IT’S a rare opportunity to follow in the salty footsteps of Kenneth Branagh and other Hollywood stars.

Families are being invited to immerse themselves in the world of tall ships by stepping aboard the 68-year-old Kaskelot for half-day voyages on the Solent.

Kaskelot will doubtless look familiar to many of her passengers, having appeared in countless film and TV productions over the past 30 years.

Her TV credits include the 2002 production Shackleton, starring Kenneth Branagh as the legendary explorer who faced a life-or-death crisis after his 1914 Antarctic voyage ended in disaster.

Members of the ill-fated expedition were left stranded on pack ice after it trapped and crushed their ship Endurance.

After rowing 800 miles in a 22ft boat, Shackleton and some of his fellow explorers found a whaling station on South Georgia Island and arranged for the rest of their shipmates to be rescued.

Kaskelot also appeared in the 2006 film Amazing Grace, starring Ioan Gruffudd as anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce.

Her other credits include the Swept from the Sea, the 1995 rom com Cutthroat Island and the 1985 film Revolution, starring Al Pacino and Donald Sutherland.

Owned by marketing agency Sportcel, the vessel has arrived in Cowes.

A Sportcel spokesman said: “People will have an opportunity to step aboard this world-class sailing ship and enjoy half a day of spectacular sailing. With all ages welcome on board, it’s the perfect way for families to spend a sunny day on the Solent.”

Passengers will be able to gain an insight into life aboard tall ships by exploring the wooden decks and the extensive cargo hold.

Built in Denmark in 1948 Kaskelot carried supplies to remote coastal settlements in East Greenland. During the 1960s, she worked as a support vessel for Danish fisheries in the Faroe Islands.

The 153ft long ship, which can carry 12 passengers and a crew of 18, underwent a major refit in 2013.

Later this year Kaskelot will visit France and the Nordics before returning to her home port of Bristol for the winter.

Anyone wishing to book tickets for a Solent cruise should go online and visit tallshipkaskelot.com/tickets.