70000tons of Metal 2025 Artist Spotlight: Delain

Countdown to 2026: 155 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 9 of 61 Delain

Stats

2025 Voyage:

Dates: January 30 – February 3, 2025
Destination: Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Ship: Independence of the Seas

Artist Spotlight

Band: Delain
Number of 70000tons Appearances: 4 (2013, 2016, 2019, 2025)
Set 1: January 31, 2025 – Royal Theater – 3:15 pm
Set 2: February 1, 2025 – Pool Deck – 2:15 am
Attended: Set 1 – Yes, Set 2 – No
Country: Netherlands
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Latest Album: Dark Waters – 2023 (Napalm Records)
Standout Moment(s):
Delain’s transition from 2020’s Apocalypse & Chill to 2023’s Dark Waters marked a significant shift for the band. While lineup changes have occurred before, it was Charlotte Wessels’ long tenure that left a lasting impact on fans. At the heart of it all is founder and mastermind Martijn Westerholt, who steered Delain into a new chapter in 2022 with fresh faces and a renewed vision.

Though this marked Delain’s fourth appearance on the ship, it was the first time featuring vocalist Diana Leah and bassist Ludovico Cioffi. If not for Westerholt’s recognizable presence at the keys and the familiarity of the band’s catalog, it might have felt like an entirely new group. Instead, it reflected Delain’s evolving vision, with new chemistry, a different performance style, and an ongoing sense of transformation. For many in the audience, it was their first time witnessing this lineup, and while it may take adjustment, as with other symphonic metal acts that have undergone major overhauls (such as Nightwish, Sirenia, Xandria, Visions of Atlantis, and Temperance), time often leads to appreciation, and even renewed admiration.

One noteworthy detail: although we didn’t attend, the band’s Pool Deck set was reportedly affected by strong winds, making it difficult to keep instruments steady on stage. Rumor even suggests Westerholt’s keyboard went flying. The Pool deck sets remain unpredictable.

Delain – Set 1

Latest Delain News

Over time, fans have begun to embrace the next chapter of Delain. With constant touring and the continued promotion of their 2023 record, the band’s refreshed lineup has been bringing renewed energy to the stage. While there’s no word yet on a new album, Delain currently have two shows scheduled for 2025: October 17 at P60 in Amstelveen (NL) and October 18 at Metropool in Enschede (NL). Tickets are available at this location.

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 44 out of 60:

Amorphis
Anthrax
Beast in Black
Bloodred Hourglass
Darkane
Dark Tranquillity
Dødheimsgard
Dragonland
Dust Bolt
Eluveitie
Ereb Altor
Firewind
Gama Bomb
Groza
Haggard
Harakiri For The Sky
Heathen
Hiraes
Hirax
Hour of Penance
Illdisposed
In Mourning
Insomnium
Izegrim
Kamelot
Kanonenfieber
Orden Ogan
Persefone
Rhapsody of Fire
Satan
Saturnus
Seven Spires
Skeletal Remains
Skyclad
Soen
Soilwork
Suidakra
Tribulation
Tyr
Vader
Vio-lence
Wind Rose
Wolf
Xandria