Where fiction meets reality—the rise of cruise set-jetting
Take a magical step into the worlds that captured your imagination. That's the promise of set-jetting, a growing travel trend where cruise lines are crafting journeys around iconic film and television locations. These aren't just photo opportunities – they're portals into the stories that moved you, letting you walk the same paths as beloved characters while discovering the real-world magic that drew filmmakers here in the first place.
From the crystalline waters of the Adriatic to the craggy coasts that birthed epic tales, these destinations prove that sometimes reality surpasses even the most vivid imagination.
Related: Top bucket list cruises to take in 2025
On this page:
- Crown jewel of the Adriatic: Dubrovnik's double life
- Untamed spirit: The Scottish Highlands
- Middle-earth made real: New Zealand's Fiordland
- Aegean dreams: Santorini's cinematic canvas
- Arctic enchantment: Norway's Lofoten Islands
Explore exciting cruise destinations today:
Crown jewel of the Adriatic: Dubrovnik's double life
When your ship first approaches Dubrovnik, you'll understand why HBO chose it as their King's Landing. Ancient limestone walls rise dramatically from the sea, their sun-bleached stone glowing against the deep blue Adriatic. But where Game of Thrones created a capital of political intrigue, you'll find something even more captivating: a living, breathing medieval city that has guarded these waters for centuries.
Lovrijenac Fortress commands attention from its 37-meter cliff, every bit as imposing as the Red Keep it portrayed. But while Cersei Lannister plotted within these walls, today you're more likely to catch an open-air performance of Hamlet in this 11th-century stronghold. Walk the city battlements and you'll recognize views made famous by the series – but the real vista, with islands dotting the horizon and terracotta roofs cascading toward the harbor, needs no CGI enhancement.
Follow the Jesuit Staircase down to the Old Town, and yes, you can recreate that infamous walk (though thankfully with all your clothes on). But then lose yourself in the marble streets where locals still hang their laundry between Renaissance palaces, and where the catch of the day is always fresh at hole-in-the-wall konobas.
For the ultimate sunset, claim a table at Buža Bar, carved into the cliffs outside the city walls. Here, with nothing between you and the horizon but the Adriatic, you'll realize that while Game of Thrones may have put Dubrovnik on many travelers' maps, the city's real magic needs no script.
Most major cruise lines, including MSC and Celebrity, feature Dubrovnik in their Adriatic itineraries. Many pair it with equally enchanting ports like Split, where Diocletian's Palace hosts bustling markets in its ancient corridors, and Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, where fjord-like waters mirror mountains that seem to touch the sky.
The best stories transport us somewhere extraordinary. But sometimes, as set-jetting proves, the real locations are even more spellbinding than their fictional counterparts.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: Opt for a cruise arriving early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. Book a guided Game of Thrones tour for skip-the-line access to top spots like the city walls and Lovrijenac Fortress, and browse local shops for unique Adriatic coral jewelry or Konavle embroidery.
Check out upcoming cruises to Dubrovnik, Croatia:
Untamed spirit: The Scottish Highlands
Where ancient stones whisper tales of clan warfare and mystic legends, the Scottish Highlands rise like a fortress of nature against the moody North Atlantic. While Highlander immortalized these landscapes on screen, the real magic lies in moments no camera could capture – the way morning mist clings to purple heather, or how sunset paints the glens in colors that would make Turner weep.
From your ship's approach to Invergordon or Oban, you'll understand why filmmakers return here again and again. Princess Cruises' Sky Princess, which sails 14-day British Isles itineraries from Southampton, times its arrival for the ethereal morning light. The 3,660-passenger vessel's 360-degree promenade deck offers unobstructed views of Scotland's dramatic coastline, while the ship's "Movies Under the Stars" screen fittingly showcases Scottish classics as you sail these storied waters.
Take the winding road to Urquhart Castle, where weathered ruins stand sentinel over Loch Ness's dark waters. The cruise crowds come hoping for a glimpse of Nessie, but stay enchanted by the raw beauty of a place where history and myth blur together. In Glencoe, site of both tragic Highland history and Harry Potter scenes, valleys carved by ancient glaciers create natural amphitheaters of such grandeur that even seasoned travelers fall silent.
For those seeking their own highland saga, local guides lead expeditions to hidden waterfalls and secret glens that mass tourism hasn't touched. Princess's shore excursions include exclusive "Local Connections" tours led by Highland natives, revealing secret spots where film crews once camped and ancient clan histories unfolded. As you sip single malt in a centuries-old pub or watch red deer emerge at dusk, you'll realize that while movies capture the Highlands' face, they can never fully grasp its soul.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: The Sky Princess offers a unique treat: as you sail past the dramatic Highland coastline, enjoy a special screening of Highlander under the open sky on the ship’s "Movies Under the Stars" screen. Pair this cinematic experience with the ship’s signature cocktails as the misty hills roll by—bringing the show’s immortal landscapes to life right before your eyes.
Discover the Scottish Highlands by cruise:
Middle-earth made real: New Zealand's Fiordland
Fiordland doesn't need CGI to convince you that you've stepped into Middle-earth. As your ship navigates the mirror-black waters of Milford Sound, waterfalls cascade from cliffs that disappear into clouds above, and dolphins play in your wake. Peter Jackson chose this corner of New Zealand for The Lord of the Rings not for what he could add with special effects, but for what was already here – a landscape that seems to exist outside of time.
