UltimateGuide Cruises
Our favourites
The small cruise yacht Harmony V, white with a navy band, under way in a harbour below bare brown mountains

Cruise line · Expedition

Variety Cruises: Our Cruise Line Guide

A Greek family company whose story begins in 1949, sailing eight small ships and motor sailers, none carrying more than 72 guests, on week-long voyages through Greece, Italy and Malta, Croatia, the Seychelles, Tahiti, Cape Verde and West Africa.

Plan your trip:Official website

The back story

Since: 1949 family origins; Variety Cruises formed in 2005 (varietycruises.com, Oct 2026) · Fleet: 8 small ships carrying 34–72 guests (varietycruises.com, Oct 2026) · Largest ship: Variety Voyager: 72 guests, 29 crew, 68 m (varietycruises.com) · Not included: Transfers, most shore excursions, wine and alcoholic drinks, gratuities, laundry (varietycruises.com FAQ) · Sails to: Greece, Greece and Türkiye, Italy and Malta, Croatia and Montenegro, the Seychelles, Tahiti, Cape Verde, West Africa · Based in: Athens, Greece

  1. The back story

    Variety Cruises: the back story

    Variety Cruises·In depth

    How a Greek historian’s study tours of 1949 became a family fleet of small ships that carry no more than 72 guests to islands larger ships cannot reach.

    Explore View on map

The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: A Category C or B cabin on a seven-night Greek island voyage aboard one of the motor sailers, with swim stops and the snorkelling kit and kayaks on board. Mid-range: A main-deck cabin on Variety Voyager in Italy and Malta, or Pegasos in the Seychelles, where cruises run all year round. Luxury: The Owner’s Suite or a Category P cabin on Variety Voyager’s upper Infinity Deck, or a whole ship chartered for a family or celebration.

  1. 72 guests

    Variety Voyager

    Variety Cruises·Mega yacht · Italy and Malta, Greece·€€€

    The flagship: a 68-metre mega yacht with 36 ocean-view cabins, a glass-enclosed dining room and a mini spa.

    Explore View on map

  2. 49 guests

    Panorama

    Variety Cruises·Three-masted motor sailer · Greece, Greece and Türkiye·€€€

    A 54-metre, three-masted motor sailer with wood-panelled lounges and 24 ocean-view cabins.

    Explore View on map

  3. 49 guests

    Panorama II

    Variety Cruises·Two-masted motor sailer · Tahiti and French Polynesia·€€€

    A 50-metre, two-masted motor sailer that sails Tahiti and French Polynesia all year round.

    Explore View on map

  4. 49 guests

    Galileo

    Variety Cruises·Motor sailer · Greece·€€€

    A 48-metre motor sailer with a wood-panelled lounge bar and an outdoor bar on the upper deck.

    Explore View on map

  5. 44–49 guests

    Harmony G and Harmony V

    Variety Cruises·Small yachts · Greece, Cape Verde, West Africa·€€€

    Two sleek small yachts: Harmony G (44 guests) in the Ionian and Classical Greece, Harmony V (49 guests) in Greece, Cape Verde and West Africa.

    Explore View on map

  6. 44 guests

    Pegasos

    Variety Cruises·Double-hulled yacht · Seychelles·€€€

    A 45-metre, double-hulled yacht sailing the Seychelles on four- and seven-night voyages all year round.

    Explore View on map

  7. 34 guests

    Callisto

    Variety Cruises·Classic yacht · Croatia and Montenegro·€€€

    The smallest ship in the fleet: a 50-metre classic yacht with 17 cabins for 34 guests in the Adriatic.

    Explore View on map

The suites

  1. Four panoramic windows

    Owner’s Suite (Variety Voyager)

    Variety Cruises·Suite · Upper Infinity Deck·€€€€

    The fleet’s top accommodation: four large windows on the Upper Infinity Deck, a queen-size bed, a sofa and a marble bathroom.

