Let me list the points: 1) Accommodation - we paid for a cat A cabin and on arrival were shown to a cabin with twin beds. We argued that we booked a double but manager just shrugged shoulders and said boat was full which turned out to be a complete lie. Met the couple opposite us and they had been booked into cat B and then decided they didn't like the cabin and were given an upgrade (at a discounted rate) to a double room. My bed was 1 metre wide, against a wall with a bunk bed folded above it. It is just a foam mattress on the hard base which had a slope from all the previous people lying on one side trying to avoid hitting their head on the bunk. The sheets were worn and yellowing. The room was dirty - can see the dust in the gaps between the furniture, the bathroom was only 2 stars, the shower curtain didn't reach the bottom so we constantly had water running over the floor. When the sea is rough the water doesn't drain properly. Toilet didn't flush properly. Another couple we met had exactly the same complaint re lack of double room. 2) Food - average 3) Diesel fumes - it didn't matter what deck you were on there was a constant smell of diesel fumes - absolutely nauseating. 4) We booked this through Peregrine and after about 4 weeks they responded to our complaint and offered 10% discount off the next tour we book with them. Well after having one horror experience there is no way we would book any other tours with them. 5) Itinerary - changed due to weather conditions. Can appreciate that. 6) shore excursions extra. Read Less

This is a beautiful small ship (about 25 cabins) with an amazing crew. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. The food was wonderful..authentic Greek food, perfect for our trip around these beautiful islands. Our tour coordinator, Joseph, was knowledgeable, friendly and funny a perfect combination! The stewards (food and room) were all efficient and friendly, our room was serviced twice a day. The bar was well serviced and the drinks were generous and reasonably price. There were several events that included drinks (in Santorini the Greek night was so much fun with ouzo (or wine/beer) flowing freely). There were shore excursions offered in each port with the trip to Delos a highlight for us (take plenty of water). We loved the swim stops, swimming out from the boat in the sparling water was amazing and unforgettable. There was a range of ages on our cruise, mid 20's to 80 with most in the mid 40s to mid 60s. We thoroughly recommend this small ship cruise if you enjoy good company (mainly aussies on our cruise), good food, fun and the joy of experiencing new places you will love it.. Read Less

Greece was my bucket list destination. Because we wanted to see a variety of islands and only had a short time we chose the Jewels of the Cyclades Cruise with Variety. I am glad we did. First off. The ship is charming and because of its size you spend a lot of time at port instead of getting to the port. Our Cabin was necessarily small ( its a small ship!) but well appointed. I chose Cat A because i like the outside entrance. The staff is fabulous, very accommodating. The food is fantastic. The upper deck is magic. Second the Islands. Mostly you sail early am or late at night and so you get to spend a lot of quality time at each island. That said. Do your homework or take the excursions. The excursions are small groups and not too expensive so I recommend them if you don't know the islands or don't like to strike out on your own. We tend to go off on our own so I did research and we mostly explored each island either by bus on foot or rented a car (Make sure you have your International Drivers Cert) Must see -Go to Rakentia on the island of Folegandros ! you can take a bus from the marina and then walk there from town) Don't miss the excursion to Delos. and so final thought.. I really don't like cruises, and swore I would never take another, but I've been converted. On this small ship cruise you feel more like you are on a private yacht with your friends. Read Less

