What Others Say About Our Trips

"I have never been more grateful that we are booked onto the booked-out worldschooling transatlantic trip next month where approx 40 other home ed kids will come together and spend 2 weeks playing, exploring, socialising & making memories to last a lifetime!
I’m sharing this, not to try to convince you, but to advise you that if you home-ed and you have been considering a cruise (or travel) then please take a look at February’s worldschooling transatlantic cruise with a large group of home ed families for probably one of the lowest prices you will ever secure a cruise.
I booked the 12 night February cruise on allure of the seas for 4 people in a balcony cabin for $2100 which is an INSANE price. Literally too good to pass when I know the experience & joy it provides for the boys"

"It took me a few days to convince my husband to take a transatlantic cruise with a bunch of people we have never met before. Generally speaking, he’s a bit of an introvert and my daughter (who was 6 at the time) is definitely on the shy side. But it was the best. decision. ever. We LOVED meeting everyone on the first day and then seeing familiar faces all around the ship. The opportunities for spontaneous meetups/playdates were the fantastic. We’d walk around the ship, not really sure what we wanted to do next, bump into a friend and suddenly my daughter is bowling with a new bestie while the adults are enjoying happy hour snacks. Elena set up an opportunity for the kids to meet with the ship engineer and head of housekeeping, which made us all feel like VIP, and my husband and I enjoyed meeting new friends for dinner while the kids all hung out in the kids club (with FRIENDS, not random kids).
One other cool perk that I hadn’t thought of prior to cruising was that these new friends were going to be at all our ports with us! Many of us coordinated group tours, which made things SO much more fun for the kids. I have an only child who doesn’t mind taking a historical tour with her two parents, but it’s a lot more entertaining to take that tour with a group of cool kids you’ve been sailing with all week. We even met up with friends at our final destination in Rome.. and one day we even bumped into some cruise friends randomly. Since then, we’ve stayed in touch with people either through Elena’s fb posts or the occasional text. We are always curious who is doing what trip and considering joining them (and having major FOMO if we can’t make it work). We can’t wait for our next adventure; we look forward to making new friends AND hope our old ones will join us for a reunion!
Above all else, however, I think my absolute favorite part of this adventure is that everyone we met is completely different. Different homes, different backgrounds, different lifestyles, different opinions, different ways of living and yet everyone just fit. We fit because we all want more for our families and that one thing brings us together. I feel like people who take these kinds of adventures are really great at understanding there’s no right or wrong way to live life.. sometimes that’s hard to find at home."

"We recently returned from a transatlantic cruise to Spain, and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. I traveled with my three kids—and even though we didn’t know anyone beforehand, except Elena Ollick, we felt instantly welcomed and included.
This incredible adventure was beautifully organized Elena poured her heart into every detail, just like she does with everything. Thanks to her thoughtful planning, everything ran so smoothly—from group meetups to activities for the kids and those special in-between moments where real connection happens.
The kids bonded almost instantly. Mine made friends within the first day, and by the end of the cruise, we had a whole new circle of people who felt like family. There was such a natural rhythm to everything: space to be free, time to be together, and moments of quiet joy watching the ocean roll by.
The cruise itself was lovely—great food, friendly staff, and plenty of options for all ages and even picky eaters. The sea days gave us time to slow down, be present, and enjoy each other without the rush of daily life."

"For our family, the cruise was more about personal and social growth than academics. My kids do online school but we mostly took a break during the cruise. They made friends, learned new games, saw new places, learned new cultures. One of my favorite things was that the group of kids (usually the 8-15yr olds) met almost every night in the fancy dining room for dinner. They learned about etiquette, manners, ordering from an adult menu and tasted new things (my kids' first escargot, lobster, duck, caviar, etc).
There were enrichment experiences available daily, related to the destinations that we were headed to but we only took part in a couple of them. Some kids learned to hula dance and play the ukulele (we passed through Hawaii) for example."

