Star Clippers vs Variety Cruises

The core difference

Star Clippers and Variety Cruises occupy the same intimate corner of the cruise market — small ships, small harbours, casual atmospheres, and travellers who want authenticity over spectacle. Both reject the conventions of mainstream cruising. Both access ports that the large ships cannot reach. Both attract loyal repeat guests at rates that mainstream lines can only envy. And yet the experiences aboard are shaped by such different propulsion systems, philosophies, and cultural identities that booking the wrong one would leave a traveller wondering what the fuss was about.

Star Clippers’ identity is tall-ship sailing adventure. The fleet of three vessels — the four-masted barquentines Star Clipper and Star Flyer carrying 170 guests each, and the magnificent five-masted Royal Clipper accommodating 277 — travel under genuine wind power up to 80 per cent of the time. These are working tall ships where crew hand-set 36,000 to 56,000 square feet of canvas, and guests are invited to haul lines, climb the mast to the crow’s nest, lie in the bowsprit net over the open ocean, and learn celestial navigation. The sailing itself is the primary experience — the sound of wind filling the rigging, the heel of the ship under canvas, the sight of dolphins from the bowsprit net. Dining is full-board with single open-seating and surprisingly excellent cuisine. The itineraries span the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia, with ships regularly visiting harbours inaccessible to conventional cruise vessels.

Variety’s identity is authentic Greek small-yacht exploration. A third-generation family-owned Greek company, Variety operates a fleet of motor yachts averaging around 50 guests each. These are genuine small yachts — compact, unpretentious, and designed to slip into the tiniest harbours of the Greek archipelago. The half-board arrangement is deliberate: breakfast and one main meal are included, freeing guests to dine ashore in harbourside tavernas. Extended evening port stays — sometimes overnight — allow guests to experience island life after the day-trippers have departed. The atmosphere is closer to chartering a friend’s yacht than boarding a cruise ship, and the Greek crew’s warmth and local knowledge are central to the experience.

For Australian travellers, the choice often reflects personality rather than budget — both lines are accessible by yacht-category standards. If you dream of sailing under canvas and participating in the ancient art of square-rigger seamanship, Star Clippers is without equal. If you dream of island-hopping Greece the way Greeks do — tiny harbours, taverna dinners, swim stops in hidden coves — Variety delivers authenticity that no tall ship can replicate.

What is actually included

The inclusion models differ in ways that reflect each line’s philosophy about how guests should spend their time — one keeping them aboard with excellent full-board meals, the other deliberately sending them ashore.

Star Clippers includes all meals — breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner — in the fare. The cuisine is surprisingly excellent, with regionally inspired menus, generous buffets at breakfast and lunch, and served multi-course dinners. Wines at dinner are very reasonably priced but not included. Alcoholic beverages are purchased separately at modest bar prices. The watersport marina on Royal Clipper provides complimentary kayaking, paddleboarding, waterskiing, and snorkelling. Gratuities are not included and are discretionary. The sailing experience itself — climbing the mast, hauling lines, the bowsprit net, celestial navigation lessons — is entirely complimentary.

Variety includes half-board — breakfast and one main meal (typically lunch or dinner depending on itinerary). The other meal is deliberately omitted to encourage shore dining during extended port stays. Alcoholic beverages aboard are purchased separately at modest prices. Snorkelling gear and fishing equipment are provided. Swim stops in open water are complimentary and frequent. Gratuities are discretionary.

The practical cost comparison for Australian travellers is closer than it initially appears. Star Clippers’ full-board model means minimal additional spending aboard — perhaps AUD $50 to $80 per person per day for drinks and gratuities. Variety’s half-board model requires shore dining spending — perhaps AUD $30 to $60 per person per evening meal ashore, plus drinks aboard and gratuities. A seven-night Star Clippers voyage might total AUD $2,500 to $4,200 per person all-in. A seven-night Variety voyage might total AUD $1,800 to $3,400 per person all-in. Both represent exceptional value in the yacht category, and the modest difference buys genuinely different experiences rather than merely different quality levels.

Dining and culinary experience

The dining philosophies reflect each line’s core identity — Star Clippers celebrates communal dining aboard a sailing ship, Variety celebrates the culinary identity of the ports visited.