We normally prefer small ship cruises but this was easily the worst. We made the booking on condition that we would be allocated a cabin with a double bed,at the front of the ship. The request was acknowledged by Variety Cruises. On arrival, we were shown to a cabin with two single beds at the back of the ship ! I queried their error and they argued that there are no cabins with double beds. I showed them their brochure with pictures of cabins which did have double beds and a copy of my email acknowledgment ! They were not even embarrassed by being caught out.The Manager shrugged his shoulders.This was a particularly telling sign. They then argued that it was now too late as everyone was already on board. I pointed out that two taxis had just pulled up and the passengers were just embarking. I said if you don’t give us a cabin with a double bed then we would be getting off and would take legal action to receive a refund. At this point they moved us to another cabin with a double bed. We received no apology. We submitted a formal complaint ,at the end of the cruise, about this and also the lack of service provided if you didn’t “ sign up” for their organised tours. In Santorini , as an example,they would not provide a tender from the ship to land after 8.00 in the morning unless we agreed to pay €140 euros each way for a tender. It took 7 weeks to get a reply from the Company regarding our complaints.They did ultimately acknowledge that “ if you are not going on the tour , having just one time to go ashore at 8am was not ideal”. It certainly wasn’t ideal because the return tender was at 16.30pm ,eight and a half hours later. They could have paid the €140 for the tender themselves but they were a penny pinching company in everything they did. The fundamental problem is that they don’t have their own tender. In Mykonos they moored a fair distance away and we needed to pay for our own public transport to travel to the town centre. The larger ships had their own tenders which went back and forth throughout the day and evening. Our category grade A cabin was on the small side and needed to be updated but it was ok The food on board was of a cafeteria standard and should have been better as they were not catering for many people.If the food served on board had been given to us in a restaurant on land ,we would have eaten it but would not have returned. Unfortunately, onboard we had no option. Quality of dining is important ,particularly on a small ship with no entertainment. So there wasn’t much to look forward to in the evening. Fortunately our fellow passengers were a lovely crowd and we were lucky because this may not have been the case. Be very careful if you are on your honeymoon and want a double bed. By the same token ,you could be in for a shock if you want two single beds to then be allocated a double bed ! This is not a cheap cruise , we paid £4700,and after our experience we will never use this company again. Why take the risk ? Read Less

I have always cringed at the thought of going on a cruise on one of the larger ships so it was with trepidation that I even agreed to go on this one. Boy was I glad I did. From the minute we stepped aboard to the moment we left the ship I cant speak higher of the service from the staff on board. The ship was beautifully clean throughout with ample areas to relax in the shade or on the sundeck. We never felt that we were too crowded. Our cabin was one of the cheaper ones on the lower deck and although it was small and we could hear the anchor coming up in the morning it was fine for us. It was kept immaculate and cleaned twice a day and there was enough storage space. I did look in one of the other cabins on the upper deck and they were quite a bit larger and nicer but I guess it depends on your budget. You really don't spend that much time in the cabin anyway! The dining area was large and most people tended to find a place and pretty much sit there. The food was wonderful. Always cereal, fruit and hot dishes for breakfast. Plenty of fish, grilled meats, salads and local dishes for either lunch or dinner depending on the days activities. It was wonderful to anchor off small coves and go swimming off the boat or get the tender into the beach. Plenty of noodles to float around on and snorkels and flippers. also a couple of kayaks if you felt energetic! We went to some of the smaller Islands which was lovely as when we arrived at Mykonos there were thousands of people off the large cruise ships!! We had a great ouzo and Greek dancing night on board one night but otherwise there was no formal entertainment, but the bar was always open and the lovely Val was happy to serve you whatever you wished for. The drinks were quite reasonably priced also. Most evening we were in a port tied up next to the local fishing boats and you could wander off to the local tavernas and bars for the evening as we would not leave until early the next morning. You could opt to go on the excursions or do your own thing. We did about half and half. It was a fantastic experience and I have some wonderful memories and would not hesitate to go on a small ship cruise like this again! Read Less

My husband and I decided to finally take our honeymoon trip (almost 3 years later) as we were saving it for something big. We have always wanted to visit Greece (was on our bucket list) but also craved the adventure part, so we decided to go on a cruise. As we were browsing cruise lines in internet we agreed that we didn't want a big cruise, we were looking for something more personal and special, and we now can say Variety Cruises offers exactly that deal. Our journey aboard the Galileo was one of the most exciting experiences I've had, starting by the breathtaking views and relaxed vibe. One of the highlights is the staff, they make sure everyone is comfortable at all times, very diligent and empathetic people with a genuine smile on their face, that made them look like family at the end of our journey. They even learn everyone's name and make sure nobody's left out. One of the positive things about it is that they gave us plenty of time to visit each of the Greek islands, you can enjoy the daytime as nighttime. We made friends easily on the Galileo and enjoyed every moment of it. We have no doubt that we'll make another trip with Variety Cruises in the future, couldn't recommend it more.! Read Less

