This series was based upon (or "inspired by", as the end credits put it) Jeraldine Saunders 1974 novel "The Love Boats." She wrote the book from her personal observations while serving as a hostess on a cruise ship.
Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Bernie Kopell (Dr. Bricker) and Ted Lange (Isaac Washington) are the only actors to appear in every episode of the series.
Laugh tracks became very unpopular in the 1970s and 1980s, so much so that shows like All in the Family (1971) and Cheers (1982) would announce that they were filmed before a live studio audience. This was the first show in several years that was not filmed in front of a studio audience, and still had a laugh track. When it was cancelled in 1987, it was the last show of its type to have a laugh track.
The cast of Love Boat would actually go on Pacific Princess cruises to real exotic locations all over the world. The extras in these shows were real Pacific Princess passengers.