You can drop your anchors as we welcome you to the home of the leading small ship cruise line worldwide with eleven state-of-the-art SOLAS certified Yachts hosting no more than 71 guests.
We don’t take the words ‘home away from home’ lightly. It is our mission to provide the ultimate yacht cruise platform for the curious , sophisticated traveler who seeks in depth destination experiences from the comfort and safety of our yachts. For over half a century, our family business has been crafting destination experiences made available exclusively by small ships, with sustainability and green ethics at the center of everything we do.
We invite you to embark on your next adventure with Variety Cruises.
Your story is our story…
Lakis Venetopoulos
President, Variety Cruises
Since 1968, our mission remains unchanged: to educate our clients while delivering excellent service on board and a niche cruise product that offers privacy, intimacy, yacht atmosphere that brings guests closer to the sea and the environment, the destinations and the local communities of the places we visit. With sustainability and cultural exchange in mind, through the comforts and safety of a yacht-like experience.
Drop your anchors... You have arrived.
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Single-Use plastic reduction: One of our guiding principles is to positively impact the areas in which we explore. That is why we are proud to have successfully completed a single-use plastic reduction program across our entire fleet, minimizing single-use plastic items. Some items include straws, stirrers, cups, lids, bottled water, among other items, as well as items wrapped in plastic. Packaging from single-portion items such as butter cups, jams or yogurts will be eliminated. Simultaneously, the company will source local suppliers in areas where the ships are deployed and will be providing eco-friendly alternatives that will also be guest-friendly. Our goal is to eliminate single-use plastics on board all our vessels in phases within 2019.
Clean Fuel: Our ships run on Marine Diesel Oil, unlike larger ships that use non refined Heavy Fuel Oil which is polluting and highly toxic.
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It is our philosophy to embrace local communities and provide resources to the local industries we visit with the dual mission of providing our guests an authentic local experience as well as to support the communities sharing with us their landscapes, nature, culture, and infrastructure. We source local services including excursions, guides, tour leaders, agriculture products and local resources. In addition sourcing local food and supplies from the local seasonal markets allows for an authentic local experience with fresh cuisine and handicraft products. Last but not least we support local cultures by employing local teams onboard our vessels at every opportunity, sustaining our culture of diversity and our global philosophy.
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Built under the latest International “Safety of Life At Sea” (SOLAS 2010) regulations and classified by IACS Classification Societies, our vessels provide the ultimate sea going experience with safety and comfort with international standards in mind. Our commitment to safety is a fundamental part of our philosophy and encompasses not only our vessel’s technical safety and state of the art navigation, but also all involved including our guests and staff well being, the communities we visit, and the sustainability and support of the environment we share. The highest of safety standards is what permits our ships to be positioned anywhere in the world.
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What started as a single man’s vision of immersing travelers in the destinations they visit has today grown to be the world’s leading destination-driven yacht cruise line serving over 20 hand picked destinations worldwide.
Yet some things stay the same, as we will remain faithful to small ship cruising of under 80 passengers on board, offering a private yachting cruise experience. Year after year we continue to expand our destination portfolio and vessel upgrades. Greece and the Mediterranean remain our natural playground yet we continue to grow our operations in the 4 continents, from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, and from the Rivers of West Africa to Iceland.
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MISSION STATEMENT: 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.
VARIETY CARES will either become involved with a local pre-existing foundation, or help build the infrastructure for a cause essential to the well being of the communities we visit. The great thing is every destination needs a small boost, whether financial or supportive in terms of our available time and know how. With each exchange of communication we take in some ways, and so we give back in others.
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Variety Cruises was established in 2006 with the merge of Zeus Group Maritime S.A and Hellas Yachts Group. Zeus Group has evolved from Zeus Tours, a company founded in 1949 by the Greek tourism visionary and pioneer Diogenis Venetopoulos, as an incoming Travel Agency and developed throughout the years among Greece’s leading travel companies. As of 1968 the company enters the small ships scheduled cruises niche market by chartering the yacht ELEFTHERIOS and in 1973 launches the owned reconstructed wooden cargo vessel NIKI, offering 18 cabins with sharing facilities.
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TOURISM AWARDS 2019
“Best in Responsible & Sustainable Tourism “
CRUISE CRITIC CRUISERS’ CHOICE 2018
“Best in Eastern Mediterranean”
USA TODAY 10Best READER’S CHOICE 2016
“World's Best Boutique Cruise Line”
TOURISM AWARDS 2015 & 2016 & 2017
“Best for Small Ship Cruising in Greece “
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