Expedition America: U.S. East Coast Tour 2018
PORTLAND, Maine - Norwegian Viking ship, Draken Harald Hårfagre (Draken), today announced Portland, Maine as the fourth official stop on its Expedition America: East Coast Tour 2018 presented by Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The tour, which launched in July 2018, will bring the world’s largest operating Viking ship to Portland for a four-day stopover from Friday July 27 – Monday July 30. Beginning with an arrival ceremony on July 27 and continuing with three days of ship tours and activations in the Draken Village, the Draken visit promises visitors an engaging look at the modern-day Viking spirit.
“Tall Ships Maine is proud to host the unique Viking ship Draken to Maine's historic port city,” said Kristin Isfeld of Tall Ships Maine. “This visit will highlight the vitality of Portland's marine pursuits in fishing, commercial shipping, and recreational seamanship and enhance our ties to the wider world of sail training. Our partnership is a stellar example of how Tall Ships Maine fulfills its mission by sending Maine’s young residents to sea for sail training, learning, and exploration, a suite of unique experiences that fortify them for life.”
Hosted in partnerships with Tall Ships Maine, the Draken will dock at the Fore Points Marina (58 Fore Street) and will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for visitors to relive history in a way never experienced before. Draken will allow guests to not only marvel at this stunning Viking ship – but also to interact with the crew as they share their personal experiences of thrill, fear, and exhilaration while enduring the ship’s 2016 transatlantic crossing – reliving the Viking discovery of the New World more than 1,000 years ago.
The Draken Experience in Portland, Maine
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018, 3:30
Draken Arrival Ceremony
Led by Paul Wolf of Tall Ships Maine, guests are invited to greet the Draken ship as it sails into port with a display of Viking valor and excitement. Captain Björn Ahlander and his crew will step ashore to welcome the crowd and introduce the Draken. This event is free and open to the public. A small, private welcome reception will follow.
SATURDAY – MONDAY, JULY 28 – 30
Draken Village & Deck Tours
Beginning daily at 10 a.m., Draken will be open for timed and ticketed deck tours. Tour tickets, which run $6 for kids (ages 5 to 15, free admission for ages 4 and under); $12 for adults (ages 16 and over); and $30 for a family pack (includes two adults, and up to three children) can be purchased online at www.drakenhh.com, or on-site at the Draken Village. During each 30-minute tour, guests are guided through the ship and offered a look at a day-in-the-life of the crew and the historic craftsmanship used to build the ship with oak, tar, hemp, iron, and silk.
Within the Draken Village, which is free and open to the public, guests can experience a photo and video exhibition illustrating Viking history, modern explorers, and the adventures of the Draken; land-side views of the ship; the Highland Park Whisky hospitality tent; local food and beverage vendors; official Draken merchandise, and more.
Additional ticketed Draken events include a lecture with Captain Björn Ahlander outlining the adventurous expeditions of the Draken (Monday, July 30, 6 p.m., $25, at Shipyard Brewing, 86 Newbury St., Portland) and a screening of the newly released Draken documentary: Expedition America - a Modern Viking Adventure (Sunday, July 29, 7 p.m., $20, at Mechanics Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland).
“The Vikings were accomplished navigators, artisans, traders and storytellers, but their greatest triumph was the ships they built,” said Captain Björn Ahlander. “Each Draken stopover offers guests a tangible tie to history. We hope our visitors are inspired by the vigor of the Viking spirit and our modern-day adventures.”
Following the overwhelming response from the 2016 tour, the next leg of the Draken Harald Hårfagre North American tour will consist of stopovers across the U.S. East Coast states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, and more. The final tour schedule and all stopover ports are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
The crew on board Draken is a team of 35 men and women from all over the world, representing a diverse mix of age, gender, nationality, and background. The Draken is now accepting applications for public volunteer crew positions. To take part in this rare opportunity visit: www.drakenhh.com/join-the-crew.
To learn more about the Draken ship, team, and 2018 tour, visit www.DrakenHH.com or @DrakenHH on social media.
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