Drew Barrymore on Why Travel Has Been the ‘Greatest Teacher’ in Her Life (Exclusive)

When Drew Barrymore is on a cruise, her favorite activity isn’t on the schedule. 

“The sweetest discovery is how everyone puts flair on their doors,” the actress and talk show host told Travel + Leisure of fellow cruise passengers decking out their doors, celebrating birthdays, honeymoons, or other milestones. “I love walking through the hallways every night and taking in everybody’s storytelling.”

The 50-year-old Californian admitted that she got so swept up in the excitement that she joined in the fun, collecting onboard mementos like coasters from a Greek taverna, bags from gummy cola candy, flowers, and the newspaper she had read, and arranging them on her cabin door. “I went all out,” she admitted. 

It’s fitting that Barrymore found herself enjoying the cruise tradition so organically since she was on board the MSC World America, the ship that she became the godmother of last spring, an honor that tickles her to this day. 

“When they were like, ‘You’re going to be the godmother,’ I was like, ‘No, that’s too much—it almost feels weird,’” she said. But once she learned about the maritime tradition of having someone, usually a woman, bless a ship with protection at its naming ceremony, she was on board—literally. “If there has to be a godmother, then let me be one,” she said, amused by her goddaughter being a 22-deck, 1,093-foot-long luxury passenger liner with a capacity of 6,762 passengers and 2,138 crew.

She was especially thrilled to go back for a three-night cruise where she reunited with Orlando Bloom to film commercials that “felt more like little vignettes,” she said, since they were improvising so much. “We’re silly and don’t take ourselves seriously—and there’s a really good energy on an MSC cruise.”

While MSC World America currently travels out of Miami, Barrymore wants the best for her goddaughter, hoping that her ship will eventually travel the world. Her dream itinerary is “anything Italy,” adding that she’s “desperate” to go to Sardinia. Also on her list are “Croatia, which I hear has such beautiful waters” and “Alaska or Iceland, or anywhere with northern lights and really crazy cool wildlife, forests, geysers, and hot baths.” She’s also got her eyes on the stars, adding she’d be “super into” being a meteor shower chaser.

The Emmy and Golden Globe winner would also love a themed cruise that leans into one of her favorite activities: dancing. “I would have dances on board starting at 8 a.m., and then go to different places to dance in that city or country,” she said.

Those possibilities are exactly what she loves about cruising—the variety of experiences. “It’s really nice to have elegance one minute and a sports bar the next,” she said. Plus, there’s the worry-free logistics. “You’re living in this world, but you don’t need to pack up and get in cars or planes,” she mused. “You just go and have your stuff, and come and go within. That’s very relaxing.” 

After all, Barrymore has always been about immersing herself in anywhere in the world she wanders, as travel has played an essential role in her life.

“I didn’t have a formal education—although I’ve never said it like that—and I didn’t go to school in an orthodox way,” the actress, who made her movie debut at age 5, told T+L. “I’m very self-educated, so to me, travel is essential for learning. Travel has been my greatest teacher in my life.”

Her travel approach has never been about following the road most taken. “I’m more about going on the side streets and finding an out-of-the-way space that’s really super local,” she said. Among her favorite adventures has been finding a company in Singapore that picks you up in the sidecar of colorful Vespas and takes you to local spots like hawker markets and alleys with vintage shops. Another was renting a vintage car and driving through Italy with a girlfriend with classical music blasting. “I’m a seeker like that,” she said. “It’s activities where it’s like, ‘This was not on my vision board, but now it’s a bucket-list item.”

That love for organic travel experiences started early, with a life-changing solo trip at age 18. “I flew to Kauai by myself, and landed at night in the most torrential pouring rain you’ve seen,” she recounted. Every element was a hurdle, as she had to meet someone in a field to rent a car since she wasn’t old enough to do so herself. Her only directions were on a piece of paper that was soaking wet. 

“There were no markers anywhere, and they were like, ‘You’ll find the address on a pine tree,’ but the entire island is composed of pine trees,” she recalled. The windshield wipers barely worked, but she powered through. “I just felt like Rambo, wiping my sweaty, wet forehead, thinking I’m never going to find this house and would have to sleep in the rain on this one-road highway.”

Eventually, she did find the place, but she had to drag her suitcase through the mud for a few blocks to get there, and then find the key in a “weird” place. But it was well worth it.

“I unlocked the door, and it swung open, and I felt like an 800-pound gorilla, like I can do anything,” Barrymore said. “That’s what solo travel can do for you.” 

While she admits that as she’s gotten older, she does “love to lie like a porpoise on some sand,” at heart, she’s still “more of an adventurer than a lounge lizard.” 

And that’s something she hopes to pass along to her children. “Real gifts are the gift of travel,” she said. “The memories we’re making are irreplaceable. Traveling has taught me about the world and myself, and I just have such a deep respect for travel.”