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By: History.com Editors

Updated: March 12, 2024 | Original: November 9, 2009

The RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship, sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic after sideswiping an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 lost their lives in the disaster. Titanic has inspired countless books, articles and films (including the 1997 Titanic movie starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio), and the ship's story has entered the public consciousness as a cautionary tale about the perils of human hubris.

The Building of the RMS Titanic

The Titanic was the product of intense competition among rival shipping lines in the first half of the 20th century. In particular, the White Star Line found itself in a battle for steamship primacy with Cunard, a venerable British firm with two standout ships that ranked among the most sophisticated and luxurious of their time.

Cunard’s Mauretania began service in 1907 and quickly set a speed record for the fastest average speed during a transatlantic crossing (23.69 knots or 27.26 mph), a title that it held for 22 years.

Cunard’s other masterpiece, Lusitania , launched the same year and was lauded for its spectacular interiors. Lusitania met its tragic end on May 7, 1915, when a torpedo fired by a German U-boat sunk the ship, killing nearly 1,200 of the 1,959 people on board and precipitating the United States’ entry into World War I .

Did you know? Passengers traveling first class on Titanic were roughly 44 percent more likely to survive than other passengers.

The same year that Cunard unveiled its two magnificent liners, J. Bruce Ismay, chief executive of White Star, discussed the construction of three large ships with William J. Pirrie, chairman of the shipbuilding company Harland and Wolff. Part of a new “Olympic” class of liners, each ship would measure 882 feet in length and 92.5 feet at their broadest point, making them the largest of their time.

In March 1909, work began in the massive Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland, on the second of these three ocean liners, Titanic, and continued nonstop for two years.

On May 31, 1911, Titanic’s immense hull–the largest movable manmade object in the world at the time–made its way down the slipways and into the River Lagan in Belfast. More than 100,000 people attended the launching, which took just over a minute and went off without a hitch.

The hull was immediately towed to a mammoth fitting-out dock where thousands of workers would spend most of the next year building the ship’s decks, constructing her lavish interiors and installing the 29 giant boilers that would power her two main steam engines.

‘Unsinkable’ Titanic’s Fatal Flaws

According to some hypotheses, Titanic was doomed from the start by a design that many lauded as state-of-the-art. The Olympic-class ships featured a double bottom and 15 watertight bulkhead compartments equipped with electric watertight doors that could be operated individually or simultaneously by a switch on the bridge.

It was these watertight bulkheads that inspired Shipbuilder magazine, in a special issue devoted to the Olympic liners, to deem them “practically unsinkable.”

But the watertight compartment design contained a flaw that was a critical factor in Titanic’s sinking: While the individual bulkheads were indeed watertight, the walls separating the bulkheads extended only a few feet above the water line, so water could pour from one compartment into another, especially if the ship began to list or pitch forward.

The second critical safety lapse that contributed to the loss of so many lives was the inadequate number of lifeboats carried on Titanic. A mere 16 boats, plus four Engelhardt “collapsibles,” could accommodate just 1,178 people. Titanic could carry up to 2,435 passengers, and a crew of approximately 900 brought her capacity to more than 3,300 people.

As a result, even if the lifeboats were loaded to full capacity during an emergency evacuation, there were available seats for only one-third of those on board. While unthinkably inadequate by today’s standards, Titanic’s supply of lifeboats actually exceeded the British Board of Trade’s requirements.

Passengers on the Titanic

Titanic created quite a stir when it departed for its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912. After stops in Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown (now known as Cobh), Ireland, the ship set sail for New York with 2,240 passengers and crew—or “souls,” the expression then used in the shipping industry, usually in connection with a sinking—on board.

As befitting the first transatlantic crossing of the world’s most celebrated ship, many of these souls were high-ranking officials, wealthy industrialists, dignitaries and celebrities. First and foremost was the White Star Line’s managing director, J. Bruce Ismay, accompanied by Thomas Andrews, the ship’s builder from Harland and Wolff.

Absent was financier J.P. Morgan , whose International Mercantile Marine shipping trust controlled the White Star Line and who had selected Ismay as a company officer. Morgan had planned to join his associates on Titanic but canceled at the last minute when some business matters delayed him.

The wealthiest passenger was John Jacob Astor IV, heir to the Astor family fortune, who had made waves a year earlier by marrying 18-year-old Madeleine Talmadge Force, a young woman 29 years his junior, shortly after divorcing his first wife.

