Diogenis Venetopoulos unveils Zeus Tours; The first floating travel immersion company supporting archaeological sites.
Creating a Better World At Sea since 1949
'To travel is to immerse yourself’ - VARIETY CARES™ is a creative non profit foundation that ties together a like minded community of worldwide travelers who share the notion that 'to travel is to immerse yourself, with the destination and her people at heart.
Our three guiding principals are:
CLEAN OCEANS 4ALL
Our ocean is the natural playground that keeps us alive and allows us to experience the world at its most beautiful pace. We owe it our love.
GENDER EQUALITY 4ALL
Gender equality means human equality; from women empowerment to accepting our gender spectrum differences we create a stronger world for all.
EDUCATION 4ALL
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Join us as we share our love for education with youth worldwide lacking access to such.
Our mission is to provide a sustainable sea-going platform for engaging our guests in meaningful communication and exchange of values with the local communities we visit.
"We don't just believe in giving back, we believe in giving." - Lakis Venetopoulos
Our Actions
Ways to Support
As of January 1, 2022, 5 EUROS of each passenger cruise participation go towards our efforts via VARIETY CARES, creating a better world at Sea one cruise at a time. On behalf of our team, the destinations, and the communities we visit a big THANK YOU for your contribution.
100% OF THE PROFITS from our merchandise go straight back to the mission of VARIETY CARES supporting clean oceans, gender equality, and education for all. So you can comfortably enjoy your souvenirs, while creating A BETTER WORLD AT SEA.
Historical Milestones
1949
1968
Zeus Tours ventures at Sea as Zeus Cruises + Collaborations with local causes throughout the Mediterranean begin.
1990
Zeus Cruises joins Santorini's Akrotiri archaeological site in support.
2005
Variety Cruises expands worldwide immersing into new communities.
2011
Variety Cruises takes on its fully fledged Education Prototype & Lamin Koto Shool is launched in The Gambia under Lakis Venetopoulos’ leadership.
2012
Variety Cruises pledges support to the Seychelles Archbishop Scholarship.
2013
Variety Cruises pledges support to the LGBTQI+ community + VARIETY PRIDE is developed.
2015
Variety Cruises pledges its first Student Scholarship in The Gambia.
2016
Variety Cruises supports children's education with Kuntaur Film Festival.
2017
Variety Cruises pledges to become a leader of environmental sustainability.
2019
VARIETY PRIDE honors THE TREVOR PROJECT at the UNITED NATIONS.
2019
Variety Cares celebrates LAMIN KOTO SUPER SCHOOL.
2020
VARIETY CARES celebrates The Gambia with the INSIDE OUT ART INITIATIVE.
2021
VARIETY CARES joins TOURISM DECLARES CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
2022
VARIETY CARES joins the efforts of THE EXPLORERS CLUB for WORLD OCEANS WEEK.
2023
As part of the school's expansion in Lamin Koto, Variety Cares converted an abandoned building into "The Rose Museum," named in honor of its founder, Triantafyllos Venetopoulos, whose first name means "rose" in Greek. The museum will feature significant items donated by the Explorers' Club, as well as educational materials — including maps, books, and compasses — which have been donated by various sources, including guests from Variety Cruises.
2024
Variety Cruises has obtained carbon offset certification for the Galileo. By offsetting carbon, Variety Cruises supports Sustainable Travel International's Climate Impact Portofolio, a mix of verified carbon offset projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, and promote healthier environments and communities worldwide.
2025
Variety Cares has supported a range of non-profit organizations in Greece working toward environmental protection and advancing causes such as gender equality, child protection, support for people in need, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. These donations are made according to the personal choice of each Variety Cruises employee.
2026
Variety Cares supports Athens Pride 2026, promoting equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, for another year, it supports The Explorers Club 2026 World Oceans Week Auction by offering a complimentary cruise, with the proceeds supporting initiatives dedicated to ocean protection. In February, Joe Grabowski, Member of the Board of Directors of The Explorers Club, joined our Senegal & Gambia River cruise. He experienced our immersive programs while supporting the mission of Variety Cares to empower local communities through education. A highlight of the cruise was his visit to the Lamin Koto School, a project founded by Lakis Venetopoulos (representing the second generation of leadership at Variety Cruises) and supported by Variety Cares.
Our People
Ioanna Giantsi
Board of Directors Advisory
Filippos Venetopoulos
CEO
Christina Venetopoulou
Chief Experience Officer
Constantine Venetopoulos
Director of Corporate Social Responsibility
Malvina Vonta
Chief Commercial Officer
Dimitris Vassilakis
Co-Founder
Our Awards
Greek Shipping Awards 2024
''Passenger Line of the Year''
CONDE NASTE TRAVELER
"The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards"
TOURISM AWARDS 2015 & 2016
“Best for Small Ship Cruising in Greece “
TOURISM AWARDS 2017
“Best for Small Ship Cruising in Greece “
TOURISM AWARDS 2019
“Best in Responsible & Sustainable Tourism “
TRAVEL+LEISURE - World’s Best Awards 2024
"Travel + Leisure Readers' 10 Favorite Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2024"
Creating a
Better World At Sea
since 1949
Better World At Sea
since 1949
At Variety Cruises, we care deeply about the world around us and believe in travelling with a purpose. We are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world we explore. Every one of our voyages is part of sustainable tourism and supports the local communities.
Clean Oceans 4ALL
Our ocean is the natural playground that keeps us alive and allows us to experience the world at its most beautiful pace. We owe it our love.
Gender Equality 4ALL
Gender equality means human equality; from women empowerment to accepting our gender spectrum differences we create a stronger world for all.
Education 4ALL
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Join us as we share our love for education with youth worldwide lacking access to such.
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