Sara Hammerzmith

So the last day on board huh. Bittersweet in a way, when I very very tiredly again got up to the Windjammer to have breakfast for like, the last time ever. Bittersweet, really.

Once breakfast was done, I headed off to Pool Deck again and finding myself being fried in the sun waiting for Leaves’ Eyes. I had shoes on, which was too warm, so I took them off. Because it is okay to stand here in just your socks. Only problem is I stood on a metal plate. So I was choosing between the plague and the black death, and my feet were burning up regardless.

Leaves’ Eyes

Around 13, they walked on stage and started off with “Sign of the Dragonhead” with the sun shining high over the boat, making this gig’s temperature almost unbearable. “Across the Sea” was second song on the list, followed by “Edge of Steel” which is one of my personal favorites like ever.

“Swords in Rock” followed suit, and I’ll admit, the turn up for this gig wasn’t as good as it had been last time, but still a good deal. But the energy was dead. Probably because of the sun, you know.

“Fires in the North” was next on the list, and then it was time for my personal favorite, the song I had missed at the last set, “Riders of the Wind”. And I am so happy I got it at this set instead!

“Hell to the Heavens” followed up, and then “Sacred Vow” before they wrapped up the entire set with “Black Waters” and “Haraldskvædi”. The band thanked for themselves, and left the stage.

After that, I headed back toward my room to start packing up. I figured it’s something I’ll want to have done the night before getting of the boat rather than you know, doing it in the morning.

Went for some last swims, because you know, it was a pretty empty day, but also the last one on the boat.

The clock started to tick on, and it was getting later and later, and time to get back into Sabaton gear.. But stupid as I fucking was, I managed to put my Sabaton shirt right into a puddle of water, so all this time I spent on it getting dry, it got wet up. So I “had” to change into a Lordi shirt, because there is limits, you know, now how important it is.

Once changed into the gear, I got back down to Alhambra, where Sabaton played this time around, and I got down when Dark Tranquility was still on stage. I sat down in one of the chairs, waiting for them to be done… shifted position.. and then I heard a loud round of applauds and the band leaving the stage. Apparently, I’d managed to fall asleep throughout the entire set. Well.. why not?

Sleepily as I don’t even know what I dragged my way to the front row where Sjorven was and eagerly waited for Sabaton.

Sabaton

This time around, instead of “The March to War” which I absolutely love.. “Dominum Marcii Baltici” started whipsering out of the speakers. This intro doesn’t echo, it whispers, and then they opened with “The Lion from The North”

“Panzerkampf” made an entrance as the second song, heading straight into “Gott Mit Uns” in Swedish, thank God! “The Final Solution” was next song to be performed, launching us straight into “Winged Hussars”. Damn, I still love this song to bits.

As you have noticed, the set is completely different from the one we saw on Pool deck, which was very nice to see! Scottish revolution “Blood of Bannockburn” followed suit, with “White Death” close to it.

“Diary of an Unknown Soldier” and “The Lost Battalion” was ripped off, followed by “Resist and Bite” and “Screaming Eagles”. Sjorven’s homearena, I guess we could call it.

Another song in Swedish, “En Livstid i Krig” happened before it was wrapped up with the usual three – “Nightwitches”, “Shiroyama” and “To Hell and Back”.

But this time around, they closed it all with “In The Navy”. While both of the sets has been relatively good, I still, really, really, miss “Midway” and, or, “Wolfpack” in the list. Sabaton are usually very very good on making geographical setlists, and this would have been the perfect place to do the two boatsongs they have. But I guess not.

After Sabaton, we headed off to Windjammer for one final dinner. I was meant to go back to my room to get something, and as I was making my way back to Alhambra for the final show of the cruise, Sjorven had forgotten his towel in my room and made me go back and get it, which resulted in missing out on the first 15 minutes of Alestorm. Great.

Alestorm

So, as I arrived, they were wrapping up “Mexico”. Looking back on the setlist, I literally missed out on some of my favorite songs – “Shipwrecked”, “The Magnetic North” and “Mexico”. Oh well.

“Nany the Tavern Wench” instead became my first song, which was good enough. The place was packed, of course, it’s Alestorm and it’s the last and also only show playing. We found some real good spots on a balcony though, so I will not complain!

“Pegleg Potion” of the newest album was next, and I really love this song – I think it’s funny. And then the party started.

“Hangover” was next, which included Ducky being thrown out, but not only that – but also a CONGALINE! Two congalines going down the two staircases in Alhambra, right into an already packed venue. Sjorven even asked “Where do all the people go?” Who the hell knows?

