A crewed Caribbean filming locations yacht charter is the only travel product that can string Thunderball Grotto, the Pirates of the Caribbean anchorages, and the Below Deck charter circuit into a single week without an airport in between. Set-jetting — booking travel around the locations you’ve seen on screen — is the defining trend in Expedia’s Unpack ’26 report, with 81% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers now planning vacations around film and TV destinations (Expedia, September 2025). This piece is the Caribbean-specific deep dive on one trend from our 2026 travel trends pillar.
TL;DR: The Caribbean is one of the most-filmed regions on earth. Thunderball Grotto (James Bond, 1965), Wallilabou Bay on St. Vincent (the Pirates of the Caribbean Port Royal set, still standing), Petit Tabac in the Tobago Cays (where Jack and Elizabeth were marooned), Indian River in Dominica (Tia Dalma’s shack), and 10 of Below Deck‘s 12 seasons are all anchorages a crewed yacht can reach in one week. A film-themed week is the easiest way to brief a broker because the locations come pre-built.
The rest of this guide maps specific films and shows to specific anchorages — with yacht accessibility, the actual scene, and how to chain them into a week.
What Is Set-Jetting and Why Is It Surging in 2026?
Expedia’s Unpack ’26 report — a survey of 24,000 travelers across 18 countries — found 81% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers now plan vacations based on film and TV locations, with 53% of all global travelers reporting increased interest in screen-inspired trips (Expedia Unpack ’26, September 2025). Expedia separately reports that 13% of U.S. travelers have already booked a trip after seeing a destination on-screen, with 25% of those spending $1,000–$2,000 — extrapolated to roughly a $8.45 billion U.S. set-jetting economy (Expedia, September 2025).
Conde Nast Traveler’s 2026 trends roundup, drawing on its network of top travel specialists, names set-jetting among the defining luxury behaviors of the year (Conde Nast Traveler, January 2026).
Why is a crewed Caribbean yacht charter the natural set-jetting product? Because most filming locations cluster around anchorages, not airports. The same week that visits one Bond location by resort visits four by yacht. Visiting the Pirates Port Royal set on St. Vincent then sailing to the marooned-island scene at Petit Tabac is two anchorages on the same charter — impossible by any land-based itinerary.
James Bond Filming Locations in the Bahamas and Jamaica
The James Bond franchise has shot in the Bahamas and Jamaica more than any other Caribbean destinations, and most of the iconic locations are accessible from a crewed yacht’s tender (IMDb Thunderball Locations, 1965).
Thunderball Grotto, Staniel Cay, Exuma Cays, Bahamas. The underwater cave system used for the climactic snorkeling sequences in Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983) sits at the south end of Staniel Cay, accessible by tender at low tide (Bahamas Tourism). It’s a prime Exumas anchorage — most yachts moor at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, drop the tender, and snorkel in. Splash (1984, Daryl Hannah’s mermaid scenes) and Into the Blue (2005) reused the same grotto.
Paradise Island and Albany, New Providence, Bahamas. Casino Royale (2006) shot Bond’s iconic blue-trunks emergence at the Ocean Club beach (Paradise Island), the Aston Martin DB5 reveal at the Versailles Gardens, and chase sequences around Albany and Coral Harbour (movie-locations.com — Casino Royale). Paradise Island has megayacht dockage; Albany has a private marina.
Laughing Waters Beach and Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Dr. No (1962) filmed Honey Ryder’s emergence from the surf at Laughing Waters, and Bond’s escape via Dunn’s River Falls a few miles away (movie-locations.com — Dr. No). Both are accessible from Ocho Rios as tender excursions.
Green Grotto Caves, Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Live and Let Die (1973) used the limestone cave system as Mr. Big’s underground lair — about an hour by car from Ocho Rios.
Pirates of the Caribbean Filming Locations Across the Caribbean
The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy filmed across St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Dominica — three of the most yacht-friendly cruising grounds in the eastern Caribbean (Attractions Magazine).
Wallilabou Bay, St. Vincent. The “Port Royal” set from The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) — including the hanging-pirates rock, “ye warned” sign, and partial dockside village — was preserved as a tourist attraction and is still standing. Wallilabou is a working yacht anchorage on St. Vincent’s leeward coast. Our St. Vincent and the Grenadines yacht charter routes guide covers the full Wallilabou-to-Union-Island arc.
Petit Tabac, Tobago Cays, Grenadines. The uninhabited cay where Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann were marooned (“Why is the rum gone?”) sits inside Tobago Cays Marine Park. It’s reachable only by yacht or tender — there’s no road, ferry, or hotel (movie-locations.com — Pirates 1).
