Cruising to the Movies

If you take a cruise to the Caribbean, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you’re on a film set with its turquoise waters, golden beaches and stunning landscape. That’s why numerous films have been shot on location over the years, from the first film version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1916 to the recent Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, and quite a few in between! The islands have been home to many stars as a result, including the Beatles, Darryl Hannah, Kirk Douglas and Johnny Depp.

If you want to visit the sets of some of your favourite movies on your next Caribbean cruise read our guide to some of the top locations used by film directors.

The Bahamas

The crystal waters and sandy beaches of the Bahamas are a constant draw for film makers. The 1954 remake of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was also filmed at New Providence Island, following in the footsteps of the original version, mostly around Lyford Cay. The remake consequently won the Oscar in 1955 for Best Art Direction, Best Effects and Special Effects.

James Bond fans can enjoy themselves spotting scenes from their favourite Bond flicks. Nassau Harbour was used for many of the underwater battle scenes, as well as being the hiding place of the stolen Vulcan bomber, in Thunderball. If you’re into diving, you can visit the Tears of Allah shipwreck in the South Ocean which featured in Never Say Never Again. You may also be surprised to discover that the interior of Miami International Airport in the recent version of Casino Royale was actually Nassau International Airport, whilst the Madagascar shanty town was filmed at an abandoned motel in Coral Harbour on New Providence Island.

South Bimini Island, around 40 miles east of Miami, has also made a film appearance, albeit very briefly, at the end of Silence of the Lambs when Hannibal (Anthony Hopkins) calls Clarice (Jodie Foster) to tell he’s “having an old friend for dinner” before walking down King’s Highway in Bimini.

Other films shot on location in the Bahamas include Help, Cocoon, Jaws IV: The Revenge and Speed 2, Cruise Control.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory, located about 10 miles south of the town of Arecibo, has featured in several films. The huge radio telescope was used by Jodie Foster in Contact to probe the cosmos, it appeared as the Cuban satellite dish in Goldeneye and it also received transmissions from an alien source in Species.

One film you might not admit to having seen which was also shot in various locations around Puerto Rico is Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster, where the island is raided by two Martians looking for women to take back to Mars and use as breeding stock.

The island of Vieques has also been used as a film location, most notably for Heartbreak Ridge (starring Clint Eastwood who also directed the film) and the 1963 version of Lord of the Flies.

Jamaica

Jamaica is a popular location for film makers with its distinctive Caribbean vibe. The Tom Cruise film Cocktail was filmed here at Dunn’s River Falls, Sandals Royal Plantation and Jamaica Inn around Ochos Rios (about 70 miles east of Montego Bay), as was Papillon, starring Steve McQueen, near the town of Falmouth on the northern coast. You can also see How Stella Got Her Groove Back at Montego Bay.

Don a bikini and pretend you’re Ursula Andress in Dr No emerging from the sea at Laughing Waters beach – one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history. Dr No fans can also follow in the footsteps of the three blind mice in Kingston, see the mountain home of Miss Taro or make sure they don’t get caught in the swamps at Falmouth.

Jamaica had a name change to San Monique for Live and Let Die. Kananga’s underground lair was filmed around Runaway Bay, while Bond’s hotel room was at the Rose Hall Great House Resort in Montego Bay.

Other films shot in Jamaica include The Blue Lagoon, the 1990 remake of Lord of the Flies and License to Wed.

More of the numerous films that also called in at the Caribbean include Apocalypse Now (Dominican Republic), The Godfather II (Dominican Republic), The Shawshank Redemption (US Virgin Islands), Trading Places (US Virgin Islands), Swiss Family Robinson (Trinidad and Tobago) and 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (Martinique).

Of course, we can’t talk about the Caribbean without mentioning Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. They certainly made use of the region, filming in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Dominica and Bermuda. Hampstead Bay in Dominica was the scene of the waterwheel fight, whilst a small island in the British Virgin Islands appeared as Dead Man’s Chest.

Make your next cruise one to remember by walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest film stars of all time.