Ducky, was also killed. Rest in peace, Duky.

“1741 (Battle of Cartagena)” was next on the list, before it was time for “Drink” again. But with a twist. Chris asked if there was anyone in the house who wanted us to hear a song for Dogs. And of course we did. And this is how we got “Drink” for dogs. I love this.

Then, they wrapped up not just their set, but the entire cruise, with the loudest sing a long I have heard on this cruise with “Fucked with an Anchor” before leaving their stage.

There is no more perfect band to end a cruiseship like this than a party pirate band. Even after the lights were on, the gear was off, people were still chanting “Fucked with an Anchor” for some time. That’s how you know you wrote an anthem, you know.

After Alestorm, we took one final stroll around the ship before retreating to our cabins to get some little sleep before getting off the boat, and toward the Everglades tomorrow.

// Sara

Around 11 already I got up. Nowhere near enough sleep, but I really did not want to miss out day at the beach, and not to mention, to go aboard some place I may never visit again, or at least not in a near future.

A quick visit to Windjammer for breakfast before we headed off to the beach. And it was so beautiful. It was extremly warm, the weather was perfect, the beach was amazing and the ocean was… mesmerizing. Spent most of the time in the water or on the beachside to get some tan. We also walked around Cockburn Town’s centre, or the cruise centre, checking out all the shops and the places, picking up some souvenirs before sitting down with an ice cream a little bit before we decided to get back on board. We played it safe and went on about an hour earlier than needed, but better safe than being fucking left behind on an island.

Once back on the boat, I made a quick effort to get ready and hit up Alhambra for the first show of the day… Well… sort of… Which is… Battle Beast.

A bit of poor planning, huh?

Battle Beast

Just as this morning, they opened up with “Straigh to the Heart”, although the crowd was a wee bit bigger this time around. Great energy – as expected. “Bringer of Pain” followed suit, then “Familiar Hell” and “Black Ninja”.

The crowd was in a good mood, giving back a lot of the energy they got from the band, but I think personally I might have been a little.. Like I literally saw them 12 hours ago, it wasn’t too fun, but they still deliver, you know?

“Lost in Wars” was next on the list, followed by “Touch in the Night”. The seslits of the shows were not identical, which was pretty cool to see, even if MOST songs were the same. “Bastard Son of Odin” followed suit, before it was wrapped up with “King for a Day” and “Beyond the Burning Skies”. Battle Beast, thank you for these both sets!

Once this was over, we headed off to have some food, and pick up a coffee, because I was dead. Back to the little Pyramid Lounge to catch Amberian Dawn’s second set – which was identical to the set in Alhambra. Didn’t particularly mind it. It was a good show, and the place was packed.

We then went back to specifically Alhambra to catch Freedom Call, and at this time I was just so ready to hit the sack, spent most of the show sitting in the comfortable seats and sadly missing out on a song here and there from nodding away to sleeps beautiful land. But I did see most of the show, and that was great!

After that it was off to bed, and then… up again at 3 am to catch Triosphere.

Triosphere

So this was interesting. Ida coughed her way through the first song, and then explaining that she is still very sick, but that they’ll do their best to give us something. They played two songs instrumental, they had Siri singing one song and wrapped it up with Noora from Battle Beast playing a cover of W.A.S.P with them. And that was it.

It was an extremely short set, but seriously – ALL THE KUDOS to them for showing up, and making the best out of a very very shitty situation. Love you.

And then, it was bedtime again. I didn’t mind their set getting so short, after all. Tomorrow was the last day of the cruise, and it started early with Leaves’ Eyes.

// Sara

So, around 11 or so in the morning I got up. Getting these kind of interrupted sleep really suck, but it is what you make it, right? And I had to get up – the first show of the day was set to start at 13, and I need to get going.

I got ready in my cabin before heading up to Windjammer for breakfast. I forgot my earplugs at my cabin, so of course, I had to run down to pick them up, BUT, fear not as I made it back just in time for Alestorm to start.

Alestorm

They walked on stage just in time, opening up with “Keelhauled”. Am I the only one where who don’t exaclty love this song as an opening song? Regardless, they opened with good energy and the crowd had a good vibe to it as well.

They followed up with “Alestorm” and then the big partythrower “Drink” which is ALWAYS one big party, no matter where or when you see them. “The Sunk’n Norwegian” and “No Grave But The Sea” followed suit, and oooh how good this song is. And most certainly so live! “Bar ünd Imbiss” followed suit, before it was time for what is always the biggest party of an Alestorm show – “Hangover”. And I can now officially say, that I have seen Alestorm sing the lines “I’m on a ship” while being on an actual ship. BEAT THAT MOTHERFUCKERS.