    Explore View on map

  2. 7 cabins

    Category P cabins (Variety Voyager)

    Variety Cruises·Cabins · Upper Infinity Deck·€€€

    Seven upper-deck cabins with double windows, marble bathrooms and richer fabrics; four have an extra sofa bed.

    Explore View on map

Dining on board

  1. Seats 75 + 50 outside

    Indoor and Outdoor Dining Room (Variety Voyager)

    Variety Cruises·Dining room · Upper deck·€€€

    A glass-enclosed dining room for 75 with an open-deck dining area for 50 more, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    Explore View on map

  2. Indoor and al fresco

    Dining Area (Pegasos)

    Variety Cruises·Dining · Seychelles·€€€

    An indoor dining room with large windows and a semi-covered aft deck for meals al fresco, always with some local flavour.

    Explore View on map

  3. Wood and soft fabrics

    Dining Room (Galileo)

    Variety Cruises·Dining · Greece·€€€

    A warm, wood-finished dining room on the main deck, reached from the lounge bar.

    Explore View on map

  4. À la minute cooking

    Indoor and Outdoor Dining (Panorama II)

    Variety Cruises·Dining · Tahiti·€€€

    An indoor dining room on the lower deck and a semi-covered aft deck above, with buffets that include an à la minute cooking section.

    Explore View on map

Spa and wellness

  1. Sauna and massage

    Spa and Fitness Suite (Variety Voyager)

    Variety Cruises·Spa · Oceans Deck

    Massage, a sauna and some fitness equipment on the lower deck, with hair, face and nail treatments from a Balinese spa supervisor.

    Explore View on map

Life on board

  1. No pools: the sea instead

    Swim stops, snorkelling and kayaks

    Variety Cruises·Life on board

    There are no pools on board: the ships anchor for swim stops, or tender guests to secluded beaches.

    Explore View on map

  2. Casual

    Dress code and what to pack

    Variety Cruises·Life on board

    Casual clothes, swimwear, walking shoes and a warmer layer for cool evenings; towels and bed linen are provided.

    Explore View on map

Where it sails

  1. Seven-night voyages

    Greece and the Adriatic

    Variety Cruises·Mediterranean · April to October

    The heart of the programme: the Cyclades, the Ionian, the Peloponnese and Classical Greece, plus Croatia and Montenegro, Italy and Malta. See our Greek Islands & Adriatic guide.

    Explore View on map

  2. Year-round

    The Seychelles and Tahiti

    Variety Cruises·Indian Ocean and South Pacific · all year

    Pegasos in the Seychelles and Panorama II in Tahiti and French Polynesia sail all year round.

    Explore View on map

  3. Winter season

    Cape Verde and West Africa

    Variety Cruises·Atlantic Africa · November to April

    Harmony V sails the islands of Cape Verde from Palmeira on Sal, and the rivers of West Africa from Dakar, between November and April.

    Explore View on map

What’s included and how to book

  1. Tips suggested €15–18

    What the Variety fare does not include

    Variety Cruises·Inclusions

    Transfers, most shore excursions, wine and alcoholic drinks, phone calls, gratuities and laundry are extra; programmes include breakfast with lunch or dinner, or all meals.

    Explore View on map

  2. No under-fives

    Age and mobility policy (Variety Cruises)

    Variety Cruises·Policies

    Children under five are not accepted, and there are no children’s facilities; the ships have no lifts and are not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.

    Explore View on map

Share your Variety Cruises tips

Sailed with them? Share your ships, cabins and tips with other cruisers.

  1. Loading the conversation…

House rules: keep it about the sea and the topic; off-topic political slogans and campaigning on any cause will be removed. Be civil and respectful, no personal attacks, no links or advertising. Comments are public and moderated, and we may remove any that break the rules. Please don’t share personal details such as phone numbers or emails.

The ULTIMATE letter

The sea in your inbox

An occasional email with new ships, new itineraries, line and port guides and our latest in-depth features. No spam, ever.