Variety Cruises insider’s guide (Greek small-ship)

Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

At a glance

• What it is: A Greek-based line running very small ships, from 34 to 72 guests depending on the ship, mostly around Greece and Turkey, with other regions in the fleet.
• Typical Greece trip: Eight-day programs are the pattern on the Greece page.
• Listed from-prices on Greece programs: roughly $1,500 to $3,990 per person at the time we looked, including sale prices. Your cabin and date will differ.
• Not in the fare: wine and other alcohol, shore excursions and transfers unless bought as a package, gratuities, laundry.
• Suggested gratuity: €15 ≈ $17 to 18 per person per day, adjustable.
• Deposit and final payment: 25% within 7 days of booking; balance 90 days before departure.
• Kids: under 5 not allowed aboard; ages 5 to 17 share a triple cabin with two paying adults.
• Best for: curious travelers who want islands and harbors over pools and shows.
• Not for: anyone who wants a casino, kids' club, big stage shows or a lot of deck space.

Who this line is for

Variety ships carry a few dozen guests, so the draw is access: small harbors, anchoring off a quiet island, and a swim stop in the middle of the day. The tradeoff is room. Cabin space is tight (the line advises soft luggage that fits under the bed), and there are no recreational facilities for children. If you get restless without a big ship's amenities, look elsewhere. If you would rather wander a whitewashed town than queue for a buffet, this is the style.

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Three free things to do before you book

1. Compare the ship, not just the route. The ships page lists guests, crew and cabin counts for eight vessels; a 34-guest ship and a 72-guest ship feel different. Ours: write the ship you are considering here: ________
2. Price the extras on paper. Take the fare, add suggested gratuities (€15 ≈ $17 to 18 per person per day), port charges (paid with final payment, amounts not published on the terms page) and any Greek sustainability fee for your ship, then add drinks and excursions you want. The fee example the FAQ gives for the Variety Voyager in peak season is €20 ≈ $22 for Santorini and Mykonos and €5 ≈ $5.59 for other ports.
3. Read the cancellation ladder now. For bookings confirmed on or after 1 January 2026 the schedule runs from a €80 ≈ $89 or US$100 per person administration fee (converted to future cruise credit) up to 120 days out, then 20%, 35%, 50% and finally 100% of the fare inside 44 days. Decide whether travel insurance fits your plans before the deposit date.

What it costs, in short

Take the listed from-price for your program, multiply by travelers, then add: flights to Athens, gratuities, port charges, drinks and excursions, a hotel night either side, and onboard spending. Ship credit can be set up and settled at the end of the cruise; onboard charges are in euros, with US dollars and cards accepted, and American Express not accepted on board. The full guide has a blank cost sheet.

Paying with points, in one paragraph

We found no sign that any card travel portal sells Variety sailings, so do not plan on portal redemptions for the cruise itself; check your portal before assuming. Where points shine is the flight: Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi and Bilt points each move to several airline programs. The full guide has a step-by-step search walkthrough and a points-versus-cash rule you fill in with your own numbers.

Entry basics for Greece

U.S. citizens need no visa for 90 days or less; passport validity of three months beyond departure is required, per the State Department country page. The Greece advisory was Level 1, Exercise normal precautions, issued October 23, 2025. Greece and Turkey itineraries add Turkey: Level 2, Exercise increased caution, issued June 9, 2026. ETIAS and the EU Entry/Exit System are changing the rules for visitors to Europe, so as of 2026-10-20 confirm their status at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en before you go.

A taste of a small-ship day

A typical island day on a ship this size runs like this: breakfast aboard, a morning sail or a walk through a harbor town, lunch on board or ashore, a swim stop or a hill-village visit in the afternoon, then back on board before the all-aboard time, which the FAQ gives as 15 minutes before departure, with guests asked to be aboard two hours before departure on embarkation day. Dress for religious sites is modest: the line asks for skirts or dresses for women and no sleeveless tops or swimwear at those sites. Our exact day-by-day notes are in the full guide, labeled as illustrative because your published itinerary governs.

What is not worth it

Do not pay extra for an excursion in a town you would happily walk on your own, and do not pre-buy a long list of extras before you see what your program already includes. Ask which excursions are in your package, as some promotions bundle two.

Best time to go

The Greece programs on the line's listing run from spring into early autumn, for example Classical Greece from 16 April 2027 to 15 October 2027. We lean toward May, June and September for a balance of warm water and thinner crowds; that is our judgment, so compare listed prices for your own dates before choosing.

Loyalty in a sentence

Variety Club gives 5% off cruise fares on voyages two through four and 10% from voyage five, and it is automatic after your first cruise; you must tell Variety you are a member when you book.

Splurge vs save

Splurge on the cabin location and on a guided visit at the one ancient site you most want to see. Save on bottled water, snacks and souvenirs bought on board, and on taxis in towns you can walk.

Want the rest?

The full guide covers fleet differences, cabin picking, packages and fees, the loyalty program, booking order, a points mini-playbook, sample island-by-island days with a Photo stop, Insider move and rain plan for each, a cost sheet, printable plans and update notes.

This is the free lite guide. The full day-by-day guide, with maps, photo stops, rain plans and the points playbook, is part of PerkJolt All-Access.

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