Other notable passengers included the elderly owner of Macy’s, Isidor Straus, and his wife Ida; industrialist Benjamin Guggenheim, accompanied by his mistress, valet and chauffeur; and widow and heiress Margaret “Molly” Brown, who would earn her nickname “ The Unsinkable Molly Brown ” by helping to maintain calm and order while the lifeboats were being loaded and boosting the spirits of her fellow survivors.

The employees attending to this collection of First Class luminaries were mostly traveling Second Class, along with academics, tourists, journalists and others who would enjoy a level of service and accommodations equivalent to First Class on most other ships.

But by far the largest group of passengers was in Third Class: more than 700, exceeding the other two levels combined. Some had paid less than $20 to make the crossing. It was Third Class that was the major source of profit for shipping lines like White Star, and Titanic was designed to offer these passengers accommodations and amenities superior to those found in Third Class on any other ship of that era.

Titanic Sets Sail

Titanic’s departure from Southampton on April 10 was not without some oddities. A small coal fire was discovered in one of her bunkers–an alarming but not uncommon occurrence on steamships of the day. Stokers hosed down the smoldering coal and shoveled it aside to reach the base of the blaze.

After assessing the situation, the captain and chief engineer concluded that it was unlikely it had caused any damage that could affect the hull structure, and the stokers were ordered to continue controlling the fire at sea.

According to a theory put forth by a small number of Titanic experts, the fire became uncontrollable after the ship left Southampton, forcing the crew to attempt a full-speed crossing; moving at such a fast pace, they were unable to avoid the fatal collision with the iceberg.

Another unsettling event took place when Titanic left the Southampton dock. As she got underway, she narrowly escaped a collision with the America Line’s S.S. New York. Superstitious Titanic buffs sometimes point to this as the worst kind of omen for a ship departing on her maiden voyage.

The Titanic Strikes an Iceberg

On April 14, after four days of uneventful sailing, Titanic received sporadic reports of ice from other ships, but she was sailing on calm seas under a moonless, clear sky.

At about 11:30 p.m., a lookout saw an iceberg coming out of a slight haze dead ahead, then rang the warning bell and telephoned the bridge. The engines were quickly reversed and the ship was turned sharply—instead of making direct impact, Titanic seemed to graze along the side of the berg, sprinkling ice fragments on the forward deck.

Sensing no collision, the lookouts were relieved. They had no idea that the iceberg had a jagged underwater spur, which slashed a 300-foot gash in the hull below the ship’s waterline.

By the time the captain toured the damaged area with Harland and Wolff’s Thomas Andrews, five compartments were already filling with seawater, and the bow of the doomed ship was alarmingly pitched downward, allowing seawater to pour from one bulkhead into the neighboring compartment.

Andrews did a quick calculation and estimated that Titanic might remain afloat for an hour and a half, perhaps slightly more. At that point the captain, who had already instructed his wireless operator to call for help, ordered the lifeboats to be loaded.

Titanic’s Lifeboats

A little more than an hour after contact with the iceberg, a largely disorganized and haphazard evacuation began with the lowering of the first lifeboat. The craft was designed to hold 65 people; it left with only 28 aboard.

Tragically, this was to be the norm: During the confusion and chaos during the precious hours before Titanic plunged into the sea, nearly every lifeboat would be launched woefully under-filled, some with only a handful of passengers.

In compliance with the law of the sea, women and children boarded the boats first; only when there were no women or children nearby were men permitted to board. Yet many of the victims were in fact women and children, the result of disorderly procedures that failed to get them to the boats in the first place.

Exceeding Andrews’ prediction, Titanic stubbornly stayed afloat for close to three hours. Those hours witnessed acts of craven cowardice and extraordinary bravery.

Hundreds of human dramas unfolded between the order to load the lifeboats and the ship’s final plunge: Men saw off wives and children, families were separated in the confusion and selfless individuals gave up their spots to remain with loved ones or allow a more vulnerable passenger to escape. In the end, 706 people survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Titanic Sinks

The ship’s most illustrious passengers each responded to the circumstances with conduct that has become an integral part of the Titanic legend. Ismay, the White Star managing director, helped load some of the boats and later stepped onto a collapsible as it was being lowered. Although no women or children were in the vicinity when he abandoned ship, he would never live down the ignominy of surviving the disaster while so many others perished.

