70000TONS OF METAL 2026 takes the world’s biggest heavy metal cruise from Miami to the Bahamas, turning the Caribbean Sea and Nassau’s harbor into a floating festival of riffs, mosh pits, and island sun. The 2026 edition is confirmed for January 29 to February 2, 2026, sailing from Miami, Florida to Nassau, The Bahamas and back aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. After initially planning to return to Labadee, Haiti, organizers rerouted the ship to Nassau in July 2025 out of safety considerations, promising “a brand‑new location with fresh excursions” while keeping the event’s trademark 60 bands and 120 shows at sea fully intact. For metal fans who love islands as much as blast beats, 70000TONS OF METAL 2026 offers the ultimate heavy holiday.
Core Facts: Dates, Route, Ship, and Format
The 2026 voyage details are now locked in across official channels and metal news outlets:
- Event Name: 70000TONS OF METAL 2026 – The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise.
- Dates: Thursday January 29 – Monday February 2, 2026 (4 nights, 5 days).
- Route:
- Miami, Florida → Nassau, The Bahamas → Miami, Florida.
- Ship: Freedom of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), a 154,000‑plus‑ton cruise ship with multiple stages, pools, bars, restaurants, and lounges.
- Format:
- 60 bands, 4 days, 4 stages, about 120 live shows at sea.
- Around 3,000 “Sailors” (fans) with unrestricted festival access to all shows, plus metal karaoke until sunrise, artist clinics, meet‑and‑greets, and jam sessions.
For 2026, the ship leaves the Port of Miami on January 29, spends a day in Nassau, and returns to Miami on February 2, with music nearly nonstop before, during, and after the island stop.
Why 70000TONS 2026 Now Sails to Nassau, Bahamas
In mid‑2025, the organizers announced a significant destination change:
- The cruise was previously planned to return to Labadee, Haiti, but “due to ongoing safety concerns in Haiti,” the team decided to reroute to Nassau.
- A statement from the organizers noted that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution and with the well‑being of all sailors, artists, and crew as the top priority”.
Metal news outlets confirm that:
- The 2026 voyage now goes “from Miami, Florida to Nassau, the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, from January 29 to February 2, 2026”.
- Nassau is billed as “a vibrant port” offering “a gateway to Bahamian culture, historic charm, and lush tropical beauty,” with organizers promising that while the port has changed, the shipboard festival experience remains “without compromise”.
For fans, this means a safer route, new shore excursions, and plenty of ways to blend metal with Bahamian island life.
Typical Lineup and Onboard Experience
The full 2026 lineup is being announced in waves, but the format is well established:
- 70000TONS OF METAL sails with 60 bands spanning heavy metal’s subgenres, from death and black to power, prog, thrash, folk, and classic metal.
- As metal press put it, the 2026 cruise will again feature “60 bands across four stages” with “uninterrupted performances and community at sea”.
Onboard experience highlights:
- 120 live shows: Each band typically plays twice, giving Sailors two chances to catch sets, including unique pool‑deck shows under the Caribbean sky.
- Four stages:
- A massive pool‑deck stage with tiered viewing and, famously, fake palm trees and hot tubs.
- Indoor theatres and lounges converted into full‑on metal stages with professional production.
- Activities beyond concerts:
- Meet‑and‑greets, Q&A sessions, and clinics with musicians.
- “70000TONS of Karaoke” that frequently runs until sunrise.
- “Jamming in International Waters” sessions where artists from different bands collaborate on covers and special sets.
Veteran Sailors repeatedly describe the cruise as feeling like a floating metal village, where you see band members at breakfast, on deck, and in the pit.
Nassau, Bahamas: Island Stop on a Metal Voyage
With Nassau confirmed as the 2026 port of call, metal travelers can look forward to a full day ashore in the Bahamian capital:
- Nassau is known for its bright colonial architecture, historic forts, and Junkanoo culture, alongside modern resorts and casinos on nearby Paradise Island.
- Cruise coverage notes that the reroute “to Nassau, Bahamas” offers “fresh excursions” and access to “Bahamian culture, historic charm, and lush tropical beauty” for 70000TONS Sailors.
Typical Nassau options include:
- Beach breaks: Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island, Junkanoo Beach near downtown, or excursions to private beach clubs.
- City exploring: Parliament Square, the Queen’s Staircase, Fort Fincastle, and the Straw Market.
- Water activities: Snorkeling or glass‑bottom boat rides over shallow reefs, all within easy reach of the port.
Because 70000TONS schedules shipboard shows around the port call, many fans split their day between a few hours on shore and some quieter time on the ship, taking advantage of slightly emptier pools and bars.
Pricing Overview and How Booking Works
Precise pricing for each 70000TONS sailing changes year to year, but official booking pages and forum posts offer a clear view of the 2026 structure:
- Bookings are handled directly through the book70000tons.com system, where you select either a private cabin or a single ticket in a shared cabin.
- 2026 pricing tables show per‑person cabin rates by category, for example:
- Spacious Ocean View (1L): listed at US$1899 / 1533 / 1166 per person depending on occupancy level.
- Other categories (inside, oceanview, balcony, suites) have ascending prices; all are per person, with separate port charges and service fees.
