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Chris Helgren / Reuters
Passengers wearing period costume queue to board the Titanic Memorial Cruise in Southampton, England, on Sunday.
Updated April 8 -- The first of two Titanic-themed cruises set sail from Southampton Sunday on a 12-night cruise that will follow the Titanic's original itinerary.
The vessel, the MS Balmoral, is operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines — whose parent company, Harland and Wolff, built the Titanic. The ship has a 1,350-passenger capacity, but will carry 1,309 paying passengers on the Titanic Memorial Cruise, “the same number that sailed on the fateful Titanic voyage,” the company said on its website.
The cruise sold out nearly two years ago, so a second ship, the Azamara Journey, part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., was added during the summer of 2011. That ship departs New York on April 10, “exactly 100 years to the day the Titanic departed Southampton” the company said, for an 8-night voyage.
As of January, when about one-third of the spots on the Azamara Journey were still available, interior staterooms were selling for $4,900. The top cabin, the Club World Owners Suite, cost nearly $15,000.
The Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg. More than 1,500 people lost their lives.
David Moir / Reuters
The Titanic Belfast Experience is a new visitor attraction location in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, on the original site of the Harland and Wolff shipyard - birthplace of RMS Titanic.
The cruises were designed to replicate food, entertainment and dress of the era. “Passengers will have the opportunity to dress up in period clothing on some nights,” said Miles Morgan, founder of Miles Morgan Travel, the company that organized the Titanic Memorial Cruises.
Expert lecturers will be on board to discuss Titanic-focused topics, including Philip Littlejohn, grandson of Titanic survivor Alexander James Littlejohn, and author of "Titanic — Waiting for Orders" which tells the story of his grandfather, who was a 1st Class Steward on the ship. Dana McCauley, co-author of “Last Dinner On the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner,” is the food consultant, and will help create menus based on meals eaten during the Titanic’s inaugural voyage.
“It’s been an interesting journey,” said Morgan. The inspiration began about five years ago when a gentleman walked in off the street to one of his 12 travel agencies in England and suggested the idea.
The ships will make stops at cemeteries in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to visit the final resting places for many unclaimed victims, and atop the Titanic grave site on April 15, when a memorial service will be held at 2:20 a.m., “to pay tribute to all the brave passengers and crew on board that fateful night,” according to the company site.
“We are not releasing what will take place in advance,” Morgan said, regarding the details about the service. “Because it is a very unusual occasion, many passengers will also find their own way to remember the moment.”
AP Photo/File
The Titanic sails out of Southampton, England, in April 1912 at the start of its doomed voyage.
Among the passengers will be Titanic fans, but also some descendants of survivors and those who perished.
“I want to be outside on the deck, to feel how cold it would have been,” said Jill Kirby, great-niece of a ship worker, to experience “the personal feeling of actually being there and reliving a moment that occurred 100 years ago, to just have a feeling of how people must have felt.” Kirby, originally from Southampton, England, but now of Los Angeles, said her great-uncle, Alfred Albert White, was a crewman in the engine room, and was the only one from his department who survived the tragedy.
Often it is the famous passengers who are remembered, she said, but “many unknown lives were lost. The cruises are excellent ways to memorialize those victims that may not be as famous. All lives are important,” she said. “The lives of these people meant something and were cut short because of this terrible tragedy.”
Tim Wallis, of Waterloo, Ontario, is taking the voyage to honor his great-grandmother, Catherine Jane Wallis, who died in the sinking but whose body was never recovered. “I just kind of felt an obligation to complete the journey,” he said.
“She made it to the rail and was about to get on a life boat, but realized that she forgot her paperwork,” said Wallis, who recounted the story based on eyewitness accounts. She went to retrieve her papers, “but she never made it back,” he said. His great-grandmother was on the ship to work, as her husband drowned eight months earlier and she had to support her three small children.
Wallis also said he was taking the cruise to honor his aunt, who spearheaded efforts in DNA testing for Titanic victims, and who died on April 15, 2006. Wallis has a few other uncanny connections to the Titanic: his own birthday is April 15, and he and James Cameron, the “Titanic” film director, share the same hometown.
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so the goal in much of this is to honor the dead by recreating the events, food, dress, music, etc, of what happened that night. so in essence, a recreation of the titanics voyage. ummm, well i think ill stay on dry land for that one, i got this nemesis named murphy that would just love me going on that.
I'm waiting for the Hindenburg themed airship flight...