Thomas Andrews, Titanic’s chief designer, was last seen in the First Class smoking room, staring blankly at a painting of a ship on the wall. Astor deposited his wife Madeleine into a lifeboat and, remarking that she was pregnant, asked if he could accompany her; refused entry, he managed to kiss her goodbye just before the boat was lowered away.

Although offered a seat on account of his age, Isidor Straus refused any special consideration, and his wife Ida would not leave her husband behind. The couple retired to their cabin and perished together.

Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet returned to their rooms and changed into formal evening dress; emerging onto the deck, he famously declared, “We are dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen.”

Molly Brown helped load the boats and finally was forced into one of the last to leave. She implored its crewmen to turn back for survivors, but they refused, fearing they would be swamped by desperate people trying to escape the icy seas.

Titanic, nearly perpendicular and with many of her lights still aglow, finally dove beneath the ocean’s surface at about 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912. Throughout the morning, Cunard’s Carpathia , after receiving Titanic’s distress call at midnight and steaming at full speed while dodging ice floes all night, rounded up all of the lifeboats. They contained only 706 survivors.

Aftermath of the Titanic Catastrophe

At least five separate boards of inquiry on both sides of the Atlantic conducted comprehensive hearings on Titanic’s sinking, interviewing dozens of witnesses and consulting with many maritime experts. Every conceivable subject was investigated, from the conduct of the officers and crew to the construction of the ship. Titanic conspiracy theories abounded.

While it has always been assumed that the ship sank as a result of the gash that caused the bulkhead compartments to flood, various other theories have emerged over the decades, including that the ship’s steel plates were too brittle for the near-freezing Atlantic waters, that the impact caused rivets to pop and that the expansion joints failed, among others.

Technological aspects of the catastrophe aside, Titanic’s demise has taken on a deeper, almost mythic, meaning in popular culture. Many view the tragedy as a morality play about the dangers of human hubris: Titanic’s creators believed they had built an unsinkable ship that could not be defeated by the laws of nature.

This same overconfidence explains the electrifying impact Titanic’s sinking had on the public when she was lost. There was widespread disbelief that the ship could not possibly have sunk, and, due to the era’s slow and unreliable means of communication, misinformation abounded. Newspapers initially reported that the ship had collided with an iceberg but remained afloat and was being towed to port with everyone on board.

It took many hours for accurate accounts to become widely available, and even then people had trouble accepting that this paragon of modern technology could sink on her maiden voyage, taking more than 1,500 souls with her.

The ship historian John Maxtone-Graham has compared Titanic’s story to the Challenger space shuttle disaster of 1986. In that case, the world reeled at the notion that one of the most sophisticated inventions ever created could explode into oblivion along with its crew. Both tragedies triggered a sudden collapse in confidence, revealing that we remain subject to human frailties and error, despite our hubris and a belief in technological infallibility.

Titanic Wreck

Efforts to locate the wreck of Titanic began soon after it sank. But technical limitations—as well as the vastness of the North Atlantic search area—made finding it extremely difficult.

Finally, in 1985, a joint U.S.-French expedition located the wreck of the RMS Titanic . The doomed ship was discovered about 400 miles east of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic, some 13,000 feet below the surface.

Subsequent explorations have found that the wreck is in relatively good condition, with many objects on the ship—jewelry, furniture, shoes, machinery and other items—are still intact.

Since its discovery, the wreck has been explored numerous times by manned and unmanned submersibles—including the submersible Titan, which imploded during what would have been its third dive to the wreck in June 2023.

HISTORY Vault: Titanic's Achilles Heel

Did Titanic have a fatal design flaw? John Chatterton and Richie Kohler of "Deep Sea Detectives" dive the wreckage of Titanic's sister ship, Britannic, to investigate the possibility.

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Titanic Maiden Voyage

Introduction.

Following her prestigious launch in front of a crowd of around 100,000 spectators and a throng of excited reporters, Titanic began her maiden journey, first collecting the passengers sailing – and even migrating – to America. It was a voyage that would end in disaster amidst the ice-strewn waters of the Atlantic. Read on for a comprehensive summary of the facts about this tragic trip.

Above: Footage of RMS Titanic leaving for her maiden voyage in 1912.

471 miles – the distance of the journey to deliver Titanic from Belfast – the city in which she was built – to Southampton, England – the city from which her maiden voyage would commence.

Where did the Titanic leave from?

Although Titanic initially sailed from Belfast (where she was built) to Southampton, her maiden voyage is considered to have begun in Southampton.

