CAREERS

POSITION: Sales/Business Development Manager

REPORTING TO: Chief Commercial Officer

LOCATION: Athens, Greece (preferred)

Variety Cruises is a family-owned small ship cruise company founded in 1949. With a fleet of 8 fully owned ships, we are a 360° vertically integrated organisation building ships and creating, operating, distributing, and delivering our small ship cruises in over 13 destinations across 5 continents. Our Family at Sea is passionate about our mantra focused on providing authentic, sustainable, life-enriching small ship adventures delivering on our vision to create A Better World At Sea.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a self-driven and target-oriented Business Development Manager to join our Commercial team. This role is responsible for generating new B2B business and growing existing accounts in key international markets. It is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes full ownership of their pipeline, and consistently delivers results.

This is a hands-on sales role: you will be expected to prospect, pitch, follow up, and close deals. You will own your performance, working independently and with discipline, while being supported by the commercial team.

YOUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

· Hunt, pitch, close: new B2B partnerships with travel agents, tour operators, universities, museums, special interest groups, and more.

· Manage and grow existing key accounts.

· Execute weekly sales outreach (calls, emails, meetings) and report activity and results regularly.

· Organize and attend sales trips in assigned markets.

· Represent Variety Cruises at international trade fairs.

· Host FAM trips and turn them into sales.

· Maintain and grow a high-quality database of B2B partners and prospects.

· Ensure all contracts are negotiated and signed in line with company procedures.

· Suggest and act on sales improvement initiatives based on performance insights.

· Develop and execute a Strategic Business Development plan for the assigned region of responsibility.

ABOUT YOU

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Tourism / Shipping / Business Studies or related.

• 5-7 years of experience in travel industry. Cruise line experience preferred.

• Comfortable with CRM systems (Salesforce or Zoho preferred) and usual digital tools.

• Demonstrated track record of b2b sales success. Preferably within the travel industry. Extensive Knowledge of trade sales and the hospitality industry

• Strong command of English, written and spoken.

• Results-oriented mindset with a proactive approach.

• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and close sales effectively.

• Organized, self-motivated, and accountable.

• Ability to travel internationally every 1-2 months for approximately 30% of the time

WILL BE CONSIDERED A PLUS IF YOU ALSO HAVE…

• Existing travel industry sales relationships in assigned territory/region.

• Additional languages (Greek, German, French, Italian, or Spanish) are an asset.

WHAT WE OFFER:

· Competitive compensation package including sales bonus.

· Private medical insurance

· A free Variety cruise every year, plus generous discounts for families, and close friends

· 5 extra days of leave a year for going on your free cruise with Variety Cruises.

If you’re passionate about travel, confident in your sales ability, and ready to drive results, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply here. Join us at Variety Cruises and be part of a team shaping the future of small ship cruising!

POSITION: Marketing Manager 

REPORTING TO: Chief Commercial Officer

LOCATION: Athens, Greece Headquarters

ABOUT THE ROLE 

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Marketing Manager to lead our marketing function, drive brand awareness, and generate leads. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in digital marketing, global campaign launch and management, and content creation, with hands-on experience using tools like Zoho CRM (or similar platforms), WordPress, Canva, and Mailchimp. This role requires a creative thinker with excellent project management skills and a strategic mindset to help grow the company’s presence and revenue. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Develop and implement a cohesive marketing strategy to strengthen the company’s market position and drive brand awareness. 

• Manage the marketing budget, set and monitor KPIs and ROI, and oversee the execution of campaigns to achieve business objectives and generate leads. 

• Grow the company’s organic traffic, enhance customer journey experiences, and optimize conversion rates for better ROI. 

• Utilize Zoho CRM platform to track and analyze customer interactions, optimize campaigns, and drive lead conversions. 

• Align marketing strategies with sales objectives, working closely with the Chief Commercial Officer and the Sales department. 

• Collaborate with the CSR Officer to develop and promote Variety Cruises’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and Variety Cares Foundation projects. 

• Further develop our Loyalty program’s strategy, utilizing various channels and partnerships to enhance customer retention and engagement. 

• Oversee guest satisfaction surveys and manage online reviews to enhance customer experience and brand reputation. 

• Stay ahead of digital marketing trends, brainstorming and implementing innovative growth strategies. 