Indian River, Portsmouth, Dominica. Dead Man’s Chest (2006) used the slow row up Indian River as the journey to Tia Dalma’s shack (movie-locations.com — Pirates 2). Yachts anchor off Portsmouth on Dominica’s northwest coast; local guides row guests up the river (engines aren’t permitted in the protected reach).
Hampstead Beach and Soufrière, Dominica. Dead Man’s Chest filmed the three-way swordfight and the cannibal-island escape at Hampstead Beach on Dominica’s north coast, and the Soufrière hideout-village scenes on the south coast. Both are accessible from named yacht anchorages.
For the chartered version of this same loop with daily logistics, our 7-day Grenadines yacht charter itinerary covers Bequia, Mustique, Tobago Cays, and Union Island as a single privacy-maximized arc that intersects most of the Pirates shoot locations.
Below Deck Filming Locations Across the Caribbean Charter Circuit
Bravo’s Below Deck (the original) has filmed 10 of its 12 seasons in the Caribbean, with only Seasons 6 (Tahiti) and 7 (Phuket) outside the region (Bravo — Every Below Deck Filming Location). That’s a richer catalogue of “I want to charter where they filmed” than any other yacht-set TV franchise.
The Caribbean seasons and their charter bases:
- Season 1 (2013): Sint Maarten
- Season 2 (2014): British Virgin Islands
- Season 3 (2015): Bahamas (Exumas anchorages overlap with the Bond locations above)
- Season 4 (2016): US Virgin Islands
- Season 5 (2017): Sint Maarten
- Season 8 (2020): Antigua
- Season 9 (2021): St. Kitts
- Season 10 (2022): St. Lucia
- Season 11 (2023): Grenada
- Season 12 (2024): Sint Maarten, Anguilla, and St. Barths (island-hopping)
For the BVI version of the Below Deck circuit specifically, our BVI crewed yacht charter complete insider guide covers Norman Island, the Indians, the Baths at Virgin Gorda, and Anegada — all anchorages that appear repeatedly in Seasons 2 and 4.
Note on the Below Deck spinoffs: Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht are Mediterranean-only. Below Deck Down Under (Australia, Indian Ocean, Thailand) and Below Deck Adventure (Norway) never filmed in the Caribbean. Only the original Below Deck series belongs in a Caribbean set-jetting itinerary.
Other Caribbean Films Worth a Charter Itinerary
A handful of additional films offer strong set-jetting overlay on standard Caribbean cruising grounds:
- Cocktail (1988). Tom Cruise’s Jamaica scenes filmed at Dragon Bay (Port Antonio) and Reach Falls, with hotel sequences at Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios (movie-locations.com — Cocktail). Port Antonio has the Errol Flynn Marina; Ocho Rios is a standard cruising stop.
- Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997). The runaway cruise ship’s destruction sequence was filmed in Sint Maarten — Simpson Bay Lagoon and Philipsburg (Wikipedia — Speed 2). Simpson Bay is one of the busiest superyacht hubs in the Caribbean.
- Splash (1984) and Into the Blue (2005). Both reused Thunderball Grotto, extending the Exumas set-jetting circuit beyond Bond.
- How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998). Filmed at Round Hill (Montego Bay) and Negril, Jamaica. Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is yacht-accessible.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Glass Onion often get listed under “Caribbean filming locations” by mistake — they were shot in Croatia and Greece respectively. Skip them.
How to Build a Film-Location Charter Itinerary
A film-themed set-jetting charter works best when you commit to one franchise per week. The cruising grounds split cleanly:
Bond Bahamas week (7 days, Exumas + Nassau): Start at Staniel Cay → Thunderball Grotto and the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay → Compass Cay sandbar → south through the Exuma chain to Black Point → Nassau / Paradise Island for the Casino Royale finale. Best paired with our Bahamas yacht charter complete guide for logistics.
Pirates Windwards week (7–10 days, St. Vincent → Grenadines → Dominica is the maximal version): Wallilabou Bay (Port Royal set) → Bequia → Tobago Cays (Petit Tabac marooned scene) → Mayreau → Union Island → optional 1-day repositioning north to Dominica for the Indian River row up to Tia Dalma’s shack.
Below Deck BVI week (7 days): Tortola → Norman Island → the Indians → Cooper Island → the Baths at Virgin Gorda → Anegada → back through Jost Van Dyke. Many Below Deck Season 2 and Season 4 anchorages.