02 April 1912 – the date that Titanic set sail from Belfast to Southampton.

Southampton

6 – the number of days that the Titanic was at rest in Southampton, before the start of her maiden voyage to New York.

Above: The Titanic at Southampton at the beginning of her maiden voyage.

05 April 1912 – the date Titanic was briefly opened for viewing by the paying public, two days after sailing to Southampton. The ship was “dressed overall”, with flags and pennants hung from the rigging in a salute to the people of the city.

07:30 am – the time Captain Smith arrived on board on the morning of the maiden journey, along with the crew. The officers were already on board, having spent the previous night on the ship.

2 – the number of lifeboats employed in a brief safety drill, conducted at 08:00 am; starboard lifeboats 11 and 12.

Where was Titanic going?

The Titanic was on her maiden voyage, a return trip from Britain to America. The outward route was to be Southampton, England – Cherbourg, France – Queenstown, Ireland – New York, USA. The return route was going to be New York – Plymouth, England – Cherbourg – Southampton.

09:30 am – the time the second- and third-class boat trains began to arrive and passengers started to board the Titanic.

11:30 am – the time that the first-class boat train arrived from London.

Did You Know?

At the time of her maiden voyage a coal strike was on, and so coal for Titanic had to be scavenged from other company ships.

06 April 1912 – the date that the strike was ended, however there would not be time to deliver enough coal to Southampton docks before Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage.

84 miles – the length of the first leg of the journey, from Southampton to Cherbourg, France.

12.00 pm – the time Titanic cast off from Southampton Dock, towed out into the River Test by tugboats.

4 feet – the margin by which a collision with the USMS New York was averted, when the undertow from the much larger Titanic caused the smaller boat to be sucked toward the ship, snapping the six mooring ropes holding the New York in place.

60 minutes – the approximate time that departure was delayed by this incident, sailing finally resuming at 1pm.

04:00 pm – the time the boat train from Paris arrived in Cherbourg, around 90 minutes before passengers could be ferried out to the delayed Titanic.

22 – the number of cross-channel passengers who disembarked in Cherbourg.

274 – the number of passengers who boarded at Cherbourg.

08:10 pm – the time Titanic departed Cherbourg and set sail for Queenstown (now known as Cobh) in Ireland.

307 miles – the length of the next stage, from Cherbourg to Queenstown, Ireland.

Queenstown (Cobh)

11:30 am – the time Titanic dropped anchor in Queenstown, on the morning of 11th of April 1912, about 2 miles offshore.

7 – the number of passengers who disembarked in Ireland.

123 – the number of passengers who boarded at Queenstown (3 first-class, 7 second-class and 113 third-class ticket-holders).

63 – the number of male passengers who boarded in Ireland.

60 – the number of female passengers who came aboard.

2 – the number of tenders that ferried the passengers from Heartbreak Jetty to Titanic; they were named PS Ireland and PS America.

1,385 – the number of bags of mail delivered on board during the Queenstown stop.

01:30 pm – the time Titanic raised anchor and set sail on her first and last transatlantic crossing.

The Atlantic Ocean

2,825 miles – the intended distance of the longest leg of the voyage, from Queenstown to New York, USA.

137 hours – the anticipated journey time sailing from Queenstown to New York City.

How many people boarded the Titanic?

There were 2,223 people aboard Titanic for her maiden trip, 1,324 passengers and 908 crew.

116 – the typical number of hours taken to cover the same distance by the Titanic’s rivals, the Cunard liners Lusitania and Mauritania (the idea that the Titanic captain ignored the iceberg warnings because he was trying to set a new time record is just one of the many Titanic myths that endures).

Above: The route of the voyage of the Titanic and the location of her sinking.

4 – days into the crossing when the collision with the iceberg occurred.

How much were Titanic ticket prices?

The average cost for a First Class berth was $150 (£30). A parlour suite would have set you back the princelier sum of $4,350 (£875).

The average cost of a berth in Standard (Second) Class was $60 (£12).

The average cost of a Steerage (Third) Class berth was $15-$40 (£3-£8).

3 – the intended number of legs planned for Titanic’s return voyage (New York to Plymouth to Cherbourg to Southampton).

As she set sail on her maiden voyage, some interior work was still to be completed. For example, some areas of the ship were without heating, whilst others were too hot. A team of nine Harland & Wolff employees, including the ship’s designer, Thomas Andrews, sailed as members of a guarantee group, tasked with ensuring any problems were attended to. All died in the sinking.