"Still amazes me when people say they could never travel with their kids because it would be too much (mentally). There would be nothing more ‘too much’ to me than being stuck in this country permanently. If I could, I would travel full time and you would not believe how many people actually do travel full time; it’s a whole new world out there! We only think our existence is living until you actually meet people who are ‘living’.
Give me a trip with the boys any day over a big mortgage, designer bags/shoes, latest trends or any other traps that people often find themselves lured into.
People often refer to travel as some sort of luxury that only the minority can afford. I also consider a big mortgage a luxury that I wouldn’t want because it would remove so many opportunities from our life. I know lots of people paying €1.5–2k per month & more!
There is a 2 weeks Royal Caribbean transatlantic cruise in February that lots of worldschoolers are going on again & for 2 adults & 2 children it is about $2000 dollars in a balcony cabin! That’s for all your food, activities & you wouldn’t have to spend another penny if you didn’t want to. For this same cruise during school holidays I’d say it would be at least 4 times the price but I will never find out The world is an amazing place. The more I get out there, the more I am eternally grateful for using the world as our classroom. Until such time as that choice is taken away from us then I look forward to many more valuable life lessons and unforgettable social experiences for the boys!"

"Overall, I feel like the cruise went really well. All of the excursions sounded great from the feedback I heard. All of the families got along really well, including the kids. The weather was nearly perfect as were the seas. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better cruise. We were able to fill the time easily and the kids loved being able to explore the ship as a group."

"Thank YOU for organizing such an unforgettable trip. I will say nothing different than what others are already saying, but I will say this. When we first booked the cruise the focus was Japan/Korea. I did a lot of research about things to see, taste, book and experience. However now that we are back and the “short” 2-week cruise is over I can honestly say that this trip was life changing. I never used that word. We had fabulous trips, amazing, spectacular… but life changing?? Well… I don’t know about that. And now this trip shifted something in me and it has nothing to do with Japan. Obviously Japan is fantastic and different, but no country can compare to the connections, the community and the friendships that we fostered. I’ve never experienced that and I’m still in trans.
We have a teen boy (shy at first but blossoms with the right people). He really had the time of his life (also fall in love lol) they were 11 teens (some of them not from the group but just from the cruise) and they were inseparable! I mean… non stop, constantly together, all day and dancing at night There was NO drama, no bullying, no weirdness, no nothing!!! I’ve never seen anything like it. WE FOUND OUR PEOPLE (I’m crying happy tears writing this). I just want our group moving-in together in the same neighborhood walking distance from each other and then cruising together again and again… ahhh utopia If I could book all the cruises I think I need a job … what a horrible conclusion Remote, exciting, six-figure and part time So, again - thank you for this truly unforgettable experience which words are not enough to describe the feelings that I have"

"We just finished our first cruise a few days ago. We were a bit concerned booking through someone we found on Facebook (even though others had used their services).
So I wanted to reach out and let others here know Worldschooling Journeys was great to deal with. No issues with any part of the booking process or cruise. We have another cruise booked through Worldschooling Journeys for Oct and expect we will do more (we weren't sure how everyone would like it, but it was a rewounding yes when asked)."

"We experienced our first worldschooling cruise (and traveling abroad for that matter) in February and ended up doing two back-to-back and has THE BEST TIME! The first cruise I went solo with my 3 children and I think I was more nervous for myself about meeting other adults and being stuck alone but I made what I hope are lifelong friends! My tween had a blast running around the ship and my very shy little girl made a best friend she FaceTimes with. Of course you click more with some than others but overall everyone was incredible, interesting, kind and welcoming. Kids were instant friends and it was so nice to be able to give them a little more freedom along with some life skills like being on time for meals directions around the boat etc lol.
I feel like it was also a great way for me to dip my toes in the water trying to travel abroad with 3 children! It’s definitely worth a try! And you can’t beat not having to cook for weeks at a time"

"As a single mom traveling overseas for the first time with my kids...my stress level was through the ROOF. I had been talking with Elena Ollick off and on for almost a year. I grew to adore her but was still terrified we wouldn't fit in with the group as a whole. We took the plunge and scheduled two back to back cruises(we had never even been on a cruise before) everyone was so welcoming and there were even other single parents too which put my heart at ease! I was hesitant because a lot of homeschooling/worldschooling groups are super religious and this was not that. I'm sure some of the group are very faith based but this was such an inclusive group that didn't focus on religion. I had looked at pictures of these trips and worried as an introvert if I would self implode. I'm happy to say that I did not, since then we already have another trip locked in and another one planned for next summer. Put your fears aside and give it one trip. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!"