We loved everything about this cruise! It was our first time in Greece, and after the cruise we were heading out for two weeks of home exchange and our own adventures, so we really appreciated the introduction this cruise gave us. We toured the Cyclades. The ship is delightful, the crew was extraordinarily cheerful, capable and kind. I had an eating challenge that made my diet really complex, and the Hotel Manager memorized my preferences and had special meals created for me - to the point that the other passengers wondered if perhaps I wasn't getting an upgrade! The ship is in great condition, everything perfectly clean. Our cabin was kept spotless, the bed was comfortable and there was more space than we expected (Category B). We did not do all the tours, although our shipmates were happy with them. We did the Delos excursion and it was terrific. We especially loved that the ship had access to the port piers so that we only used tenders at one island. All the other stops we could come and go as we pleased. The half board plan worked great, we really enjoyed scoping out restaurants on all the islands. We will be back with Variety. This was our 35th wedding anniversary, and we enjoyed every minute! Read Less

We were two couples traveling together interested in exploring historic and cultural sites around the Peloponnese including ancient and Homeric sites and modern costal towns. The cruise met and exceeded our expectations. We particularly wanted a small ship cruise. The Galileo was comfortable, clean, and well managed. The crew was wonderful. Food on board was excellent and plentiful. And we were especially impressed with the quality of our guides -- Josef and Jenny -- who were knowledgeable about art and history, insightful about Greek culture and politics, and helpful, fun, and funny as guides in general. It was a real pleasure to travel with them. Our favorite stops were Delphi, Monemvassia, Pylos, Epidaurus. The shipboard experience in mid October was delightful -- enough sun for sitting out on the deck (though not enough warmth for much swimming, alas) and except for one day, calm seas. We would certainly recommend this trip. Read Less

This was a return for me onto Galileo and was lucky enough to have done both the Jewels of the Cyclades and Antiquity to Byzantium cruises. I felt that there was great camaraderie between all the members of crew and this was there to be seen by everyone. Stathis is both the boss and a friend to his first officer, second officer and sailors. They show great respect for and to him which means a very smooth sailing of the boat. It is still a pleasure watching him moor Galileo along side the various harbours. Yiannis runs the 'hotel side' of business extremely well and both waiting staff and those responsible for the cabins are experts at their chosen tasks. Valaria is just a gem. How she knows everyone's name, cabin numbers and favourite tipple by day two is a miracle! Alex and his pastry chef do an excellent job in the kitchen and produced some really fabulous food throughout the cruise. Well done. Both Cruise Co-ordinators were excellent; very approachable and adjusted with great professionalism to any changes in itineraries which were many due to the weather conditions! Evgenia is an expert in her field of knowledge of both ancient Greek history and everyday life. Her talks are a mixture of information and humour. All-in-all what you are doing, you are doing very well so keep it up. Read Less

We had a goal to visit the Greek Islands on a small ship, the Galileo was perfect. The staff was unbelievable, the food was sumptuous and plentiful. They were very accommodating for dietary restrictions. Our destinations were changed due to high winds in the open sea, therefore we were unable to visit any of the islands. Our stops were all along the mainland, and included a swim stop on a spectacular day. All replacement stops were well thought out by the staff, and included The Lion Gate, Olympia, and Monemvassia. They involved many sites of historic significance, including destinations and museums we would never have seen otherwise. It was a great adventure, because we never knew where we were going! We would definitely take Variety Cruises again, on another small ship adventure. Passengers who began as strangers became friends. We felt completely safe as women traveling, and would recommend this to anyone traveling alone as well. Read Less

