[ANNAPOLIS, MD] – Norwegian Viking ship, Draken Harald Hårfagre (Draken), today announced St. Michaels, Maryland as the next stop 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 Annapolis for a stopover from September 18 – September 20. Beginning with an arrival ceremony on September 18 at 4 pm and continuing with ship tours, the Draken visit promises visitors an engaging look at the modern-day Viking spirit.
“We are proud to welcome the Draken ship to CBMM and our historic town,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “Each year, we draw guests from all around the world, and now we can say we draw ships from all around the world. It’s very exciting! ”
Hosted in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the Draken will dock along the St. Michaels harbor 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 St. Michael’s
Tuesday, September 18, 4 pm
Draken Arrival Ceremony
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, with museum admission.
Deck Tours
Wednesday, September 19, 10 am – 5 pm (last tour at 4:30 pm)
Thursday, September 20, 10 am – 5 pm (last tour at 4 pm)
Non CBMM members must purchase a ticket to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in order to visit the ship. Museum tickets are $15 for adults (ages 18-64), $12 for seniors (65+), $12 for students (age 17+ with college ID), $12 for retired military (with ID), and $6 for children (ages 6-17).
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. 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. Museum admission is additional.
“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.”
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.
For more information, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.
