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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast; I am honored to welcome Filippos Venetopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, Variety Cruises. Variety has been creating a better world at sea for over 75 years, offering travelers the comforts and unique benefits of small ship cruising while exploring the true identity of a destination.

Filippos Venetopoulos is the third-generation leader of Variety Cruises, one of the world's longest-standing small ship cruise companies, founded by his family in 1949. After graduating with distinction from New York University's Stern School of Business, Filippos gained international experience in banking, adventure cruising, and tourism before returning to Greece to join the family business. In 2021, during one of the most challenging periods in the history of global tourism, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and embarked on a mission to reposition Variety Cruises for a new era of travel. Under his leadership, the company has strengthened its focus on authentic small-ship experiences, sustainability, cultural immersion, and meaningful connections between travelers and destinations. His vision extends beyond cruising itself: to demonstrate that tourism can be a force for positive change while creating memorable experiences for guests, employees, and local communities alike. Filippos serves as a Board Member of SETE (the Greek Tourism Confederation) and was elected President of the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association (HPYOA) in 2026. He is an active advocate for the advancement of Greek tourism, maritime entrepreneurship, and sustainable travel practices. A passionate believer in lifelong learning, personal growth, and people-centered leadership, Filippos is known for combining entrepreneurial thinking with a strong commitment to culture, hospitality, and human connection. His guiding vision for Variety Cruises is simple yet ambitious: "To create a better world at sea." Filippos lives in Athens with his wife, Ersi, and their daughter.

Today, Variety Cruises is the number one fleet of small ships, hosting around 50 guests on board each sailing, giving the company the ability to bring voyagers to smaller, less crowded ports around the globe. With sailings in Greece, Italy, Malta, the Adriatic Sea, West Africa, French Polynesia, the Seychelles and beyond, travelers can discover authentic local and Indigenous cultures, regional cuisine, ancient sites, remote villages and natural wonders only small ships can reach.

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