Variety Cruises will launch a seven-night Adriatic itinerary in April 2027, with weekly roundtrip departures from Dubrovnik aboard the 34-guest Callisto, priced from $2,190 per person.

The Greece-based small-ship operator is packaging the "Croatia Island-Hopping & Montenegro" product around a two-country route: Croatia's islands, including lesser-served ports Vis, Lastovo and Mljet, followed by a sailing into Montenegro's Bay of Kotor. For sellers of travel, the pitch is a bundled format — four guided excursions, 14 onboard meals with drinks included at lunch and dinner, and complimentary Wi-Fi — rather than a bare cruise fare.

The move positions Variety in the competitive Dalmatian coast market at a time when mainstream lines are deploying larger tonnage to Dubrovnik and Split. By capping capacity at 34 guests and calling at islands that big ships cannot access, the operator is targeting the high-yield, experience-led segment where small-ship lines such as SeaDream and luxury yacht operators compete.

What's inside the fare?

The $2,190 starting price includes:

• Four guided excursions: Dubrovnik Old Town, Mljet National Park, Hvar and Kotor
• Local cultural experiences such as wine tastings and cooking or cocktail demonstrations
• 14 onboard meals featuring Mediterranean and regional cuisine, with wine, beer or soft drinks at every onboard lunch and dinner
• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the voyage

Guests can also swim directly from the ship in secluded Adriatic bays through the line's Variety Swim Experiences, with complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkeling equipment. Optional add-ons — sold separately — include evenings in traditional Croatian taverns known as "konobas" and visits to Montenegrin villages, giving agents room to build higher per-booking revenue through pre-arranged extras.

Why the itinerary design matters

Variety says it has deliberately built a slower, more immersive routing that pairs Croatia's marquee islands with under-visited ports such as Vis, Lastovo and Mljet before crossing into Montenegro. CEO Filippos Venetopoulos framed the product as story-driven rather than port-count-driven.

"Whether history, mythology or somewhere in between, these waters have inspired human curiosity for thousands of years," Venetopoulos said. "Our goal isn't simply to show guests beautiful places—it's to help them understand the stories, cultures and traditions that continue to shape them today."

That positioning signals how the line intends to defend pricing against larger competitors: sell depth and access, not cabin volume. Whether the April 2027 launch fills Callisto's 34 berths weekly through the season will be the first measurable test of demand for this Adriatic small-ship format.