Star Clippers’ dining is a communal affair that consistently exceeds expectations. The galley produces regionally sourced menus — Greek salads and fresh-caught fish in the Mediterranean, Caribbean spices and tropical fruit in the islands, Asian-influenced dishes in Southeast Asia. Breakfast and lunch are generous buffets with made-to-order stations; dinner is a served multi-course meal that would not be out of place in a good shoreside restaurant. Wine pricing is remarkably fair by maritime standards. The social dimension is crucial — single open-seating with no assigned tables means guests naturally form groups, and the shared experience of the day’s sailing creates conversation that flows as freely as the wine. The dining room aboard Royal Clipper, with its ornate interior and maritime heritage, adds atmosphere to every meal.

Variety’s dining philosophy positions the ports as the primary culinary experience. Meals aboard are honest, well-prepared Greek and Mediterranean cuisine — fresh salads, grilled fish, regional specialities prepared by the Greek galley crew. The quality is genuine and satisfying, though the presentation is unpretentious. The real culinary highlight happens ashore: the half-board model and extended evening stays create the opportunity to dine in harbourside tavernas where the fisherman delivers the catch, the owner pours local wine from an unmarked bottle, and the sunset over a Cycladic harbour needs no decoration. Variety’s Greek crew know exactly where to send guests — the recommendations are personal, specific, and consistently excellent.

The comparison is one of philosophy rather than quality. Star Clippers delivers better food aboard — full-board with more courses, more variety, and a professional galley serving 170 to 277 guests. Variety delivers a better overall food experience when shore dining is included — but that experience happens ashore, guided by local knowledge rather than a shipboard kitchen. For travellers who value communal dining in a convivial shipboard setting, Star Clippers excels. For those who believe the best food in Greece is found in Greece, not on a ship, Variety’s half-board model is a deliberate and inspired design choice.

Suites and accommodation

Accommodation on both lines is compact and functional — neither line sells itself on cabin luxury, and both expect guests to spend their waking hours elsewhere.

Star Clippers’ cabins are compact and nautically themed. On Star Clipper and Star Flyer, standard cabins run approximately 120 to 150 square feet with portholes, maritime decor, and efficient use of space. Royal Clipper offers more variety — standard outside cabins with portholes, deluxe cabins with picture windows, and the Owner’s Suite at the stern with a private balcony. There are no lifts on any vessel. The cabins are clean, well-maintained, and designed for the casual wardrobes that tall-ship voyaging demands. Storage is adequate for shorts, sailing shoes, and sundresses — which is essentially all you need.

Variety’s cabins are similarly compact, typically 90 to 140 square feet with portholes, simple maritime furnishings, and ensuite bathrooms. The ships show their age in places — interiors are functional rather than luxurious, and design aesthetics vary across the fleet’s vessels. Some ships offer a small number of larger cabins or a modest suite option. Air conditioning is standard. The cabins are clean and comfortable for sleeping — which is largely their purpose when the alternative is the sun deck, the swim platform, or a village taverna.

The accommodation comparison is essentially a draw — both lines offer compact, nautical, functional cabins that serve as sleeping quarters rather than living spaces. Star Clippers’ cabins may have slightly more character in their maritime theming, particularly aboard Royal Clipper. Variety’s cabins are more basic but equally serviceable. Neither line will satisfy travellers who prioritise cabin space, luxury finishes, or private balconies (Royal Clipper’s Owner’s Suite being the single exception). Both lines attract guests who understand that the cabin is the least important part of the experience.

Pricing and value

Both lines represent excellent value in the yacht category — and the comparison between them is unusually close, making this a genuine choice based on experience rather than budget.

Star Clippers’ per-diem runs approximately AUD $300 to $550 per person per night depending on cabin category and itinerary. Seven-night Caribbean or Mediterranean voyages start from approximately USD $1,500 to $2,500 per person. Royal Clipper’s larger size and additional amenities command a slight premium. All meals are included. Drinks, gratuities, and shore excursions are additional but modestly priced.

Variety’s per-diem sits at roughly AUD $200 to $400 per person per night. Seven-night Greek Islands itineraries start from approximately EUR $1,200 to $2,200 per person. Half-board meals are included. Shore dining, drinks, and gratuities are additional but accessible.

For a direct seven-night comparison: Star Clippers in the Mediterranean might cost AUD $2,500 to $4,200 per person including drinks and gratuities. Variety in the Greek Islands might cost AUD $1,800 to $3,400 per person including shore dining, drinks, and gratuities. The difference of roughly AUD $500 to $1,000 per person buys the tall-ship sailing experience, full-board meals, and a marginally more polished product — but both lines deliver exceptional value for yacht-scale cruising that carries fewer than 300 guests.

