Updated May 13, 2026: New filming locations and season updates added for Below Deck Season 12 and Season 13, Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 and Season 11, and Below Deck Down Under Season 4.
This article lists the ports, marinas and destinations where Below Deck was filmed, with a practical ferry angle: which locations can you actually reach by ferry, and where do you need to fly in first?
We first made this guide partly because we enjoy the series ourselves – and partly because many of the places shown on Below Deck are much more reachable by regular ferry than they might look from a superyacht. What started as a small FerryGoGo curiosity piece was later referenced by ScreenRant, which was a fun surprise.
The globally popular Below Deck franchise takes viewers to some of the most photogenic coastal places in the world. The yachts visit the Caribbean, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Norway, Thailand, Australia, the Seychelles and more. You do not need a superyacht budget to follow part of that route, especially in ferry-friendly regions such as the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and parts of Southeast Asia.
In this guide, we focus on the best-known Below Deck filming locations and explain which ones are useful for ferry travel. Some are easy: Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain and Norway have strong ferry networks. Others, especially in the Caribbean and Seychelles, are usually fly-in destinations where local ferries or inter-island boats can help once you are there.
The original Below Deck series has spent many seasons around the Caribbean. Season 12 is based around Sint Maarten, with island-hopping to Anguilla and St. Barths. Season 13 has been announced as a return to Thailand. Below Deck Mediterranean continues to focus on classic Mediterranean cruising areas, with Season 10 set around Barcelona and Season 11 set in Dubrovnik. Below Deck Sailing Yacht has visited Greece, Croatia, Spain and Sardinia, while Below Deck Down Under has moved beyond Australia to the Seychelles and Canouan.
Quick navigation
- Below Deck
- Below Deck Mediterranean
- Below Deck Sailing Yacht
- Below Deck Down Under
- Below Deck Adventure
Filming locations and on-screen stops are not always the same thing. Most seasons have one main home-base marina or port where the yacht docks and production is centred. Episodes may also feature nearby anchorages, beach clubs and day trips.
At a glance: latest seasons and main bases
| Franchise | Season | Main base / area | Country or region | Ferry-friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below Deck | S13 | Thailand | Southeast Asia | Yes: strong island ferry routes, but weather-sensitive |
| Below Deck | S12 | Sint Maarten, with Anguilla and St. Barths | Caribbean | Mixed: local island ferries vary |
| Below Deck | S11 | St. George’s | Grenada | Limited: mostly fly-in |
| Below Deck Mediterranean | S11 | Dubrovnik | Croatia | Yes: Adriatic ferry routes |
| Below Deck Mediterranean | S10 | Barcelona | Spain | Yes: strong ferry hub |
| Below Deck Mediterranean | S9 | Athens / Piraeus | Greece | Yes: excellent island ferries |
| Below Deck Sailing Yacht | S5 | Ibiza | Spain / Balearics | Yes: Balearic ferries |
| Below Deck Down Under | S4 | Canouan | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Limited: local inter-island boats |
| Below Deck Down Under | S3 | Mahé | Seychelles | Yes locally, fly in first |
| Below Deck Adventure | S1 | Ålesund | Norway | Yes: lots of ferries |
Key takeaways
- The most ferry-friendly Below Deck regions are the Mediterranean, Norway and parts of Thailand.
- The Caribbean and Seychelles usually work best if you fly in first, then use local ferries or island boats where available.
- The best planning approach is to start from a major ferry hub such as Athens/Piraeus, Split, Dubrovnik, Naples, Barcelona, Phuket or Ålesund, then build the trip outwards.
How to plan these locations
For ferry planning, it helps to think in regions rather than individual TV scenes. The Mediterranean and Norway are the easiest to recreate by ferry. Thailand also works well, but can involve speedboats and seasonal routes. The Caribbean, Seychelles and the Grenadines are usually fly-in destinations first, with local ferries or island boats used once you are there.
Below Deck filming locations by country and region
Below Deck Mediterranean
Ferry reality check: the Mediterranean is one of the best regions in the world for a Below Deck-style trip by ferry. Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Malta and France all have useful ferry routes, but the best route usually starts from a major port rather than from a random island pair.
Greece
Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht both used Greece as an early backdrop, with a strong focus on the Ionian Sea. The crew’s adventures include places such as Corfu, Mykonos, Nidri, Lefkada, Paxos and Syvota. In Season 9 of Below Deck Mediterranean, the crew returned to Greece, starting from the port of Athens.
For travellers, Greece is one of the easiest Below Deck destinations to recreate by ferry. Athens/Piraeus is the main hub for the Greek islands, while the Ionian side works differently, with routes to places such as Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos often starting from western mainland Greece or Italy.
How to reach it by ferry
- Main gateway: Athens / Piraeus, Greece’s biggest ferry hub for the islands.
