Titanic II is Coming, Here’s All the Information So Far

13. The Pool

Even though the Titanic was surrounded by water, passengers still were able to enjoy a pool. The original Titanic had a heated pool – the second pool of its kind. The first was installed in the Titanic’s sister ship, the Olympic.

The Titanic II will have a similar pool, including the porthole windows, though it is tiny considering the number of passengers. Of course, not all passenger classes will be able to access the pool so that problem may sort itself out.

14. A Gym

The original Titanic included a gym for its first-class passengers. The gym had an electric camel, an electrical horse, cycling machines, and rowing machines, all of which will be included in the Titanic II.

A squash or racquetball court will also be available to passengers, for a cost. An hour on the original court, which was obviously not included in the ticket price, cost passengers two shillings or 50 cents. The equivalent value today would be approximately $13.00 USD.

15. Smoking or Not

In 1912, first-class male passengers had access to a private smoke room aboard the Titanic. Of course, the Titanic II will also replicate this room, though it is not clear whether the room will be limited to only men this time around.

The original ship’s designer, Thomas Andrews, is said to have been last seen in the smoke room, which was also mimicked in the movie Titanic. The film also alludes to his despair at having designed a flawed ship and that he went down with it. The original Titanic bridge, which will be replicated for aesthetic purposes only on the Titanic II.

16. Interior

The interior designs and decorations of the Titanic II are intended to be as similar to the original ship as possible. Tillberg Design of Sweden was contracted to produce models that replicated the original interiors, though the wooden paneling would have to be replaced with veneers due to current fire regulations.

As long as it looks even remotely similar to the original vessel, passengers are sure to swoon over the replicated beauty. Likewise, who doesn’t appreciate a safer material?

17. Location of Construction

The Titanic II is the first major passenger vessel built in China. China typically has more experience in constructing cargo ships rather than cruise ships, and a significant investment was required to ensure it met the primary safety requirements and regulations for passenger’s vessels.

It is undoubtedly a considerable undertaking, especially for the state-owned CJC Jingling shipyard that has never built a large passenger vessel.

18. Side Launching

As the Chinese state-owned shipyard constructing the Titanic II does not have a dry-dock, the ship will be side launching from a 200m slipway. That would make it the largest side-launched vessel in history and will require a significant extension to the shipyard’s facilities.

Side launching involves an oiled slideway, or slipway, that extends into the water. It is one of the most commonly used ship launching systems. There are two side launching methods: one involves the ship’s own weight sliding it into the water, and the second consists of the slipway and the ship being moved into the water as one, with the ship’s buoyancy and stabilizers steadying it.

19. Modern Conveniences

The Titanic II will have one advantage the original passengers couldn’t dream of having: air conditioning. However, that’s where the luxury stops. There will be no television or internet on the ship, to maintain the romance of that long-lost time. For those in need of sending or receiving messages, there will be a Marconi room.

Everyone on board will also be provided with early 20th century-style clothes and undergarments in their cabins to get them ready for living on the Titanic.

20. The Man Behind the Scenes

Clive Palmer is definitely an “eccentric billionaire” if there ever was one. He has a reputation for insane publicity stunts, such as the attempt to create a giant Jurassic Park-style dinosaur theme park at his golf resort. Around the time of his announcement of the Titanic II, Palmer also decided to enter Australian federal politics. Palmer has previously claimed that he was the target of a conspiracy by Barack Obama, the CIA, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Greenpeace.

He has gained a reputation in Australia for launching ambitious and unconventional business ideas, then failing to see them through. The Titanic II might be another of these “Classic Clive Palmer announcements,” primarily due to the difficulties the project has faced.

21. Criticisms of Titanic II

Though much fanfare has surrounded the announcement of the Titanic II, the idea of a commercialized replica has also received criticism, being described as ‘insensitive’ and ‘a mockery of the memory of those who died.’

Cunard Line, who acquired the White Star Line legacy, claims that they have always been mindful and respectful of the tragedy and do not see the replica as “appropriate.”

