Orlando Bloom on His Favorite Filming Locations, Airplane Habits, and Dream Trip

Plus, why the actor thinks cruises are great for a stress-free vacation. From left: Orlando Bloom from Episode 103 of To The…

Plus, why the actor thinks cruises are great for a stress-free vacation.

Orlando Bloom on His Favorite Filming Locations, Airplane Habits, and Dream Trip

From left: Orlando Bloom from Episode 103 of To The Edge “Rock Climb: The Physical Edge”; Orlando during the Toronto International Film Festival .

From flying over the ocean in a wingsuit to filming in far-flung destinations around the globe, Orlando Bloom has experienced his fair share of adventure. “I love locations and destinations that feel otherworldly, almost like you’re in another time or another place,” the actor, famed for his roles in the iconic film series The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, told Travel + Leisure.

Orlando Bloom on His Favorite Filming Locations, Airplane Habits, and Dream Trip

From left: Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002.

Atlaspix/Alamy

Of course, New Zealand, where The Lord of the Rings series was famously filmed, tops the list for Bloom when it comes to his favorite set locations. Morocco, where Bloom filmed two movies, is another one of those places. “It does feel like you’re stepping back in time almost. The architecture, the lights, the culture, the smells, the food … I spent a lot of time there, so I kind of have an affinity for it.” Prague, in the Czech Republic, is another location Bloom enjoys, saying, “It’s an interesting culture. The food is great, so is the beer.” He continued, “It’s like being in a history book. It’s like a very beautiful history book."

With Orlando Bloom

Aisle or window seat? 

Window

What's one thing you can’t travel without? 

Sunglasses and a baseball cap

How do you spend your time on flights? 

Movies, reading, and sleeping

What's your favorite filming location?

New Zealand 

What's your dream trip? 

Bhutan or the Galapagos

Celeb Check-in

Some destinations Bloom visited were surprising at first, but became favorites. “The first time I went to Japan was surprising. It felt like landing on another planet almost … I was in my 20s, and it just felt like the future. And I still love Japan.”

Orlando Bloom on His Favorite Filming Locations, Airplane Habits, and Dream Trip

Orlando Bloom while on a trip to Japan.

Courtesy of Orlando Bloom

And once he gets to a new place? “I love to walk through the landscape or the city or the location that I’m in. I feel like I absorb the feeling of it all.” He laughs, noting his must-have “baseball cap and sunglasses come in handy” when he’s walking the streets of a city. If he’s visiting a beach destination, he said, “I love to swim straight away. I love to get in the ocean or body of water because I tend to like to move my body and be in the environment.”   

After ticking off a series of once-in-a-lifetime adventures in his recent series, To the Edge, Bloom is crossing off another first on his list — his first commercial for the Big Game next month. Bloom stars alongside Drew Barrymore in MSC Cruises’ new ad showcasing its new ship, MSC World America, setting sail from Miami to cruise the Caribbean starting this April. 

Orlando Bloom on His Favorite Filming Locations, Airplane Habits, and Dream Trip

Orlando Bloom and Drew Barrymore on an MSC cruise.

Courtesy of Highdive

“If you’re somebody who isn’t great at organizing a vacation, the great thing about a cruise — and an MSC cruise — is that everything is laid out for you. With this specific ship and this cruise line, you have European style and American sensibility blended really well. There are lots of great opportunities to dine; there are lots of awesome spaces on the boat; there’s shopping, there’s movies. It’s kind of like an all-in-one vacation that people can really get into and appreciate if you just want to completely switch off and enjoy.”

And if he could take a cruise anywhere in the world, Iceland would be Bloom’s pick. Luckily, the cruise line has several northern European itineraries with stops in some incredible Icelandic ports.

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