While Doubtful Sound's name suggests uncertainty, there's no doubt about its impact. Three times longer than Milford and ten times larger, it's a place where silence has physical presence. On small-boat excursions, you'll glide past fur seals basking on sun-warmed rocks and see rare Fiordland crested penguins waddling through ancient rainforest.
Norwegian Cruise Line has mastered the art of showcasing these waterways, timing arrivals for the golden hours when light plays between peaks and sea. Aboard Norwegian Spirit's Australia & New Zealand voyages, the ship's intimate size allows it to navigate deeper into the sounds than larger vessels, while the forward-facing Observation Lounge offers panoramic views through double-height windows. Here, as you sip hot chocolate and watch waterfalls appear and vanish in the mist, you might find yourself checking for pointed ears among your fellow passengers – the landscape is that convincing.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: For the ultimate Fiordland experience, grab a seat in Norwegian Spirit's forward-facing Observation Lounge during the ship's approach to Milford and Doubtful Sounds. With its double-height windows and cozy ambiance, it’s the best spot to enjoy uninterrupted views of waterfalls, playful dolphins, and mist-covered peaks.
Find your New Zealand cruise today:
Aegean dreams: Santorini's cinematic canvas
Long before Meryl Streep danced across its caldera-edge towns in Mamma Mia!, Santorini was writing its own epic. As your ship anchors in the embrace of the world's largest sea-filled volcanic crater, the island rises before you like a layered cake of black lava and white sugar, crowned with the blue domes that have launched a thousand screensavers.
In Oia, where every corner seems designed for a movie poster, afternoon light plays across walls so white they seem to glow from within. But venture beyond the Instagram hotspots to discover the Santorini that cameras miss – family-run vineyards where ancient Assyrtiko vines grow in volcanic soil, or the buried city of Akrotiri, where frescoes painted before the catastrophic eruption of 1646 BC still retain their vivid colors.
Viking Cruises and Azamara ensure you experience both faces of the island, from sunset crowds in Fira to secret swimming coves accessible only by sea. Viking Star pauses here, allowing guests to join intimate cooking classes in cave houses or take late-evening strolls through Imerovigli's marble pathways when day-trippers have departed.
Meanwhile, Azamara ships often stay all day, offering exclusive evening tours of Akrotiri's ruins and candlelit dinners in centuries-old wine caves. And as the stars emerge above the caldera, you might find yourself on deck, watching fishing boats string their lights across the dark waters like a scene from a movie yet to be made.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: For a truly unique Santorini experience, book Azamara’s evening tour of Akrotiri's ancient ruins. This exclusive excursion lets you explore the Bronze Age city after the crowds are gone, followed by a candlelit dinner in a centuries-old wine cave—an unforgettable way to see Santorini's quieter, more magical side.
Book your dream cruise to Santorini:
Arctic enchantment: Norway's Lofoten Islands
While Disney's animators drew inspiration from Norwegian fjords for Frozen's Arendelle, the real Lofoten archipelago puts even animation to shame. Here, jagged peaks burst from steel-blue seas like the spine of some sleeping dragon, while traditional red fishing cabins (rorbuer) reflect in waters so clear you can count the cod swimming below.
In summer, when the midnight sun paints everything in impossible shades of gold, you might find yourself in a village like Reine, where mountains create a natural cathedral around a harbor filled with working fishing boats. Come winter, the Northern Lights dance above these same peaks, creating light shows that make Frozen's magic seem modest by comparison.
Viking Neptune elegantly threads through hidden channels to reach communities where fishing traditions stretch back a thousand years, and where modern life moves in rhythm with ancient tides. The ship's spacious Nordic Balcony staterooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that transform into open-air verandas, perfect for spotting sea eagles or watching the fjords drift by.
During summer sailings, Viking Neptune's two-story Explorers' Lounge becomes a prime spot for watching the midnight sun paint the peaks in gold, while enrichment lectures in The Star Theater delve into the rich maritime heritage of these ancient fishing communities. As you dine on freshly caught cod at Manfredi's Italian restaurant, the Scandinavian-inspired decor and panoramic windows frame views that would make even Queen Elsa herself pause in wonder, while the indoor-outdoor World Café offers regional specialties under the endless Arctic sky.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: For the best views of the Lofoten archipelago's midnight sun, head to Viking Neptune's two-story Explorers' Lounge. Its floor-to-ceiling windows and cozy seating make it the perfect spot to marvel at jagged peaks glowing gold while sipping a Scandinavian-inspired cocktail, creating a scene straight out of a Nordic fairytale.
Related: Top 5 winter wonderland cruises
Take a cruise to Lofoten, Norway:
Set-jetting: Where legendary stories come to life
From medieval strongholds to Middle-earth landscapes, these cinematic destinations offer more than just photo opportunities – they're gateways to stories both ancient and newly imagined. Whether you're tracing the footsteps of your favorite characters or discovering hidden gems the cameras missed, a cruise to these legendary locations proves that sometimes the most magical stories are the ones waiting to be lived.
Ready to step into your own cruise adventure? Cruisebound can help you find the perfect sailing to these iconic destinations, with exclusive deals you won't find anywhere else. Book your cinematic journey today and discover where your story begins.
