Norwegian Viking ship, Draken Harald Hårfagre (Draken), announced Newport, RI as the sixth official stop on its Expedition America: East Coast Tour 2018 presented by Highl and Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The tour, which launched in July 2018, will bring the world’s largest operating Viking ship to Newport for a four-day stopover from August 10-13. Beginning with an arrival ceremony on August 10  and continuing with threedays of ship tours and activations in the Draken Village, the Draken visit promises visitors an engaging look at the modern-day Viking spirit.

“Newport is synonymous with sailing,  and this isl and, with it’s natural harbor is the ancestral home of many merchants and seafarers,” said Trixie Wadson, Marketing Director, Bowen’s Wharf Co.Company. President Bart Dunbar added,“As the host of many Tall Ships events over the years the visit of the Draken ship will be a spectacular attraction in our historic town. The construction of expedition and recreation vessels is near to my heart and closely aligned with our Rhode Isl and marine industry. We all welcome this great wooden ship.”

The Draken will dock at Bowen’s Wharf Marina (1Bowen’s L anding) 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.

Guests are invited to greet the Draken ship as it sails into port with a display of Viking valor and excitement. Captain Björn Ahl ander and his crew will step ashore to welcome the crowd and introduce the Draken. This event is free and open to the public.

Beginning daily at 10:00a.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 (ages16 and over); and $30 for a family pack (includestwo 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; l and-side views of the ship; the Highl and Park Whisky hospitality tent; local food and beverage vendors; official Draken merch andise, and more.

Additional ticketed Draken events include a lecture with Captain Björn Ahl ander outlining the adventurous expeditions of the Draken(Saturday,August 11,7:00pm to 9:00pm, $25).

“The Vikings were accomplished navigators, artisans, traders and storytellers, but their greatest triumph was the ships they built,” said Captain Björn Ahl ander.“EachDraken 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 Isl and, Pennsylvania, Maryl and, 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.

Media Contacts:   En Route for Draken HH   Crystal Casazza, Communications Director   crystal@enroutemarketing.com, 215.867.8060

Port Host – Bowen’s Wharf Company   Trixie B. Wadson, Marketing & Communications Director   tbw@bowenswharf.com, 401-683-8537