More To Explore

Read about the passengers on the Titanic , about the iceberg that was her undoing, and about the spot in the Atlantic Ocean where the Titanic sank .

• What is a Maiden Voyage?

The term maiden voyage refers to the first expedition made by a vessel after its performance has been tested. The term has also been used to mean a person’s first time doing something. Before a ship’s maiden voyage, a bottle of alcohol (usually champagne) is broken over the ship’s bow for good luck. The history associated with maiden voyages dates back to ancient times with ancient civilizations having special ceremonies to invoke their gods to protect them on long ocean voyages. The ancients brought shrines into their ships, and the tradition proceeded long into the Middle Ages. Most ships have successful maiden voyages; however, some have been tragic, with the most famous being the RMS Titanic.

Notable Maiden Voyages

The rms titanic.

The RMS Titanic was one of the world’s most famous ships not only because it was the largest ship at the time of its completion but also because it met a tragic end during its maiden voyage. The owners of the Titanic chose to forego the traditional elaborate ship launching ceremony. The ship’s maiden voyage began on April 10, 1912, under the command of Captain Edward Smith with about 2,224 people on board. Two days after the ship’s launch at around 11:40 pm the ship struck an iceberg on the starboard side which allowed water to get into the ship. The ship took around 2 hours and 40 minutes to completely sink with the death toll estimated at more than 1,500 people. Most of the deaths were due to the ship’s crew not being adequately prepared for such an event and the ship not having enough lifeboats.

Launched on June 10, 1875, the Mohawk was owned by William T. Garner and was the largest racing yacht of the time at 140 feet. The yacht’s doomed maiden voyage began on July 20, 1876, off Staten Island with the entire Garner family on board. A sudden violent gust of wind struck the yacht making it capsize. The accident had no survivor as everyone on board drowned. The yacht was later recovered and renamed the Eagre. The Eagre participated in a survey of the Nantucket Shoals led by Lieutenant E.M. Hughes.

The Vasa was constructed at the command of King Gustavus Adolphus as the flagship of the standby regiment. The ship was under the command of Captain Sofring Hansson who received the command to set sail on the ship’s maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, from Alvsnabben. After a journey of approximately 4,200 feet to Tegelviken, water began filling the ship from the open gun ports. A strong wind had filled the ship’s sails, and because it was unstable, it was unable to right itself when forced on the port side. Thirty people died in spite of all the efforts of ships nearby. The ship was salvaged in 1961 and is now a major tourist attraction.

Safety Standards on Present-day Vessels

To prevent a catastrophic loss of life on a transport vessel stringent safety requirements have been set up. All ships are required to have enough lifeboats for all the people on board and the crew expected to be trained on proper evacuation procedures. Transport vessels are only certified once they have proven to have met all the required safety measures.

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Encyclopedia Titanica

Keeping track of a maiden voyage, what was the route the titanic took on her maiden voyage.

This article illustrates the route the Titanic took on her maiden voyage.

On Thursday the 11 th of April 1912, the RMS Titanic departed Queenstown on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic ocean to New York. About 2:20 PM GMT, she took departure from the Daunt’s Rock light vessel, and proceeded at 70 revolutions per minute along a path that hugged the southern coast of Ireland toward Fastnet light. 1 From there she would follow the Great Circle track 2 westbound to a location in the middle of the Atlantic referred to as the Corner at 42° N, 47° W, and then follow a rhumb line track 3 taking her south of the Nantucket Shoals light vessel and then to the Ambrose Channel light vessel marking the entrance to NY harbor. 4

The planned route of the Titanic is taken as follows:

• Departure off Daunt’s Rock light vessel 5 – 51 ° 43’ N, 08 ° 16’ W
• Turning point off the Old Head of Kinsale 6 – 51 ° 33’ N, 08 ° 32’ W
• Departure off Fastnet light 7 – 51 ° 23’ N, 09° 36’ W
• Turning point at the Corner – 42° N, 47 ° W
• To a point south of the Nantucket Shoals light vessel 8 – 40 ° 35’ N, 69 ° 36.5’ W
• To Ambrose Channel light vessel 9 – 40 ° 28’ N, 73 ° 50’ W

As we all know, the RMS Titanic never completed her maiden voyage. On the night of April 14 th , she struck an iceberg at 11:40 PM apparent time ship (ATS), and sank just 2 hour and 40 minutes later. However, one of the questions that seem to come up is where was the Titanic on each of the first three days out since leaving Queenstown? To answer this question we can make use of the daily reported mileage runs for the first three days and the planned route of travel.

