière s’amusière.

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