Variety Cruises, the family-owned leader in small ship cruising, is celebrating the start of the European summer cruise season with the addition of a new itinerary to its already robust European collection: a seven-night journey exploring the Greek Islands and Turkey, a country the company hasn’t visited since 2016.
The new cruise itinerary, which sails round-trip from Athens, will sail the Cyclades & Eastern Aegean islands with a stop in historic Kusadasi, Turkey, to explore the legendary ruins of Ephesus. Travellers will journey between both iconic and lesser-known Greek islands, including Mykonos, Delos, Syros and Patmos, in addition to Sifnos and Naxos – two destinations that will be featured in Variety’s itineraries for the first time since the company was founded in 1949.
“This new voyage is ideal for travellers seeking a refined yet immersive cruise experience in Greece and Turkey, offering effortless exploration, cultural depth and breathtaking scenery at every stop – all on board an intimate yacht-style boat,” said Filippos Venetopoulos, CEO of Variety Cruises. “Since my grandfather founded the company 76 years ago, it has been our mission to offer enriching experiences that go deeper into the destination. The addition of Sifnos and Naxos to our portfolio provides travellers with an opportunity to discover hidden gems and interact with local people, away from the more crowded tourist hot spots.”
Variety’s new seven-night Greek Islands and Turkey cruise is priced from €2,850 per person, and includes two complimentary shore excursions in Delos and Ephesus. Travellers can take advantage of a launch discount of 20% on the October 2026 departure, or an early booking discount of 10% on 2027 sailings.
The cruise will debut on 9 October 2026, with additional departures scheduled for 2027.
Variety Cruises has officially kicked off the European summer cruise season on March 20, 2026, departing from Athens on its Peloponnese Treasures: From Antiquity to Byzantium itinerary in Greece. With the addition of this new voyage, Variety Cruises now offers 10 itineraries in Europe for travellers to enjoy, with sailings focused on both beloved and emerging sights and experiences in Greece, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro.
Variety Cruises – which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024 and completed a fleet-wide renovation in 2025 – is known for offering access to destinations often unreachable by larger ships, appealing to the increasing traveller interest in discovering hidden gems and less crowded locations. The company, with a vision to create a better world at sea™, hosts around 50 guests per sailing, with a crew of 20, and provides its customers with in-depth, community-driven experiences while leaving a minimal footprint.