What we know about the distances covered comes from a memorandum that was provided by the Titanic’s 3 rd Officer Herbert Pitman to the American Inquiry. 10 This is shown in the table below:

Total distance run from departure at Daunt’s Rock at 2:20 PM GMT April 11 th to local apparent noon April 14 th was 1549 nautical miles.

By using the distance traveled per day along the known route of travel we can derive an estimate for the position of the ship at local apparent noon (LAN) each day for April 12, 13, and 14. The actual route taken was a series of rhumb line tracks along the Great Circle. But it is only the end point of each travel day taken at noon that we are most interested in. For the first day we need to consider the route taken from the Daunt’s Rock light vessel to Fastnet light, and then add the segment along the Great Circle track from Fastnet to local apparent noon on April 12 th . The route from Daunt’s Rock to Fastnet consisted of two segments. The first was from the Daunt’s Rock light vessel to a turning point off the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse, a distance of about 14 nautical miles.

The second segment was from that turning point to Fastnet light which was located on a rock off the southwest coast of Ireland, a distance of about 41 nautical miles. 14

The complete route of travel along the southern Irish coast is shown in the figure below.

The total distance taken along this route comes out to be about 55 nautical miles. This distance is then subtracted from the reported distance of the first day’s run to give 484 – 55 = 429 nautical miles, the distance from Fastnet to the noon position for April 12. This noontime position falls on a rhumb line from Fastnet light to an apparent alter course position for 7:00 PM GMT that was sent in a wireless message from the Titanic to the La Touraine that very day. 15 The distance between the position at noon and the position sent in the La Touraine message works out to be about 114 nautical miles.

To go from this 7:00 PM GMT position on April 12 th to the noontime position for April 13 th we have to travel over a distance of about 405 nautical miles to a point on the great circle track. This is because the run between noon April 12 to noon April 13 was reported as 519 miles, and the alter course point for 7:00 PM GMT on April 12 th was already about 114 miles beyond the noontime position.

To get to the noontime position for April 14 th we have to travel a distance of 546 miles from the noontime position of April 13 th to a point on a line of bearing of 060.6° true from a fixed point in the Atlantic called the Corner. 16 This corner point, the end of the great circle track at 42° N, 47° W, was the turning point for all westbound ships heading for the east coast of North America that time of the year. The result is a total of 429 + 519 + 546 = 1494 miles from Fastnet to local apparent noon for April 14 over the traveled route. A noontime location that was only 126 miles from the Corner.

Following the method outlined above we are able to find approximate geographic coordinates for local apparent noon on all three days. Not only that, we can easily derive the time, in GMT, when local apparent noon occurred using the ship’s longitude and the equation of time for each date. 17 Each of these noontime positions is an approximate position since the exact coordinates are of course unknown with the possible exception of the noon position for Sunday, April 14, the day of the accident. The results are shown in the table below:

The following table shows the actual distances that were worked out between key points along the route of travel for the derived coordinates as well as the rhumb line course angles rounded to the nearest degree.

A plot of the intended overall course of the Titanic from the Daunt’s Rock light vessel to the Ambrose Channel light vessel is shown in the attached figure. For completeness, the location of the wreck site as well as a derived position for the 7:30 PM ATS star site of April 14 th are also shown. 20

On the Titanic the ship’s clocks were set back each night so that at local apparent noon the following day the clocks would read 12:00. As quoted in a 1924 brochure for Olympic passengers:

It is necessary to put the clock back every 24 hours. The alteration in time is made at about midnight, and the clock is usually put back from 35 to 45 minutes on each occasion, the exact amount of time depending upon the distance the ship is estimated to make by noon the next day. During the first 24 hours, however, owing to the change from mean time to apparent time, the alteration is likely to be considerably more than 45 minutes...

Since we now have derived the time in GMT when local apparent noon occurred for each day since leaving Queenstown, we can easily determine the setback of the ship’s clocks. Clock setback times are simply the difference between the time in GMT of local apparent noon for a given day minus the time in GMT of local apparent noon for the previous day except for the first day out. In that case, if their clocks were keeping GMT when they left Queenstown, the total setback would be the difference between the GMT of local apparent noon for April 12 th and 12:00 which was 1 hour and 24 minutes. 21

The following table show the total clock adjustments for the first three days out from Queenstown.