- Ionian option: Italy to Corfu, useful for a road-trip style route.
- More routes: see ferries across the Greek Islands.
Croatia
Croatia takes centre stage in the second season of Below Deck Mediterranean and also appears in Below Deck Sailing Yacht. The crew visits harbours and islands including Split, Trogir, Hvar, Korčula and Vis. Below Deck Mediterranean later returned to the Croatian coast in Season 6, and Season 11 moves to Dubrovnik.
For ferry travellers, Croatia is one of the most practical destinations in the franchise. Split is the obvious starting point for island hopping, while Dubrovnik works better for southern Dalmatia and selected coastal or international routes.
How to reach it by ferry
- Main gateway: Split, one of the best bases for Croatian island ferries.
- Island hopping: use ferries and catamarans from Split to Hvar, Brač, Korčula, and Vis.
- Dubrovnik works well for southern Croatia, but the route logic differs from that in Split.
- More routes: see ferries in Croatia.
Italy
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 3 moves to Italy, with the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Capri and Positano providing the backdrop. Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 4 later anchors around Sardinia, with places such as Cagliari and Olbia in the mix.
How to reach it by ferry
- Amalfi Coast base: Naples is a major hub for ferries and hydrofoils to Capri and nearby islands.
- Sardinia: ferries to Sardinia are classic Mediterranean road-trip routes.
- More routes: see ferries in Italy.
The season also includes a stop in Bonifacio in Corsica, one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic ferry ports.
In Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8, the crew returns to Italy, filming around the Italian Riviera, with Genoa as the main port for the season and Portofino also featuring prominently.
France
The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, features prominently in Below Deck Mediterranean Season 4, with destinations such as Monaco, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Nice.
Ferries in this region are especially useful if you want to combine mainland France with Corsica, or add a coastal ferry element to a wider Mediterranean trip.
How to reach it by ferry
- Riviera base: Nice, Toulon and Marseille are the main coastal gateways.
- Island option: ferries to Corsica are a popular add-on.
- More routes: see ferries in France.
Some locations in this article are reached directly by ferry; others are best reached by flying in first and then using local ferries or day boats once you are there.
Spain
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5 and Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 3 both use Spain’s Balearic Islands as a backdrop. Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza are very ferry-friendly, with regular routes from the Spanish mainland and between the islands.
In Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10, the main base moves to Barcelona, one of the Mediterranean’s best-known ferry cities. Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 also moves to Ibiza, adding another major Balearic destination to the franchise’s map.
How to reach it by ferry
- Barcelona is useful for ferries to Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Italy and North Africa.
- The Balearic Islands are one of the easiest Below Deck areas to explore by regular ferry.
- For island hopping, look at routes between Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
Malta
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 7 is set around Malta. The Maltese islands are smaller than many other Mediterranean ferry regions, but they still work well for sea-based travel, especially between Malta, Gozo and Comino.
Valletta is the obvious base, while ferry routes to Sicily can make Malta part of a wider Mediterranean itinerary.
Below Deck Adventure
Norway
Norway might not be the first place most people associate with private yacht charters, but Below Deck Adventure Season 1 brings the fjords into the franchise.
The show centres mainly around Ålesund, roughly 400 km north of Bergen. For travellers, Norway is one of the strongest ferry countries in Europe, with fjord ferries, coastal routes, and longer sailings that allow you to experience the landscape from the water without chartering a yacht.
With many ferry routes within and to Norway, the Hurtigruten coastal route can also be a comfortable way to experience the fjords and coastal towns.
Below Deck
St. Maarten / Sint Maarten
The first season of Below Deck started in St. Maarten, and the franchise returns to Sint Maarten for Season 12. That latest season also has a clear island-hopping feel, with Anguilla and St. Barths included in the route.
For travellers, this is a good example of the difference between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Some local island ferries and boats can be useful, but you should not expect the same dense ferry network you find in Greece, Croatia or Italy.
British Virgin Islands
Season 2 of Below Deck takes viewers to the British Virgin Islands, with stops in Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. The ferries to the BVI can be found on this FerryGoGo map/page.
Bahamas
Below Deck Season 3 unfolds in the Bahamas, famous for clear water, sandy cays and relaxed island scenery.
Parts of the Bahamas can be reached by ferry, especially on specific routes such as Miami to Bimini or routes to Grand Bahama. For many islands, though, flying in first is still the normal approach.
Caribbean
Ferry reality check: in the Caribbean, you will usually fly in first. Ferries and local boats can work well for short island hops, but schedules are often more limited and more seasonal than in Europe.
The original Below Deck series spends many seasons around the Caribbean. Season 4 includes St. Barths and the British Virgin Islands; Season 5 returns to St. Maarten / Saint Martin; Season 8 features Antigua; Season 9 moves closer to St. Kitts; and Season 10 is in and around St. Lucia.