Our cab driver pulled up to the dock and we could not believe how beautiful the Galileo was. Luckily, he recognized the Greek spelling for Galileo and drove us right to the gangplank. The crew and staff offered friendly and premium service from the moment we arrived and through the entire cruise. Passengers were allowed to be casual and comfortable. The food was delicious, authentic, plentiful and in true Greek fashion they begged us to take more. They were graciously able to accommodate dietary restrictions. Our cabin was comparable to the hotel room we stayed in while enjoying Athens. Our plan to see the Greek Isles was cancelled due to high winds. Day by day we would learn the new itinerary and next adventure. The stops that they found for us were outstanding and included many sites of historic significance. Lion Gate, Olympia, Monemvassia, and more. The excursions and entertainment were well planned. Every port people would run over with cameras to see our ship. By the end of the trip we were all convinced that small ship travel was the way to go. Passengers who started out as strangers became friends. Some of us will be visiting each other in Australia, UK, and US. Most importantly, as women traveling alone we felt safe. We are looking forward to our next adventure with Variety Cruises. Read Less

From the moment of embarkation everyone was individually welcomed. It went very smoothly and after a long journey very relaxing. All the staff on the Galileo were just wonderful. The boat was immaculate. Rooms were very comfortable. There was a great variety of food that was wonderfully prepared. Plenty of room on board to socialize, relax, read or just lounge and get some sun. Our cruise coordinator, Stella would give us an update on where we were going and highlights of the islands. She was always available for leading an exclusion or just helping with direction on something you wanted to do on your own. She has a wonderful sense of humor and alway kept us laughing. I wish I could remember everyones names to thank them for making this trip so great. A special shout out to our lovely bar tender who worked so hard and always was smiling. A special night was Greek night. They had greek dancers on board and we danced on the top deck. They got everyone up and no, it did not matter if you could dance or not, everyone had a great time. When the trip was over it was like leaving close friends. Everyone I met were wonderful, interesting people. This was truly the best vacation I've ever taken and I can't wait to travel with Variety cruises again. Read Less

Everything from the Boat, the service, food, day-trips and especially the crew was fantastic. we were made to feel like a group of close friends and family enjoying the best holiday together, nothing was an imposition and our itinerary varied beautifuly according to the weather and the decisions of our Captain and our fabulous cruise director Marita Kokkinakis. I would not hesitate to recommend this cruise to my friends and colleagues, I celebrated my birthday while in Santorini and the crew made it one of the most memorable, it happened to be the Greek feast night so we had incredible food and Marita even arranged a cake.. Our itinerary was changed due to bad weather during the cruise, but the alternative stops we visited were equally spectacular and enjoyable, especially loved the regular swim stops we made at beautiful isolated points along the way. overall i would say this was one of the best holiday experiences i've ever had. Read Less