For Australian travellers, the flight cost comparison adds nuance. Star Clippers’ Southeast Asian deployments from Phuket or Singapore require flights of seven to nine hours from Australian gateways — significantly shorter than the 22 hours required to reach Variety’s Athens embarkation or Star Clippers’ own Mediterranean or Caribbean ports. A Star Clippers Southeast Asia voyage with flights might total AUD $4,000 to $5,500 per person. A Variety Classical Greece voyage with flights might total AUD $4,000 to $5,500 per person. Including flights, the total costs converge — making the choice genuinely about experience rather than budget.

Spa and wellness

Neither line operates a conventional spa — and both define wellness through active engagement with the ocean and the destination.

Star Clippers’ wellness proposition is the sailing itself. Climbing the mast, hauling lines, the physical engagement of life aboard a working tall ship — these create a form of active wellness that no spa treatment can replicate. The bowsprit net, where guests lie suspended over the open ocean, is a form of meditation unique to tall-ship sailing. Royal Clipper’s watersport marina provides complimentary kayaking, paddleboarding, waterskiing, and snorkelling. There is no spa, no fitness centre in the conventional sense, and no structured wellness programming. The ship and the sea are the wellness programme.

Variety’s wellness proposition is the destination. Swimming from the yacht’s platform in secluded Aegean coves, snorkelling in crystal-clear Greek waters, walking through island villages, and the restorative simplicity of a week with fifty people, no agenda, and the Greek sun — these constitute a form of wellness rooted in place rather than programme. Snorkelling gear and fishing equipment are provided. Swim stops in open water are frequent and are consistently cited as a Variety highlight.

Both lines demonstrate that wellness on a small ship does not require a spa — it requires the ocean, the sun, and the freedom to engage with both on your own terms. Star Clippers adds the physical dimension of sailing — climbing, hauling, balancing on a heeling ship. Variety adds the restorative dimension of the Greek Islands — warm water, quiet harbours, and the meditative rhythm of island-hopping with no schedule beyond the next port.

Entertainment and enrichment

Neither line offers production shows, casinos, or structured evening programming — and both attract travellers who would flee from such things.

Star Clippers’ enrichment is the ship. The daily programme revolves around the sailing — mast climbing sessions, knot-tying workshops, celestial navigation lessons with the officers, and the communal spectacle of watching the crew set and trim sails by hand. Local musicians might board at a port of call. The Captain’s presentation on the next day’s sailing generates genuine interest. Evening entertainment is the company of fellow sailors, a drink on deck under the stars, and the sound of wind in the rigging. There is no casino, no theatre, and no formal enrichment programme.

Variety’s enrichment is the port. Extended evening stays mean the entertainment happens ashore — wandering village streets, finding a harbourside taverna, watching the sunset from a quiet square. On board, the Greek crew set the tone — someone might produce a guitar, share island stories, or point out the constellation above. Fellow guests become the evening’s company. The simplicity is deliberate: Variety believes the islands are the enrichment, and the ship’s role is to deliver you to them.

The distinction reveals different relationships with the ship itself. Star Clippers guests love their ship — the sails, the rigging, the bowsprit net, the maritime heritage. The ship is both transport and destination. Variety guests love their ports — the islands, the villages, the tavernas, the swim spots. The ship is the enabler, not the attraction. For travellers who want the ship to be the experience, Star Clippers. For those who want the destination to be the experience, Variety.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison shows different approaches to scale and geography — Star Clippers covering three major regions with three iconic vessels, Variety covering the Greek Islands comprehensively with a larger fleet of smaller ships.

Star Clippers operates three tall ships. Star Clipper and Star Flyer (170 guests each) alternate between the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean or Southeast Asia in winter. Royal Clipper (277 guests) deploys primarily in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. The fleet covers the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia — three distinct regions offering very different sailing conditions and cultural experiences. The Southeast Asian deployment from Phuket or Singapore is particularly relevant for Australian travellers.

Variety operates approximately 10 motor yachts averaging 50 guests each. The fleet focuses on the Greek Islands and eastern Mediterranean — the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Ionian Islands, the Peloponnese, Crete, and the Turkish coast. Seasonal programmes extend to West Africa and the Seychelles. Multiple vessels running different itineraries simultaneously offer genuine choice in Greek routing — you can sail the Cyclades one year, the Ionians the next, and Crete the year after, all on different ships visiting different islands.

