The title was changed from "I'll Take Manila" to "Ship Ahoy" because the Philippines had already fallen to the Japanese in the war. The ship's destination was changed from Manila to Puerto Rico, and the song "I'll Take Manila" was changed to "I'll Take Tallulah".
In 1942 Buster Keaton was under contract at MGM to 'punch up' the studio's comedies with physical gags. In this film he contributed the deck chair bit, the whole concept of the magnetized mines and the metal deck plates, and coached Red Skelton on his stairway tumbles. As in most of his work of the period his input is sadly uncredited.
Frank Sinatra makes his second feature film appearance as a singer with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra. Also look quickly for Broadway star John Raitt as a young sailor.
During the costume ball sequence, a female party goer is seen wearing Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West costume, somewhat modified, from The Wizard of Oz (1939).