Before arriving at the Port we spent 1 night exploring Athens which was fabulous, we stayed at The Royal Olympic Hotel which was within walking distance of the acropolis, the temple of Zeus and the old town of Athens and had a spectacular roof top bar and restaurant with stunning views. On arrival at the Port we were welcomed on board by several members of the Galileo crew including our fabulous and most knowledgable cruise co-ordinator Marita! There were 44 passengers on board, with a range of nationalities and ages. Our Cabin was a reasonable size and had a TV, private bathroom with a big shower and was very comfortable. Our Housekeeper was very efficient and the room was always very clean. Before going on the cruise I had wanted to visit Santorini and although it was breathtakingly stunning with the most amazing views it was also overrun with tourists and cruise passengers. The same in Mykonos, a fabulous island and town to visit for a day/night but after the arrival of a large cruise ship literally thousands of people flooded the town. Enough to put me off ever going on a large cruise ship! Although the small ships lack the amenities of the larger cruise liners, a pool, Casino and nightly entertainment, by going on a smaller boat like the Galileo, we were able to stop for swim stops in small coves, get into ports and islands not visited by the large cruise ships and enjoy "real Greece", the island of Foligandros was a favorite, a small pebble beach with 2 tavernas on it and a beautiful hilltop town with town squares, alleys and small restaurants, small stores selling local art and white houses with blue trim. We were also able to go to Syros which had a more venetian architecture and visit the ancient city on the island of Delos. Marita (our cruise co-ordinator) gave us briefings before every port of call and places to visit and also some guided walking tours, local bus schedules and restaurant recommendations. Our Shore excursions were first class and Marita did an amazing job of keeping us ahead of the crowds! The Food - WOW it was amazing - our chef, and pastry chef did an amazing job, fresh salads, grilled meats, fruit, greek dishes and beautiful cakes and desserts, a BBQ lunch at a swim stop, breakfasts of eggs, meats, cheeses, cereals, breads, fresh fruit and greek yogurt. There were cookies and cakes available 24 hours, tea and coffee and fruit also available 24 hours. Our Bar tender and Hotel Manager was also delightful. My only complaint was the wine - they need a larger/better selection. We enjoyed the Captains Dinner, Greek night being entertained by Greek dancers. Our Captain was professional, approachable but also safety first and we were all invited to visit the bridge. Our Galileo family of passengers and crew made the entire experience delightful and one we hope to repeat in the future to a different destination. We will absolutely cruise on a small Boutique Mega Yacht again. Read Less

We picked Variety's Jewels of the Cyclades cruise as it spend nights in the major islands. This allowed us to have dinner assure, enjoy the night life without worrying what time to return to the ship. Another feature of the smaller ship is it anchor in secluded coves and harbors so we could swim. The ship is retro classic but completely updated, the staff is very attentive, and because of the 18 crew to 49 passages ratio, we received outstanding service. If you like being waited on, pampered and can do without the activities and facilities of the large cruise ships (i.e: gym, pool, professional entertainment) and you want to get off the ship when you want, stay ashore as long as you want, take only a few minutes to settle your account and completely relax without the mass of people found on the larger cruised lines, then this is for you. We were completely surprised by the how OUTSTANDING the food was. Very Very pleased! Read Less

We had a fantastic trip. It's a 49 passenger ship and we had only 15 aboard. The food and service were exceptional. It was a very friendly, casual atmosphere. The cruise director and guide were terrific. The ship is beautiful, comfortable and well maintained. We had some problems with rough seas but the captain did a great job of finding alternative ports. My only issue would be the size of the cabin. It was very small, but it is a small ship and we spent very little time in the cabin. We took the Antiquity to Byzantium cruise which I highly recommend. The cruise was focused on history and included visits to Delphi, Olympia and others. The guide had an in depth knowledge of all historical aspects both actual and mythological. Our trip was at the end of the tour season and most of the sites visited were almost empty. Read Less

It was a perfect week in every way, and we will surely be booking another trip with Variety Cruises. We loved the Galileo - our room was quite comfortable, and the public areas on the boat were spotlessly clean, offering a variety of places to sit both indoors and outside. The delicious meals exceeded our expectations, and our cruise director, Joseph, was knowledgable, experienced, friendly and fun to listen to when he addressed our group. Swim stops were well organized and much appreciated by everyone. We kayaked, snorkled, and simply floated in the refreshing and beautiful sea. We chose only one excursion -- Delos, and well worth it -- since the other islands were easy to explore on our own. But those who chose the excursions seemed very pleased. The professional crew made us feel safe and cared about. Valerie, the awesome bartender, knew everyone's name within an hour of boarding. Our favorite islands were Folegandros and Syros - the Galileo allows for small island visits, which is one of the best aspects of the trip. Our fellow passengers were friendly and fun to be with, and the configuration of the dining tables allowed us to get to know everyone by week's end. Passengers were from England, Australia, Spain, Switzerland and the US; the multitude of cultures greatly enhanced the trip. There are so many benefits to being on an intimate yacht as opposed to a giant cruise ship. In addition to jumping into the sea from the boat and visiting smaller islands, there's a sense of being part of the environment, an intimacy that can't be had on a floating city with thousands of inhabitants. I can't wait for our next Variety cruise. The only part of the trip we didn't enjoy was saying good-bye to our new friends! Huge thanks to everyone connected with Variety Cruises, for allowing us the privilege to sail with you on our perfect vacation. Read Less

