[Swiss Jack]

TROLD from Danemark

https://troldband.bandcamp.com/album/i-skovens-rige

[rocking apple]

TRÖJAN and WRETCH
Go forward and they put on a good Show

[Merdog]

Here's my Wishlist for 2026!

• Trick or Treat
• Ancient Bards
• Moonlight Haze
• Helloween
• Gloryhammer
• Brothers of Metal
• Battle Beast
• Beast in Black
• Avantasia
• Dynazty
• Sabaton
• Apocalyptica
• Therion
• Arion
Super stoked!

[PanzicPoojaran]

1349
1914
3 Inches of Blood
Abbath
Archspire
Aridus
Arka'n Asrafokor
Behemoth
Blackbraid
Blodiga Skald
Blood Incantation
Bloodywood
Borknagar
Car Bomb
Cattle Decapitation
Cynic
Dethklok
Devin Townsend
Dillinger Escape Plan
Dying Fetus
Ereb Altor
Fear Factory
Gaerea
Hanabie
Havukruunu
Igorrr
Khandra
Lovebites
Mayhem
Meshuggah
Midnight
Mr. Bungle
Municipal Waste
Napalm Death
Nytt Land
Oceans of Slumber
Opeth
Origin (We need another pillow fight)
Orphaned Land
Rivers of Nihil
Rotting Christ
Shining (NOR)
Steaksauce Mustache
Suldusk
Toxic Holocaust
Untamed Land
Wilderun
Wolves in the Throne Room

[Pellaz]

1349
Abbath
Abigail Williams
Aephanemer
Agalloch
Agathodaimon
Alien Weaponry
Allegaeon
Amon Amarth
Amorphis
Angra
Animals As Leaders
Arkona
Arsis
Atrocity
Ayreon
Bal Sagoth
Baroness
Barren Earth
Battlelore
Behemoth
Below 7
Belzebubs
Be'lakor
Black Crown Initiate
Blind Guardian
Bloodbath
Blood Red Throne
Borknagar
Broken Trinity
Cannibal Corpse
Chthe'ilist
CoF
Countless Skies
Cynic
Dalriada
Devin Townsend
Dimmu Borgir
Dark Tranquillity
Dragonforce
Edge of Sanity/Witherscape/anything Dan Swano
Einherjer
Eluveitie
Eneferens
Ensiferum
Enslaved
Epica
Equilibrium
Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Evergrey
Exmortus
Fear Factory
Fires In the Distance
Fleshgod Apocalypse
Gojira
Graveworm
Green Carnation
Hypocrisy
I Am the Night
Immortal
Insomnium
Irreversible Mechanism
Kamelot
Kataklysm
Katatonia
Keep Of Kalessin
Korpiklaani
Kreator
Leprous
Luciferan Light Orchestra
Loss
Melechesh
Meshuggah
Mezarkabul
Moonspell
Mors Principium Est
Myrath
Ne Obliviscaris
Nile
Nokturnal Mortem
NorthTale
Novembers Doom
Obscura
Old Mans Child
Omnium Gatherum
Opeth
Paladin
Poisonblack
Powerwolf
Primordial
Rapheumet's Well
Raven
Rivers Of Nihil
Ryujin
Sabaton
Sadistic Ritual
Satyricon
Savatage
Scale the Summit
Scar Symmetry
Scorched Moon
Serious Black
Seven Spires
Sigh
Skalmold
Slough Feg
Starkill
Steorrah
SYL
Suidakra
Summoning
Tarot
The Halo Effect
Therion
Thy Serpent
Tomarum
Tomb Mold
Turisas
Tygers of Pan Tang
Tyr
Vale Of Pnath
Valhalore
Vesania
Vintersorg
Wilderun
WindRose
Wolfchant
Wolfheart
Yyrkoon

[Metalhead_80s]

Here's a wish...better communication and transparency into what's going on.

[MuzakMaker]

Here's a wish...better communication and transparency into what's going on.

Hey, they did increase their communication. We now have even more pointless social media posts during the dead time

[nekrobarr]

Time for what's likely my only post of the year.

First Timers:
Aeonian Sorrow
Ahab
Arð
Avantasia
Bal-Sagoth
Barren Earth
Battlelore
Borknagar
Cemetery Skyline
Clouds
Crematory
Crypt Sermon
Daylight Dies
Doomed
Dordeduh
Evoken
Fates Warning
Fires In The Distance
Forgotten Tomb
Funeral
Ghost Brigade
Godthrymm
Graveworm
HellLight
Konvent
Krypts
Kuolemanlaakso
Kvaen
Lacrimas Profundere
Light Field Reverie
Loss
The Man-Eating Tree
Marianas Rest
Monolithe
The Morningside
Mournful Congregation
Onirophagus
Ophis
Pantheist
Poisonblack
Primordial
Red Moon Architect
Remembrance
Runemagick
Sahg
Saille
Saturnus
Seventh Void
Shape Of Despair
Skepticism
Sojourner
Strigoi
Temple Of Void
Tomb Of Finland
Triptykon
When Nothing Remains
Winterfylleth
Woe Unto Me
Wolves In The Throne Room
Wormwood

Repeats:
Ajattara
Bloodbath
Dark Tranquillity
Death Angel
Enslaved
Evergrey
Kampfar
Majestic Downfall
Moonsorow
Moonspell
Månegarm
Novembers Doom
October Tide
Paradise Lost
Saor
The Halo Effect
Thyrfing
Tiamat
Vreid
Wolfheart

Cheers.

[JoeRG0368]

I don't know if this wishlist is actually effective and if the 70k booker is actually reading this - but whatever!!!!

Against Evil (India)
Alestorm (GB)
Alitor (SRB)
Akroasis (CH)
Angelus Apatrida (ESP)
Anesthesia of Beer (BRA)
Asinhell (DNK)
Asphagor (AUT)
Atrophy (US)
Attic (GER)
Bio-Cancer (GRE)
Blind Illusion (US)
Bloodbath (GB)
Bloody Exitation (CHL)
Cannibal Corps (US)
Chemicide (CRI)
Comaniac (CH)
Crowbar (US)
Darkness (GER)
Dawn Of Solace (FIN)
Death Angel (US)
Demolizer (DNK)
Demolition Hammer (US)
Destabilizer (DNK)
Draghoria (US)
Enforced (US)
Eradicator (GER)
Evadne (ESP)
Evilcult (BRA)
Evildead (US)
Exodus (US)
Exorcizphobia (CZE)
Fabulous Desaster (GER)
Forbidden (US)
Frostshock (GER)
High Command (US)
Hiraes (GER)
Holycide (ESP)
Horrizon (GER)
Höwler (CRI)
Ironflame (US)
Kanonenfieber (GER)
Khemmis (US)
Knife (GER)
Kryptos (India)
Lesson in Violence (GER)
Master (CZE)
Mezzrow (SWE)
Mortillery (CAN)
Mrsa (US)
Municipal Waste (US)
Neaera (GER)
Necronomicon (GER)
Neorite (GER)
Nuclear (CHL)
Old Ruins (GER)
Quasarborn (SRB)
Paradise Lost (GB)
Plaquemace (DNK)
Sacrifice (CAN)
Scalpture (GER)
SilentEnd (MEX)
Skeleton Pit (GER)
Slaughterra (GER)
Stray Gods (GRE)
Surgical Strike (GER)
Taskforce Toxicator (GER)
Terminal Violence (ESP)
Terrifier (CAN)
The Troops Of Doom (BRA)
Traitor (GER)
Voivod (CAN)
Warbringer (US)
Warwolf (GER)
Wolf Spider (POL)
Wreck-Defy (CAN)
Wytch Hazel (GB)

[strato92]

to have a little more female metal singers :
Dark Sarah
Lacuna Coil
Visions of Atlantis
Tarja and Marco
Ignea
Eleine
Autumn Bride
Illumishade

metal friendships...

[rocking apple]

Wytch Hazel - yesss, very good

[cowboy71]

Don't see myself making 70k 2026 to be honest. Having missed it for the first time in 2025, missing it again will be even easier.

With the Australian Dollar crashing against the US Dollar, and 70k prices increasing more and more every year, its just no longer viable for me financially.

ESPECIALLY when I can hit Europe for several weeks for the same kind of money.

[Amalu]

Don't see myself making 70k 2026 to be honest. Having missed it for the first time in 2025, missing it again will be even easier.

With the Australian Dollar crashing against the US Dollar, and 70k prices increasing more and more every year, its just no longer viable for me financially.

ESPECIALLY when I can hit Europe for several weeks for the same kind of money.

Sad to hear that, but absolutely understandable. Exchange rates are a huge factor. They can make the trip much cheaper or much more expensive.
I wish I could book now, as the USD is at an all time low compared to the Swiss Franc. I would save around 10% from last year...

[cowboy71]

Don't see myself making 70k 2026 to be honest. Having missed it for the first time in 2025, missing it again will be even easier.

With the Australian Dollar crashing against the US Dollar, and 70k prices increasing more and more every year, its just no longer viable for me financially.

ESPECIALLY when I can hit Europe for several weeks for the same kind of money.

Sad to hear that, but absolutely understandable. Exchange rates are a huge factor. They can make the trip much cheaper or much more expensive.
I wish I could book now, as the USD is at an all time low compared to the Swiss Franc. I would save around 10% from last year...

Most likely will hit EpicFest in Denmark again this time next year. Might even make a trip to your part of Europe :)

Unfortunately the Australian Dollar has not fared as well as the Swiss Franc. I don't understand all the technicalities behind it, but I think a major factor is the fact that Australia do a lot of trade with china -> US tariffs have hit china hard -> what is bad for china is thus bad for Australia.

[Amalu]

Don't see myself making 70k 2026 to be honest. Having missed it for the first time in 2025, missing it again will be even easier.

With the Australian Dollar crashing against the US Dollar, and 70k prices increasing more and more every year, its just no longer viable for me financially.

ESPECIALLY when I can hit Europe for several weeks for the same kind of money.

Sad to hear that, but absolutely understandable. Exchange rates are a huge factor. They can make the trip much cheaper or much more expensive.
I wish I could book now, as the USD is at an all time low compared to the Swiss Franc. I would save around 10% from last year...

Most likely will hit EpicFest in Denmark again this time next year. Might even make a trip to your part of Europe :)

Unfortunately the Australian Dollar has not fared as well as the Swiss Franc. I don't understand all the technicalities behind it, but I think a major factor is the fact that Australia do a lot of trade with china -> US tariffs have hit china hard -> what is bad for china is thus bad for Australia.

There are a couple of cool smaller festivals in Switzerland. I'm going to the Riverside Aarburg and the Summerside Festival this year. The cool thing is that they allow children for free, so I can take my son to see some Metal.

[AverageMetalDrummer]

I just read an article discussing the possibility of gangs completely seizing power over the Haitian government. Some think this is becoming a real possibility, with reports stating criminal organizations are working to take control of the transitional government. My heart goes out to the people there; I truly hope the mission to take down the gangs is eventually successful.

While this idea has circulated before, I wonder what UMC’s response will be if the worst happens. I doubt that Labadee would be “safe” with Haiti under gang control. The agreement RC has with Haiti may become null and void. If Labadee becomes an unviable destination, what happens? Do we change destinations? Do we just float around for four days without a port day (I wouldn’t mind this at all)? Is the cruise canceled? I hope it’s not the latter. Thoughts?

[toby]

I just read an article discussing the possibility of gangs completely seizing power over the Haitian government. Some think this is becoming a real possibility, with reports stating criminal organizations are working to take control of the transitional government. My heart goes out to the people there; I truly hope the mission to take down the gangs is eventually successful.

While this idea has circulated before, I wonder what UMC’s response will be if the worst happens. I doubt that Labadee would be “safe” with Haiti under gang control. The agreement RC has with Haiti may become null and void. If Labadee becomes an unviable destination, what happens? Do we change destinations? Do we just float around for four days without a port day (I wouldn’t mind this at all)? Is the cruise canceled? I hope it’s not the latter. Thoughts?

Typically the charter agreement (and US law) requires that there be at least 1 non-US port required for docking. So, the only option would be to redirect to a different port should it come to that. There are plenty of options to fulfill that requirement. Absolute worst case would probably be something like Nassau. So, I really don't see that as cancelling the cruise even if Labadee wasn't available for whatever reason.

[AverageMetalDrummer]

I just read an article discussing the possibility of gangs completely seizing power over the Haitian government. Some think this is becoming a real possibility, with reports stating criminal organizations are working to take control of the transitional government. My heart goes out to the people there; I truly hope the mission to take down the gangs is eventually successful.

While this idea has circulated before, I wonder what UMC’s response will be if the worst happens. I doubt that Labadee would be “safe” with Haiti under gang control. The agreement RC has with Haiti may become null and void. If Labadee becomes an unviable destination, what happens? Do we change destinations? Do we just float around for four days without a port day (I wouldn’t mind this at all)? Is the cruise canceled? I hope it’s not the latter. Thoughts?

Typically the charter agreement (and US law) requires that there be at least 1 non-US port required for docking. So, the only option would be to redirect to a different port should it come to that. There are plenty of options to fulfill that requirement. Absolute worst case would probably be something like Nassau. So, I really don't see that as cancelling the cruise even if Labadee wasn't available for whatever reason.

Great insight, I honestly had no clue what would happen. I’m at the point now where port locations don’t matter much to me. If it’s a truly shitty destination, I’ll just stay on the boat and rest like I did this year.

[mooyagi]

We're due for an itinerary change at some point. It happens to normal cruises all the time!

[toby]

I just read an article discussing the possibility of gangs completely seizing power over the Haitian government. Some think this is becoming a real possibility, with reports stating criminal organizations are working to take control of the transitional government. My heart goes out to the people there; I truly hope the mission to take down the gangs is eventually successful.

While this idea has circulated before, I wonder what UMC’s response will be if the worst happens. I doubt that Labadee would be “safe” with Haiti under gang control. The agreement RC has with Haiti may become null and void. If Labadee becomes an unviable destination, what happens? Do we change destinations? Do we just float around for four days without a port day (I wouldn’t mind this at all)? Is the cruise canceled? I hope it’s not the latter. Thoughts?

Typically the charter agreement (and US law) requires that there be at least 1 non-US port required for docking. So, the only option would be to redirect to a different port should it come to that. There are plenty of options to fulfill that requirement. Absolute worst case would probably be something like Nassau. So, I really don't see that as cancelling the cruise even if Labadee wasn't available for whatever reason.

Great insight, I honestly had no clue what would happen. I’m at the point now where port locations don’t matter much to me. If it’s a truly shitty destination, I’ll just stay on the boat and rest like I did this year.

I think at this point, the only port I'd bother leaving the ship for is Turks just to see what all the hype was about. Hopefully that's not where 2026 redirects to, since the chances of me being onbroad are extremely slim right now.