As a homeschool family, we rewrite the entire school calendar.

While other parents are sitting in the school drop-off and helping kids with homework, we are packing suitcases and boarding cruise ships.

We’ve made a tradition of skipping the holiday chaos and cruising during the cruise “off-season.” Translation: while everyone else is freezing in January, we’re sipping poolside cocktails and trying to decide if we should go play trivia, head to the casino or find a place to sit and listen to music.

Why cruise in the off-season when you have kids? Math! A cruise we are taking in January is $216/person cheaper than its summer twin, and if we went in September when most kids are breaking open that new package of pencils at the beginning of the school year, we could save another $201/person. Plus, Royal Caribbean (our cruise line of choice) frequently offers Kids Sail Free during the ‘off season’.

Of course, now that we have a college student, we’re beholden to their academic calendar. This is a big adjustment in the World of Weeks.

But Seriously, Why Cruising?

Back in 2007, hubby and I took our first cruise—and instantly realized this was the best way to vacation. No unpacking and repacking. No chasing rental cars. No debating which restaurant would have something on the menu everyone likes. Cruising was like magic. You show up, unpack once, and boom—three countries, a crew that is there to serve you, no laundry, and zero grocery runs.

Fast forward five years, and we added two kids to the mix. Cruising with children? Not exactly tranquil ocean breezes and meditation playlists, but we discovered the cruise staff could entertain the kids while we reclaimed our sanity. Or at least pretended to.

Eventually we became a family of six and have now cruised 11 times. We’ve snorkeled, snuba’d, and swum with dolphins that may or may not have judged our parenting. We’ve toured a Jamaican jerk factory, learned conch shell acoustics in Honduras, and became mesmerized in Puerto Vallarta watching whales and staring at sculptures that were intriguing, to say the least.

Our kids have learned about Christmas traditions in Cozumel, the history of St. Maarten, and experienced Canadian politeness on a molecular level. They’ve learned about sea turtles, pirates, geography, marine biology, and how to negotiate for extra dessert. Although there isn’t a lot of dessert negotiations during cruises. It’s a cruise after all. Honestly, traditional school has nothing on cruise ship education.

Bonus Perk: The People!

Yes, cruises involve talking to strangers. But for our little socialites, that’s basically recess. They meet kids from around the world, bond over pool games and gaga ball. They get to know our stateroom attendants and dining room staff who willingly share about life in the countries they are from. It’s social learning at its finest—plus saltwater.

The Verdict

Cruising isn’t perfect. But when the alternative is me making 18 meals a day, folding laundry, and refereeing arguments over who touched whose pencil… cruising is basically paradise. The kids learn without realizing they’re learning, and mom and dad get to pretend we’re young and hip again.

They may not be learning from textbooks, but they’re learning from life. And occasionally, from dolphins.