For Australian travellers, Star Clippers offers broader geographical reach, with Southeast Asian access being the most flight-accessible option at seven to nine hours from the east coast. Variety offers deeper Greek coverage — if the Greek Islands are the goal, Variety’s fleet and local expertise are unmatched. If the goal is diverse regions and the tall-ship experience, Star Clippers’ three-region deployment provides more variety across voyages.

Where each line excels

Star Clippers excels in:

• Authentic tall-ship sailing. The only cruise line where guests actively participate in sailing — hauling lines, climbing masts, lying in the bowsprit net. Up to 80 per cent of travel is under genuine wind power.
• Full-board dining. All meals included, with surprisingly excellent regionally inspired cuisine and very reasonably priced wines. The communal single-seating creates a convivial social atmosphere.
• Destination range. Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia — three distinct regions offering variety across voyages and accessible Southeast Asian options from Australian gateways.
• The sailing experience. The sound of wind in the rigging, the heel of the ship under canvas, the sight of dolphins from the bowsprit net — these are experiences that no motor yacht can replicate.
• Royal Clipper’s scale. The world’s largest full-rigged sailing ship offers more spacious public areas, a stern watersport marina, and a broader range of cabin categories than any Variety vessel.

Variety excels in:

• Authentic Greek exploration. Third-generation Greek family ownership means genuine local knowledge, crew who know every harbour master by name, and itineraries revealing the Greece beyond the postcards.
• Shore dining freedom. The half-board model and extended evening port stays create the quintessential Greek island dining experience — tavernas, sunsets, local wine, and recommendations from the crew.
• Harbour access. Variety’s shallow-draft yachts enter harbours too small for even Star Clippers’ vessels — the tiny fishing ports and hidden coves of the Cyclades and Ionians.
• Ultimate intimacy. At around 50 guests per vessel, Variety’s ships are smaller than any Star Clippers vessel. Everyone knows everyone by the second day.
• Fleet depth in Greece. Multiple vessels running different itineraries simultaneously means genuine choice and the ability to explore different Greek regions across successive voyages.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Star Clippers

Star Clipper or Star Flyer: Southeast Asia (7 nights, roundtrip Phuket or Singapore) — The most accessible Star Clippers itinerary from Australia, with Phuket roughly seven hours from Sydney. Sailing through the Andaman Sea under full canvas, visiting islands, secluded bays, and fishing villages. The combination of tall-ship sailing and Southeast Asian scenery is unique in cruising.

Royal Clipper: Mediterranean (7 nights, various departures) — The world’s largest full-rigged sailing ship exploring the Italian coast, Greek islands, or Dalmatian coast under five masts of hand-set canvas. The stern marina platform deploys in warm Mediterranean waters. For Australians combining European travel with a sailing experience, Royal Clipper is the most spacious and comfortable tall-ship option.

Variety

Variety: Classical Greece (7 nights, roundtrip Athens) — The signature itinerary through the Cyclades — Santorini, Mykonos, Delos — before heading to Monemvasia and the Peloponnese. Extended evening port stays for taverna dining. The definitive Greek island-hopping experience.

Variety: Jewels of the Cyclades (7 nights, roundtrip Athens) — Beyond the famous islands to Paros, Naxos, Koufonisia, Amorgos, and Ios. Harbours too small for Star Clippers, villages untouched by mainstream tourism, and the authentic Cyclades that most visitors never see.

Variety: Ionian Odyssey (7 nights) — The greener, quieter western Greek islands — Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Kefalonia. Turquoise bays, swim stops, and evening taverna visits in a region far less touristed than the Cyclades.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Star Clippers

Star Clipper or Star Flyer (170 guests each) — The most intimate tall-ship option and the purest sailing experience. Choose for Southeast Asia and for the strongest crew-to-guest ratio in the fleet. The smaller size creates a social dynamic closer to Variety’s intimacy level.

Royal Clipper (277 guests) — The flagship, the world’s largest full-rigged sailing ship, with broader deck spaces, a stern watersport marina, and more cabin options. Choose for the Mediterranean and Caribbean when more space and amenities matter alongside the sailing experience.

Variety

Choose by itinerary rather than ship — Variety’s vessels vary but the crew quality is consistent across the fleet. Classical Greece for a first voyage, Jewels of the Cyclades for deeper exploration, Ionian Odyssey for the quieter western islands. The third-generation Greek hospitality translates identically across every vessel.

For Australian travellers specifically

Both lines require international flights from Australia, and the accessibility comparison reveals a relevant nuance.

