Greek and family-owned for over 50 years, and now helmed by the third generation, Variety Cruises is revered as the most established small ship company in Greece. In summer 2021, they take to the sea once again, bringing travellers to unexplored locations and classic must-sees, yet leaving an imprint that respects sustainable tourism and COVID safety protocols in every destination.
This summer Variety will set sail on the first-ever, exclusive Unexplored Greek Islands itinerary, part of the company’s new Limited Collection Voyages, and will also return to the luxe islands of the Seychelles, which has recently opened up to tourism post-COVID. Other destinations will launch later in 2021 including Cape Verde, Costa Rica & Panama and Sicily & Malta, and in 2022, guests can sail through French Polynesia, the Suez Canal, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, the Rivers of West Africa and beyond.
Its newly appointed CEO, Filipos Venetopoulos is the company’s third-generation taking the reigns, which was started by his grandfather in 1968. “It’s so important to me to maintain my family’s ethos of authenticity and heritage, offering exceptionally-curated intimate experiences only small ship sailing can bring,” said Venetopoulos, who is also available to speak on the state of travel, and small-ship voyages. “Seven days at sea will give you a transcendental life experience. That’s the real odyssey.”
With seven days at sea, passengers sail with like-minded travellers, each with a goal of personal and cultural discovery. Days are spent waking up in a different port of call. Onboard experiences are kept local: local wines and gastronomy, art and culture, even dancing, and of course, all of this with the opportunity to dive directly into the Aegean right from its vessels. These are all experiences one would expect from Greek hospitality, evident in the Venetopoulos family’s travelling tradition, and now curated for a new generation.
Summer 2021 Cruises
Variety Cruises returns at sea May 14, 2021 with a signature eight-day itinerary “Jewels of the Cyclades” aboard the 157-foot Mega Yacht, Galileo. The sail highlights iconic and off-the-beaten-path locales starting in Athens then onto Polyaigos, Folegandros, Syros, Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, and other stops where guests can visit secluded beaches, ancient ruins, charming whitewashed villages and of course swim in the crystal waters of the Aegean.
Scheduled year-round and returning June 19, 2021, are sails through the Seychelles with the eight-day itinerary “Cruises in the Garden of Eden” aboard the 147-foot Mega Yacht, Pegasos. Guests will experience a natural wonderland with stops starting in Mahe, the uninhabited island of Curieuse, St. Anne, a bird sanctuary on Cousin Island, quaint communities in La Digue and plenty of beach and swim time.
This summer, Variety Cruises introduces its first-ever Limited Collection Voyages starting with the July 30th sail of the “Hidden Greece: Unexplored Greek Islands” itinerary aboard the Galileo including 10 stunning island gems uncovering an authentic taste of true Greek culture, rich history and timeless heritage. While staying faithful to the mission of its founders to “go deeper,” the trip boards in Athens, and includes stops at Ikaria, deemed a “Blue Zone” for the longevity of its residents, Patmos frequented by the fashion set, intellectuals, artists, royalty and off the radar spots like Kalymnos, Levitha, Amorgos, Koufonisia, Serifos and more.
The company’s flagship vessel, the 223-foot Variety Voyager is returning home to the Aegean Sea after a year-long charter and will lead the fleet for the first time in four seasons with the popular Best of Greece & Turkey itinerary. The Voyager accommodates up to 71 guests with a crew of 32, and boasts sleek lines, an ample deck, spacious lounge and dining areas and large windows offering pristine views of all destinations.
COVID Safety & Protocols
While the industry enters a new phase of travel during the pandemic, Variety Cruises adheres to all COVID safety and hygiene standards and protocols, accepting guests with vaccination records or negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding. The company has instated social distancing measures, practices daily temperature checks and has partnered with Purespace, a leader in air and surface disinfection that is oxygen-based and has been proven safe and effective.
In fact, Variety Cruises was the first cruise line to return in 2020 in the eastern Mediterranean with safety protocols in place experiencing zero incidents.
Philanthropy
Variety Cares is a creative, non-profit foundation that ties together like-minded worldwide travelers with social, environmental and sustainable causes close to the company’s heart. A guiding principle is to not only avoid leaving a negative footprint, but to positively impact destinations where Variety Cruises visits. The three pillars the foundation focuses on are (1) Clean Oceans for ALL (2) Gender Equality for ALL and (3) Education for ALL. The foundation goes beyond claiming such goals but actively participates in the solution. The foundation has built and developed a clean water supply education prototype in the remote location visited on its West Africa cruise in Lamin Koto. It has also offered its ships to the United Nations and various health organizations to assist those in need during the pandemic—a highlight of which was when Variety Cares provided their yacht, Panorama for a stranded crew that was on a repatriation mission due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. Stay tuned as Variety Cares keeps raising the bar on social impact initiatives. The itineraries on board Variety Cruises also reflect the mission of the foundation and is especially evident in the latest limited edition 7-day cruises in Greece visiting authentic off-the-beaten-track islands in the Cyclades, supporting remote communities and local artisans.
Late 2021/22 Cruises
Variety Cruises is reinstating voyages to their much-loved destinations later in 2021 with itineraries in Cape Verde, the Rivers of West Africa, Costa Rica & Panama, Egypt, Jordan & Israel, Sicily & Malta, Spain & Portugal, and a year-round Tahiti program. Looking forward to 2022, the company announces their long-anticipated return to the Black Sea, Oman and Dubai.
Private Charters
All of the company’s vessels are available for private charter.
For more information on destinations, itineraries and reservations, please visit www.varietycruises.com, call 800-319-7776 and follow on Instagram and Facebook @varietycruises.
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