Variety Cruises in the Seychelles

Declan Mescall (Features Editor Travelbiz) reports from Variety Cruises in the Seychelles.

While relatively unknown in Ireland, the story of Variety Cruises dates back to 1968 when the grandfather of the current CEO Filippos Venetopoulos founded the company with a vision of showcasing the world on board seven-day life-enriching journeys at sea.

54 years later Variety Cruises’ fleet consists of 8 small ships and 3 private charter yachts sailing to 130 ports of call on 5 continents and the company declares its core values to be passion, integrity, ethos, family and diversity. Each of the small ships host no more than 72 guests thereby offering privacy, intimacy and an onboard personalised yacht atmosphere. Variety Cruises is a multi-award-winning boutique Greek family-owned cruise line offering itineraries to Greece, the Adriatic Sea , Italy, Malta, Egypt, Jordan & Israel, the Red Sea, the Seychelles, Cape Verde, West Africa, Costa Rica & Panama and French Polynesia.

In Winter 2022/23 the line will operate a new itinerary in the Arabian Gulf linking Doha with Muscat. The announcement of this new 8-day cruise itinerary was the reason Variety Cruises hosted its first ever international travel writers press trip and Travelbiz was privileged to participate. Being the first such press trip, the dynamic and personable Filippos Venetopoulos (CEO Variety Cruises) travelled from Greece specially to host us and was accompanied by BDM Maria Venetopoulos. Irish trade who wishes to contact Variety Cruises may email Maria at managnostou@varietyvruises.com Tell her Travelbiz sent you.

Our tropical home at sea for seven days was Pegasos, a 44-berth catamaran with 21 ocean view cabins, a dining room, lounge, bar, outdoor restaurant, mini-spa and sun deck. Our floating home was wherever the captain decided to drop anchor as this small sized vessel could go, often in shallow waters, where no big ships could venture. The 18 strong crew, many of whom we got to know by name, were extremely professional, very attentive and full of fun.

Every evening the atmosphere was that of a ‘party boat’ and entertainment was part of the package. Our group of travel writers mingled easily with the other passengers onboard. Sumptuous meals were served three times daily either in the dining room or outside under the stars on the open deck. Guests’ special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated with great festivity by the crew. Excursions to the islands of the Seychelles were led by the extremely knowledgeable local born cruise coordinator Christer who regaled us with many stories from the archipelago. The vessel came equipped with toys such as paddle boards, snorkelling equipment, kayaks and even board games. Regular stops were made for guests to swim off the aft platform in the crystal clear warm tranquil Indian Ocean waters during our unique and thoroughly enjoyable Seychelles island-hopping voyage.

A big shout out to Qatar Airways for flying Travelbiz in great comfort and style, many thanks also to Qatar Tourism for hosting us in Doha on route to the Seychelles and a very special thank you to Variety Cruises for providing such a wonderful, memorable and hospitable trip.