70000tons of Metal 2025 Artist Spotlight: Stratovarius

Countdown to 2026: 22 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 42 of 61 Stratovarius

Stats

2025 Voyage:

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

Artist Spotlight

Band: Stratovarius
Number of 70000tons Appearances: 3 (2012, 2016, 2025)
Set 1: January 31, 2025 – Pool Deck – 8:00 pm – Visions Set
Set 2: February 1, 2025 – Royal Theater – 11:45 pm
Attended: Set 1 – Yes, Set 2 – Yes
Country: Finland
Genre: Melodic Power Metal
Latest Album: Triple EPs from 2024: Heroes, Demand, Abandon // Latest full length – Survive (2022)
Standout Moment(s):
While it may have been their third appearance, it had been nearly a decade since Stratovarius last set sail, and the wait was well worth it. The Finnish melodic power metal veterans delivered two prime-time performances: one celebrating 1997’s Visions, and another packed with classic favorites spanning their catalog. Bands like Stratovarius are a big reason many fans continue to do whatever it takes to return to 70000 Tons of Metal year after year. The band rarely tours the US; while they appeared at ProgPower (2005, 2014, 2022), and have toured Mexico, they still haven’t embarked on a full US or Canadian run in years. Booking the cruise gave roughly 3,000 attendees a rare chance to see them live, and they absolutely delivered.

Stratovarius– Set 1

Stratovarius– Set 2

Latest Stratovarius News

Stratovarius wrapped up their 2025 touring cycle on November 8 in Finland at XXL Mössö Metalli, following their fall run across Mexico. Looking ahead to 2026, the band already has several festival appearances confirmed, with dates available here.

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 53 out of 60:

Ad Infinitum
Amorphis
Anthrax
Arkona
Beast in Black
Bloodred Hourglass
Cemetery Skyline
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
Ignea
Illdisposed
Illumishade
In Mourning
Insomnium
Izegrim
Jag Panzer
Kamelot
Kanonenfieber
Orden Ogan
Paradise Lost
Persefone
Rhapsody of Fire
Royal Hunt
Satan
Saturnus
Seven Spires
Skeletal Remains
Skyclad
Soen
Soilwork
Suidakra
Tribulation
Tyr
Vader
VBO
Vio-lence
Wind Rose
Wolf
Xandria