It should also be noted that the planned setback for midnight of April 14/15 was 47 minutes. 22 Because of the accident, this was not carried out. 23

In addition to the above, we also can easily derive the interval of time between each day’s run. 24 This is shown in the table below:

Now that we have the time of each day’s run, we can get the speed made good over ground by simply dividing the distance run for each day by the time of each day’s run. This is shown in the following table:

It should be pointed out that the ship’s speed over ground is not the same as the speed through the water. Despite an increase in revolutions from 70 rpm on Thursday, to 72 rpm on Friday, and then to 75 rpm on Saturday, 26 the speed over ground did not necessarily increase by the same proportion. Clearly, the ship was affected by the North Atlantic Drift which varied in intensity along the route of travel. This is something that can be seen in modern day satellite data that measures the drift of oceanic currents. Despite the small increase in revolutions, the ship averaged about the same ground speed for the second day out as she did on the first day out. An increase of about 1 knot in ground speed was observed for the third day out when the revolutions were raised from 72 rpm to 75 rpm. It should also be noted that a further increase in revolutions were carried out early Sunday evening when additional boilers were added on line. It was recorded that the ship was averaging about 22.5 knots through the water less than two hours before the accident happened. 27 Considering the course over ground from the April 14 th noon location to a turning point just 4.5 miles to the southwest of the Corner, 28 then to the 7:30 PM celestial fix location, and then to an assumed collision point close to the location of the wreck site, we find a total distance over ground that would have been traveled of about 260 nautical miles. Taking 11 hours and 40 minutes from noon, the average speed over ground works out to be 22.3 knots. It is also interesting to note that the measured distance traveled through the water since noon as recorded on the taffrail log at the time of the accident was also 260 nautical miles. 29

In summary, we have derived the most likely locations of the Titanic at local apparent noon on each of the first three days out from Queenstown. These were obtained from the reported distances made good and planned route of travel. We also were able to derive the time in GMT of local apparent noon for each of those days, and the amount of time the clocks were set back each night. We also derived the average speed made good over ground for each of those three days of travel.

1 In 1880 the legal time for Great Britain was made Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) by Act of Parliament. In the same act the legal time for all of Ireland was made Dublin Mean Time (DMT) and was not changed till 1916 to be the same as GMT. Dublin is at longitude 6° 15' W, which meant that DMT was 25 minutes behind GMT. [For a more detailed history of events up to this point, see Derek Howse, Greenwich Time and the Longitude (National Maritime Museum / Philip Wilson Publishers, 1997).] However , according to the rules and regulations of the International Mercantile Marine Company (owners of the White Star Line) that were in effect in 1912, departure and arrival times when entering or leaving English or Irish waters were always to be recorded in GMT. Once out to sea, time was kept according to where the ship would be at local apparent noon, the instant of time when the true sun would reach its highest point in the sky. Time being kept this way was known as Apparent Time Ship or ATS. When arriving or departing points in the United States or Canada, ship’s time would be changed to the mean time for the 75 th meridian of longitude which was exactly 5 hours behind GMT.

2 A Great Circle track is the path you would get if you took a tightly stretched string and used it to connect any two points on a globe. It is the shortest distance that connects those two points.

3 A rhumb line track is the path that you would get by following a fixed compass direction without change. If the compass direction you followed was due north or due south, you would also be following a great circle track on one of the earth’s meridians. You would also be on a great circle track if you happened to be on the earth’s equator and went due east or due west. Any other direction to the north or south of due east or due west will eventually spiral in toward one of the earth’s poles.

4 This route was known as the southern track taken by steamers heading westbound across the Atlantic leaving Queenstown. It was in effect from January 15 th through August 23 rd . The point called “the corner” marked the end of the great circle part of the westbound voyage. Eastbound steamers on the southern track would reach a corner point 60 nautical miles to the south of the westbound corner point before they would take to the great circle part of their eastbound voyage. From August 24 th through January 14 th these routes were shifted northward by about 120 nautical miles, and were know as the northern track . A voyage taken on the northern track made the passage across the Atlantic about 110 nautical miles shorter. After the Titanic disaster the southern tracks were shifted further southward.