"As a solo traveling mom with ND kids, naturally I had concerns about our integration into a group with strangers. Also it was our first cruising. Worldschooling Journeys anticipated and prepared us all for the smooth sailing ahead, literally. We were sent a document ahead of our trip, which included variety of pro tips. We all got connected via chat and basically, by the time we boarded, it felt like we’re going with a group of friends. And that feeling carried throughout entire trip. It was a fantastic group of people. They organized activities for both parents and children throughout the cruise, and pointed out fun events on the ship, which we then attended as a group throughout the trip. Invaluable!
I particularly enjoyed group dinners, and my children loved exploring the ship together with friends. I was happy to attend excursions with the group, as it contributed to the bonding overall.
We have attended several world-school hubs, and sadly some are thrown together by un-prepared people. Worldschooling Journeys was anything but. I am super happy that we chose to attend."

"Ok wow, I have so much to say on this but will try to keep it brief!
We are a mostly neurodivergent family and VERY introverted. We had never been on a cruise before and we had all sorts of worries about whether we would connect with the other families or not and how we would deal with having a much busier schedule than normal and/or demands of our time. It turns out we had NOTHING to worry about!
My kids are teens and up until now have not had a great deal of independence, mostly due to life circumstances and/or rural living. They, especially my 15yr old boy, simply flourished. They went to play games with the other kids, for meals, swimming, etc. The last two weeks of the 31 days on the transpacific I could set my watch by the evening routine of dinner at 5pm, games until 9pm, the late show in the theatre and then "home" to bed. And this wasn't us, this was the group of kids. They did most of these activities without us. We were especially proud of the 8-10 kids who had dinner without an adult in the main dining room (NOT the buffet). They ordered politely, making adjustments to the menu to suit their palates, and the staff never had a bad word to say about them. We sometimes joined a little later and could sit across the dining room from them without worry. It was SO nice to allow the kids so much freedom without having to worry about them!
While Wren is blissfully retired, I have trouble turning off my brain, so I still work remotely. I tutor mostly high school aged kids, anywhere from 5-15hrs a week. I use Zoom (a bit of a bandwidth hog compared to Teams) and was able to function fairly normally on the ship. My biggest struggle was the changing time zones, but I just let my computer do the work of telling me when my meetings were and I never missed a beat with my work.
As for the worry about being introverted and not having enough down time, it wasn't an issue either. We connected well with the other parents and we joined in with activities when we wanted to and no one begrudged anyone else an early night or a quiet day.
Overall, the cruise was just EASY. I didn't have to cook or clean, I didn't worry about the kids or scheduling, there were friends there if we wanted them, and weren't when we didn't. We've definitely made friends for life with a handful of them and were so glad to connect with everyone. For my, even as an introvert, worldschooling is about connection; building the connection within our family unit and connecting with new people all over the world and getting to experience life with them."

"Our kids were on the older end of the group (15 and 17) so for us it was an exercise in giving them freedom and then encouraging good decisions and options. The kids largely set their own schedules, decided when and where to eat and who to join or invite to join them. They chose what activities to participate in, what to observe and what to skip. They learned how to manage the questions (and occasional criticism) from more rigid or closed-minded cruisers on their own. They self-policed the actions and activities within their group, keeping the noise and language down, garbage and dirty dishes, and their overall effect on staff and other cruisers. There were talking points and learning opportunities on a daily basis. We saw a transformation in nearly every kid. New social skills, new bravery and new willingness to explore and make friends. We also saw some parents relax their pre-determined boundaries to allow their kids more age-appropriate freedom and self-determination and the confidence BLOOMED."

