It’s murder on the high seas

The Good Ship Murder: Filming Locations, Ship & Complete Guide

Poster for British cozy crime TV series, The Good Ship Murder.
A traditional Gozitan boathouse, carved into a limestone cliff, with a square blue wooden door.

Quick Questions FAQ

The Good Ship Murder is filmed aboard the MSC Virtuosa, one of MSC Cruises’ flagship vessels. Launched in 2021, the MSC Virtuosa is one of the largest cruise ships in the world at 331 metres long and carrying up to 6,762 passengers. The same ship has been used across all three series of the show.

Despite being set in various locations around the Mediterranean and Adriatic, The Good Ship Murder is filmed entirely on Malta. The ship scenes are filmed aboard the MSC Virtuosa, while location scenes use a combination of Malta’s varied architecture and B-roll footage to recreate the episode’s setting.

Not exactly. The show is filmed on Malta, but Series 2 Episode 5 is set on Gozo. Glimpses of Mġarr Harbour, Ramla Bay, Marsalforn and the Blue Lagoon appear in that episode, though the actual filming took place at Il-Bajja tax-Xama in St Paul’s Bay and in Valletta.

Three series have aired so far. Series 1 launched in 2023, Series 2 began with a Christmas Special in 2024, and Series 3 kicked off with a Christmas Special in 2025. Series 4 is currently in production.

Each episode is set in a different Mediterranean or Adriatic location. Series 1 visits La Rochelle, Lisbon, Casablanca, Palma, Sicily, Barcelona, Malta and an episode set at sea. Series 2 begins in Dubrovnik before travelling to Rome, Gran Canaria, Madeira, Gozo, Alexandria, the Cote D’Azur, and Athens. Series 3 opens in Alicante then heads to Cannes, Istanbul, Crete, Cape Verde, Valletta, Ibiza and Ancona.

Yes. The Good Ship Murder is filmed aboard the MSC Virtuosa, a real working cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises. Filming takes place on board the actual vessel rather than a set or studio replica, which gives the show its authentic feel. The MSC Virtuosa regularly sails from Southampton and various Mediterranean ports, so if you fancy experiencing the ship for yourself, MSC cruises on the Virtuosa can be booked via Alexandria.

Synopsis

The Good Ship Murder follows Jack Grayling (Shayne Ward), a former police detective who has swapped crime scenes for the spotlight, pursuing his dream of becoming a cabaret singer aboard a luxurious Mediterranean cruise ship. His current gig is on the MSC Virtuosa, one of the world’s largest and most glamorous cruise ships, sailing to a different exotic location each week.

Unfortunately for Jack, his old skills are constantly called upon as murders and mysteries seem to follow the ship wherever it docks. Together with the ship’s no-nonsense First Officer Kate Woods (Catherine Tyldesley), Jack investigates a series of crimes that take him from sun-drenched harbours to shadowy back streets across the Mediterranean and Adriatic.

Warm, witty and full of colourful characters, The Good Ship Murder is classic cosy crime; perfect Saturday night viewing with a guaranteed new mystery each episode.First airing on Channel 5 in 2023, the show was quickly recommissioned and has now run to three series plus two Christmas Specials, with Series 4 currently in production.

About the MSC Virtuosa

The star of the show, arguably even more than Jack Grayling himself, is the MSC Virtuosa, the real-life cruise ship at the heart of every episode.

Launched in 2021, the MSC Virtuosa is one of MSC Cruises’ largest and most impressive vessels. At 331 metres long and with a capacity of up to 6,762 passengers, she is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. On board you will find 19 restaurants and bars, a full spa and wellness centre, a theatre, a casino, and an outdoor pool deck that gives the show its glamorous backdrop.

The MSC Virtuosa regularly sails from Southampton on cruises around the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and beyond, meaning if you fancy following in Jack Grayling’s footsteps and experiencing the ship for yourself, it is very much possible.

Production Info

Released


2024

Directed


Merlyn Rice

Starring

Shayne Ward
Catherine Tyldesley
Zak Douglas

More Info

The Good Ship Murder Series Guide

Series 1 (2023) — 8 episodes Jack’s first season aboard the MSC Virtuosa takes him to La Rochelle, Lisbon, Casablanca, Palma, Sicily, Barcelona, Malta and an episode set entirely at sea.

Series 2 (2024) — 9 episodes Series 2 opens with a Christmas Special set in Dubrovnik before continuing to Rome, Gran Canaria, Madeira, Gozo, Alexandria, the Cote D’Azur, Athens and Ancona. The Gozo episode (Episode 5) is the closest the show gets to Gozo — see The Gozo Connection below.

Series 3 (2025) — 8 episodes Series 3 kicks off with a Christmas Special in Alicante before heading to Cannes, Istanbul, Crete, Cape Verde, Valletta, Ibiza and Ancona.

Series 4 — In production Series 4 is currently filming. We will update this page with episode locations as soon as they are confirmed.

The Gozo Connection

While The Good Ship Murder is filmed entirely on Malta, Series 2 Episode 5 is set on Gozo — making it the closest the show gets to our island.

The episode features glimpses of some of Gozo’s most recognisable spots: Mġarr Harbour, Ramla Bay, Marsalforn and the Blue Lagoon all make an appearance. However, the actual filming for the episode took place at Il-Bajja tax-Xama in St Paul’s Bay and in Valletta, with the Gozo footage used as establishing shots.

The influencer party scenes were filmed at Il-Bajja tax-Xama, while the distinctive boathouses seen in the episode are in Valletta rather than Gozo.

If you are visiting Malta and want to explore some of the real filming locations, our guide to getting to Gozo and how to get around Gozo will help you plan your trip.

The Good Ship Murder Scenes on Gozo

  • A man in a white shirt and jeans, rugby tackles a man in a plaid shirt as a woman in a short blue dress looks on.
    Jamil tackles Tony Tang at the influencer party.

Watch Trailer for The Good Ship Murder

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Where to Watch the Good Ship Murder

The Good Ship Murder airs on Channel 5 in the UK and is available to stream on My5 after broadcast. International viewers can access the show via Acorn TV.

The Good Ship Murder Locations Map

Did you Know

Shayne Ward, who plays Jack Grayling, won the second series of The X Factor in 2005. He is better known to soap fans as Aidan Connor in Coronation Street, which was itself shot some episodes on Gozo back in 2007.

🎬 Discover More Gozo On Screen

Loved learning about this production? Gozo’s cinematic story doesn’t have to end here! Explore more films and TV shows shot on the island, uncover behind-the-scenes secrets, and plan your own set-jetting adventure with our in-depth guides.