22. Project Difficulties

On the tragedy’s 100th anniversary (2012), Clive Palmer announced that construction for a second Titanic would begin before the end of the year, with a 2016 launch date. The following year, reports emerged that Palmer was experiencing financial difficulties that would postpone the start of construction until March 2014, then to late 2014.

When construction still had not begun in 2015, a spokesperson clarified that the project had merely been delayed, not canceled, but the new launch date would be 2018 – two years later than initially planned. However, a journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation had been informed that the project had been halted, as the Chinese shipyard workers were highly unconvinced that the project would move beyond the proposal phase.

During this time, Clive Palmer had dabbled in Australian politics. When he faced the freezing of personal assets to recoup money owed to a newly bankrupt company he owned, he declined to stand for re-election and chose to refocus on the Titanic II project instead. On September 27, 2018, the Blue Star Line announced that the project would recommence, and the current expected launch date is 2022.

23. Not the Same as the Titanic Replica in China

Do not confuse Clive Palmer’s project with a Chinese Titanic replica. Seven Star Energy Investment commissioned it to function as part of a Romandisea resort on the River Qi in the Sichuan Province.

Unlike the Titanic II, the replica is not intended to sail; instead, it will be permanently docked within a reservoir. Though the ship was still under construction in February 2019, it was meant to be completed by 2018. The estimated cost of the project was £125 million.

24. US Titanic Replicas

The Titanic museums, located in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, are designed to depict the front half of the original ship. The museums manage to obtain a rotating set of Titanic artifacts, like a survivor’s cane and life jackets recovered from the ship.

Although you can see these amazing artifacts, most of the items were lost to the ocean. Over time, elements in the water have eaten away at the metal and caused the actual ship to slowly desecrate.

25. Period Costumes

Though exact details of the Blue Star Line’s experience have yet to be fully announced, it is most likely that the ship’s design won’t be the only historical element on the voyage. A promotional video showed passengers and crew in vintage costumes from the early 20th century, implying that employees may be wearing period-inspired outfits.

As mentioned previously, passengers will also have the option of dressing in period-era clothing to travel back in time. What would you pick if you were riding on the Titanic II? Details should become available as the ship’s 2022 launch draws closer.

26. An Authentic Experience

The Blue Star Line has spared no expense when it comes to providing an accurate and authentic experience of the voyage. After all, Titanic II cost nearly four times as much as the first one.

According to the website, the ship will feature all the same restaurants and dining rooms as the original, with antique decor and a menu to match. Other amenities the boat will have include saunas, pools, and a Turkish bathhouse.

27. You Can Still Visit the Original Titanic

Perhaps the idea of sailing on the Titanic II doesn’t sound appealing to you. Maybe the idea of naming a ship after one of the most significant maritime tragedies have you worried about history repeating itself. Alternatively, perhaps you’re extremely adventurous and want to experience the original Titanic in all its former glory.

Never fear – you still have the option of visiting the original shipwreck. Several companies now have plans to take tourists down to the site in 2019 and 2020, though that window of opportunity will not be open for long. Of course, prices are exorbitantly high: over $100,000 per person. The dive takes up to 12 hours to reach the 12,500-foot depth, making it less seen than outer space!

28. Is She “Unsinkable” Though?

Clive Palmer pragmatically said, “Anything will sink if you put a hole in it,” making him much smarter than the Titanic character, Cal, who said, “Even God himself couldn’t sink it!” The movie quote is based on the excitement surrounding the ship before the maiden voyage and the claims of it being an unsinkable ship.

Anything can happen when Mother Nature is involved; however, the designers and engineers will do everything in their power to protect the passengers and the ship from sinking.

29. Brexit Delayed Production

Clive Palmer announced in a statement made in Brisbane, Australia that the UK’s decision to leave the European Union had forced his Australian cruise company, the Blue Star Line, to base their planned European office in Paris instead of London.

