Finding Jillian Cruise and Travel Blog

DIY Cruise Excursion to Cinque Terre: How We Visited All 5 Towns in One Day

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I’ve dreamed of visiting Cinque Terre—the five colorful cliffside villages on Italy’s Ligurian coast—for years. For my 50th trip around the sun, I decided I’d waited long enough. With a little encouragement from my husband and some travel-loving friends, we planned a cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox with a dream itinerary: two full days in […]

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A Beautiful Cruise Port Day in Naples: Wine Tasting at Mount Vesuvius

image of FindingJillian and Brian at vineyard in front of Mt. Vesuvius

🍷 Wine Tasting Mount Vesuvius — Our Dreamy Port Day in Naples. Let’s just say: if every port day started with wine and ended with a view of an active volcano, I may never come home. On our first day docked in Naples, Italy, we booked what turned out to be the perfect cruise excursion:

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Understanding Cruise Embarkation Day: What to Expect + Tips for a Smooth Start

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So you’ve booked your cruise (yay!), and now you’re eyeing that countdown app as if it’s your full-time job. But as embarkation day creeps closer, you might be wondering: What actually happens when I get to the port? Understanding Cruise Embarkation Day: What to Expect + Tips for a Smooth Start In today’s post, I’ll

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15 Game-Changing Cruise Essentials from Amazon You’ll Want in 2025

I admit that over the last 20+ years of cruising, my general packing list hasn’t changed much. However, I add and subtract a few things each year, fine-tuning my list as my needs change. In this post, I’ll share 15 Amazon cruise essentials I’m loving in 2025. All of these items have been personally tested

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Cruise Port Days: 7 Helpful Tips for Taking Taxis in Port

You’ve spent hours planning your cruise and choosing your port day activities but have you considered your transportation in port? In many ports of call, the taxi service can be quite easy and reliable if you know how to manage the system. Some ports, have clear signs with a queue and posted “flat rates” while

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