An Open Smile on a Friendly Shore
A Porthole Readers’ Choice Award-winning cruise director shares the real romance of cruising on The Real Love Boat.
“And love… won’t hurt any more.” Not if charismatic cruise director Matt Mitcham has anything to do with it. The three-time winner of the Porthole Readers’ Choice Award for Best Cruise Director (from 2018 to 2020) has brought his nautical charm to the small screen, filling the shoes of the world’s most famous cruise director, Julie, on the newest show to carry the name “The Love Boat.”
Unlike its predecessors, 2022’s The Real Love Boat is non-scripted. It debuted in October and plays every Wednesday night on CBS as part of the network’s lineup of reality shows. In this new show, five couples have been looking for lasting love aboard Discovery Princess. As they cruise the Mediterranean, visiting locations like Barcelona and Istanbul, the hopeful romantics are steered by real-life Captain Paolo Arrigo in the Merrill Stubing role, and Princess Cruises’ Resident Guest Entertainer Ezra Freeman as “your bartender,” though she does get some onscreen pointers from Ted Lange, the original Isaac.
The reality show even has its own answer to Vicky, originally played by Jill Whelan. Says Mitcham: “Vicky would have to be Sara — that’s Captain Paolo’s little girl. She’s a stunner.”
The hosts are well-known actors (and real-life married couple) Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, who dish out love advice — and romantic challenges — to the hopefuls on board. But Mitcham gives the guests guidance of his own, based on his many years of experience in one of the most romantic occupations of all: cruise director.
“I feel like people on a cruise leave their inhibitions at home,” Mitcham says. “There’s so many dramas that come with life stress and with work stress, and when you come on a cruise ship, you can be whoever you want to be! I think that’s the joy of finding love on a ship.”
But despite his high- seas wisdom, Mitcham has gotten some winning advice from co- stars O’Connell and Romijn.
“They told me to always talk — open communication is key — and make sure you keep an eye on the … you know, make sure the bedroom stuff stays fresh! Yeah!”
What makes cruise ships a perfect place for starting romance?