"We could see the Titanic sinking by the head. Her forward ‘E’ deck ports were under the water and we could see the lights gradually go out on the ‘E’ deck as she settled down. All her other lights were burning brilliantly and she looked a blaze of light from stem to stern, we watched her like this for some time, and then suddenly she gave a plunge forward and all the lights went out. Her stern went right up in the air; there were two or three explosions and it seemed to me the stern part came down again and righted her itself. Immediately after there were terrible cries for help. They were awful and heartbreaking.“
This is one of the guys that got on a life boat with only 35 passengers, and rowed away into infamy. LIfe boats 3-16 carried 65 people, so basically they left with the life boat half empty. Also considering none of the boats returned to pick up passengers that were in the water, I would find it rather difficult to advertise myself as the grandson of one of the crewmembers who left so many to perish.
Don't generalize and say that all of the Titanic's crew members were unhelpful during the disaster. Many of the ship's officers and crew members were heroes, and did everything they could to help others survive. There were many crew members that realized they would go down with the ship, and did their best to get passengers onto the lifeboats.
"Hey guys look the cruise line made a huge fake iceberg and put it out here in the ocean for us.............CRASH!!!!!........Damn it wasn't a fake iceberg"
Actually Black knight you are incorrect, One Officer, Charles Lightoller did go back and attempt to rescue passengers, apparently he saved six.
What's the purpose of going out there now? It's not like you are going to see anything while on the surface.
Like most of what people do, the talking rights are the entire point.
Lightoller was on one of the collapsible most of the night it was one of the other officers that went back in. Most of the people didn't die from drowning they died of hypothermia
Commemorating a tragedy is one thing, but turning a tragedy into a theme cruise, "playing" Titanic passenger for fun while wearing spats, corsets, and dining on escargot, is quite another. Even if they were to have a moment of silence before dancing the Cake Walk, it honors nothing.
Nikolaus20,
Maybe you didn't actually read the heading. It only says:
"Cruise ships to set sail, commerate Tianic's sinking".
At least the tragedy is not being forgotten!
I did read the heading, AND the story. The cruise ships will have food, music and clothing, as was found on Titanic. One doesn't commemorate a tragedy by having a swell time eating, dancing, and dressing up like its 1,500 or so victims.
How about a flight to commemorate the Hindenburg?
I agree. This is just a sick way to make a buck.
Thank you! That is the first thing I thought while reading this article. WTH? Why have we romanticized this horrific event. Thousands perished a horrid, frightening, chilling death in the middle of the ocean. I can understand erecting a Titanic memorial commemorating the dead, but what is this? Ever since that movie people have been fascinated with this very non romantic occurrence. It was a tragedy and should be remembered as such, not regarded as some theme adventure. Rose and Jack were not on the real titanic, real people died that day. So, because its 100 years old we can have fun now? I doubt that anyone would agree if the same were done with the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, or September 11, 2001.
Stop being to melodramatic! You didn't have a problem with the Auschwitz Bed and Breakfast...
Or the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast (check it out there really is one)
There are, indeed, so many here who are being melodramatic. Yes, it was a tragedy, including the loss of over 1,500 lives. But it was a century ago. No one is belittling it. Titanic things are now all the rage, and have been for several decades (since the publication of A Night to Remember and the film adaptation). Until that book and movie came out, other than a few other literary or cinematic presentations, believe it or not, it was all but forgotten. So passenger lines make money and people indulge in fantasy on them to commemorate the sinking. So what? They're remembering that night, even if they dress up and dine on food served that final night.
As for references to Pearl Harbor and 9/11, as for the former, there have been tons of movies about it (including some fictionalized romantic ones). It even made it into an episode of the old sci-fi show The Time Tunnel (as did the pilot, which was about the Titanic). Is that exploitation? Well, maybe it is, but it's now a part of history. Regarding the latter, 9/11, I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but enough is enough. Here we are, more than a decade later, and WTC is still being rebuilt. Did it take a decade to rebuild Pearl Harbor? More than a decade to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake? More than a decade to rebuild Chicago after the 1871 fire? Within a year, most remnants of those disasters (and the myriad of deaths they caused) were gone. People didn't walk around, debating about "exploitation" and wringing their hands in a maudlin way. And all of those have been subjects, to this day, of books, novels movies and - yes! shriek! scream! - tourism with parades and all sorts of other things. We've become such wimps as of late, wanting to cry copious tears over disasters and not wanting to move on. The WTC site should've been totally rebuilt within a couple years. New Orleans, after Katrina, should've been cleaned up and rebuilt within a year and everyone back to normal. Today, it seems that all we want to do is mourn and scathe.
Watch out - that old iceberg just might still be out there...
With global warming it might not....I wouldn't take any chances though~~~
K.Kammeyer
That iceberg melted a long time ago,however even if it was still there all modern ships are equipped with radar and satellites to warn them if any threats are in their path.Also this,ever since the sinking the US Coast Guard conducts iceberg patrols and would warn away all ships from an area where icebergs are present
some feel this is sort of morbid, but I would be thrilled to participate on this voyage complete with all my latest GPS Iceberg tracking equipment, lol, I really would be thrilled to go if I could afford such an extravagance trip...have fun those that are already booked.
