never...NEVER EVER go the opposite route whenever you join a crusade.

as scotland i joined a crusade for the hold land of jerusalem, i put it some of my best troops (HIGHLANDERS! WAAAAA) and decided to transport em by sea instead of land. So after i loaded them on my boats i decided to head south-southwest passing france and then going to through the iberian straight. Atleast that was the plan, the next turn i found my troops started to "desert" how then can desert in the sea is beyond me. Needless to say i learned my lesson =P