The 31 January is fast looming and this marks the end of Steamship Shieldhall’s ‘early bird’ discounts for a selection of her 2026 cruises.
20% ‘Early Bird’ discounts are available on a number of trips.
The early-bird cruises have been selected to represent a cross section of Shieldhall’s ever popular sailing programme.
The Sunday 7th June sailing to the Eastern Solent will see Shieldhall extend her traditional route to include Sandown Bay. There will be excellent views of Osborne House and Ryde from the water, and Shieldhall will steam close to the atmospheric Palmerston Forts.
Friday 26 June sees Shieldhall undertake an evening Midsummer Music Cruise, with the excellent Dinner Set providing a backdrop of easy listening classics, featuring the keyboard and harmonica wizardry of Martin Perry and note perfect saxophone of Tony Wright.
The Round the Island Race is always a highlight in the Shieldhall calendar, and is a favourite with photographers who enjoy stable conditions and an opportunity to view up to 1700 vessels on the water, making this the UKs 4th largest sporting event behind the London Marathon and Great North and South Runs!
There is another great viewing opportunity on Sunday 9 August when Shieldhall steams into Portsmouth Harbour. Portsmouth is celebrating 100 years of becoming a City in 2026, and Shieldhall will pass close to Southsea and the Round and Square Towers before entering the Harbour and viewing the Spinnaker Tower and Royal Naval Fleet at close quarters.
The final early bird sailing takes place on Saturday 5 September and is another not-to-be missed event, as Shieldhall welcomes on board Dr. Stephen Payne, British Naval Architect and designer of the Queen Mary 2. Fittingly, Shieldhall will pass the QM2 at berth, and will later return up Southampton Water to see the Cunard Liner depart. Expect lots of sounding of whistles and sirens in time-honoured tradition!
Shieldhall’s volunteers are currently overseeing a winter maintenance programme on board, and undertaking training exercises in readiness for the sailing programme. Shieldhall’s first open day of the year, when she welcomes guests on-board free of charge, is being staged on Saturday 14 March (10am – 4pm). This will be the first opportunity to see the results of her volunteer’s winter work, including improvements to the ship’s galley.
To view Shieldhall’s complete 2026 sailing programme, list of Open Days and dates for Heritage Adventure Training Days at Sea, Experience Days and Ashes Scatterings at Sea, please visit: www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk
To purchase at the early-bird price, enter the code EARLYBIRD at checkout on the bookings page at www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk/bookings
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