In this paper, by means of similarity transformations we study exact analytical solutions for a generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation with variable coefficients. This equation appears in literature describing the evolution of coherent light in a nonlinear Kerr medium, Bose-Einstein condensates phenomena and high intensity pulse propagation in optical fibers. By restricting the coefficients to satisfy Ermakov-Riccati systems with multiparameter solutions, we present conditions for existence of explicit solutions with singularities and a family of oscillating periodic soliton-type solutions. Also, we show the existence of bright-, dark- and Peregrine-type soliton solutions, and by means of a computer algebra system we exemplify the nontrivial dynamics of the solitary wave center of these solutions produced by our multiparameter approach. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.