Past forum posts illustrate the general model:
- Earlier sailings had cabin prices ranging “between $666 and $3000 per person depending on cabin type,” with each person also paying a separate port/tax fee (previously around US$250; recent examples show port charges in the US$400+ range per person).
For 2026, you should expect:
- Per‑person cruise fare in the low‑ to mid‑thousands of US dollars depending on cabin type and whether you share.
- Additional port charges and fees per person on top of the cruise fare.
Because the lineup and rarity drive demand, cabins tend to sell out quickly once sales open and initial bands are announced. Returning guests and “Gold Survivors” often get early booking windows, followed by the general public.
Practical Travel Tips for 70000TONS OF METAL 2026 Bahamas
Getting to the Ship in Miami
The cruise departs from the Port of Miami, with 70000TONS providing precise arrival and departure logistics:
- Official arrival & departure info states the voyage is “2026 Miami, Florida > Nassau, The Bahamas > and back,” departing from the Port of Miami, 1103 N Cruise Blvd, Miami, FL 33132.
- Organizers advise arriving in Miami at least one day before departure to avoid flight delays and to attend pre‑cruise meetups with other Sailors.
Documents and Check‑in
- As a closed‑loop cruise from the US to the Bahamas and back, you will need valid passport documentation and check‑in compliance according to Royal Caribbean and 70000TONS rules.
- Check‑in and security at Port of Miami can take time; aim to arrive early within your assigned check‑in window.
Packing for Metal and the Bahamas
You are mixing a full metal festival with Caribbean weather and a Bahamas port call, so pack for both worlds:
- Metal gear: Band shirts, black outfits, comfortable shoes for pits and standing, ear protection if needed.
- Island wear: Swimwear, light clothing, hat, sunglasses, and reef‑safe sunscreen for sunny Nassau.
- Ship‑smart extras: A refillable water bottle, motion‑sickness remedies if you are new to cruising, and a small bag or lanyard for your SeaPass card.
Temperatures will be warm both at sea and in Nassau, especially on the open pool deck during daytime sets.
Why 70000TONS OF METAL 2026 Bahamas Belongs on Your Island Bucket List
70000TONS OF METAL has long been more than “just a cruise” or “just a festival.” It is an immersive community of 3,000 fans and 60 bands sharing four days of music, food, and ocean views. The 2026 move to Nassau adds another layer: a chance to step off the ship into Bahamian streets, grab conch fritters by the waterfront, or swim in turquoise water before heading back to the pool‑deck pit.
You get:
- Two sets from every band across four stages.
- Intimate encounters with artists in elevators, buffets, and bars.
- A safe, controlled festival environment with a new Caribbean island on the itinerary.
If your ideal island trip includes headbanging under palm trees, crowd‑surfing at sea, and waking up to a Nassau skyline before another round of shows, 70000TONS OF METAL 2026 Bahamas is designed for you.
Mark January 29 – February 2, 2026 in your calendar. Keep an eye on band announcements and cabin availability. Then book your spot, plan a pre‑night in Miami, and get ready to sail from the Port of Miami to Nassau with thousands of fellow metal Sailors.
The riffs will be loud, the water will be warm, and the world’s biggest metal cruise will be waiting for you in the Bahamas.
Verified Information at glance
Event Category: Music festival at sea / Heavy metal cruise / International concert event
Event Name: 70000TONS OF METAL 2026 – The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise.
Island Focus: Nassau, New Providence Island, The Bahamas (port of call).
Confirmed 2026 Dates:
- January 29 – February 2, 2026 (4 nights, 5 days).
Route & Ports:
- Departure port: Port of Miami, 1103 N Cruise Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA.
- Itinerary: Miami, Florida → Nassau, The Bahamas → back to Miami, Florida.
Ship:
- Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas.
Format & Scale:
- 60 bands, 4 days, 4 stages, ~120 live shows on board.
- Approx. 3,000 passengers (“Sailors”); unrestricted festival access to all shows, karaoke, and events.
Destination Change for 2026:
- Originally planned for Labadee, Haiti; rerouted in July 2025 “out of an abundance of caution” due to safety concerns.
- New destination: Nassau, Bahamas, described as “a vibrant port” and “gateway to Bahamian culture, historic charm, and lush tropical beauty”.
Onboard Experience Highlights:
- Pool‑deck stage with fake palm trees and open‑air shows.
- Jamming in International Waters, 70000TONS of Karaoke until sunrise, artist clinics, and meet‑and‑greets.
Pricing Structure (2026 Booking Pages):
- All prices per person, based on cabin category and occupancy.
- Example 2026 table entry: Spacious Ocean View (1L) listed at US$1899 / 1533 / 1166 per person depending on occupancy level.
- Additional mandatory port charges and fees per person; earlier forum examples note port charges in the hundreds of US dollars per passenger.
Key Sources Confirming 2026 Voyage Details:
- Official site 70000tons.com (voyage overview, arrival & departure page).
- Metal news outlets (Blabbermouth, Metal Insider, MetalSucks, Loaded Radio, CruiseMapper) confirming dates, ship, and Nassau reroute.
