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The 'unsinkable'' British liner Titanic sails out of Southampton, England, at the start of its doomed voyage in 1912.
A recreation of the voyage will depart from Britain on April 8, 2012 and head for spot where ship sank on April 12, 1912--The Globe and Mail
Let's get this out of the way first and foremost: D'ya get to slam into an iceberg, too? Okay, okay, I'm done with that. Mostly. Well, not really, but I'll snicker quietly to myself while I tell you an unrelated story. I was in the line to see a movie, NOT Titanic. In front of me, a family buying tickets for Titanic. Mom to the ticket agent: How long does the movie run? Ticket agent: [Muffled speech.] Girl of ten or so, standing next to mom: THREE HOURS JUST TO SEE A SHIP SINK?!?!?? Okay, NOW I'm done.
The truth is, the Titanic, at her launch, was a miracle in a golden age of travel. The imagination reels at the fancy dress, the steamer trunks, the chandeliers. Those spooky photos of the giant rusted hull on the ocean floor, the objects recovered that seem like ghosts... I actually see the appeal. The glowing optimism of a time that made this giant seagoing cruiser, the tragedy of loss, and then, in more modern times, the miracle of science that brought her back to us.
But it's not, uh, smooth sailing for the tour company. From World Hum:
"Miles Morgan Travel, the company behind the Titanic Memorial Cruise, tells Reuters it has “come in for a little bit of criticism,” but stresses the upcoming trip is meant to be “a commemoration not a ghoulish recreation of the original journey.”
From All Seeing Eye:
It's rather ironic, considering, that the health and safety page on the website makes no reference to lifeboats or evacuation procedures. In the event of any disaster the band will play, but if you are still on board when they conclude by playing Autumn (not Nearer My God To Thee, that's a myth) then you are in real trouble.
From Interstitial Life:
Also, the whole idea that they plan to take the same route at the exact same time of year (you know...the time of year when ice burgs are in the vicinity) seems a bit like tempting fate.
I'm sure they are at least better supplied with life boats.
These images on gCaptain show the actual cruise liner in some horrifyingly rough seas -- I'm green just eyeing the photos. And hey, if you find yourself with several thousand dollars to spare, you can book yourself on the trip here.
The occasion? It will be 100 years since the sinking of the unsinkable. The liner will go out to the place where the Titanic went down, then, theoretically, continue on to New York. Along with your regular cruise activities -- the spa, the buffet, the Lido deck (whatever THAT means), there will be a series of Titanic historical lectures and educational activities, and who knows, maybe a line at the bow to be King of the World! I don't know about you, but as per my usual reaction, I'm keeping both feet on the shore.
Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View.