Just finished a criise aboard MS Galileo.Had 40 passengers in total, a wondeful experience. It was very personal and the small vessel meant the ship tied up alongside the dock so it was easy to come and go whilst in port, no need for tenders we just walked down the gangway.Swim stops were great, the crew lowered steps down into the water and kayaks were available.We stoped anywhere it was safe to swim in the beautiful Aegean waters Optional tours were available when in port. Meals were wonderful with enough choices for all.The small number of guests made the atmosphere very friendly. Only criticism was the smoking area was directly off the lounge dining area.The smoke went up the nearby spiral stairs to upper deck and occasionally back into the loung dining area.There were only 4 smokers out of 40 guests but they were constantly at the large outside dining table smoking so other guests avoided using the area which would been lovely to sit at if the smoking area was elsewhere The sevice was first class.The cruise was good value Read Less

We just returned from a Greek Island Cruise on the Galilleo and had an incredible time. We highly recommend it. It's a very small ship, there were only 30 passengers this week (it holds more but wasn't full) so a lot of our trip was made wonderful by the other passengers. I don't know that we would have had such a great trip if we hadn't made so many new friends. The ship is very comfortable. Our cabin on the upper deck was large and the cleaning staff kept it spotless. The restaurant area is free seating, which we liked, and there was plenty of space to hang out in the sun or the shade while sailing (although most of the sailing is overnight). We did have one night of rough seas and the sun deck looked like a bit of an infirmary with sick patients, but the staff handled it really well, handing out dramamine instead of drinks, and we all just kind of sat up there until it was over. We didn't do any of the excursions and heard mixed reviews from people. The islands are very easy to get around on your own if you do a little research ahead of time. The cruise director was very anxious for us to walk around each town, but we didn't find that nearly as interesting as exploring all the amazing beaches. The one downside of the cruise was that she didn't really customize the experience for the interests of each guests, she really just tried to sell the excursions. The food on the ship was outstanding. Fresh, delicious, varied, well presented, just great. I could have kept eating like that for weeks on end. We also really enjoyed the swim stops off the side of the boat. If you are looking for a small cruise experience, where you get to know your fellow passengers, get to see islands that aren't overloaded with tourists, and maximize your time on land, this is for you. If you're looking for a cruise with a casino, formal nights, etc. . . . it's not for you. Read Less

This was my first cruise, and I can say it got me hooked. The welcome drinks, the staff were helpful and friendly, polite highly professional and dedicated and all gave exceptional service.. Mariza as our cruise and excursion director was a ball of fire. Her energy was endless and infectious. Everyone we talked to had nothing but high praises for her. The food was of a high standard, the service was spotless, the cabin was comfortable, clean and used storage space most efficiently and generally the whole atmosphere was outstanding, everyone was all smiles on this cruise. The overall experience was fantastic I would recommend this cruise without hesitation! Thank you Variety Cruises I will definitely be taking another cruise on this ship! Read Less

I am a great fan of the Galileo ship and unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone looking for truly fantastic experience in the Aegean Sea. I have just returned from one week cruising with Galileos which included various islands such as Poros, Polyaigos,Folegandros,Santorini, Paros, Antiparos, Myconos, Kythnos and many more key sites that are expensive to visit independently. All crew were very helpful, friendly and went of there way to ensure we all enjoyed every single day of the trip. The meals were varied, very tasty and well presented. The chef was a surprise! Wine and soft drinks were included with dinner. The choice of a sit down dinner with up to six or more other people allows you to make the acquaintance of other interesting people from all over the world who are also on the cruise with you. All the excursions were included in the cost of the cruise. The guides telling you about the places you are going to visit were extremely knowledgeable and versed about the areas. I would highly recommend this boat trip that you get to see beautiful parts of the Aegean Sea and stop and swim in beautiful breathtaking locations. All were superb as was the organisation of everything on board and on shore while we were in those places. Very comfortable for a couple. I simply cannot wait to go back to Greece for my next boat trip again! Read Less

