What to get married three times learned Jill Whelan (exclusively)

• The love boat Star Jill Whelan married her husband Jeff Knapple 2017 after two previous divorces
• The actress, who serves as Princess Cruise’s celebrating ambassador, started her Valentine’s Day celebration at Cruise Line’s Love by Britto Nyc Popup, which goes through February 14
• Whelan tells people that she could “spend every moment together” with buttonle and “be perfectly good”

Jill Whelan grew up The love boatAnd in 2017, she found her real life forever when she married Jeff Knapple.

“We really get so good and enjoy each other’s companies so much and respect each other so much. And we make each other laugh, so we really are, really happy, ”Whelan, 58, told People as we celebrate Valentine’s Day with Princess cruises‘ Love by Britto Restaurant at its New York City firedwhich goes through Friday, February 14. “This is not the first marriage to any of us. It took us a minute to find the right person, but we eventually did. We could spend every moment together and not see another person and be perfectly fine. ”

The actress, who serves as Princess Cruise’s celebrating ambassador, had been married twice before and has three children from previous relationships. Whelan said that by going through two divorces, she taught her to “never settle.”

“And you will never redo anyone,” Whelan continued of the lessons she has learned. “You better love them exactly as they are when they come to you. And you have to be yourself when you meet someone because if they do not love you for who you are, then it is a constant game that acts like someone else. You cannot maintain it. I used to say to people when I was single, I would rather be single and happy than leashed and alone. ”

The Empty water Podcast Co-host took that advice to be herself when she started hitting button, 68.

“When we started meeting after both of our divorces, we both went: ‘Do you know what? I will only be myself and if they do not like this self, it is good. No harm, no foul, but it won’t be the person for me. It’s either to take me to my nominal value or don’t take me at all, ”Whelan said. “For at some point, the chickens will come to Roost, and it will be sticky and ugly and complicated. It’s much easier (to be yourself). ”

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Whelan tried to introduce the importance of self -love in her children.

“The only way you can really find that roadmap for what real love for you will be is to love yourself first,” she said. “It’s the same way they say on an aircraft, if the oxygen masks are released, put the mask first before you can help someone else. When you love yourself you can be selfless with someone else because you are not needed, you are not looking for something you do not have. ”

The Love boat Star admitted that she “made some mistakes in my life” that made her question “what kind of roadmap do I leave my children” when it comes to love.

“It may have been a little later than a thought, but I finally feel that they understand what that roadmap can look like,” she said. “They love my husband and he loves them, and it’s the same for his children. And it is important that we are ourselves in front of them so that they can see that it is the best way to be. ”

After kicking off their Valentine’s Day Festivities in NYC at Love by Britto, which will also be shown on Sun Princess and will be presented to the Star Princess when it debuts this fall, Whelan went home to spend February 14 with her husband, also as her sister And sister -in -law that will be in town. “We travel so much that it is actually nice to stay home and cook together,” Whelan said. “We both love to cook. We usually cook surf and peat, and then we make a dessert together. We never actually go out on Valentine’s Day. ”

Whelan believes that Love by Britto, with his signature dishes by chef Rudi Sodamin, customized cocktails by Mixologist Rob Floyd, artwork by Romero Britto and thoughtful heart -shaped details on the table, delivers a “Valentine’s Day which is like no other” and provides a thought “much romantic “vibe for anyone looking for it on board. The former teen star and buttonle make a conscious effort to keep romance alive throughout the year.

“If I get a cup of coffee in the morning, I get him and almost every night he gives me a back arch before we sleep, which is phenomenal and I am extremely spoiled and I know it,” Whelan said. “But just sit together on the couch and hold your hands, the little things are important. Respect is the best Aphrodisiac available. ”