Guided cruise tours

Small ones. River vessels and small ships carrying modest numbers rather than the large ocean liners, which is what allows them into the Caledonian Canal, along the Seine and Rhône, and into Nile moorings the bigger boats cannot use. On the Upper Egypt itineraries, the vessel is a traditional dahabiya.

The same specialists who lead our land tours: archaeologists, horticulturalists and historians, travelling with you throughout. Because everyone is on board together, the conversation carries on between sites rather than restarting each morning.

Not usually. These are tours that happen to travel by water, so the days are built around what you go ashore to see. The vessel is how you get between places, and it means unpacking once while the view outside changes.

Rarely. Most of these itineraries are on rivers, canals and sheltered inshore waters rather than open sea, so conditions are generally calm. The Scottish west coast has some exposed stretches, and each itinerary sets out the waters it travels.

Shore excursions involve the same walking as a land tour, and there are steps and gangways to manage on board. Each itinerary carries an activity level of easy, moderate or active so you know what to expect before you book.

Very much so, and many guests travel solo. A small ship is naturally sociable, shared interest does most of the work, and friendships formed on tour often outlast it.

It depends on the route. The Scottish cruises run through the lighter months from spring to autumn, Provence is timed for the lavender in summer, and Egypt is at its most comfortable through the cooler part of the year. Each tour is timed around what it is built to show you.