[Andy]

At Sea and in life, unpredictable storms can arise and we have to stand our ground and wait for the high winds to pass. We did this last year and we will once again confront the winds with the loudest Heavy Metal growl imaginable. We are ready for the 10th Anniversary Voyage and together with you, our trusted Sailors, we are confident that we will guide our ship through any stormy Sea.

Sailors! Are you Ready to celebrate our Tenth Anniversary of 70000TONS OF METAL, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise?

Survivors and New Sailors alike, save the date! Round 11 will take place from January 7 - 11, 2021, sailing from Miami / Fort Lauderdale to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and back.

As always, we’ll have plenty of special surprises in store for you as we sail to a Caribbean dream destination for a Headbanger’s ultimate Heavy Metal vacation.

For those of you that are new to 70000TONS OF METAL, we hope that you can join our Survivors from our International Heavy Metal Family - The United Nations of Heavy Metal At Sea!

Watch out for bands, Survivor Pre-Sale and Public Sale dates which will be announced SOON!

Stay safe, rough Seas ahead!

Your Skipper

[acidbasement]

A ray of sunshine in a cloudy fucking month. Thanks guys, I needed that!

[cowboy71]

Well maybe a bright side is flights will be cheaper at that time of year this time around thanks to the world going to hell?

Although the Australian Dollar tanking counteracts that.

Will definitely have to adopt a "wait and see" stance for now.

[Yukz]

Now, it has to on a different boat, since Royal Caribbean is offering the independence on their regular schedule on those dates

[deathmetalpat]

Now, it has to on a different boat, since Royal Caribbean is offering the independence on their regular schedule on those dates

No ,this happened before and the cruise disappeared,the people who were booked got their cruise cancelled.The 7-11 block actually confirms it is the same ship.

[cowboy71]

Now, it has to on a different boat, since Royal Caribbean is offering the independence on their regular schedule on those dates

No ,this happened before and the cruise disappeared,the people who were booked got their cruise cancelled.The 7-11 block actually confirms it is the same ship.

They are not confirming or denying:

"Ship details to be announced #SOON. Hang in there!"

[deathmetalpat]

Now, it has to on a different boat, since Royal Caribbean is offering the independence on their regular schedule on those dates

No ,this happened before and the cruise disappeared,the people who were booked got their cruise cancelled.The 7-11 block actually confirms it is the same ship.

They are not confirming or denying:

"Ship details to be announced #SOON. Hang in there!"

After they inform the people who already booked that cruise,I imagine this bit of news lit a fire under Andy’s ass https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2 ... 037173002/
This is a cultural Carrington Event,70k can’t dick around at al this year.

[Godflesh]

Well maybe a bright side is flights will be cheaper at that time of year this time around thanks to the world going to hell?

Although the Australian Dollar tanking counteracts that.

Will definitely have to adopt a "wait and see" stance for now.

It’s sad that after all these years, we’re now forced to adopt a “wait and see” stance regarding 70000 Tons.

[Cardest]

Those 7-11 dates work really well for me due to my work at that time of year, I get 6 weeks off!
But I thought those dates, people would be in an outrage! Yeah?
If I recall, those dates angered just about everyone.

[cegr80]

The issue I have with those dates is that they are still too close to December holidays. Asking for vacations so early in the year can be problematic

[slayergeek]

I'm just happy to have dates. Now if we can only get a Cruise Line and Ship.

But of course then we will want bands, ticket sales start date, then public sale date, then more bands, etc, etc

We are such a demanding group aren't we :)

[SavaRon]

Wow, your timing is absolute shit. WTF, you have been at this for over 10 years and you announce this during a global pandemic with most cruise lines shutting down. No offense, but you all need to get help running this thing. The cruise is great once on board....before hand, not so much.

[Pellaz]

Wow, your timing is absolute shit. WTF, you have been at this for over 10 years and you announce this during a global pandemic with most cruise lines shutting down. No offense, but you all need to get help running this thing. The cruise is great once on board....before hand, not so much.

Yeah, it's amazing how everything seems so uncoordinated and incompetently run before, say, two weeks prior to sailing...and then everything magically comes together during that last intense stretch.

[Pellaz]

Now, it has to on a different boat, since Royal Caribbean is offering the independence on their regular schedule on those dates

No ,this happened before and the cruise disappeared,the people who were booked got their cruise cancelled.The 7-11 block actually confirms it is the same ship.

They are not confirming or denying:

"Ship details to be announced #SOON. Hang in there!"

Now THAT is weird.

[deathmetalpat]

No ,this happened before and the cruise disappeared,the people who were booked got their cruise cancelled.The 7-11 block actually confirms it is the same ship.

