City man cruises to rendezvous with star

THE effervescent personality of Love Boat's cruise director Julie McCoy still shone when Ipswich fan Neville Jessen shared with her in a double birthday treat.

ALL AT SEA: Love Boat actress Lauren Tewes on the top deck of the Sea Princess in Brisbane with Love Boat fan Neville Jessen from Moores Pocket. Picture: Rae Wilson

THE effervescent personality of the Love Boat's cruise director Julie McCoy still shone when Ipswich fan Neville Jessen shared a few minutes with her in a double birthday treat.

It is 30 years since actress Lauren Tewes dished out her signature smile while holding her trademark clipboard on TV screens around the world.

But, like many men from his generation, Mr Jessen reluctantly admitted he always had a little crush on her character.

"We used to watch the Love Boat series years ago when we were younger," the Moores Pocket man said.

"She was a doll in that first series. She is still terrific - still the old Julie, such a kind voice.

"If I look that well when I'm 60, next year, then I'll be happy."

Mr Jessen found out he would be one of 60 fans helping Tewes celebrate her 60th birthday, two days before his 59th birthday.

He said the idyllic life aboard the Sea Princess, the same name as the boat where he met McCoy in Brisbane on Monday, had inspired him to take three cruises.

Mr Jessen first went as "a single fella" on a Chinese ship to Fiji in his younger years, then a cruise to Alaska with his wife and most recently a cruise to New Zealand last year on sister ship, Sun Princess. Carnival Australia chief Ann Sherry said the cruising industry was expected to contribute almost $350 million to the Australian economy by 2019.