One hundred years after it struck a massive iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, the cruise ship Titanic evokes as much fascination as ever.
The mighty ship was thought to be unsinkable, but it sank less than three hours after striking the iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, with the loss of about 1,500 lives. The 100th anniversary of the sinking on April 15, 1912, will be commemorated by anniversary voyages that will visit the exact spot where the mighty ship went down. While these sailings obviously may not be for everyone, they have captured the imagination of generations of aficionados for Titanic lore.
A British travel firm has chartered Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral for a memorial voyage departing from Southampton on April 8, with an option to disembark in New York or sail back to Southampton. This cruise is sold out, but it may still be possible to add your name to a wait list in case of last-minute cancellations.
The Balmoral will offer menus, music and entertainment much as they were on the Titanic. After a stop in Cobh, Ireland, the ship will arrive at the spot where the Titanic sank, where a memorial service will be held. The ship will then call on Halifax, Nova Scotia, where passengers can visit cemeteries where Titanic victims are buried.
On April 10, Azamara Club Cruises will send the Journey from New York to Halifax, then on to the spot where the Titanic sank. Cabins in several categories are still available for this cruise. Lecturers will be on board to share the fascinating story of the Titanic and what life on board the ship was like. After a memorial service at the site of the sinking, the ship will return to New York.
While the sinking of the Titanic was a tragedy, it resulted in major changes in ship design and communications that have benefitted cruise travelers ever since. After the Titanic, ships were built with double hulls and taller bulkheads for watertight compartments. Wireless communication devices became mandatory for ships at sea, enabling crews to obtain weather reports, check their precise locations and call for help in emergencies. While the doomed ship had enough lifeboats for only half of its passengers and crew, today’s ships have enough lifeboat space to accommodate everyone on board – another legacy of the Titanic.
To find out more about taking a Titanic memorial cruise, talk with your travel professional as soon as possible.
This travel column was written by BlueRibbonNews.com special contributor Robbert van Bloemendaal, an experienced world traveler, native of Australia, an Ambassador with the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce, and president of Travel Leaders of Rowlett.
Read Robbert’s Top Ten US Vacation Destinations for 2012
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