They are not confirming or denying:

"Ship details to be announced #SOON. Hang in there!"

Now THAT is weird.

You are the cruise wizard,anyway to narrow down ships leaving from the either Miami/Ft. Lauderdale on the 7th and returning the 11th?

[cowboy71]

HEY SKIPPER!

You know how we all said in our survey responses that we wanted booking to be earlier?

Yeeeeah I think we'll all be good if you hold off until October again thanks :)

[Sgt. B]

Wow, your timing is absolute shit. WTF, you have been at this for over 10 years and you announce this during a global pandemic with most cruise lines shutting down. No offense, but you all need to get help running this thing. The cruise is great once on board....before hand, not so much.

I'm guessing he planned to announce the 2021 dates at H&H festival in Mexico. Even with the world going to shit, he stuck with his plan.

[Godflesh]

Wow, your timing is absolute shit. WTF, you have been at this for over 10 years and you announce this during a global pandemic with most cruise lines shutting down. No offense, but you all need to get help running this thing. The cruise is great once on board....before hand, not so much.

I'm guessing he planned to announce the 2021 dates at H&H festival in Mexico. Even with the world going to shit, he stuck with his plan.

"From and including: Friday, March 13, 2020
To, but not including Thursday, January 7, 2021

Result: 300 days"

The date announcement was simply a 300 days announcement, like in 2015 when we switched to the Indy for 2016.

[cowboy71]

https://70000tons.com/ship-facts/

More information on our vessel for Round 11
will be released #SOON.

Voyage information has also been updated so whatever ship it is, it will be sailing out of Fort Lauderdale:

https://70000tons.com/voyage/

[mbob]

It has to be the Independence. It is the only ship scheduled to depart from Fort Lauderdale on the 7th. There are 2 other ships but they are not a line that would charter this cruise. Cruise schedules are set over a year in advance. I can't imagine they will be moving another ship to that port on that day.

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/fromfo ... n2021.html

https://70000tons.com/ship-facts/

More information on our vessel for Round 11
will be released #SOON.

Voyage information has also been updated so whatever ship it is, it will be sailing out of Fort Lauderdale:

https://70000tons.com/voyage/

[deathmetalpat]

It has to be the Independence. It is the only ship scheduled to depart from Fort Lauderdale on the 7th. There are 2 other ships but they are not a line that would charter this cruise. Cruise schedules are set over a year in advance. I can't imagine they will be moving another ship to that port on that day.

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/fromfo ... n2021.html

https://70000tons.com/ship-facts/

More information on our vessel for Round 11
will be released #SOON.

Voyage information has also been updated so whatever ship it is, it will be sailing out of Fort Lauderdale:

https://70000tons.com/voyage/

I already tried to explain this ,they just have to wait to cancel the cruisers on the ship (lol that is going to be easy) ,same thing happened when they moved to bigger ship from Majesty but I am the only person who seems to remember here.Ships do not change timetables,well I could have say that last month and it be true but all the cruise lines will be removing ships now.Demand for cruising will be off massively ,it won’t return to normal levels for years.

[Pellaz]

It has to be the Independence. It is the only ship scheduled to depart from Fort Lauderdale on the 7th. There are 2 other ships but they are not a line that would charter this cruise. Cruise schedules are set over a year in advance. I can't imagine they will be moving another ship to that port on that day.

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/fromfo ... n2021.html

https://70000tons.com/ship-facts/

More information on our vessel for Round 11
will be released #SOON.

Voyage information has also been updated so whatever ship it is, it will be sailing out of Fort Lauderdale:

https://70000tons.com/voyage/

Another good source is VacationsToGo.com, where you can VERY easily search by homeport, port stops, ship, cruise line, etc. You'll have to register your email but it's not that bad; I get maybe one email from them every ten days. (Just don't book a cruise through them; their "discount off the brochure price" is generally the same as the direct price from the cruise-line.)

I have to concur that the only likely possibility is the good ol' Indy.

There WAS a disturbing post on one of the Facebook groups from Michael Myers, who works on cruise ships being refurbished, including Royal Caribbean's. He said he knew what the "new" ship was (his wording..."new"?) -- but in talking to people from Royal, there is real concern that the company itself might not be around next January.

This will be a very serious stress-test for the cruise industry. Really hoping they all survive.

[cowboy71]

Some scientists are now saying that the social distancing may have to last "a year or two".

If that's the case we can kiss goodbye to 70K.

[Pellaz]

Some scientists are now saying that the social distancing may have to last "a year or two".

I think it will come down largely to protecting the more sensitive groups: the elderly, the infirm, the chronically ill, etc.
It's way too late to keep the virus contained, so it will run through much of the population at-large the same way H1N1 did back in 2009...and for most people, COVID-19's effects will range from no symptoms up to a serious cold or flu.