“Captain Morgans Revenge” or the vengance of the Duck. The Night or well song, of the Living Duckies. It was very windy up on pool deck, and the gigantic duck had made it’s way toward the stage quite a few times. But in the spoken segment of the song, it made it’s final launch, hitting Gareth and knocking out Peter’s drumset. Chris stopped for a while to just assure us this was a serious metal show, before they continued on as if it never happened. So for once, Alestorm was attacked by their own duck.

They wrapped up their set with “Fucked with an Anchor” which gives you a sing along like no other, and Chris crowdsurfing his way to the hot tub. Because that is a normal thing here. With that said, Alestorm was over and done. Thank you!

We headed down to the cabins once again because quite frankly… this heat is not to mess with. Like, seriously. Quick break, change and awkward encounters with Korpiklaani later, we found ourselves back on pooldeck at the front line for Korpiklaani. At this point Sjorven had gotten his merch ticket, which was number 729 or something like that. I had 1247. Gee.

Korpiklaani

Sun was high. The heat was a pleasure and pain all at once, and the party was a fact. Kopriklaani belted out their entire selection of party songs which had the entire pooldeck dancing jumping and singing along (well…), even the hot tubs.

I would go into detail, but I’m afraid I can’t – since it was all just one big party party!

Once the show was over, we headed off to eat and have some wardrobe change. It’s Sabaton tonight, so camo pants and military boots on. And then we simply headed back toward the pool deck, again, like, all our shows are on pool deck here. We claimed our spots. Or well, Sjorven kept our spots. I had to go to a Battle Beast signing session. And to check on the numbers.

The signing session went quick and uneventful, this is the second time or so I’ve tried to have this “Bringer of Pain” cover signed so that was very nice. I checked the numbers too – they were at like 400. Since 7 in the morning. So I guess it was safe to say our number wouldn’t come up during Sabaton.

After Cannibal Corpse, which I only saw like the last few moments of, I claimed back my spot at the front and eagerly waited for Sabaton to begin.

Sabaton

And just as we waited for it.. it echoed out. “In The Army Now”. You know, the first few tones and beats of the song, when your inital shot of adrenaline straight through… And bliss. Once they reached “The March To War” and you feel your adrenaline pumping like nothing else, just to merge out in… “Ghost Divison”. Oh well. It’s still a complete outlet and outburst of all the emotions of excitment and what not that got built up during the previous five minutes.

“The Art of War” (God how much I love this song) followed suit very quickly, and then “Far from the Fame”. So pretty much same old, same old, but who really cares when it’s Sabaton? Especially considering that the oldie, but goldie, “40:1”. I really missed this song in the setlist, and over all, I miss this sound in Sabaton!

“Sparta” minus the spartans was next, another oldie but goldie from my favorite Sabaton album in the shape of “The Cliffs of Galipoli” made an appearance again, before launching into “Saboteurs”.

“The Last Stand” was next on the list, and I still love this song so much… I seriously love it to bits. And then came the next surprise. A real old, but gold, like for real, was next “Into the Fire”. And Jesus. I had no idea how much I missed this song until I heard it! Damn.

Some swedish pride for me, “Carolus Rex” followed by “Attero Dominatus”. This song is such a rush, you know? One of my absolute favorites “Uprising”, which I just cannot get enough of. “Primo Victoria next and then “Swedish Pagans” was last – but today it’s okay. People were not being oboxnious about this song on this cruise. So this is totally okay.

And just as on Sabaton Cruise, they wrapped it up with “My Heart Will Go On”. Because why the hell not, right?

Right after this, we jumped into the pool for a midnight swim before getting an ice cream and hanging out a bit before going to bed. You see, it was one of those nights again. Alarm was set to 4.30, because Battle Beast was going on stage at 4.45.

Battle Beast

So. 4.30 huh. I dragged myself out of bed. In my pyjamas. Once at pool deck, we noticed the hot tubs behind the stages were near empty, and while I’d normally never do this – it was 4.45. It was windy. It was cold. I was dead. I got into that damn hot tub.

For playing so later, or shall I say early? They had quite the crowd coming together. And they performed a fantastic set. It was the same set they had played throughout the European tour (no surprise) so no bigger surprises, but it was a very well enjoyable show.

But I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t wait to get back in bed, because you see, tomorrow, or today, depending on how you see it, was the day we went off the boat at the Turks Islands.

// Sara