What Others Say About Our Trips

"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"

"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."

"What a difference a year makes! Last year did not end the way I had envisioned but life gifted me several lessons to take with me into this second half of life. This tribe (worldschoolers) has given me joy and hope in a world that feels bleak at times. Each one of you is the change we speak of and your children will be all the better for it and most likely continue that ripple effect into their lives. I am so honored to have found and travelled with you in this lifetime. May we meet again. No need for goodbyes. Love and light"

"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."

"Our Japan trip a few months ago was AMAZING!!! Parents and kids were all so welcoming! I had some apprehensions about joining a new group in which we knew no one. Especially since we weren’t able to join in much of the pre-trip chats, but from the first day on board, adults and kids melded right into the group. This trip far exceeded my expectations in every way and we can’t wait to meet up in Austria in a few weeks!"

"I don't have words. It was my family's favorite vacation ever. I know it was kind of luck of the draw the families that you get to travel with but these people were amazing. I think we all made lifelong friends and plan to travel to visit to families this summer. I agree with you that the key to starting off right was meeting beforehand. Being able to have dinner every night together was a huge bonus. And also doing excursions together really cemented the group.
My husband's kind of shy and he made two male friends that he will probably keep forever. It was very interesting to see all the different backgrounds and why are we all homeschool and it's all from completely different angles it was really amazing. I definitely want to do another one. And I'm interested in the difference between land Excursion ones and the cruise ships.. even the last days disaster Excursion was okay because we were together."

"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!"

"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!"

"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."

"I never worried about fitting in as our family are extroverts and will talk to anyone, however even we were surprised just how well everyone got on. We have made some friends for life from all over the world and it has defiantly exceeded our expectations. We have now done 2 trips (transatlantic (our first ever cruise) & south Korea and Japan cruise, we are booked on another transatlantic in February, and Austrian mountain retreat in June)
Our son is autistic, so I was worried about him fitting in or meltdowns but that didn't need to be my worry, it was that I never knew where he was because he had made soooo many new friends (it was easy to find out where he was when he didn't answer his phone as Elena just used the text jungle to everyone and one of our group knew where he was).
I wasn't a solo mum but met many solo parents and would not think twice about doing one of Elenas world-schooling trip without my husband. It was so great that we knew so many people on the trip that we were never alone (unless we wanted to be), it was like one big family, and we have made so many new friends.
On my first cruise my biggest worry was sea sickness, I bought every remedy possible from pills to bands and patches, but I didn't use anything after day 2 and never felt sick, we had 30 foot waves and I never felt the boat even move, apart from it rocking me to sleep on a night.
My favourite part of the cruise was dinner together, the kids sit together at tables and the parents at other tables (but all close by). It was a chance to be an adult but also know my child was happy and didn't need me, watching the kids bond day by day and trip by trip is an amazing feeling. My son has become so much more independent, accepting, and confident since we took these trips.
I would recommend anyone to take one of Elena's trips, there are trips for most budgets, and once in a lifetime experience that we will be taking more than once."

"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!"

"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"

"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)."

“Last year our family went on a 42-night worldschooling cruise and absolutely loved it. It was so incredible to see our kids thrive, make friends and connections, and have so much fun. For us as adults, it was so refreshing getting to talk with other worldschooling parents who just get it. Hubby and I have made lifelong friendships from that one cruise. Personally, I think it’s the only way we will cruise moving forward.”

"Stepping out into the Worldschooling community was one of the scariest things we have ever done; and it has turned out to be amazing. We took a leap a year ago when I was looking for other options for my granddaughter. I came across Elena Ollick and a cruise to Sydney, Australia. After only a couple days we were booked and looking forward. Did we originally think we just got hoodwinked, of course! But once we got our confirmation excitement set in! It also helped that when we made a change to our reservation Elena reached out to ensure everything was okay. We had no idea what to expect, worst case we get an affordable, all inclusive vacation to Oz. From the first group get together the night before the cruise we knew we had chosen right. Welcoming, kind, and knowledgeable, the people that formed our group have now become friends no matter where anyone is in the world. My daughter who had no interest in socializing at home, has friends she talks to daily. She feels she has found ‘her people’. My husband and I feel the same about the parents. There was no judgement about what we do, don’t do, or believe in. I have never felt more engaged than with the group of people I met on the cruise. They looked out for us, we looked out for them, and everyone’s main focus was on the kids (and hot tub!). Homeschooling (and it’s counterparts) is tough and parents can become overwhelmed, cruising has something for everyone in a safe environment. Kids can be kids and learn so much while the parents can get some much required ‘me time’. I feel humbled to be part of this community. With another 2 cruises on the horizon, and a retreat in Austria, I can honestly say we are in!"