We were very excited when we found out about the Variety Cruise line and thought this was the type of cruising that fit our travel style. We have been on the big ships, but while ok when we traveled with a large group of family members, that is not our taste for just the two of us. Our cruise on the Galileo lived up to our expectations! On ship - I can only give superlatives for everything about the Galileo. All the staff was extremely friendly and helpful, with very personal service on such a small ship. We only had 23 passengers, so it was even more intimate than might be with a full complement of 50. There was one other American couple on board, with other fellow passengers from England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ukraine and Australia. A wonderful mix of people! Most, but not all, spoke English. The staff primarily spoke English and French (and Greek). We loved the ship itself with the wooden trim and "pirate ship" look. It was a bit disappointing that the sails were never actually unfurled to see it at full sail. Dining - There were two sit-down dinners - the first night's Welcome dinner and the last Captain's dinner. These menus were very good, but just gave a choice between meat or fish, not multiple choices per course like a standard cruise ship may have. All other meals were buffet style with extensive choices. Breakfast each day included cooked-to-order eggs, as well as full American and European style buffet options, and lots of fresh fruit. Other buffet meals included Seafood and Greek themes. All were excellent and more food than we needed (but it was there, so we "had" to eat!). Ports - Santorini is very touristy for a reason - it is probably the most dramatically beautiful island. The volcanic caldera makes it truly unique, with cliff top towns and deep blue water. Docking right at the pier was very convenient instead of having to tender from the big ships. Other islands visited were Poros, Folegandros, Paros and Syros which were more traditional, less touristy and each had its own local style. They are all interesting to experience and explore. We loved all the whitewashed homes with bright trim (primarily blue, but there are a few rebels with purple and green) and beautiful flowers everywhere. They are definitely Jewels of the Cylades! Swim Stops - we had four days with morning swim stops. The first one at Poliegos was probably the prettiest, surrounded by rocky cliffs. The water was VERY cold in May, but a number of people swam and snorkeled each day, including my husband. I preferred staying on top of the water in the provided kayak. We enjoyed paddling around at each of the stops. We highly recommend the Galileo and look forward to another cruise someday with Variety Cruises. Read Less

If you are looking for an intimate, immersive and authentic Greek experience based on the water look no further than Variety Cruises Jewels of the Cyclades trip aboard the charming and enchanting Galileo. Pulling into Piraeus port in our taxi, prior to embarking the Galileo, we coasted by many proud vessels of varying size and description from mega yachts to small sailboats, to sun seeking gin palaces, all alluring and attractive to seafarers in their own way. But I have to say nothing in the Port that day caught the eye quite like the Galileo. A steel hulled, wooden, three masted motor sailer, reminiscent of a romantic sailing era now passed. The Galileo shines with charisma and filled us with a sense of adventure as we boarded to embark on our 7 night sailing taking in the Jewels of the Cyclades. We were part of a nearly capacity filling collection of 44 other guests of varying nationalities and ages, all interesting and like-minded travelers. My wife and I are younger than most people we get to sail with but on this trip there were also other young people and even some Honey Mooners! But regardless of age everybody on-board quickly made acquaintances and joined the atmosphere of familial hospitality set by the those who captain and crew this fine vessel. The welcome drinks, that followed the most brief and succinct safety drill I have ever witnessed, flowed with great generosity as we set sail into the late afternoon sun for our first port of call. The dinner that night was very enjoyable and the service and sense of fun and adventure set by the staff got everybody buzzing in the dining room on the first night. Really, the atmosphere was remarkable, not like anything we have experienced before. Relaxed, laid back and warm whilst still remaining highly professional and dedicated. That night we slept like babies in our wooden paneled cabin in the ancient Port of Epidaurus. The Weather had changed so we had to make a slight deviation to the itinerary, which for us made for a spontaneous and exciting alteration to the first night. We got to wander around this lovely port after dinner, late into the night and really immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of our chosen destination. We came to see and experience Greece and we were grateful to spend many nights in port, enjoying the destinations at our own pace and not having to rush back to set sail before we had experienced enough. I'll say it again, if you want to experience Greece authentically aboard a charming vessel, look no further than this trip aboard the Galileo. The week that followed was really made up of much of the same magic moments. The experience was so flexible and fluid and there was not one announcement made over the PA system after the first night, so we really felt like we were on-board a friends yacht, travelling with this small group who felt like family . The ambiance is relaxed and friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Getting on and off the ship could not be simpler and we never pulled into port with another sizable vessel, it was always just us and the locals save for Mykonos and Santorini but that is to be expected . We were taken right into the hearts of many ports, and stayed throughout the night tasting local specialties and talking to friendly local people. When it came to get off The Galileo a week later back in Piraeus we were slightly melancholic to be leaving the experience behind as both the crew and our fellow travelers all felt to be close friends. We have kept in touch with many of the people we met on this trip, we have only been back two weeks and have had various correspondence and communications and we have to say we miss it so much we are thinking of going back in July to do the whole thing over again with a new group of travelers but the same faces that we miss that became our friends: The crew of the Galileo! Read Less