View data table
| # | Location | Region | Films / Shows | Yacht access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thunderball Grotto, Staniel Cay | Exuma Cays, Bahamas | Thunderball; Never Say Never Again; Splash; Into the Blue | Tender at low tide |
| 2 | Paradise Island | Nassau, Bahamas | Casino Royale | Megayacht dockage |
| 3 | British Virgin Islands | BVI | Below Deck S2, S4 | Standard BVI cruising |
| 4 | Sint Maarten + Simpson Bay | SXM | Speed 2: Cruise Control; Below Deck S1, S5, S12 | Major superyacht hub |
| 5 | Indian River, Portsmouth | Dominica | Pirates: Dead Man’s Chest | Tender + local rowing guide |
| 6 | Wallilabou Bay + Petit Tabac | St. Vincent + Tobago Cays, Grenadines | Pirates: Curse of the Black Pearl | Working anchorages |
Sources: IMDb production notes, movie-locations.com, Bravo “Every Below Deck Filming Location,” Bahamas Tourism Authority.
The brief that delivers a set-jetting itinerary is film-first: “I want to charter the [franchise] locations in [region].” Same yacht. Completely different proposal than a generic luxury charter — different cruising plan, different shore excursions, and a captain who knows which tender approach gets you closest to the actual shot.
The Bottom Line: The Caribbean Is the World’s Best Set-Jetting Yacht Destination
Most set-jetting articles point to Croatia (Game of Thrones), Iceland (more Game of Thrones), or the Cotswolds. The Caribbean is the under-discussed alternative — and it’s the only set-jetting region where a single 7-day charter can hit four or five major filming locations from three franchises without changing islands by plane. Set-jetting is one of nine 2026 travel trends our pillar piece maps against crewed charter — and Caribbean filming locations are where the trend lives most cinematically.
When you’re ready to chart a Bond, Pirates, or Below Deck itinerary, start a yacht search at Vital Charters and we’ll match dates and group size to the cruising ground that fits the franchise. If you’d rather talk through a specific film, our contact form routes directly to me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I actually visit Thunderball Grotto on a yacht charter?
Yes. Thunderball Grotto is a regular tender stop for crewed yacht charters anchored at Staniel Cay in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas. Guests snorkel in through the cave entrance at low tide. The grotto featured prominently in Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983), and was reused in Splash (1984) and Into the Blue (2005). It’s typically a 30–45 minute snorkel from the yacht.
Is the Pirates of the Caribbean set still standing on St. Vincent?
Yes. The “Port Royal” set built for The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) at Wallilabou Bay on St. Vincent’s leeward coast — including the dockside village, hanging-pirates rock, and “ye warned” sign — was preserved as a tourist attraction after filming wrapped. Yachts anchor in Wallilabou Bay and guests visit the set ashore.
Which Below Deck seasons filmed in the Caribbean?
Ten of the original Below Deck series’ 12 seasons filmed in the Caribbean: Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Seasons 6 (Tahiti) and 7 (Phuket) are not Caribbean. The other Below Deck spinoffs — Mediterranean, Sailing Yacht, Down Under, and Adventure — never filmed in the Caribbean.
Where was Casino Royale filmed in the Bahamas?
Casino Royale (2006) filmed its Bahamas sequences at the One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island (Bond’s blue-trunks beach emergence and the Versailles Gardens scene), Albany on New Providence’s south shore, and around Coral Harbour. Paradise Island has megayacht dockage; Albany has a private marina with deep-water berths.
Can a yacht charter visit Petit Tabac, the marooned-island scene from Pirates of the Caribbean?
Yes. Petit Tabac is an uninhabited cay inside Tobago Cays Marine Park in the Grenadines. It’s reachable only by yacht or tender — there’s no ferry, road, or hotel. It’s a standard stop on Grenadines charter itineraries and was the location where Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann were marooned in The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).
How long does a Caribbean set-jetting yacht charter take?
A film-themed Caribbean charter works in two main durations. A 7-day charter covers one franchise cleanly — either Bond Bahamas (Exumas + Nassau), Pirates Grenadines (Wallilabou + Petit Tabac), or Below Deck BVI. A 10-day charter can combine two franchises, typically by repositioning between cruising grounds. Going longer or trying to combine Bahamas + Windwards on one charter requires the boat to do an open-ocean delivery — generally not how set-jetting itineraries are structured.
Jason Acosta is the co-founder and principal broker of Vital Charters. He is an avid sailor and yacht charterer. Jason is also a Master Diver and certified ASA 104 sailor.