If that's the case we can kiss goodbye to 70K.

Maybe...but of course we won't find out for sure from Andy until late December 2020.

[deathmetalpat]

Some scientists are now saying that the social distancing may have to last "a year or two".

If that's the case we can kiss goodbye to 70K.

Sadly in the midst of a Global Pandemic we also have the “Florida “ problem,instead of canceling a primary vote that had one yesterday.That along with not closing the beaches and being an international city inside America with a lot of older people.The only thing that is helping Florida is Vitamin D from the sun helps you ability to fight respiratory infections.But with the huge numbers,the help will be limited.314 cases and 7 deaths ,2 weeks from now the entire World will be even more different outside of a miracle.

[deathmetalpat]

Some scientists are now saying that the social distancing may have to last "a year or two".

If that's the case we can kiss goodbye to 70K.

Sadly in the midst of a Global Pandemic we also have the “Florida “ problem,instead of canceling a primary vote they had one yesterday.That along with not closing the beaches fast enough and having some Spring Break and being an international city inside America with a lot of older people.The only thing that is helping Florida is Vitamin D from the sun helps you ability to fight respiratory infections.But with the huge numbers,the help will be limited.314 cases and 7 deaths ,2 weeks from now the entire World will be even more different outside of a miracle.

[cowboy71]

And if the world economy goes into recession we will of course have far greater worries than 70K but even so, Australian dollar is now down to 57cents against the US.

That is HALF what it was back when 70K started!

Even compared to this year our cabin everything else being equal would now be - $1,600 MORE.

[cowboy71]

70K 2021 style.

"WOW! WHAT A LINE! Is this the line for the merch? DAMN"

"Nope. Line for the hand sanitizer"

[cegr80]

Certainly there are more things to be worried about than the boat. However, I want to have a positive mind and think that once this madness goes away, we can start discussing about out precious cruise for 2021

[mooyagi]

70K 2021 style.

"WOW! WHAT A LINE! Is this the line for the merch? DAMN"

"Nope. Line for the hand sanitizer"

You think there's gonna be any hand sanitizer left by then?

[cowboy71]

70K 2021 style.

"WOW! WHAT A LINE! Is this the line for the merch? DAMN"

"Nope. Line for the hand sanitizer"

You think there's gonna be any hand sanitizer left by then?

Only 70K-branded ones. Available at the merch desk for $US50 each.

[Pellaz]

70K 2021 style.

"WOW! WHAT A LINE! Is this the line for the merch? DAMN"

"Nope. Line for the hand sanitizer"

"Guys! GUYS! I heard a rumor there was some toilet paper available in that bathroom on Deck 11 aft!"

[cowboy71]

Roll of toilet paper.

The #1 item that people will be getting autographed!



"Dude that is some sweet triple-ply - are you SURE you want me to autograph it?"

"Dude, shyeah! I love you guys - I'll even let you keep a square of it"

[cowboy71]

We kept talking in the past about "maybe a bigger boat".

The longer the COVID-19 thing takes to play out, maybe the downturn in cruises, the downturn in many veterans' FINANCES, etc....

Maybe a smaller boat ?

[Cardest]

Just saw you Dallas in the 70k recap video "let me in" chant. Was that the Windjammer?
Crazy 630pm opening times...what was that all about?
That "let me in" could be re-done now for supermarket aisles for dunny paper!
Get a gang together! ha ha

[deathmetalpat]

Vancouver in lock -down so day 2,3,4 won’t take forever this year.

[cowboy71]

Vancouver in lock -down so day 2,3,4 won’t take forever this year.

Unless UMC's I.T. systems are as antique as their website

If they don't have a VPN and cannot work from home we COULD be waiting a while...

[cholernik]

I really hope the boat doesn't change for a few reasons. 2020 was my first year, so I'm pumped in returning to the same boat. and I've got the layout of the boat down, and I know where I'm going. I don't want to have to relearn a new floor plan.
I'm pretty optimistic that the cruise will happen, so that's my best case scenario. But I can see them switching to a smaller boat. I'm sure Andy is in talks with companies and seeing which cruise line will even be around by then.

[Tiki108]

I'd be surprised if RCCL went under. I could see some of the smaller ones, but RCCL, DCL, NCL, and CCL will likely all be ok in the long run. Hence why I bought some stock in them lol. I think there will be a lot of factors at play including travel restrictions cause a lot of bands may still not be able to travel due to the virus.

[rocking apple]

News from Germany:
Burg Herzberg Festival - canceled
Summerbreeze - canceled
Wacken - canceled
...and many more...

STAY HEALTHY ! ! !