The reasoning is that it would be of little use to have a European HQ outside of Europe. The decision meant a delay in the European office launch until March 2019.

30. Full Steam Ahead!

The Titanic II will have the same maximum speed as the original of 24 knots and would feature a larger rudder and a modern diesel engine instead of steam boilers. One knot is approximately 1.15 mph, making the maximum speed of the ships around 27 or 28 mph.

The official world water speed record is 275.97 knots, or about 318 mph, though the average rate of a cruise ship is typically between 20 – 30 knots.

31. Propellers

The Titanic II will have propellers mounted in Azipods or pods that can turn on a vertical and azimuthal axis for steering. The original Titanic had three propellers. Two would not be enough to transmit the power at the engine’s nominal speed, and the centerline propeller was driven by a Parsons low-pressure turbine using the low-pressure steam after it went through the reciprocating engines that drove the two outboard propellers.

The two outer propellers had three blades, and the centerline propeller had four. Essentially, the designers tried to combine the two types of propulsion engines thermodynamically and hydrodynamically through the use of three- and four-bladed propellers.

32. Palmer Is a Third-Class Traveler

In a 2013 interview, Palmer claimed that he plans to travel in third class on the Titanic II’s launch. Though enormous sums of money collected from the Titanic’s first-class passengers, a considerable percentage of transatlantic voyages were made from the passengers in third class, also known as the “Steerage” passengers because of the location of third class deep in the ship’s hull.

The Titanic’s steerage tickets were more expensive than most other third-class cabins or accommodations at the time, with a third-class ticket costing nearly a month’s wages for a skilled laborer. This was mainly because the ship was an overall more luxurious ship than any others on the market, except for the Olympic. The result was that a typical third-class passenger was usually upper working-class or lower-middle-class.

33. A Helicopter, Ahoy!

Many luxury liners today include a helipad – a feature that was certainly not on the original Titanic. However, the Titanic II may get this special upgrade on the aft deck, which means it would not be as visible to the public.

Helipads are usually used on a ship for harbor operations or medical emergencies, though in evacuation cases, helipads are unnecessary because trained individuals can climb up or down while the helicopter is stationary. Maritime helicopters also tend to be larger than usual ones, which complicates the question of where to place the helipad without disrupting the rest of the ship’s design.

34. The “Safety Deck” Extras

As we’ve mentioned, the Titanic II will have an additional lower deck called the safety deck. A fun feature of this deck is that it will also include a casino, hospital, a theater, and a few shops. The theater will seat approximately 400 and will be more of a ‘show lounge,’ since the deck is single-height. Some ships can accommodate up to thousands of passengers at once, but the Titanic II will not follow suit on this modern luxury.

Casinos on the ship are not a British tradition, so the Titanic did not have one, but they are currently among the most profitable public rooms on a modern cruise ship.

35. Keep an Eye Out for Icebergs

Titanic II has many features that should make navigating any potential objects in the water much more manageable. However, the Titanic II is not any safer from icebergs due to climate change.

Increased ice melting in Greenland, where the Titanic’s very own infamous iceberg originated, has led to increased iceberg discharge. Iceberg migration into the North Atlantic, where the Titanic II will be traveling, has doubled from the long-term average of about 450 a year to about 1000 today.

Where Did We Find This Stuff? Here Are Our Sources:

Roget, S. (n.d.). They’re Rebuilding The ‘Titanic’ And You Can Go On Its Maiden Voyage.

Memmott, M. (2013, February 27). Come Aboard! Here’s What The ‘Titanic II’ Will Look Like, Inside And Out.

Canales, K. (2019, April 15). Inside the Titanic II, a close replica of the 1912 Titanic cruise liner that could set sail in 2022.

Allen, J. (2013, February 27). Titanic II blueprints unveiled, but don’t call it “unsinkable.”

Melton, B. (2018, November 13). In an Age of Climate Change, Even Titanic II Is Not Safe From Icebergs.