It is a sequel/spin-off of the Disney Channel Original Series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The series follows twin brothers Zack and Cody Martin and hotel heiress London Tipton in a new setting, the SS Tipton, where they attend classes at "Seven Seas High" and meet Bailey Pickett while Mr. Moseby manages the ship. The ship travels around the world to nations such as Italy, Greece, India, and the
United Kingdom where the characters experience different cultures, adventures, and situations.[1]
The series' pilot aired in the UK on September 19, 2008, and in US markets on September 26, 2008. The series premiere on the Disney Channel in the US drew 5.7 million viewers,[2] and it became the most-watched series premiere in Canada on the Family Channel.[3] The show was also TV's No. 1 series in Kids 6-11 and No. 1 scripted series in tweens 9-14 in 2008, outpacing veteran series Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place in the ratings.[4] On October 19, 2009, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a third season, which began production in January 2010. [5] and debuted on July 2, 2010. The series is also 2009's top rated scripted series in the children and tween demographic (6-14).[6] Reruns of the show are also the top rated series on Disney XD. The series' main concepts were created by Kallis and Pamela Eells O'Connell. O'Connell, along with Irene Dreayer are the executive producers; Kallis was also an executive producer until he left the series midway through the second season, and Jim Geoghan was an executive producer for the first two seasons. The series is produced by It's a Laugh Productions and Bon Mot Productions (a production company formed and run by O'Connell), in association with Disney Channel.[7] Dylan and Cole Sprouse play the leading male characters in the series while Brenda Song plays the leading female character.[1][8] The series also stars Debby Ryan as country girl Bailey Pickett and Phill Lewis as Mr. Newcomers are Matthew Timmons and Erin Cardillo (as recurring guest stars).[1][9][10] Doc Shaw joined the cast during the second season and later departed from the show during the third season due to his commitment in the Disney XD series, Pair of Kings.[11]
The series has been broadcast in more than 30 countries worldwide, and is shot at Hollywood Center Studios in Los Angeles (as was the original series). The series is taped in front of a live studio audience, though a laugh track is used for some scenes. The series is the second spin-off of a Disney Channel series (after the short-lived That's So Raven spinoff Cory in the House); as well as the last Disney Channel series to debut broadcasting exclusively in standard definition, and the first of three Disney Channel shows to transition from standard definition to high definition, which occurred on August 7, 2009 with the season 2 premiere, "The Spy Who Shoved Me," and the second multi-camera comedy (after Sonny with a Chance) to utilize a 'filmized' appearance instead of the FilmLook appearance that was used in the first season. On March 25, 2011, a film based on The Suite Life on Deck and its parent series titled The Suite Life Movie aired on the Disney Channel.
