SOUTHAMPTON'S own heritage steamship, SS Shieldhall, sets sail on twelve cruises during June and July, including a Father’s Day trip on Sunday with the popular Shieldhall Stompers Jazz Band on board.

Dad’s - and all visitors - are sure of a treat as alongside the live music there will be an opportunity to visit Shieldhall’s renowned engine room and boiler room once the cruise is underway.

Descending down stairs, visitors can see Shieldhall’s two triple expansion steam engines go about their paces, and feel the heat of the boiler room where the temperature regularly exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit!

After visiting the depths of the ship, visitors are also encouraged to see the bridge, where the Captain and his team control the ship, and communicate to the engine and boiler room teams through the ship’s telegraphs.

On the Father’s Day cruise, there are limited opportunities to ‘toot the Shieldhall whistle’ for £5, as she passes the outgoing cruise ships Britannia, Norwegian Jade, Queen Mary 2 and Ventura.

Passports are available to help children explore the ship and collect stickers from her volunteer crew at various points of interest. There is a full range of refreshments on board, including bacon baps, quiche, delicious Caymanas Rum Cakes and New Forest Ice Cream, plus real ale from local brewery Flack manor and Titanic bottled beers.

Tickets for the Father’s Day cruise are £40 adults; £10 children and £90 for a family (2 adults / 2 children) and can be purchased online at www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk or by calling the Ticket Manager on 0844 357 2329.

Shieldhall is the largest operational, passenger-cargo steam ship in Britain. A member of the National Historic Fleet she serves as a sea going tribute to Britain’s maritime heritage.