“Millions have dreamt of sailing on her, seeing her in port and experiencing her unique majesty. Titanic 2 will be the ship where those dreams come true.”
Back in 2012, billionaire Australian mining magnate and politician Clive Palmer announced his plans to build and launch the Titanic 2. His aim was to both completely recreate the original Titanic and then have his new vessel make the same journey that infamously left more than 1,500 dead when the original ship hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912.
And now Palmer’s plans may finally be coming to fruition.
Blue Star LineRendering of the Titanic 2.
According to CNN Travel, Palmer suspended his plans three years after announcing the Titanic 2 due to an unspecified financial dispute with the Chinese government, which is heavily involved with the project.
But now, Palmer is making headlines once again after announcing that the $500 million project is back and the ship will plan to set out on its maiden voyage as soon as 2022.
Wikimedia CommonsThe Titanic just before its departure from Southampton, England on April 10, 1912.
The Journey Of The Titanic 2
As Palmer said in a recent statement:
“The ship will follow the original journey, carrying passengers from Southampton to New York, but she will also circumnavigate the globe, inspiring and enchanting people while attracting unrivaled attention, intrigue and mystery in every port she visits.”
Wikimedia CommonsClive Palmer
According to USA Today, the Titanic 2 trip will begin in Dubai and sail to Southampton, England before it will embark on the infamous voyage of its namesake to New York.
The Original Titanic
Ullstein Bild/Ullstein Bild/Getty ImagesCrowds line the docks of Southampton, England on April 10, 1912 as the Titanic prepares to take off on its voyage.
The original Titanic set sail in April 1912 after a mild winter. Because of the unseasonably warm conditions, a high number of icebergs drifted off from the Arctic closer to the route of the ship, which was believed to be safe from such dangers.
Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the Titanic sinking.
Unable to control the ship’s direction and avoid the iceberg, the Titanic crashed and sank, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew on board. The ship only had 20 lifeboats on board instead of its full capacity of 64 lifeboats, which is one of the many reasons why this disaster was as massive as it was.
“An Authentic Titanic Experience”
Blue Star LineAn interior view of Titanic 2.
Palmer says that Blue Star Line, the company orchestrating the Titanic 2 experience, will re-create everything about the original Titanic journey to give passengers an authentic experience — presumably sans shipwreck.
Blue Star LineAn interior staircase aboard Titanic 2.
“Blue Star Line will create an authentic Titanic experience, providing passengers with a ship that has the same interiors and cabin layout as the original vessel, while integrating modern safety procedures, navigation methods, and 21st-century technology to produce the highest level of luxurious comfort,” Palmer said in his statement.
The “authentic Titanic experience” includes the option to buy first, second, and third-class tickets and having the exact number of passengers and crew on board as the original ship.
Blue Star LineAn inside view of Titanic 2.
However, in his statement, Palmer cites the original Titanic as the “ship of dreams” and states that “millions have dreamt of sailing on her” because of the “mystery, intrigue and respect” that said millions have for the ship.
While all that might be true, chances are that most of the passengers aboard the forthcoming Titanic 2 — the future of which is still by no means certain — will also be looking forward to stepping on its bow à la Jack Dawson and screaming “I’m the king of the world!”
After this look at Titanic 2, check out some haunting photos of the Titanic just before and after its tragic sinking. Then, discover the most incredible stories of those who survived the Titanic.
