You're sitting on the couch, maybe halfway through a rerun or a football game, and those familiar brassy notes hit. It’s nostalgic. It’s upbeat. It makes you want to pack a suitcase and abandon your responsibilities for a week in the Caribbean. But wait. That isn't Jack Jones. It isn't Dionne Warwick either. It sounds... different. Modern. If you've been scratching your head wondering who sings the Love Boat commercial currently airing for Princess Cruises, you aren't alone.
It’s one of those "tip of my tongue" moments that drives people straight to Google.
The short answer is that the voice behind the latest high-energy rendition is Marieme, a Senegalese-American artist whose soulful, powerhouse vocals have breathed new life into a track that was originally synonymous with 1970s velvet suits and scripted shipboard romances.
The Evolution of a Theme Song
To understand why this specific version feels so jarring yet right, you have to look back at the DNA of the song itself. The original "Love Boat" theme was composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Paul Williams. If those names sound familiar, it's because they basically wrote the soundtrack to the late 20th century. Fox gave us the "Happy Days" theme and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," while Williams is the genius behind "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "The Rainbow Connection."
When the show premiered in 1977, Jack Jones was the man behind the mic. His version is the gold standard of "crooner" pop—smooth, orchestral, and quintessentially yacht-rock. It stayed that way for eight seasons. Then, in the final season (1985-1986), the legendary Dionne Warwick took over, adding a more contemporary, R&B-tinged sophistication to the intro.
But Princess Cruises—the actual cruise line that provided the Pacific Princess for the TV show—needed something that bridged the gap between that 70s nostalgia and the modern luxury traveler. They didn't want a museum piece. They wanted a party.
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Enter Marieme: The Voice of the Modern Remix
Princess Cruises launched its "All You Love" campaign to remind people that "The Love Boat" isn't just a TV show; it's the heritage of their brand. To do this, they tapped Marieme.
Marieme is an interesting choice because she isn't just a session singer. She’s an artist known for themes of consciousness, freedom, and human connection. Her voice has this raspy, liquid quality that manages to hit the high notes without feeling like a Broadway audition. In the commercial, she takes the iconic "Love... exciting and new" line and gives it a rhythmic, almost percussive energy.
It's actually a pretty bold move. If you mess with a classic too much, you alienate the boomers who remember the original. If you don't mess with it enough, you look "old" to Gen Z and Millennials. By using Marieme’s version, Princess managed to find a middle ground that feels like a summer festival anthem rather than a lounge act.
Why does it sound different in various ads?
You might have noticed that the song feels "longer" or "shorter" depending on which commercial you see. This is because there are several "cuts" of the track.
- The 30-second spot focuses heavily on the "Set a course for adventure" hook.
- The longer brand films allow Marieme to riff a bit more, showing off a vocal range that Jack Jones probably wouldn't have attempted in 1977.
The production on this specific version was handled with a lot of heavy bass and crisp percussion. It's meant to sound good on a soundbar or high-end headphones, not just through a tiny TV speaker.
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The "New" Love Boat Connection
It isn't just a random song choice, though. There is a deeper marketing strategy at play. Princess Cruises has leaned heavily into its TV roots lately, especially with the 2022 reality show The Real Love Boat. This show also featured a version of the theme, though the commercial version featuring Marieme is the one that really took off in the cultural zeitgeist.
Honestly, the "Love Boat" theme is one of the most resilient pieces of intellectual property in music history. It’s been covered by everyone from Charo to Amanda Lear. Yet, this current iteration is arguably the most successful at making the song feel "cool" again.
Does it actually work?
Marketing experts often talk about "audio branding." When you hear those first four notes, your brain instantly maps to the ocean. By updating the singer, Princess is basically saying, "We have the history you love, but we aren't stuck in the past." It's a psychological trick. You feel safe because the melody is familiar, but you feel excited because the singer sounds new.
Spotting the Differences: Jones vs. Warwick vs. Marieme
If you're trying to win a trivia night or just prove a point to your spouse, here is the breakdown of the three major eras of this song.
Jack Jones (1977-1985) is the one with the big orchestral swells. It feels very "Hollywood." He sings it straight, with that classic vibrato. If there are strings and a flute, it’s Jack.
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Dionne Warwick (1985-1986) brought the 80s synth-pop feel. It’s slower, more soulful, and features those signature 80s keyboards. It’s less "nautical adventure" and more "late-night cocktail hour."
Marieme (The Modern Commercials) is the one you’re likely hearing now. It has a heavy drum beat, a modern pop-soul vocal delivery, and a much "brighter" sound. It’s designed to sound like something you’d hear on a Top 40 station or a high-end Spotify playlist.
What This Means for Your Next Vacation
The use of a modern artist like Marieme signals a shift in how cruise lines are positioning themselves. They aren't just for retirees anymore. They are targeting a demographic that grew up with R&B, pop, and electronic music. By using a singer who has a contemporary edge, they are sub-verbally telling the viewer that the onboard experience will be equally modern.
Interestingly, there have been some rumors about a full-length release of Marieme’s cover. Currently, it exists mostly as a commercial "jingle" or extended brand track, but the demand on social media has been surprisingly high. People actually like this version, which is rare for a commercial jingle. Usually, people are just trying to find the "Mute" button.
Real-World Feedback
If you look at social media threads or travel forums, the consensus is split. The purists miss the Jack Jones croon—they feel it’s a bit too "poppy." But the younger crowd, or those who haven't seen the original show, find it incredibly catchy. It’s a testament to the songwriting of Fox and Williams that a melody written nearly 50 years ago can still function as an effective hook in the age of TikTok and 5-second attention spans.
Actionable Takeaways for Music and Travel Fans
If you’ve fallen in love with this version of the song, or if you’re just a fan of the "Love Boat" legacy, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Check out Marieme's solo work: If you like her voice in the Princess commercial, listen to her tracks like "Leave" or "Freedom." She has a massive discography that explores the same soulful territory as the commercial.
- Watch the original intro: Go to YouTube and compare the Jack Jones version with the current ad. It's a fascinating lesson in how music production has changed over five decades.
- Look for the "Love Boat" themed cruises: Princess Cruises actually runs "themed" voyages where original cast members like Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing) or Bernie Kopell (Doc) sometimes appear. They almost always play the original and modern versions of the song during sail-away parties.
- Check your streaming service: While the commercial version isn't always available as a "single," various remixes of the Love Boat theme appear on "TV’s Greatest Hits" compilations. Just be sure to check the artist credit so you don't end up with a low-quality MIDI version.
The mystery of who sings the Love Boat commercial is a small window into how big brands use nostalgia to stay relevant. It’s a bridge between the 1970s "Golden Age" of television and the 2020s "Experience Economy." Next time the ad comes on, you can tell whoever is in the room exactly who that voice belongs to. And hey, maybe it’ll actually convince you to set a course for adventure. Just leave the 70s polyester at home.