Titanic

As with many Cruise Crazies I've had a life long fascination with the Titanic. 

But it is not based solely on the epic nature of that tragic night, now over 100 years year ago. It is so much more than that.

The Titanic represented the pinnacle of luxury of that grand era of Trans-Atlantic liners. Sadly it's an era that has gone for ever. And I think that is the key to why the Titanic has remained in our collective consciousness for over 100 years. Other ships have sunk with an even greater loss of life.

But why does the Titanic continue to capture our imagination?

I think it has something to do with the fact that the Titanic has been so highly documented both in words, and film, that she is ingrained in our brains that we all have a very vivid, lucid image of not just what she was like, but she is also our most tangible reference point to that period at the turn of the century when technological advances really did change the world.

The new mega ships have much to offer, in terms of features and modern luxury, but because of the current trend in ship building, where most passengers now demand a balcony, ships have had to bulk up and they have lost the traditional beautiful lines of the great Trans-Atlantic steamers. 

This is my own, personal opinion but I really believe some of newer cruise ships, (luckily not many of them), look more like cattle carriers than luxury ocean liners. 

The Titanic changed the cruise industry for ever. And although many safety innovations were introduced in the wake of her sinking, some such as the emergency muster drill and the mechanics of how life boats are lowered really haven't changed at all over the course of the last century. The Costa Concordia was a wake up call for the entire industry. What I find utterly fascinating is that many of the critical errors that lead to the Titanic rupturing so water tight compartments, were repeated almost exactly by the Coasta Concordia. Both Captains made the same critical errors when the obstacles where finally spotted. By turning their ships at the last minute, they both inflicted damage which was almost identical. It is almost beyond belief to read post accident reports by experts indicating neither ship would likely have sunk if they had stuck head on, instead of broadside at speed.

Compulsive reading: A Tragic Night Remembered Titanic 100 Years. By Guy Foster. This is a gripping read. It takes first person testimony from both the USA and UK enquiries into the disaster. Instead of Hollywood fabrication, these are the facts. As fascinating as it is sad.  For example I never knew that a ship was within hours of the Titanic when it sand and two people from that ship actually saw each and every flare she sent up.

TOP TEN TITANIC LINKS: 

(SOURCE: gcaptain.com)

National Geographic: Unseen Titanic Photos
NOAA: R.M.S. Titanic, 100 Years Later
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: The Quest to Map Titanic
Google Earth: Titanic Google Earth Tour
The Big Picture: Titanic at 100 Years
IMO: 100 Years After the Titanic
Titanic Stories: Official Website of The Titanic and it’s Home in Belfast, N. Ireland
National Museums Northern Ireland: Titanic The Exhibition
History Channel: Titanic by The Numbers Infographic
White Star Line: An In-depth Examination of the Ships of the Legendary White Star Line

White Star Memories: Photos of items from all classes, dining rooms, uniforms.

Olympic Dining Room

VICKY writes: Part of Titanic history is still, to this day, sailing the ocean waves. The Celebrity ship Millennium has a restaurant which contains wooden panels originally used in the RMS Olympic, sister ship to Titanic. Apparently both ships were almost identical. Millennium will be in Australian waters for the 2012/13 cruise season.