We did the Jewels of the Cyclades cruise. We were only 28 passengers (out of about a 40 person capacity) and got to know everyone quite quickly. Just about everyone was a veteran traveller and it was fun sharing travelling stories. The islands that we visited were lovely, and apart from Mykonos and Santorini, were all islands that we had never heard of...where the big cruise ships never venture. We enjoyed seeing authentic island life, where the only other tourists were Greeks. Marita as our cruise and excursion director was amazing. So genuinely passionate about her country. She is a definite Jewel of the Cyclades! We had cabin 4 which was lovely (wood paneling on the wall, double bed, fairly large bathroom). (My only complaint was that the mattress was quite hard, which bothered my back). We did see a cabin with 2 single beds on the lowest level(obviously cheaper), and I'm very glad we did not have one of those cabins as they felt pretty claustrophobic to me, but the other passengers didn't seem to complain. The food was excellent, with lots of variety, more than I expected on such a small ship. It was a nice touch that there was fruit and cookies and cakes always available to nibble on during the day. Not all meals are provided, usually we found our own everyday either lunch or dinner very day, 2 meals a day were provided. It gave us a nice opportunity to eat locally! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip! Read Less

This cruise line is 4 star and perfectly delivers to that standard. The great thing is that the ships are small , yacht like for those of us who cannot afford a yacht, and comfortable rather than luxurious. The real plus is the fact that they can tie up quayside and get into small places and coves well away from the big cruise vessels . On this Cyclades cruise we loved all the off beat small islands and could have easily given the big names. .....Santorini and Mykonos a miss in favour of more small islands. That said Delos was not to missed... And we caught a great time of year with many wild flowers across the islands. One thing we didn't expect was the fabulous warmth of the Greeks. They are a delight. The ship had character , the cabins were perfectly comfortable although opening portholes would have been good. Deck space was fantastic and the main lounge and restaurant also good. In a small group environment food can always be criticised , but overall they did a good job producing wholesome and varied dinners....albeit the served dinners of 4 courses being mammoth in portion sizes. Key thing however on such an small ship cruise is the crew and they were a delight. Praise would go to all of them but particularly to the great deck crew for ensuring passenger safety at all times and also to Valerie the amazing Ukrainian bar host who was quite a character and quite made tea cruise for us . Cruising with Variety is deifintley a great value option to explore islands. After all who wants to land on santorini with 3000 fellow passengers off a colossal cruise ship when u can do its with max 48 from Galileo. Finally another plus was the kayaks , nothing nicer than pottering around coves and bays when anchored in peace on an azure sea! Read Less