The sun-drenched islands of Bond films, Ripley’s palatial Italian boltholes, Succession’s ultra-luxe Big Apple living: we’ve all been captivated by screen locations – so much so, that many of us are now planning our holidays around them.
Understandably, it’s a movement the whole travel industry is getting behind – and now, cruise lines are getting in on the action too, with the likes of Mundy Cruising (mundycruising.co.uk) launching whole collections dedicated to passengers’ favourite filming locations, many of which are far easier to access by ship.
Want to stroll around the ramparts as seen in Game of Thrones? Enter Valletta or Dubrovnik in stately fashion by sea. Fancy channelling your inner Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia-style? The Greek islands of Skopelos and Skiathos are easily reachable on a cruise. And although the premise of the BBC’s Death in Paradise may be a little disconcerting, being able to visit dreamy Caribbean islands such as Guadeloupe means we’re a captive audience.
“It’s referred to as ‘set-jetting’,” says Edwina Lonsdale, the managing director of Mundy Cruising. “We have people drawing inspiration from places they’ve seen in a TV series or in a movie and wanting to visit these destinations as part of their travels. It’s not trying to replicate what people have watched, it’s drawing on elements of excitement, nostalgia or breathtaking natural landscapes and weaving them into an extraordinary journey to make it even more memorable.”
Tempted? Book your starring role on one of these set-jetting cruises…
Inspired by… Ripley
Patricia Highsmith’s anti-hero set out his stall in Italy’s tiny, clifftop town of Atrani, just a few minutes’ walk from beautiful Amalfi. While it’s possible to get there by land (as long as you can stomach the endless winding cliffside roads), what could be more glamorous than arriving by yacht? Seadream (0800 058481; seadream.com) has a seven-night Rome round-trip cruise from £6,495pp, including flights, an overnight call to Amalfi as well as Sorrento, plus time in Ponza, Capri and Bonifacio. Departing Aug 29 2026.
Inspired by… Drive to Survive
Now in its sixth season, Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive has captured F1 superfans and sceptics alike with its oh-so-glamorous grand prix locations. Windstar (0808 258 7943; windstarcruises.com) visits the Prix du Monde in Monaco, the jewel of the F1 calendar, on the five-mast motor sailing yacht, Wind Surf. The seven-night sailing from Barcelona to Rome (from £7,807pp) includes premium seats for Saturday’s time trials and Sunday’s final and a Prix du Monde-themed cocktail reception and dinner, plus calls to Palamós, Sanary-sur-Mer, Cannes and Portoferraio. Departing May 20 2025.
Inspired by… The White Lotus
As pretty much anyone who doesn’t live under a rock knows by now, the second season of HBO drama The White Lotus was filmed in the stunning Sicilian town of Taormina. An exclusive Mundy Cruising package (020 7399 7670; mundycruising.co.uk) combines a three-night pre-cruise stay here with a 10-night sailing on board the elegant tall ship Sea Cloud II (from £9.555pp), including three nights at the San Domenico Palace, then sailing from Catania to Otranto and Bari, plus the Croatian towns of Vis, Rovinj and Sibenik, as well as an overnight call in Dubrovnik. Departing May 18 2025.