Variety Cruises to Resume Small-Ship Cruising July 24

Variety Cruises said it will relaunch sailing July 24 with the 24-cabin M/S Galileo yacht in Greece’s Cyclades islands. Other yachts will resume service later in 2020 and 2021 in the Seychelles, French Polynesia, Costa Rica/Panama, the Red Sea and more destinations, the company said in a note to travel advisors.

The company said it would follow “a carefully crafted step-by-step safety and comfort protocol” to return to the seas responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since our inception in 1949, we have weathered a lot and have grown stronger and wiser with each passing storm, many of them together through our long-lasting partnerships,” the note said. “And for that, we are grateful because history is written with both achievements, but also with challenges. We believe that travel is more than just a luxury, but a way of life; a public function necessary for our growth and evolution, and at times like these, for inner healing.”

The Galileo will restart the seven-night “Jewels of the Cyclades” itinerary July 24 and operate weekly from Athens through October 2020.

The 21-cabin M/Y Pegasos will resume cruises in the Seychelles on Sept. 12 with weekly departures year-round. “It is essential to note that the cruise ship ban announced by the Seychelles government, and reproduced by the media earlier in May, does not apply for our small-ship cruises on the 21-cabin M/Y Pegasos,” Variety said. “We will be continually monitoring the situation to provide you with timely updates on our future cruise operations.”

For details on the updated safety protocols, click here.