70000TONS OF METAL Changes Course For 2026 Cruise, Drops First Lineup Wave Featuring INSOMNIUM, ELUVEITIE & More

70000TONS OF METAL, the world’s biggest heavy metal cruise, will officially chart a new course for its 2026 voyage. The festival at sea, taking place January 29 through February 2, 2026, will now sail from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, replacing the previously planned stop at Labadee, Haiti. The reroute was made in response to ongoing instability in the region, with safety and comfort for fans, artists, and crew remaining the top priority.

“While Labadee has been a great port of call on past sailings, we are closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti and its surrounding regions,” said Andy Piller, Skipper of 70000TONS OF METAL. “Ensuring the safety and comfort of our Survivors is non-negotiable. With that in mind, we’ve made the proactive decision to change course for 2026. Nassau provides a welcoming alternative that allows us to maintain the world-class experience our Sailors expect — both on board and ashore.”

The initial lineup includes the following kickass metal bands as part of the first wave. Personally, I’ve never thought of Dødheimsgard as much of a “cruise-time party” band, but hey – here we are:

• Amorphis
• Beast In Black
• Dark Tranquillity
• Dødheimsgard
• Eluveitie
• Ereb Altor
• Firewind
• Gama Bomb
• Groza
• Haggard
• Harakiri for the Sky
• Heathen
• Hiraes
• Hirax
• Hour of Penance
• Insomnium
• Kamelot
• Orden Ogan
• Persefone
• Rhapsody of Fire
• Saturnus
• Seven Spires
• Skeletal Remains
• Týr
• Vio-Lence
• Wind Rose
• Xandria

33 more bands will be added to the lineup. For full lineup updates, cabin bookings, and info, visit the 70000TONS OF METAL website here.