I've crossed the Atlantic several times by ship (so much better than those claustrophobic, pressurized tubes where you sit for hours with your knees imbedded in your chin), and each and every time, in both directions, they annouce when the ship will pass over the grave site of the Titanic. (They also do the same for the Andrea Doria.) It's fascinating being a part of history.
Hope they have enough lifeboats this time around.
Yeah, I'm hoping the lifeboat count's one thing they DIDN'T replicate. You'd think that would be obvious, but......
I have been to the " Titanic " attraction in Branson, Mo. While I would like to be part of this, I also dont want to temp fate. My luck, both ships would go down.
The 'Titanic attraction in Branson, Mo' ? Now that IS gross.
You'd be fine. Costa isn't in charge of either cruise.
Ohhh, by the way, the person whose boarding pass I got at the attraction didn't survive.
The one I got for "my" passenger, when I and friends went to the exhibit in my area, did survive. None of my friends' did not. And "I" was sailing Third Class - they were all First and Second Class.
just askin' for trouble aren't they!
Itinerary...Board ship,count lifeboats :)
Hope cruise organizers aren't claiming to the patrons, "Don't worry. It will be fine. We are unsinkable"!
Im usually the kind that would shy away from this type of thing but I have to say it sounds wonderful. Tempting fate ? I don't think so. To experience the Grand part of the voyage will be such a thrill. I wish everyone that will be there saftey and elegant wonders. Enjoy...
Personally I think the whole thing is kind of creepy.
Hardly seems like a reason to party. Maybe in another 30 years we can recreate the bombing of Pearl Harbor and sell $10,000 tickets. In 100 years will they have similar events for 9/11? It's kinda ghoulish if you ask me
LOL. Get out of my head.
You're referring to Man v. Man; with the Titanic, it was Nature/Karma v. Man; rather like re-enacting the Last Day of Pompeii.
(And on a side note, there are re-enactors of Civil War battles--North and South, and the War of the Roses. Other countries have theirs, where they dress up in period clothing and recreate historical events. And then there's the Passover.)
I would go. Sounds fun.
Are there Steerage tickets available? :)
Yup, not truly realistic unless you're locked in!
Why not? Every year they have a festival to celibrate the Donner Pass expedition and we all know what happened there!
Yikes. I didn't know that. Crazy
I'd go but i wouldn't eat ANYTHING!
"Donner, party of 327, your table is ready."
"Second call for Donner, party of 326...325."
"Sorry, no vegetarian options."
One of the Titanic passengers was reminded of the screams of the 1500 passengers in the icy water whenever he heard the cheers at a nearby baseball field. I believe the area where the ship sank will be forever haunted by the memories of those who perished at the sinking. The passage of one hundred years has not diminished the enormity of the sinking, and loss of 1500 lives.
The whole idea gives me the creeps
I would imagine tokens of remembrance being dropped overboard at that point of the commemorative voyages--flowers, perhaps letters, and such. But not people; not this time.
Sick minds think alike!
Ghoulish. I'd be afraid this ship would sink, too. I hope they have more than enough lifeboats. Of course, w/modern communications and planes, this is probably a safe, but weird adventure.
Does this mean you get on the ships elevator on the lowest floor and you press "going down".
Trueblue,
Thanks for the laugh!
That is sick.
Somehow this just sounds weird.
What's next? Commemoration flights for downed aircraft?
I guess enough time has passed though....
You guys are all haters that have nothing to do but B**CH! Obviously everyone is aware that this was and will always be a tragedy in history. It is not a bit selfish that people would do this to recollect and it IS in memorial and honoring all of the lives that were lost. If they made a roller coaster or some type of amusement I can see how that would be disrespectful. They are only making an attempt to truly understand a tragedy in american history and have a connection (before the sinking) with the passengers. And that is a disgrace to compare this to pearl harbor. If you do not believe in this event... Don't attend it simple as that
I can't believe that it has been 100 years since the Titanic was lost along with all those people. Its so sad to think about : (
Dear god people! What is wrong with being excited about this because some of us are obsessed with the ship and it's inner workings (huge piston steam engines are awesome)? Have you ever thought that maybe some people aren't trying to romanticize the deaths of 1,523 people but are instead romanticizing the times or the ship itself WHILE commemorating and honoring the death of those that perished at the time and date (2:20 am, April 15th) the ship sank?
Some people are obsessed with the ship and will do anything to get a better feel for what it would have been like to live in that time and be on a ship such as the Titanic. Get over it.
I agree Ken. As a Victorian times romance writer, I adore anything and all to do with Titanic. In a world where we are nickelled and dimed to death, and service is a forgotten ideal, a trip on a gorgeous ship with a Victorian theme, while at the same time celebrating a person's life as more than a footnote in time, is a great idea to me.