WITH local school’s breaking up, SS Shieldhall has got the perfect start to the summer holidays - take to the water for a choice of three different cruises this weekend!

Tomorrow morning from 11am to 1pm, join SS Shieldhall for a family cruise as she explores Southampton docks, passing close to cruise ships Aurora, Azura, Celebrity Silhouette and Sapphire Princess.

This is an ideal cruise for families, with a heavily discounted price for children and the perfect introduction to life on the water.

On this trip, Shieldhall welcomes SeaCity curator Maria Newbury on board, who will be bringing with her a selection of items from the City’s museum collection relating to Southampton’s maritime history.

Ephemera will include menus, deckplans and brochures from liners that sailed from Southampton in the past, including QE2 and Queen Mary.

In the afternoon, the Head to the Solent cruise departs from 4 til 7pm.

Cruise down Southampton water to the Solentagain passing the cruise ships, which always gives the chance to sound the whistle and play the Shieldhall Organ.

Take a trip to The Needles on Sunday from midday til 6pm as Shieldhall cruises to the Solent before heading west and travelling out beyond Hurst Castle and The Needles’ passage to The Needles themselves, one of the most photographed and iconic coastal locations in the UK.

On your return pass the departing cruise ships Britannia and Arcadia.

The weather forecast continues to suggest warm weather this weekend, so spare a thought for the Shieldhall volunteers in the engine and boiler room, where the temperature gauge reached 110 degrees Celsius on Shieldhall’s last trip.

Guests shouldn’t worry about getting too hot – there is usually a cooling breeze on deck and plenty of ice creams and children will have fun with our interactive Shieldhall Log Book, collecting stickers from various stations on board!

Visit: www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk.