Written by:	D.T. Metal
Published:	October 15, 2014
Event:	70000 Tons Of Metal 2015 (Website)
Location:	Liberty Of The Seas, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Organizer:	Ultimate Music Cruises
Galleries:	70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise 2015 - Day Four by D.T. Metal (251) 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise 2015 - Day Three by D.T. Metal (265) 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise 2015 - Day Two by D.T. Metal (313) 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise 2015 - Day One by D.T. Metal (243)

In a couple of months, the end of January 2015 to be exact, 70000 Tons Of Metal, the annual - The Original - music cruise will set sail once again.

Unless you live under a rock, you should be well aware of what the cruise is all about by now. If you don't, then may I suggest you scroll down to the review section and read the cruise reports from the years [url= http://www.metalstorm.net/events/event.php?event_id=86185]2014[/url] and [url= http://www.metalstorm.net/events/event.php?event_id=77371]2013[/url]. While you are at it, you might as well check out the reports from the 2012 off-brand cruise Barge To Hell.

All caught up? Marvelous; now let's continue.

As already outlined in Part I of this series, the 2015 edition of the cruise will bring us a new ship; the Liberty Of The Seas. And with this new and also faster ship, the Organizer's dream location is finally within reach - JAMAICA.





But, but ? how will I convince my significant other to spend a week on the ship if she/he is not into the music?

Glad you asked - and yes, 70000 Tons Of Metal is in all essence a floating festival with tons of bands, but it can also be a neat vacation for those who want more than just the 24/7 music experience. While there is tons of stuff to do on the ship, Jamaica has a lot to offer as well.

As soon as you get off the ship you will see Island Village; Jamaica's newest shopping and entertainment attraction. It is located on the beach just minutes away from the Cruise Ship Pier. Small shops, restaurants, a boardwalk and natural springs are just some of the Shopping Plaza's features. If you just want to set foot on land, have a quick bite to eat and grab a souvenir before heading back onto the ship, this will be your best option.

The Island Village complex also is home to the famous Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. It sits right on the beach and not only do they serve the standard Bar & Grill fare, but this location also features a rooftop whirlpool hot tub, a two-story 100 foot long waterslide that soars above the main bar and plunges into the freshwater pool below with a swim-up pool bar. Hellllooo - swim-up bar; enough said. Again, if you don't feel adventurous enough for some excursions I am pretty sure you will have a great time at Margaritaville.

But for those of you who want to see some of the attractions, here are some that might tickle your fancy:

The most famous of them all would be the Dunn's River Falls, one of the few rivers in the world that flows directly into the Caribbean Sea. It is about 600 feet tall and you can climb up the falls in the water and hang out in one of the alcoves as well. The whole thing is nature made and the 'steps' were formed from the current of the water flow. Pretty neat. It is advised to bring water shoes, but you don't have to run out and buy some before the cruise since you can rent them at the entrance as well. They also have lockers available to rent; who wants water soaked cigarettes or to destroy their phone/camera if it's not waterproof? The climb takes about an hour so plan accordingly if you want to tackle this task.

Somewhat off the beaten path and about a 20 minute ride away is a place called Blue Hole, which some say is even better (and less crowded) than the Falls. With several waterfalls collecting in one pond it looks nothing but stunning. I dug around the internet a bit and there are some sites which explain where, what, how, but if you just want to know the basics, read HERE. Definitely an alternative if you want to do some water based activities.

And speaking of water; since there are quite a few rivers, water tubing should not be overlooked neither. I have seen this being advertised as a stand-alone adventure or combined with the Dunn's River Falls. Your best bet would be to google this ahead of time or check on the ship if they offer this excursion. Of course the (almost) standard Caribbean activities of swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling and horseback riding are all available as well.

For something totally different there is also the Green Grotto Caves; a short drive away from Ocho Rios. According to Wikipedia, some scenes in the 1973 James Bond movie "Live And Let Die" were filmed on location. Another fun filled activity might also be the Mystic Mountain Rainforest. According to some cruise reports, they offer bobsledding through the countryside, SkyExplorer rides and canopy zip lines. Looks pretty fun and it's not far away neither.

Bob Marley, one of Jamaica's most famous sons was laid to rest in the area. Several guides promise that a visit to Bob Marley's home at Nine Mile includes a tour of the property from Rastafarian guides, which usually includes a rendition of one of Bob's songs, memorabilia, his famous "rock pillow" where he rested his head for inspiration and the Marley Mausoleum. Please be advised that the Bob Marley Mausoleum is in the mountains and it might take over an hour, one way, to get there. One Love!

But, if all the above mentioned still doesn't look appealing to you and you just want to relax at the beach with a fufu-drink in your hand - I got ya covered.





When her Majesty Of The Seas pulled into the port in Mexico during the last 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, several of the cruisers just didn't want to take any excursions and the beach area right by the port was nothing to write home about. Long story short; an all-inclusive stay at a private beach was booked. Well guess what grasshoppers - Jamaica offers this option as well. Google is your friend, or check out Bamboo Beach Club and Ocho Rios Beach Break.

And there you have it - make the most out of your day and most importantly, stay safe and have fun.

But, but ? what is my significant other going to do while I enjoy the concerts on the ship?

There are tons of things to do on the Liberty Of The Seas and not to sound like a broken record, but check out some of the highlights I mentioned HERE. In a nutshell, there is a FlowRider surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, the Royal Promenade, cantilevered whirlpools, mini golf course, a gym and boxing ring, and the Adult-Only Solarium. In addition to the Vegas-style Casino Royale with 304 slots and 18 tables, the ship also offers some very nice treatments in the Vitality Spa.

So, after reading all of this, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the 70000 Tons Of Metal website and make this 'dream-come-true' happen. For booking information click here. And don't forget to subscribe to 70000tons.tv on YouTube and follow the site on Instagram and the usual Social Media outlets.


Stay tuned for Part III of this series where I will talk about the bands playing and what other music related activities will take place on the ship.