Variety Cruises is positioning its seven-day Ionian Odyssey itinerary around the story of Homer’s Odyssey, as the recently released film adaptation drives renewed interest in Greek mythology and the country’s ancient sites.
The film, starring Matt Damon, has become the highest-grossing R-rated release of all time, according to box office data reported by Variety. Greek tourism operators expect the film to increase demand for destinations connected to the epic.
Variety Cruises is a family-owned small-ship line founded in Greece in 1949, operating vessels carrying fewer than 50 guests to ports inaccessible to larger ships.
Ionian Odyssey traces the epic’s homeland
The seven-day Ionian Odyssey sails round trip from Athens and was developed with historians and destination experts to highlight sites connected to the Odyssey narrative, including Ithaca, believed to be the homeland of Odysseus. Fares start from €2,660 per person.
Antiquity to Byzantium offers a shoulder-season alternative
A second itinerary, Antiquity to Byzantium, runs through the shoulder season and traces the evolution of Greek civilisation from antiquity through the Byzantine era. The itinerary visits Messenia and Voidokoilia, both linked to the Homeric tradition, and calls at Diros Cave, historically regarded as an entrance to the underworld referenced in the poem as the Kingdom of the Dead. Fares start from €1,700 per person.
Both itineraries include visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites, Greek cuisine and swim stops.
Trade angle
For agents fielding client interest sparked by the film, Variety Cruises offers a way to connect that interest to a genuine small-ship product with historical grounding, rather than a generic Greek islands itinerary. The line has multiple booking offers currently available; agents should confirm current pricing and conditions directly with Variety Cruises before quoting.
