Finding Jillian Cruise Travel

06/16/2025

Our first day in Barcelona was so exciting!

Hopping off the ship and into a taxi was super easy (waited in line a bit). We headed to our gorgeous hotel where we were able to check in early. Thank you the Cotton House Hotel was stunning!

Off to lunch at the cutest Italian spot for coffee. But, not to worry, we then fully embraced Spain with some Sangria AND a sunset cruise where I had the great joy of playing captain for a moment. It was an amazing night booked through

06/10/2025

Two countries, one unforgettable day 🇫🇷🇲🇨

Our first port stop in France (Country #21): Villefranche-sur-Mer, and it did not disappoint.

We caught the tender early and had time to explore the quaint port town before meeting our private guide and driver (shoutout to Yves!) for a 5-hour adventure we booked through Viator.

First stop: Nice. Morning strolls through the local markets, a quick bite of croissant (yes, it was perfection 🥐), and just soaking in that Côte d’Azur energy.

From there, we visited a quiet little chapel filled with handwritten letters and artwork from people sharing stories of miracles. No crowds. Just reverence. Honestly? It was a moment I won’t forget.

Then up to a scenic overlook to spot our ship anchored in the bay—and of course, a small castle, because Europe loves to casually throw in centuries-old architecture like it’s no big deal.

Next stop: Monaco! Country #22 ✔️(Yes, it counts)

Monte Carlo was buzzing with prep for the Grand Prix, but we squeezed in the palace, gardens for Princess Grace & Prince Albert, and a peek at the iconic Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. We wrapped it up with a crisp French wine before returning to the ship.

A day packed with steps, stories, sunshine, and really good wine.

06/06/2025

NEW (and updated) Things that I am packing for cruises this year. All of these items are personally tested. Stick to the end of the post for bonus items that were game-changers for our long flight to/from Europe!

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,

06/05/2025

Portofino, Italy—quaint, bougie, and packed.

This tiny port town is as charming as it is crowded. When cruise ships roll in, the narrow waterfront fills up fast—but we beat the rush with an early start and made the most of it.

We hiked up to Brown Castle, found yet another beautiful old church (Italy never disappoints in that department), and soaked in the views from above.

And because no port day is complete without a little chaos, we wrapped it all up with a dramatic return to the ship, dodging raindrops and bouncing through the waves on a tender boat back to the Celebrity Equinox.

Messy hair, happy heart.

06/04/2025

Ah, Florence. Or as the Italians say—Firenze.

Tucked into the heart of Tuscany, this city is full of old-world charm, incredible architecture, and yes—crowds. Lots of them.

We spent the late morning (after leaving Pisa) walking the streets with our amazing guide, who managed to steer us through the chaos like a pro. Everywhere we turned, there was something to see—statues, fountains, cathedrals, and a lot of gelato shops (not mad about it).

Lunch was a carb-lover’s dream: fresh pasta, flowing wine, and the kind of long table that makes you want to linger, but we had more to see!

During free time, we wandered through one of the piazzas—browsing street vendors, spotting a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Neptune, and even the (very dramatic) decapitation of Medusa.

My favorite moment? Ducking down a quiet side street, finding a table outside, and splitting a bottle of Brunello with friends. No schedule. Just good wine and good company.

Florence, you were something special. Real question: If you had to eat one Italian dish for the rest of your life… what’s on your plate? (I’m already team pizza, but this pasta was yummy.)

06/03/2025

Next stop~Pisa and its famous leaning tower.
We booked our best of Florence/Pisa tour through and had a wonderful time! (Florence in next post)

We took a comfortable motor coach to our first stop in Pisa, passing by mountains filled with Carrara Marble. It looked like snow and the towns below begged for a visit.

Arriving in Pisa was like walking into a fairytale. While the structures were large, everything seemed smaller than I had imagined in my mind. It was fun to walk and explore the square and take all of the necessary and silly pics attempting to hold up the tower. I failed at getting the right shot, but it was still a good laugh and even more fun watching everyone else try as well.
Outside the square there were little shops and pop up tents where Brian grabbed the tiniest take-away coffee and I grabbed a couple of very inexpensive souvenirs.

Don’t miss this stop. It’s iconic and fun. Go early because while it was quite peaceful when we arrived it was VERY crowded by the time we left. Props to our tour guide! She was a pro!

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05/17/2025

Happy 50th to me!

Okay, so my actual birthday was a few months ago… but today my birthday wish came true—we celebrated in the stunning Cinque Terre!

I’ve dreamed of visiting these five magical towns for years, and we started planning this trip about 18 months ago to honor my milestone birthday.🎉 🎂

And let me tell you—it was everything I hoped for. We hiked scenic trails, sipped local wine, devoured margarita pizza, and maybe enjoyed an Aperol Spritz… or two. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and we took more photos than I can count—so here are just a few for now! 🍷🌊

We got there via train from La Spezia, which was super clean, quick, and affordable. 🚊

Today was a beautiful reminder that dreams really do come true. Huge thanks to our dear friends—and especially my amazing husband—for making this dream a reality. 🥰

05/15/2025

A Perfect Day in Napoli!

Our first port day in Naples, Italy couldn’t have been more amazing!

We booked a wine tasting excursion through Viator, hosted by City Vision Tours—and it was unforgettable. Our fantastic guide, Alex, gave us a warm welcome and a great introduction to the area and its vineyards.

We toured the beautiful vineyards at the base of Mount Vesuvius, followed by a delicious lunch and tasting of 5+ local wines (yes, we happily sampled them all!).

The service was excellent, the wine was flowing, and the views were absolutely breathtaking—photo ops everywhere you looked.

If you’re heading to Naples, we highly recommend this tour. Even when our van broke down (classic travel moment!), the company handled it smoothly and got us back to the ship with time to spare. Sometimes adventure comes with a bus swap and a good laugh!

🍷 🌋

05/12/2025

Perfecto!

On a warm day in Rome, you must eat your gelato quickly to avoid the eager drip.

Challenge accepted! 😋😋😋😋

❤️ ❤️

03/22/2025

Are you subscribed? 🥰🥳

Can't wait to book this cabin type again!

Alternative cabin types are available on many cruise ships. Check out this Central Park view balcony, a great alternative to an interior cabin. This cabin ...

03/21/2025

We got screamed at in Aurba. 😱

It was so unexpected and really rattled us. But, as always, sticking with the positive this was the only time in 30+ cruises that we've had this experience.

It was also a great reminder to follow these top tips for taking a taxi in a cruise port of call.

Don't forget to share. 🥰

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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,

03/20/2025

I admit, I'm happy I had the chance to hug a sloth. 🥰 I LOVE animals, and it was an amazing and educational experience.

That being said, I will always fight to protect animals from being mistreated.

There has been a lot of discussion among cruisers regarding policy changes that may be affecting "animal tourism" in Honduras, most notably for cruise passengers, in Roatan.

Things are still a bit unclear, but if you can no longer "hug a sloth" in Roatan, rest assured that there are plenty of fun ways to spend your port day.