What Others Say About Our Trips

"We have been on 2 world schooling cruises now. The first one was very last minute, and I admit, we booked soley because the deal was good good to pass up. Worldschooling Journeys is great at that, finding you a lot of bang for your buck! And when I am getting a great deal, I would admit my expectations drop a bit, but we were so happy we did! On each cruise we have met so many wonderful families, and just like with any other part of life, we have met a few that we deeply connected with and can't wait to see again, and others we didn't have so much in common with, but still may be a fun familiar face on a future cruise! Our son is not a "big group" kind of guy, and we did worry he would get nothing out of this. On both cruises he has "found his tribe", and actually I think they have helped him enjoy the big group a bit more, but also helped navigate connecting more with a few, and finding opportunities to do things as a smaller group as well. So many of the kids have been wonderful at making sure any kid they see on the ship is included, whether they came with us or not! They have both been wonderful experiences we will talk about forever, and we look forward to our next."

"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"

"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!"

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Our first cruise adventure was absolutely amazing! We didn’t know what to expect, especially after a few friends warned us it might be boring with so many days at sea. Spoiler alert: it was anything but boring! We had so much fun, and now we’re hooked—definitely doing it again!
Every summer, we usually head to a family camp, and honestly, the cruise felt a lot like that—just on water—with 13 other homeschool families. The best part? No awkward questions from strangers about school. It was pure magic being surrounded by people who just get it.
We spent our days chatting about traveling, homeschooling, unschooling, and all the amazing things that come with it. No need to explain why my kids don’t take year-end tests, what grade they’re in, or when I’ll “send them back” to school. It was so freeing and easy. I’m so glad we took the plunge, and I’m already counting down to our next Worldschooling Cruise! Bring it on! "

"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!"

"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."

"We had never done anything like this before our April trip. IT WAS AWESOME! Our kids had such a great time and we loved being in a group and having a sense of belonging and understanding. Elena is legit and does a wonderful job putting these trips together. I haven’t met her yet, but I can’t wait to! My family is so thankful that we found her and can’t wait to kickoff our next trip with her in February."

"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"

"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."

“We have been worldschooling for the last five years, and this trip was one of the top highlights we’ve had. The reason for us is not about the places we visited, but the people we met, the experiences we created together, and the new friendships we made. Cruise life is such a great opportunity to rest, stop planning and organizing, and choose whichever activity, or no activity, makes you happy. We are definitely doing more trips.”

"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."

"We are a fairly extroverted family so going on a cruise with a bunch of people we never met wasn't much of a worry to us. If there were any concerns they were quickly disappated after taking part in the lively discussions in the cruise WhatsApp chat group.
What was a concern was if we would find what we were missing at home. A community, a group of people who lived in non-traditional ways. We don't have anyone around us with younger children (our daughter is 5). We don't have anyone around us who is unschooling/world schooling/homeschooling their child. We don't have anyone around us who has a child that is extra active and extra special.
What we found was all of that and more. A group that believes in inclusivity and equality.
Our daughter was the youngest of the group and had no issues immediately bonding with the kids. In fact all the kids immediately bonded. They all moved easily between smaller groups that formed depending on the day or activity. The older kids watched over the younger ones without even being asked. We felt comfortable accepting offers of other parents taking care of our daughter while we participated in other adult activities. We formed our own bonds too. Even after the cruise we talk almost daily with some of the people we met.
In the end we loved it so much we booked another cruise before we got off the first then 2 other cruises and a retreat. We definitely found our people."

"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!"

"It’s tough to like everyone, I mean, not everyone is going to vibe with you or your family. But trust me, it’s way easier when people are already walking the same path. Homeschoolers? We’re basically one big, slightly chaotic family. The kids? They click instantly, no drama there. The parents? Well, that’s where it gets tricky. But hey, that’s life. Maybe two drinks will smooth things out… Just kidding! (Or am I?)"

"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!"

"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."

"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!"

"As a traveling family we have learned that we prefer to not fly and instead make the journey part of the adventure. We have cruised twice before (both transatlantic) and liked the freedom of movement it gave us as a family and also the space it gave us. We spend A LOT of time together, but being on the cruise made it easier to separate and meet back up and it felt safer from the adult perspective too. While both of those cruises had some other kids, it wasn’t quite the same as having other Worldschooling kids. Those other kids were on a family vacation, so they were spending that time together as a family and not available at different times of the day for games and other activities.
When joining the transpacific Worldschooling cruise we were immediately excited about the age range of the children. This was to be our first experience traveling with other families with a similar lifestyle AND kids in the same age range.
The cruise climate with our Worldschooling group was beyond expectations. We have been traveling for 3 years and the group of kids from our Worldschooling cruise are the only kids my children regularly talk with, even more than 6 months since we last saw anyone. The ability for the kids to have autonomy and the adults to share that same autonomy is something that will make another group cruise high on our to do list. Do it! It will change you."