"I would happily pay extra for the level of care and attention I’ve received during the booking process. I was feeling quite anxious about it all, but everything was made so easy, and every single one of my (many!) questions was answered with patience and clarity. I can’t comment on the trip itself just yet, as my first one hasn’t happened, but the booking experience was flawless. Highly recommend!"

"Worldschooling Journeys does an amazing job of finding authentic, educational and family oriented excursions. We learned so much in Ecuador and Mexico and we're so grateful that the kids got to hear from people there and see how they live. I have lived abroad in Belgium and Japan, but had never taken a cruise or traveled in a group with my kids. I imagine we are all a bit neurodivergent in one way or another and one son gets anxious when traveling (mainly getting on and off planes) or in New/challenging environments. He also lives to perform and ask LOTS of questions, so we were usually asked to go along on school field trips etc as he can be a wild card. He did really well on all the trips and loved the cruise. The ability to spend time swimming, gaming, watching cool shows and getting awesome foods at the buffet is a big draw for the kids! I am a friendly introvert I guess you could say. I like people but tired out quickly, especially after getting long covid last year. The kids also have their limit. We never felt judged for laying low in the evenings or not doing all the group activities. It's a very flexible group and a great first cruise experience. I traveled in Korea, Mongolia and Russia with the Monkey Shrine Brothers with my husband 20 years ago after teaching in Japan. Even though it was a very foreign environment for us, every detail from the shuttle vans to the excursions were lead by friendly people who really cared about what they were doing. That makes all the difference between a potentially horrible trip and an amazing one--Elena has that same ability to find and nurture good relationships with local people and excursion operators who enjoy meeting travelers, love being ambassadors and educators for their culture. It's a once in a lifetime (or several times if you're lucky) when you get to have those experiences. Usually, you have to live abroad for a year to get that. I am so glad I was able to experience it with my kids. Definitely, give it a go! The ships are huge and full of things to do. We definitely could have stayed longer. If you are nervous about cruises, you can start with 1 or 2 weeks. There were actually only 20 outbreaks among thousands of cruises last year. Ships are required to report to the CDC or similar agency if 3 percent of say 5000 passengers get sick 'outbreak' --so it makes the news. As a Midwesterner growing up, the only thing I heard about cruises were the news stories about outbreaks so I was pretty paranoid. None of us got sick. If you wash your hands as instructed, it's pretty easy to avoid illness."

"We absolutely LOVED our cruise (it was our first)! Everything and everyone was amazing. I had never really wanted to go on a cruise, as I didn’t think it was my “style” of travel. However, this is the first real vacation my husband and I have had ever since the kids came along! We would love to do another."

"We had the best time & can only recommend such a trip with Elena’s groups, whether you are traditional, not, first time or seasoned cruiser! We took the kids out of school some days early before their midwinter break and met the group on the coolest ship I’ve ever seen (Icon of the Seas). We also hijacked my mom/ (grandma to the kids) so we can also spend some more time together (as we don’t live in the same country ) and she had a super time as well!
* As a first time cruiser, this was the best way for us to experience a cruise - basically with some people who know the ins and outs of cruising.
* My 3 kids had the best trip , they quickly linked up with the kids and were gone / made plans with many of the other kids, whether slides, pool or beach time, mini golf , arcade , snacks or wanting to meet at kids club.
* Cool group - everyone was open and welcoming and had an interesting journey!
The worst part was the trip ending, but we are actively cross checking our calendar and for another trip we can pull off (besides the “fire and ice” one … but summer 2026 is too far away!"

"Traveling with Worldschooling Journeys has been some of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. Watching my son build real friendships with kids from all over the world has been incredibly special—and as a mom, I feel completely safe and supported traveling solo with the group. Elena has truly become one of my closest friends through these journeys. These aren’t just trips for the kids—parents walk away with just as much wisdom, connection, and inspiration. It’s learning in the most beautiful, adventurous way possible."

"We made it across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia! This journey has been nothing short of amazing—filled with relaxing sea days, mouthwatering food, and stunning port stops. But the true highlight? The incredible friendships we made along the way! What started as a group of strangers from a travel Facebook group turned into something so much more. After 31 days together on this floating home, we became like family. It’s not goodbye—it’s see you later!"