• Monitor and manage social media channels, creating engaging content to foster audience growth and brand engagement. 

• Direct and support PR initiatives and related activities. 

• Drive affiliate marketing and partnership programs to expand the company’s reach. 

• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide insights on potential adoption where relevant. 
• Share campaign insights with the broader Commercial team and executive leadership across our offices in Athens, London,  New York, Spain and Australia. 

ABOUT YOU 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Studies, or Hospitality Management (Postgraduate degree preferred). 

• Hands-on experience with WordPress, Canva, Mailchimp, and CRM platforms (Zoho preferred). 

• Strong understanding and experience managing SEO, PPC, email marketing, and social media strategies. 

• Excellent communication, copywriting (in English), and analytical skills. 

• Proficiency in Google Analytics, Google Ads, and other digital marketing tools. 

• Fluency in written and spoken English. 

• Prior experience leading marketing activities 

WHAT WE OFFER: 

• Competitive compensation. 

• One free cruise per year, with an additional seven days of annual leave on top of the legal entitlement. 

• Private medical insurance. 

• A friendly and supportive work environment. 

 Apply Here and Join us at Variety Cruises and be part of a team shaping the future of small ship cruising! 

POSITION: Junior Business Development Manager (USA)
REPORTING TO: Business Development Director
LOCATION: Remote (USA)

Variety Cruises is seeking an enthusiastic and driven Junior Business Development Manager to support the company’s growth in the USA. This role will focus on maximizing sales within assigned territories, building relationships with travel agencies and consortia, and supporting initiatives in the tour operator, non-profit, and incentive markets. The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter who thrives in a dynamic sales environment and has a passion for small-ship cruising.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales Growth and Relationship Management

• Drive sales efforts in assigned territories (East Coast or West Coast), ensuring revenue growth through travel agencies and consortia.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with travel agents, providing them with training, support, and updates on Variety Cruises’ offerings.

Business Development Support

• Collaborate with the Business Development Director to identify and capitalize on opportunities in the tour operator, non-profit, and incentive markets.
• Represent Variety Cruises at trade shows, conferences, and on sales trips to enhance the company’s visibility and reputation.

Strategic Initiatives and Reporting

• Support the implementation of regional strategic initiatives to achieve sales targets.
• Prepare regular sales reports, providing insights and recommendations based on market feedback and trends.

Qualifications:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in sales, preferably in the travel, cruise, or hospitality industry.
• Familiarity with travel agency and consortia networks in the USA.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build lasting relationships.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively for sales calls, trade shows, and industry events.

POSITION: CRUISE COORDINATOR
REPORTING TO: HOSPITALITY MANAGER
LOCATION: Athens, Greece Headquarters

Variety Cruises is a 360 vertically integrated small ship operator creating, operating, distributing, and delivering unforgettable experiences for our customers. VC operates in 13 destinations, including Greece, The Adriatic Sea, Italy & Malta, Cape Verde, Tahiti & the Seychelles.

DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Responsible for the wellbeing of the guests
• To be actively involved to the overall success of the cruise experience
• Preparation of cruise material ahead of cruise and in-depth learning of the ports visited
• Welcoming guests and assisting in their cabin accommodation and during embarkation/disembarkation procedures
• Presentation of our Captain and Crew during the welcoming briefing, the lifeboat drill demonstration, the life on board and ashore topics
• Planning/Conducting and supervising every day’s detailed program
• Information and presentation of the ports of call (soft daily lectures, power point etc)
• Excursions (promotion, booking, supervision, invoicing) and other booking arrangements when occurring
• Reporting daily to Hospitality Manager and forwarding detailed weekly reports and shore excursion settlements
• Promoting company’s cruise programs and the benefits of repeater guests
• Overall striving to deliver an excellent cruise experience

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism or History – Archaeology or similar
• Excellent knowledge of the English language written and verbal
• Additional language will be an asset (French – Spanish – German)
• Ability to use modern computer software
• At least 2-3 years’ experience in similar guest-oriented positions preferably at sea (river or small ship cruises) or previous experience as tour leaders on escorted multi day group land tours
• Ability to travel

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Communication Skills
• Public Speaking/ Presentation Skills
• Team Player
• Work Under Pressure
• Analytical thinking
• Problem Solving & Crisis Management skills
• Negotiation Skills