Kirker Holidays has added a new collection of small ship cruises for summer and early autumn departures.

It features boutique vessels and luxury hotel barges – working in partnership with small cruise companies Silversea and European Waterways.

Each itinerary also includes a two-night stay at one of Kirker’s hotels in the region.

Departing until October, clients can choose from tailor-made itineraries in France, Italy and the UK that include:

Luxury barge hotel holidays

In partnership with European Waterways, Kirker presents a selection of new eight-night holidays that combine six nights on the water with flights, transfers and two nights in an hotel (or longer, if preferred).

France

Paris & Northern Burgundy – cruise the Nivernais Canal between mediaeval Auxerre and the pretty village of Chevroches on board L’Art de Vivre, a converted former First World War supply vessel. As well as six nights’ full board on the barge, during which excursions include a visit to a cellar in Chablis for a tasting of the Petit Chablis and Chablis white wines, two nights at the four-star deluxe Hotel Westminster in Paris. The price for this eight-night holiday is from £4,398 pp (two sharing).

Italy

Venice, Mantua & The Veneto – traverse the historic waterways of northern Italy, between Venice and the lakeside city of Mantua, on board La Bella Vita. Sail to the smaller islands of the Venice lagoon and the Roman city of Chiogga, pass through the delta of the River Po (home to flamingos and wild birds), cruise the Canal Bianco, and visit the Etruscan town of Adria, Renaissance Ferrara and local vineyards. This holiday also includes two nights at the four-star superior Liassidi Palace in Venice with guaranteed entrance tickets to the Doge’s Palace, Accademia or Guggenheim, and Kirker’s Guide Notes to restaurants and sightseeing. The price of this eight-night holiday is from £3,199 pp (two sharing).

UK

The Lochs and Glens of Scotland – see Scotland’s wild countryside and panoramic scenery, combining a two-night stay on the Speyside coast with a six-night cruise on board the latest addition to European Waterways’ fleet, Spirit of Scotland. The eight-night holiday is from £3,598 pp (two sharing).

Boutique cruise holidays

The operator has negotiated special rates for its clients on several Silversea Cruises this summer and early autumn, offering tailor-made itineraries which include flights, private transfers between airport, port and hotel, and accommodation in selected hotels before and after each sailing.

Music Cruises

The operator has also just announced its 2018 programme of Exclusive Music Cruises. Choose from Atlantic Discovery (a 14-night cruise visiting the Azores, Madeira, Lisbon and Porto, departing 4 May 2018), Spitsbergen & The Arctic Circle (a 15-night cruise visiting the Lofoten Islands, Tromso, Honningsvåg, the Svalbard archipelago and the Faroe Islands, departing 25 June 2018) and The West Coast of Scotland & Orkney (a seven-night cruise visiting Kirkwall, Invergordon, Ullapool and Tobermory, departing 15 September 2018).