Countdown to 2026: 198 Days
SOOOOOOON, a word 70000tons of Metal cruisers know all too well, love it or hate it. 70000tons of Metal, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, returns for its 2026 edition from January 29 – February 2, 2026, setting sail from Miami, Florida to Nassau, The Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. For booking and full details are available on the official website. Read our essential packing guide here. Check out the testimonials from several 2025 artists at this location.
70000tons 2025 Round 13: ARTIST 2 of 61 Arcturus
Stats
2025 Voyage:
Dates: January 30 – February 3, 2025
Destination: Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Ship: Independence of the Seas
Artist Spotlight
Band: Arcturus
Number of 70000tons Appearances: 1 (2025)
Set 1: January 30, 2025 – Royal Theater – 3:00 am
Set 2: February 2, 2025 – Studio B – Ice Rink – 7:00 pm
Attended: Set 1 – Yes, Set 2 – No
Country: Norway
Genre: Avant-Garde Progressive Metal
Latest Album: Arcturian – 2015 (Prophecy Productions)
Standout Moment(s):
Norway’s Arcturus brought their otherworldly presence to the metal seas, blending science fiction aesthetics with avant-garde freedom. Originally rooted in black metal, the band has long since ventured into more experimental territory, and this 3:00 AM performance made that clear. Donning goggles and wielding eclectic instrumentation, their set was a spellbinding, surreal experience that felt both supernatural and theatrically unbound.
Arcturus – Set 1

Latest Arcturus News
Arcturus have been relatively silent since their 2025 70000tons voyage. Shortly after departing the ship, they performed on the Nordic Metal Cruise on February 8th. As for new music and additional shows, the only event currently on their schedule is an appearance at this year’s Metal Gates Festival in September, which boasts a killer lineup.
What is the Artist Spotlight?
Well, it’s more than a review of their performance; as 70000tons goes, each band is a headliner, and we treat each one as such, giving them their own spread, discussing who they are and what they’ve been up to since the cruise. Each spotlight coincides with any updates from 70000tons organizers (if any), leading to days before setting sail. An extensive coverage like no other.
70000tons 2026 Lineup 31 out of 60:
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
Satan
Saturnus
Seven Spires
Skeletal Remains
Soen
Soilwork
Tyr
Vader
Vio-lence
Wind Rose
Xandria
Artist Spotlight 2025:
2025 Recap
Artist Spotlight 2024:
Artist Spotlight 2023:











