70,000 Tons Of Metal: a passenger tells us all about the festival on the high seas!

When last week the 70,000 tons of metal ship set sails for the heaviest metal festival to ever cross the sea, we were green with envy towards the lucky passengers aboard. We found out that among them was Maria Luisa Bertone, a Musica Metal reader: so we got in touch with her, to ask her the questions that everyone had in mind: just how much alcohol was consumed? And how much shagging took place? Oh, and... how were the concerts?

So, Maria: how was the cruise?
That was fantastic! What else could it be?
- The Majesty of the Seas cruise ship is a beautiful location
- 40 great bands, great musicians and great people too
- 2000 metalheads ready to party
- Everyone, artists too, felt like we were sharing a special moment
- So much alchool... I never seen that much before. We were told that, during the first day of the cruise, they sold more alchool than during a whole week on a standard cruise.

What was the 'usual' day like?
Standard day started with shows at 10 am (at 7 pm on the first day and the day we landed in Mexico). There was one show on the pool deck and, straight after, two concurrent shows on the lower decks. Than upstairs again and so on 'till 5 am. Here you can find the running order of the event (http://www.70000tons.com/70000TONS_RUNNING_ORDER_2011.pdf). Every band played twice so people could see everyone despite the overlapping of the shows. The only one flaw was the lack of time for anything else: like for example sleeping or eating, but with enough coffee and alchool we survived the whole cruise.

Did the musicians stay along for the whole cruise, having a walk around, sharing a few drinks and getting tanned, or they had a "backstage area" and they were not to be seen after their shows?
Yes, the bands spent all their time on the ship, apart from the day in Cozumel when everyone went their own way for a trip.
They spent all their time socializing with people, listening to concerts or having fun. Some of them actually were asking people to join them for a drink in a bar or in the pool. After their show it was common to seen them singing some karaoke on not-heavy-metal songs or playing poker at the casino. Some of them were more discrete, especially who was there with his wife-girlfriend, but all of them spent some time with us (no-one saw Marduk but, without makeup, no-one knows what they look like :P )

I guess there was a lot of alcoholic stupor... how was the staff dealing with drunk metalheads, considering they were large at sea?
I didn't see too many people getting badly drunk and none making real disasters, and by the way I never saw staff having to step in. Within the audience lots of people believed that, given the cost of the event, getting so drunk as not being able to remember what was going on, wouldn't be a great idea. Let's say, there was just a constant high level of alchool in our bodies.

A cruise is also a very romantic moment, especially if fuelled by alcohol: were there many "romantic approaches" between guys and girls aboard?
So many approches went well, the mood was exciting for everybody and so was our will to have a good party. Some musician too felt the same...
On the other hand, just a few people went beyond the limit, rooms were at a short distance.

Were band-members involved in "romantic approaches"? Were viking/pirate musicians surrounded by willing pleasure slaves, or were they left some free time to get drunk and get a tan?
I think I've seen the most of people roaming around Sabaton but all of the artists had plenty of time to have a drink and get a spectacular sunburn.

What were the best gigs?
Best gig? Let's say best gigS. I list five shows that I won't forget for some reason or another. - Dark Tranquillity cause they gave everything for their audience;
- The second Blind Guardian's gig when Hansi was out of voice and Kai Hansen ran on the stage to perform a beautiful version of Walhalla. Not to forget the appearance of a completely drunk Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth) at the same time.
- Tyr's gig saw from the pool under midday' sun.
- Rage that performed songs also during sound check because there was people waiting
- Even if sound wasn't perfect, Uli Jon Roth' second gig when Chuck Billy came to sing a wonderful "Sails of Charon".

There's already talks of a 2012 edition. Would you cruise on it again?
I'll do that again any time! There are rumors saying that in the next few weeks the 2012 edition will be announced, and some rumors say that bigger bands may be involved. The only thing that concerns me is that maybe next year, if bigger bands will be involved, the mood may not be as totally relaxed and friendly like it was this year.