The Carnival Cruise Lines' theme song, "Celebrate," blasts

as children wave good-bye to land. It's 3 p.m. on Sept. 26, 1998,

and the MS Imagination is leaving the docks of Miami.

The only unusual thing about this picture is well, the

kids. Shouldn't they be in school?

Actually, they are. Almost all of them are homeschooled.

Jody Coury, who also teaches her kids at home, works for a travel

agency. She came up with the idea of a "homeschool" cruise,

where homeschooled children (and their parents) would get their dose

of education as well as a large helping of fun.

The idea started out as just something for her

local homeschool group in Dacula, Ga., but after Coury advertised in

a newsletter for homeschoolers, the number of families soared

to roughly 100. They came from everywhere, from Georgia to

New Mexico to South Carolina to Miami.

Some of the educational activities on board the

ship included touring the ship's bridge and galley and watching

talented employees carve ice sculptures and fold napkins Oriental-style.

Excursions provided numerous educational tours, such as

a snorkeling tour of the coral reef in Cozumel and exploring a sea

turtle nursery in the Grand Caymans.

The dazzling ship made its last stop in Jamaica, where

many homeschoolers enjoyed touring a working plantation or climbing

a 600-ft. waterfall.

Because of the growing popularity of these cruises,

Coury has started a homeschool travel club. In the fall of

1999, homeschoolers will embark again, this time to Alaska and the

western Caribbean.

Some education is just more fun than others.

<!--##############