In my opinion, cruise ships are the perfect setting for film – part glamour, whimsy, full of drama, laughter, and the occasional mild catastrophe. And, you don’t need to be a cruise veteran to enjoy them. Sure, there’s something magical about seeing a ship on the big screen, and being like “I know that ship!”. But if you’re someone who has yet to cruise, then this could give you the kick you need to book a cruise!
Here’s a look at some iconic movies set aboard cruise ships – and the real ships that starred in or inspired them. Add these to your watchlist and prepare for on-deck drama, dramatic sunsets, and maybe even a robot bartender.
Like Father (2018)
Real Ship: Harmony of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International
This feel-good Netflix film brings all the emotion, laughs, and cruise content your heart could want. Kristen Bell plays a high-powered ad exec left at the altar, and Kelsey Grammer is her long-lost dad who tags along on the honeymoon cruise she decides to take anyway. What begins as painfully awkward morphs into a touching story of reconnection, healing – and karaoke.
What makes it a true must-watch for cruise fans is that it was actually filmed aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships. You’ll see the real Central Park, AquaTheater, Boardwalk, and even the Bionic Bar, where robot arms shake and serve cocktails.
It was shot during a real sailing, so many of the background guests are actual cruisers going about their holiday (jealous). If you’ve ever cruised with Royal, you’ll feel right at home – and if not, you will 100% find yourself checking prices for the next Western Caribbean itinerary before the credits roll.
Fun fact: this is one of my all-time favourite movies, and every time someone mentions they’re considering cruising, I always tell them to watch that movie! It captures the exact essence of what I love about cruising, and words just can’t explain it.
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
Real Ship: Seabourn Legend – Seabourn / Windstar Cruises
This delightfully over-the-top sequel to Speed swaps city buses for a luxury cruise ship… and it’s every bit as wild as that sounds. Sandra Bullock returns (without Keanu, sadly) and finds herself caught up in another runaway disaster – this time, on a cruise that’s been hijacked by a madman and set on a collision course with a Caribbean port.
The film was shot aboard the Seabourn Legend, a real luxury ship that once belonged to Seabourn’s elite fleet. The ship’s elegant interiors and sleek profile make a great backdrop for all the chaos, especially the (in)famous crash scene that reportedly took weeks to film and cost millions.
Although Speed 2 was widely panned by critics, it has a bit of cult status today, especially among cruise fans. After her Seabourn days, the ship was renamed Star Legend and now sails with Windstar Cruises – far more peacefully than in the movie, I hope.
Poseidon (2006)
Inspired By: Queen Mary 2 – Cunard
A remake of the 1972 disaster classic, Poseidon tells the tale of a luxury ocean liner that’s capsized by a rogue wave on New Year’s Eve, leaving survivors scrambling to escape an upside-down nightmare. It’s pure disaster-movie adrenaline, with explosions, heroic sacrifices, and very dramatic hair.
Though the film wasn’t shot on a real cruise ship, the fictional SS Poseidon was heavily inspired by the Queen Mary 2 – Cunard’s crown jewel and the last true ocean liner sailing today. With her classic design, powerful engines, and transatlantic reputation, QM2 is one of the few ships that could believably sail the North Atlantic and be caught in such a storm.
Cunard even consulted with filmmakers during production, helping them create a believable luxury liner interior. So while it’s CGI-heavy and a little outrageous, cruise fans will appreciate the nods to real nautical design – even if it’s all upside down.
Out to Sea (1997)
Real Ship: Carnival Tropicale – Carnival
Starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, this charming rom-com is a nostalgic time capsule of 90s cruising. The pair play two aging men who accidentally become dance hosts aboard a cruise ship (because, why not?) and wind up in the middle of romantic entanglements, personal growth, and some classic slapstick.
The film was shot aboard the Carnival Tropicale, Carnival Cruise Line’s very first purpose-built ship, which debuted in the early 1980s. The Tropicale’s playful interiors and classic buffet lounges appear throughout the film, offering a real look at what cruising was like in its earlier mass-market heyday — before robot bartenders and skydiving simulators were a thing.
Although the ship was retired and later scrapped in 2021, Out to Sea lives on as a funny and heartwarming tribute to simpler cruise holidays, cheesy performances, and finding love at sea (or at least shuffleboard).
Death on the Nile (2022)
Real Inspiration: SS Sudan
While not a modern cruise ship in the traditional sense, the glamorous river steamer featured in Death on the Nile is about as iconic as they come. This stylish whodunnit, starring Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, is based on Agatha Christie’s famous novel and unfolds almost entirely aboard a luxurious vessel cruising the Nile.
The fictional SS Karnak was inspired by the real-life SS Sudan, an early 20th-century steamer that still sails today. It’s even rumoured to have been the very boat Agatha Christie travelled on – and which sparked her inspiration for the story.
If you’re the kind of cruiser who dreams of slow travel, vintage glamour, and sipping tea while solving mysteries in linen suits, the SS Sudan might just need to be added to your bucket list. Yes, you can still book it – no murder mysteries required (I hope).
Obviously, there’s one film I’m not including here… And that one’s a little too obvious!
If you haven’t seen any of them, maybe start with my personal favourite, Like Father, and go from there.