DETROIT-- The Draken Harald Harfagre, a 115-foot-long Viking ship that sails under the Norwegian flag made its way up the Detroit River on Wednesday.

The vessel is making its way to Bay City for the 2016 Tall Ships Celebration, which kicks off Thursday, July 14, and runs through July 17.

The Draken Harald Harfagre was constructed in 2010 as the "largest viking ship ever built in modern times," at 115-feet in length, with a beam height of 26-feet.

Powered only by a sail and oars, its sailors nearly turned around on July 11 after discovering they would need to pay $400,000 for pilotage around the Great Lakes, which was not within their budget, according to the ship's captain, Bjorn Ahlander.

But the team decided to press on and at least make the journey to Bay City. The ship will be skipping its last scheduled stops on the tour: Chicago, Duluth, Minnesota and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Draken Harald Harfagre left Norway on April 26, stopping in Iceland and Greenland before making its way across the Atlantic and into the St. Lawrence Sea Way, and finally into the Great Lakes.

The ship is following a historical route Vikings are believed to have explored nearly 1,000 years ago.

Other ships coming from Lake Erie include Pride of Baltimore, Appledore IV, S/V Denis Sullivan, El Galeon Andalucia,Pride of Baltimore II and the U.S. Brig Niagra, a replica of the relief flagship used by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during a pivotal naval battle in the War of 1812.

Follow the tall ships as they make their way to Bay City for festival using this map.

Tickets for the Tall Ship Celebration are for sale online at tallshipcelebration.com.

Advance daily tickets with a souvenir "passport" cost $8 per day. Prices rise to $10 a day on July 1. All Kroger stores are offering the ticket at a $1 discount per ticket.

Visit the Bay City Tall Ship Celebration website for more.