Perhaps they will anchor outside a port, then the crew are individually transported by motorised dinghy to the shore. Typically, every one is placed into one of four watches . Each watch is led by a crew member with experience - your watch leader. This way everyone takes part in running the ships but all duties are tailored to individuals' abilities and many require teamwork enabling everyone to take part. Although the traditional rig on tall ships includes some sails which can be worked from the decks with ropes, others have to be handled aloft.
Tall ships are wonderful places to experience the immense power of sail.
They also create great friendships - it is not unusual for people to meet up with sailing companions again and again. That means that they are great people travelling solo. To start tall ship sailing you really don't need any experience at all. Given that each ship has a large crew, so long as there are a few experienced hands, everyone else can pick it as they go along. There is almost no restriction on any one crewing - many blind, and wheelchair bound people have completed successful trips along with able bodied people .