Naman Shrestha
With Maclain Nelson at the helm, Hallmark’s ‘Missing the Boat’ is a romantic drama movie that centers on two strangers, Kelly and Parker, whose paths collide aboard a lavish Italian cruise. When they deboard the yacht for a while during a stop, both of them fail to catch the boat on time as it floats away without them. Now, they must keep their differences aside and join forces in order to board their ship once again. As they journey across Southern Italy through different modes of transport, sparks begin to fly between them. The ever-changing Italian backdrops complement the fast-paced narrative and highlight the different stages of the relationship between Kelly and Parker as they become more than just strangers.
Where Was Missing the Boat Filmed?
‘Missing the Boat’ was primarily filmed in Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece, especially in Sicily, Sofia, Thessaloniki, and Athens. A few portions were also seemingly shot in Vancouver, British Columbia. From what we can tell, principal photography for the Hallmark production got underway in late September 2025 and continued for a month or so before wrapping up in October of the same year. Over the course of filming, the cast and crew members created shedloads of fun memories and formed lasting bonds.
Trey Warner expressed his gratitude for being a part of the film on social media, stating, “I was incredibly blessed to be surrounded by some serious pros on this project. They taught me so much and treated me with nothing but love and kindness. I’ll never forget this experience — especially because I was going through a lot personally at the time. Filming gave me a little space to grow, reflect, and try to continue to heal. And getting to explore some unreal places in the world was something I’ll always be grateful for.”
Sicily, Italy
Filming for a portion of ‘Missing the Boat’ took place in several areas in and around Sicily in the southern part of Italy. The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea is a favored filming spot, home to sun-soaked beaches, ancient ruins, spectacular cliff-top vistas, and scenic fishing villages. It lends an old-world charm that complements the tonal setting of Kelly and Parker’s misadventures. The production team ensured to capture the breathtaking beauty of the region. They also taped a few establishing shots of the capital of the island, Palermo, highlighting landmarks such as Palermo Cathedral and Liceo Classico Vittorio Emanuele II, among others.
Sofia, Bulgaria
A significant chunk of ‘Missing the Boat’ was also reportedly taped in the city of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, situated at the foot of the Vitosha mountain. The cast and crew members reportedly took over an old train station in the Nadezhda area, where they filmed interior and exterior scenes involving trains.
Apart from the Hallmark movie, the city has hosted the production of many movies and TV shows, including ‘The Royal We,’ ‘After Everything,’ ‘Beautiful Disaster,’ ‘Savoring Paris,’ ‘Valentine’s Again,’ and ‘Rome.’
Greece
It seems like some scenes were shot in Thessaloniki on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea in Greece. The port city is recognized for its sweeping sea views, golden sunset, coastal promenade, and a classic blend of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and neoclassical architecture, all of which enhance its historical aesthetic and create a warm backdrop for a romantic movie like “Missing the Boat.’ Movies like ‘Xenia,’ ‘The Bachelor,’ ‘Timing,’ ‘Something Hot,’ and ‘The Girl of Sin’ were also filmed in Thessaloniki. Several key portions involving the cruise ship were also lensed in the capital of Greece — Athens.
Vancouver, British Columbia
From what we can tell, the shooting of the Hallmark production was likely also conducted in Vancouver, located in the westernmost province of British Columbia. Some of the factors that earned the port city the colloquialism “Hollywood North” (which it shares with Toronto) are the easy availability of skilled technicians, a talented pool of actors, film-friendly policies, first-rate production services, vibrant urban settings, and versatile neighborhoods that can convincingly portray international locales.
Missing the Boat Cast Details
Emilie Ullerup and Kristoffer Polaha lead the cast of ‘Missing the Boat’ through their impressive and chemistry-filled performances. This marks their second collaboration in nearly a decade, as they worked with each other in the 2016 movie titled ‘Hearts of Christmas,’ where Emilie portrays Jenny and Kristoffer plays the role of Matt.
Emilie Ullerup as Kelly
In ‘Missing the Boat,’ Emilie Ullerup dons the garb of Kelly, a free-spirited individual who is forced to band together with a stranger after she misses her Italian cruise. The roles that establish her as a seasoned star include her portrayal of Bree O’Brien in ‘Chesapeake Shores,’ Kaitlin Joyce in ‘JPod,’ Kathleen/Desiree in ‘Brazen,’ Ashley Magnus in ‘Sanctuary,’ Astrid Poulsen in ‘Arctic Air,’ and Juniper Juice in the short film ‘Anti-Social.’ She has also gained acclaim for her work in ‘Death Do Us Part,’ ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered,’ ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From the Heart,’ ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million,’ ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You,’ ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again,’ ‘Don’t Forget I Love You,’ ‘Motherland: Fort Salem,’ ‘Catch of the Day,’ and ‘Retreat to You.’
Kristoffer Polaha as Parker
As the co-lead of Emilie Ullerup, Kristoffer Polaha steps into the character of Parker in the romantic comedy movie. He is best known for his performance as Jack Huston in ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ Wyatt in ‘Jurassic World: Dominion,’ Nate “Baze” Bazile in ‘Life Unexpected,’ Condor in ‘Sam Barber,’ Brad in ‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter,’ and Sam Reinhold in ‘Mimics.’ A Hallmark regular, Kristoffer puts his innate charm and versatile acting prowess on full display in movies like ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,’ ‘Double Holiday,’ ‘A Dickens of a Holiday!,’ ‘We Wish You a Married Christmas,’ and ‘Pearl in Paradise.’
He also plays a pivotal role in the ‘Mystery 101’ movie series installments titled ‘Mystery 101: Killer Timing,’ ‘Mystery 101: An Education in Murder,’ ‘Mystery 101: Deadly History,’ ‘Mystery 101: Dead Talk,’ ‘Mystery 101: Words Can Kill,’ and ‘Mystery 101: Playing Dead.’ Kristoffer also appears in a minor role in ‘The Good Doctor,’ ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ and ‘Little Fires Everywhere.’ Besides Emilie and Kristoffer, the Hallmark production also features Trey Warner as Adam Crandall.
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