THE SEYCHELLES ARE AFRICA’S HIDDEN GEM

Mariana Zapata, a past passenger on M/Y Pegasos in the Seychelles, described her travel experience on Far+Wide. “The Small Cruise Ship Experience: My island-hopping adventure was courtesy of the family-owned Variety Cruises, a Greek company specializing in small cruise ships that go to places bigger boats can’t reach. The ship — christened the Pegasos — measures 147.6 feet by 36 feet and can host up to 44 guests. But my experience was much more intimate, as there were only 18 passengers and 20 crew members.

This translated to detailed, personalized attention. The crew members not only knew your name but remembered small things like your beverage of choice, so they offered it even before you had to ask. Seychellois Chef Christopher Ruphus made delectable meals with great care that were the antithesis of mass-produced stale buffets meant for hundreds of people. Egyptian Pastry Chef Mohamed Othman Soliman Kamel dedicated himself to delighting us with tempting desserts at every meal.

More importantly, the intimate setting helped everyone on board, passengers and crew alike, to get to know each other. By the end, we all knew the name, nationality and (partial) back story of everyone onboard. Some passengers even got to try and beat Captain Nikolopoulos at board games.

Plus, we didn’t have to waste time making long lines for excursions or activities, which meant more time exploring islands, interacting with wildlife and enjoying the sea. The small cruise ship experience was an all-around win.”

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