"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!"

"Well we appreciate you and your team more than you know I don't think we would've started this whole worldschooling journey if it weren't for you and that post about the Korea/Japan cruise! And then of course fostering such an amazing community that we actually wanted to continue being a part of! I mean we've traveled and been on vacations of course but this was definitely different. They learned a lot about history, culture, geography, etc, and made so many great friends while doing so. Plus gained some independence and even confidence!
I'm so excited to see what the future holds for this group."

"I was so surprised to hear my kids both say they wished we could go on a cruise with only sea days, while on the Alaskan cruise. Like, VERY surprised. They just had so much fun freely spending time with all the kids. Of course I’m processing what I think of this, as this was a wonderful experience for them, AND it definitely wasn’t our typical manner of travel or exploring/learning. Between the quick port days and only wanting to hang out with the kids while on board, our typical depth of learning was different, but I witnessed them grow so much as individuals and that definitely matters. 11 sea days for Japan>LA and vice versa seems like SO much, and yet seems wonderful for the soul, haha. This Alaskan cruise was the easiest travel I’ve done in years. The logistics were so easy and relaxing. I’m used to managing spreadsheets with travel time, hotels, transportation on top of figuring out activities and food.... and a cruise was a true vacation from all of that!"

"I have SO MUCH to say about these topics! The TLDR: Two thumbs up, 10/10 all the way around, will do again... in a couple weeks actually! I recently decided to hop on the 11 day cruise from Seoul to Tokyo with my two daughters, ages (10 & 11). We live in the US, have never been to Asia and none of us speak Korean or Japanese. Our kids are Unschooled and we travel as much as possible.
We've also travelled internationally with another group (NOT Elenas) that puts together trips, but that one is a homeschool specific group and our experience on the Rhine River cruise wasn't great. It definitely didn't feel like a trip centered around kids, it felt like the kids were intruding on a trip created for old grumps. Sooo, I was already a bit skeptical booking this one, but the price was really great and I felt like the ship was big enough that we could just do our own thing if it didn't work out with the group.
Luckily that didn't turn out to be the case. This trip felt completely centered around the kids and facilitating their ability to connect with each other and explore. My kids were on fire with joy the entire trip. No joke. They had the very best time. The kids all looked out for each other and created the most heart warming little family unit. Watching them, you'd have thought they were all siblings or cousins. Their ages spanned 4-15 I believe?! The older kids were also able to easily move between the adults and the other kids, and the mixed age group worked very well. Everyone felt included.
The other thing I really appreciated was how aware and supportive the kids (and parents) were about sensory challenges and all sorts of nd topics. They communicated openly about their own challenges, sparks and quirks, and readily accommodated each other when needed. If someone felt like having some alone time or quiet time with a book or something, nobody gave them a hard time. I think it helped that there wasn't any scarcity around time together? A kiddo having a hard time was seen as such and not through a lens of judgement.
An unexpected side effect of the kids having such a great time together was the amount of "free" time I found myself with. Sure, we often moved from place to place, keeping an eye out for the kids, and generally making it our goal to always collectively know where they all were, but by virtue of our group size, that didn't mean having to literally run after them all day. So it left time for the adults to connect as well. I personally didn't know anyone going on the trip, hadn't ever met Elena or her family, and I'm not what anyone would call an extrovert. To get really personal, I'm a pretty anxious person and I struggle with feeling like an outsider in most situations. So, going alone wasn't exactly something I was looking forward to. (The kids were stoked though, and that's always reason enough for me to do just about anything!)
As it turned out, the other parents in the group were all very easy to talk to and a pleasure to get to know. When we left, it felt like I'd made so many great new friends! We were all there for the kiddos, so we had that in common, but we were all very different. Some of the families were very structured, some (like mine) were quite feral. Some Unschooled, some homeschooled, some were doing public or private school. I'm sure many of us had very different views on politics, religion, education, etc. but you'd never know it. What a powerful force the love for our children proved to be. All of were struck by how quickly and genuinely the kids connected. Maybe that inspired us? I've always felt that children teach me far more than I teach them, so it makes sense.
If you're on the fence about taking one of these trips, just do it. You'll be glad you did!"