Season 11 was filmed in Grenada, around the capital of St. George’s. Season 12 returns to Sint Maarten, with island-hopping to Anguilla and St. Barths.
Thailand
Season 7 takes the franchise to Thailand, with the yacht based around Phuket and Ao Po Grand Marina. The season showcases places such as Phang Nga Bay, Koh Poda, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Rang Yai.
Thailand is also the announced setting for Below Deck Season 13. That makes sense from a travel perspective: the country has a strong island-hopping culture, but ferry travel here is very different from that in the Mediterranean. Some routes are well organised, while others feel more like speedboat island-hopping.
For travellers, the most useful ferry regions are the Andaman side around Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, and the Gulf side around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. A comprehensive list of Thai ferry routes can be found here.
Australia
Below Deck Down Under starts in Australia. Its first season is mainly filmed around the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, including locations such as Fitzroy Island and Hamilton Island.
The second season continues around the Great Barrier Reef, with Cairns as the central hub. Ferries and island transfer boats are useful in parts of this region, but flights and organised transfers are usually part of the planning.
Seychelles
Below Deck Down Under Season 3 swaps Australia for the Seychelles. This is not a place most travellers reach by ferry from abroad, but it is fairly ferry-friendly once you are there, with regular inter-island ferries between islands such as Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Below Deck Down Under Season 4 was filmed in Canouan, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is often reached by air, but there are also local inter-island connections across the Grenadines if you want to recreate part of the show’s island-hopping feel.
Below Deck by series, spin-off, season and location
1. Below Deck
- Season 1 (2013): St. Maarten.
- Season 2 (2014): British Virgin Islands.
- Season 3 (2015): Bahamas.
- Season 4 (2016): Caribbean, including St. Barths and the British Virgin Islands.
- Season 5 (2017): St. Maarten / Saint Martin.
- Season 6 (2018): Tahiti.
- Season 7 (2019): Thailand, around Phuket.
- Season 8 (2020): Caribbean, including Antigua.
- Season 9 (2021): St. Kitts.
- Season 10 (2022): St. Lucia.
- Season 11 (2024): Grenada, around St. George’s.
- Season 12 (2025): Sint Maarten, with Anguilla and St. Barths.
- Season 13 (announced for 2026): Thailand.
2. Below Deck Mediterranean
- Season 1 (2016): Greece, Ionian Islands.
- Season 2 (2017): Croatia, Dalmatian coast.
- Season 3 (2018): Italy, Amalfi Coast.
- Season 4 (2019): French Riviera, Côte d’Azur.
- Season 5 (2020): Spain, Mallorca / Balearic Islands.
- Season 6 (2021): Croatia.
- Season 7 (2022): Malta.
- Season 8 (2023): Italy, Italian Riviera, including Genoa and Portofino.
- Season 9 (2024): Greece, starting from Athens.
- Season 10 (2025): Spain, Barcelona.
- Season 11 (2026): Croatia, Dubrovnik.
3. Below Deck Sailing Yacht
- Season 1 (2020): Greece, Ionian Sea.
- Season 2 (2021): Croatia.
- Season 3 (2022): Menorca, Spain.
- Season 4 (2023): Sardinia, Italy, with a visit to Bonifacio in Corsica.
- Season 5 (2024/2025): Ibiza, Spain.
4. Below Deck Adventure
- Season 1 (2022): Norway, fjords and Ålesund.
5. Below Deck Down Under
- Season 1 (2022): Australia, Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
- Season 2 (2023): Australia, Cairns and Great Barrier Reef.
- Season 3 (2025): Seychelles.
- Season 4 (2026): Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
FAQ: Below Deck filming locations and ferries
Where is Below Deck usually filmed?
Most seasons feature one main home-base marina or port, with nearby bays, islands and anchorages used as on-screen stops.
Which Below Deck locations are easiest to visit by ferry?
The Mediterranean, especially Greece, Croatia, Italy and Spain, plus Norway and parts of Thailand, are the most ferry-friendly regions in the franchise.
Can I visit Caribbean Below Deck locations by ferry?
Often, you will fly in first. Inter-island ferries and boats exist on some routes, but schedules can be limited or seasonal compared with Europe.
Do the episodes always reflect where filming happened?
Not always. Production is usually based at one home port, while day trips and nearby anchorages can make it seem as though the yacht travels farther than it really does.
What is the best way to plan a Below Deck-inspired trip without a yacht?
Pick a ferry hub, such as Athens/Piraeus, Split, Dubrovnik, Naples, Barcelona, Phuket, or Ålesund, then build a route with short ferry hops, day trips, and a few overnight stays.
Questions? Which locations are you missing, and where should Below Deck start filming next? Let us know in the comments.
