Variety Cruises
Yacht-Style Cruising
Variety is my go-to recommendation for clients who want to island-hop Greece the way the locals do — pulling into tiny harbours that big ships can't reach, swimming off the back of the boat, and eating dinner ashore in a village taverna. The ships are not new and won't win any design awards, but the crew is exceptional and the itineraries are brilliant. Think of it as chartering a friend's yacht, not booking a luxury cruise.
Variety Cruises is one of the world’s largest small-ship cruise companies, operating a fleet of 11 motor yachts that carry an average of just 50 passengers each. A third-generation family-owned Greek company, Variety has hospitality in its DNA and delivers a style of cruising that feels closer to a private yacht charter than a conventional voyage. The ships are compact and unpretentious — comfort and character take priority over glitz — and the crew-to-guest ratio ensures genuinely personal service throughout.
The real draw is the itineraries. Variety’s shallow-draft vessels slip into the tiny harbours, quiet coves and lesser-known islands that mainstream cruise ships cannot access. The Classical Greece route threads through the Cyclades, calling at Santorini, Mykonos and the sacred island of Delos before heading to Monemvasia and the Peloponnese. The Jewels of the Cyclades and Ionian Odyssey itineraries reveal even more hidden coastline. Extended evening stays in port allow guests to wander village streets, find a harbourside taverna and experience island life after the day-trippers have gone — a detail that loyal passengers consistently cite as the highlight of the experience.
On board, the half-board arrangement is deliberate: breakfast and one main meal are included, freeing guests to eat ashore and discover local cuisine on their own terms. Swim stops in open water, snorkelling gear and fishing equipment are provided, and the atmosphere is relaxed enough that barefoot is an acceptable dress code on the sun deck. The international passenger mix and the warmth of the Greek crew create a convivial, house-party feel that encourages friendships to form quickly.
Prospective guests should know that the ships show their age in places — cabins are functional rather than luxurious, and entertainment is limited to the conversation of fellow passengers and the scenery. For travellers who measure a voyage by the authenticity of its ports and the quality of its company rather than the thread count of its sheets, Variety Cruises offers an experience that is difficult to replicate on any other line.
Tell us your travel dates and our Variety Cruises specialists will create a tailored proposal.