Mayor of Hareid Bernt Brandal told Seatrade Cruise the new cruise destination will welcome its first call on June 5, 2026 followed by a further call on June 13, 2026.

Details of the cruise line and vessel have not been disclosed and will be revealed at a later date.

'The home of Vikings and explorers'

Earlier today, stood before a towering monument to the battle at Hjørungavåg that helped gather Norway into one kingdom in 986 AD, he told cruise line representatives, ‘I want to wish you a very big welcome to Hareid… the home of Vikings and explorers. We're settled between two airports and a hub for speedboats and ferries. Also, we have the most fantastic harbour area with deep water and good protection, so everything is ready... You should know this is serious from our side,’ he added, ‘we have a lot already but more will come.’

Linn Friedl, sales manager for cruise at Destination Älesund and Sunnmore, explained to Seatrade Cruise that her key ambition for Hareid is ‘building this as an explorer’s port - that is our motto and that is what we’re trying to achieve.’

The comments were shared during the final leg of Cruise Norway’s 2024 familiarisation trip to southwest Norway led by Monica Berstad, the network's MD. Other destinations visited include Stavanger, Haugesund, Eidfjord, Flåm and Nordfjordeid.

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Grace Stenmark, shore excursions manager, European Cruise Service (L) and Sylviane de Tracy, director, cruise research & development, Ponant (R) at Overåsanden beach, the monument to the 986 AD Viking battle at Hjørungavåg to the left
Storytelling

After a stroll along the white sand beach of Overåsanden located three kilometres from the center of Hareid, the group headed to Hjørungavåg Vikingpark. Traditional building techniques and materials have been used in its construction, including laying 14,000 wooden tiles by hand. Brought to fruition through a shared interest in history and culture, and by means of community spirit, all work has been carried out voluntarily by local enthusiasts; the municipality charged a symbolic 1 NOK fee to rent the land.

The park is currently under construction, set to include several buildings, boat houses and more, but could host cruise passengers as early as next year. Experiences can be adapted, but might include storytelling around Viking history and a hearty meal. Fam trip participants were the first to experience the attraction, which by road is located five minutes from the city centre.

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Hjørungavåg Vikingpark

Burial mounds and World War Two

Dramatic coastline scattered with buildings built by the Germans during World War Two can be seen at Kvitneset, which lies at the northern tip of Hareidlandet just six kilometres from Hareid in the direction of Brandal. The German coastal fort - which also had a prison camp for up to 120 Russian prisoners of war - was built there in 1941. Firing positions, bunkers, and a series of tunnels and holes for storing ammunition built by local workers remain. The battery has fallen into disrepair but the control center/command bunker and armory emplacement still stand. Most tunnels hewn into the rock are intact.

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Ammunition caches in rock, Kvitneset

Three Iron Age burial mounds can also be seen at Kvitneset.

Polarstar polar ship

Polarstar, twice saved from scrapping, started out as a sealing vessel and is today protected by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. The fam trip participants sailed on the 1948-built, fully restored ship where they heard stories about its polar expeditions to Greenland and Spitsbergen before taking tea/coffee and exploring its interior.

The vessel is certified to carry 50 passengers on day trips and 24 overnight.

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Polarstar

Singing and museum

At the Arctic Museum, the local choir performed Norwegian songs for the group while stood on the open deck of the polar vessel Aarvak. Hareid has been recognised for its musicality by the Norwegian royal family, who were given a performance by the same choir.

The day concluded with a three-course meal at the museum together with the mayor and various stakeholders.

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