America's "First Bachelor" Joins Princess Cruises' Department of Romance
Mar 27, 2008
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (March 27, 2008) - More than 100 million viewers and 12 seasons later, ABC's The Bachelor remains one of the top reality television shows. And now the show's very first bachelor, Alex Michel, is set to share his views on love and dating as he becomes the newest member of Princess Cruises' Department of Romance.
Still a bachelor since he made his appearance on the first show in 2002, the 37-year-old Michel is well-qualified to join Princess' line-up of romance experts. The experience gleaned from courting the 25 contestants who hoped to be his chosen partner have given him plenty of romantic insights to share, and his first assignment will be to help judge the line's "Are You The Greatest Romantic?" online video contest at the end of this month.
Princess' Department of Romance, a tribute to the company's decades-long legacy as the setting for the iconic TV show The Love Boat, is made up of noted experts on a variety of romantic topics and includes actor Gavin MacLeod, The Love Boat's "Captain Stubing;" Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the always-provocative couples therapist; Trish McDermott, Vice President of Love at Engage.com; and Lisa Light, destination wedding expert and author.
Michel will join the other department members to help select the five finalists for Princess' "Greatest Romantic" contest, who will be announced on April 1. The public will then have the chance to vote for their favorite entry, with the winner joining the Department of Romance for one year and featured on the company's website offering their sage romantic advice through articles and a special podcast. The winning romantic will also receive a seven-day cruise for two to the Mexican Riviera or the Caribbean.
"I am thrilled to be joining Princess Cruises' Department of Romance," said Alex Michel. "As a single guy, I think I can bring a unique perspective to the group, especially with my experiences on The Bachelor. Not only do I feel I can offer some great tips and advice about the single person's search for love, I'm a huge Love Boat fan and an avid cruiser!"
After The Bachelor, Alex Michel served as a spokesperson for the well-known online dating service Match.com, providing commentary on romance and courtship through television and radio shows, newspaper and magazine articles and live appearances. Previously, Michel's love of film inspired him to produce travel documentaries in over 20 countries around the world and later short Internet films for a major technology firm. A graduate of Harvard University, with an MBA from Stanford, Michel is currently an executive at a media and technology company.
"It's going to be great fun having Alex join our romance team and offer his outlook as the only single member of the department," said Jan Swartz, senior vice president for Princess Cruises. "I'm sure he'll offer some fun insight into his search for romance and how he navigates dating in today's wired world."
Michel will offer his advice and observations on Princess Cruises' special online home for romance, www.princess.com/romance. The site also features tips and articles from the other romance experts ranging from the best ways to reinvigorate your romance, to tips on planning a destination wedding. It also features a series of podcasts, inspiring quotations and romantic desktop downloads.
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