Ask people to name their top five iconic movie characters and I’ll bet 99% of people include James Bond somewhere in that list. I’m aware he began as a character in novels but it is arguable that he is most famous for his films, with thrilling action sequences, the famed Bond girls, and exotic locations.
And it’s the latter that I’m going to focus on in this blog. There have been many notorious destinations that Bond has travelled to, as well as various major buildings and landmarks used in the films. If you’re a fan of the Bond novels, here are 10 locations from the films that you can visit on cruise holidays:
#1 – James Bond Beach, Jamaica – Used in Dr. No, 1962
The beach where numerous scenes of the first Bond movie were shot and set, James Bond Beach is near the popular port of Ocho Rios. There isn’t much memorabilia but you can see the site where Ursula Andress, as Honey Ryder, first met Bond.
#2 – Paradise Island, Bahamas – Used in Thunderball, 1965
Paradise Island was where Bond met Domino in the film Thunderball. It’s just off the coast of Nassau, one of the most visited ports in the whole region, so it’s easy to get to.
#3 – New Orleans – Used in Live and Let Die, 1973
New Orleans is one of the major locations used in this film, and it’s where Bond is captured by Kananga, one of the primary antagonists. New York is another location that features in this film.
#4 – Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island), Thailand – Used in The Man with the Golden Gun, 1974
This is one of the most famous islands in Bond history, used as the lair of Christopher Lee’s character Scaramanga. Excursions to the island are specifically tailored to showing you the locations from the film.
#5 – The Great Sphinx, Egypt – Used in The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977
You can get to Giza on cruises to Alexandria, with the chance to see the iconic landmarks used in this film that’s more famous for the first appearance of the renowned villain Jaws. Only the Sphinx was used as a location shot – miniatures of the Pyramids were used during filming instead due to lighting issues.
#6 – The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco – Used in A View to a Kill, 1985
The climactic sequence of this film sees the villain, Max Zorin, moor his airship to the Golden Gate Bridge, which of course is a fascinating sight in its own right. San Francisco City Hall also features.
#7 – The Monte Carlo Casino – Used in Goldeneye, 1995
The first of the Pierce Brosnan films, after an opening sequence in Russia Bond has to trace Xenia Onatopp to Monaco, where he meets her at a card table with his traditional introduction.
#8 – Cadiz, Spain – Used in Die Another Day, 2002
While this is sometimes regarded as one of the lesser Bond films (by me, at least), the sequence in Havana where Bond meets Halle Berry’s Jinx is typical of the series, and these scenes were shot in Cadiz.
#9 – Venice, Italy – Used in Casino Royale, 2006
Much of the end of the film is set around Venice as Daniel Craig’s Bond chases Vesper Lynd and the men she is paying, before a fight in a floating building. Much of the typical Venetian architecture is on show during the sequence.
#10 – Shanghai, China – Used in Skyfall, 2012
There’s a stunning sequence in Skyfall panning across the city of Shanghai, introducing the location as Bond arrives to track Patrice, an assassin. This shot alone should make you want to see this breath-taking metropolis.
By Ian Lewis
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