Star Clippers’ Southeast Asian sailings from Phuket or Singapore provide the most accessible option — seven to nine hours from Australian east coast cities. Mediterranean sailings require connecting through the Middle East or Southeast Asia to European embarkation ports. Caribbean sailings require transiting the United States. Star Clippers does not maintain a dedicated Australian office, but specialist agents handle bookings effectively.

Variety’s Athens embarkation simplifies logistics — a single, well-served European city reachable from Sydney or Melbourne in approximately 22 hours via Dubai, Doha, or Singapore. The consistency of Athens as a base port makes trip planning straightforward, and the Greek capital offers compelling pre- and post-cruise options. Variety does not maintain a dedicated Australian office.

The combination strategy works particularly well with these two lines. Both are accessibly priced, meaning an Australian traveller could realistically sail both in the same year — a Star Clippers Southeast Asia for the tall-ship adventure, a Variety Greece for the island-hopping authenticity. At combined costs of roughly AUD $4,000 to $5,500 per voyage including flights, two yacht-scale cruises in a single year is genuinely achievable — something that would be impossible with ultra-luxury lines at three to four times the per-diem.

The onboard atmosphere

These two lines feel more similar than the propulsion difference suggests — both casual, both intimate, both built around the company of like-minded travellers rather than onboard programming. The differences are in texture and focus.

Star Clippers’ atmosphere is the sailing club. Life revolves around the ship and the sea — the daily rhythm follows the sails rather than a cruise director’s schedule. Guests who hauled lines together that morning share stories over dinner that evening. The passenger mix is cosmopolitan — Europeans, Americans, Australians, many of them recreational sailors — and the shared adventure of the voyage creates bonds rapidly. The dress code is genuinely relaxed: shorts, sailing shoes, sundresses. Children are welcome in school holidays. The evening ends with the sound of wind in the rigging and the feel of the ship moving through the water.

Variety’s atmosphere is the Greek house party. With around fifty guests, anonymity is impossible and friendships form by the second day. The Greek crew are the social glue — warm, informal, knowledgeable about the islands, and naturally hospitable in a way that feels familial rather than professional. The passenger mix is international, slightly broader in age range than Star Clippers, and united by a love of Greece and authentic travel. The dress code is the most relaxed in the yacht category: barefoot on the sun deck, casual at dinner, no pretension whatsoever. The evening often ends ashore, walking back to the ship through a quiet village after dinner.

The atmospheres share more than they differ — both are casual, convivial, and built on shared experience. Star Clippers adds the physical dimension of sailing — the shared adventure of the wind and the canvas. Variety adds the cultural dimension of Greece — the shared discovery of islands, tavernas, and the warmth of Greek hospitality. Both create the kind of loyalty that brings guests back year after year.

The bottom line

Star Clippers and Variety Cruises are the most accessible entries in the yacht category — and the comparison between them is a genuine choice of experience rather than a choice of budget. Both carry small guest counts. Both access tiny harbours. Both attract loyal, well-travelled guests who value authenticity. Both reject everything about mainstream cruising. And both cost roughly the same when flights from Australia are factored in.

Choose Star Clippers for the sailing. Choose it for genuine wind power, hand-set canvas, mast climbing, the bowsprit net over the ocean, and the primal romance of travel under sail. Choose it for the broader destination range — Caribbean, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia — and for the Southeast Asian itineraries that are the most accessible yacht-scale cruising available from Australian gateways. Choose it for full-board dining, communal tables, and the company of fellow sailing enthusiasts from around the world. Accept that cabins are compact, there are no lifts or stabilisers, the ship will heel, and the experience is adventure rather than luxury.

Choose Variety for Greece. Choose it for the smallest ships in the yacht category, Greek crew who know every island by name, half-board freedom to dine in harbourside tavernas, extended evening port stays, and access to harbours smaller than anything Star Clippers can reach. Choose it for the most affordable yacht-scale cruising available and for the ability to explore a different corner of the Greek Islands every year. Accept that the ships are functional rather than luxurious, that entertainment is what the islands and the company provide, and that the experience is authentic rather than adventurous.

For Australian travellers who love both sailing and Greece, the answer is both — and the combined cost of two voyages on these lines is less than a single week on an ultra-luxury yacht. Star Clippers from Phuket for the tall-ship adventure, Variety from Athens for the Greek island fix. Both prove that the most rewarding cruising happens at the smallest scale and the most accessible price.