5 The Daunt’s Rock light vessel was located at 51 ° 43’ N, 08 ° 16’ W from 1905-1938. (Ref: “A Directory of Hydrographic and Atmospheric Datasets for the North East Atlantic and UK Shelf Seas,” Science Series Tech. Report No. 113, Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, 2001, App. 1 – MAFF Coastal Sea Temperature Stations.) The location of the rock itself is at 51° 43’ 30’’ N, 08° 17’ 30’’ W (Ref: www.traveljournals.net).

6 We take the turning point to be about 3.3 miles south of the Old Head of Kinsale lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is located on the coast at 51 ° 36.3' N, 8 ° 31.9' W (Ref: The Commissioners of Irish Lights at www.cil.ie).

7 Fastnet lighthouse itself is precisely located on a rock island at 51º 23.3’ N, 09º 36.1’ W (Ref: The Commissioners of Irish Lights at www.cil.ie ).

8 Following the Olympic’s second voyage of 1911, we will take this point to be about 2 miles south of the Nantucket Shoals light vessel. The light vessel itself was listed in the US Coast Pilot Part III for 1912 at 40° 37’ 05’’ N, 69° 36’ 33’’ W.

9 The Ambrose Channel light vessel was listed in the US Coast Pilot Part IV for 1909 at 40° 28’ 02’’ N, 73° 50’ 01’’ W. Before passing Ambrose the ship would also pass the Fire Island light vessel located at 40° 28’ 40’’ N, 73° 11’ 26’’ W. But it was the Ambrose Channel light vessel that marked the end of the Atlantic crossing and entrance to lower NY harbor.

10 Although there were several errors in the memorandum submitted by Pitman, the distances provided for each day’s run can be confirmed from other testimonies and sources. (See American Inquiry, pages 420-421.)

11 Confirmation of the run for Day 1 of 484 miles comes from testimony of J. Bruce Ismay.

12 Confirmation of the run for Day 2 of 519 miles comes from Ismay and 2 nd class passenger Lawrence Beesely. In his book, The Loss of the SS Titanic , Beesley wrote that the purser had mentioned to him that the 519 mile run for day 2 was a disappointment.

13 Confirmation of the run for Day 3 of 546 miles comes from Ismay, and passengers Lawrence Beesley, Henry Stengel and Archibald Gracie.

14 Photographs of the Old Head of Kinsale and Fastnet lighthouses presented in this article are by permission of Philip Plisson ( www.plisson.com ).

15 Although the course of the ship was usually set at noon each day, it appears that the Titanic’s course was changed about 5 hours 36 minutes past LAN (which was at 1:24 PM GMT) on the 12 th of April. This 7:00 PM GMT position, which was transmitted from the Titanic to the La Touraine at 7:45 PM GMT, is about 6 miles north of the great circle track at the reported longitude. It is interesting to note that in the log of Olympic’s second voyage to New York (in July 1911), the last two out of three noontime positions along the great circle part of her route were 10 and 8 miles to the north of the great circle track line, respectively. Additionally, the first noontime position for the part of Olympic’s route from the Corner to the Nantucket Shoals light vessel was 6 miles to the north of the rhumb line track that she was to be on.

16 From testimony given by the Titanic’s 5 th Officer Harold Lowe (American Inquiry, p. 381), the course from noon to the corner was 240.6° true, and the distance was 126 nautical miles (after correcting what appears to be a transposition error of two digits in the transcript of his testimony). Working back from the Corner at 42° N, 47° W, and going 126 nautical miles along the reciprocal heading (060.6° true) gets us to a noon position of 43° 02’ N, 44° 31’ W. This position is a total distance run of 1549 miles from Daunt’s Rock over the course that was traveled.

17 Since the Earth makes one complete rotation with respect to the sun in 24 hours, and since there are 360 degrees in a complete rotation, each 15 degree change in longitude corresponds to an hour change in time. Traveling westward, for example, you would need to reset your clock back by 1 hour for every 15 degree change in longitude that you make. However, this 24 hour day that we are all so used to is measured with respect to a fictitious sun called the mean sun. The earth’s rotation with respect to the true sun, also called the apparent sun, is not exactly 24 hours. This difference arises from two separate causes. The first is that the plane of the equator is not the same as the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun, but is offset from it by the angle of obliquity, the tilt of the earth’s poles. The second is that the orbit of the earth around the sun is an ellipse and not a circle, and the apparent motion of the sun is not exactly equal throughout the year but appears to be moving fastest when the earth is closest to the sun. Even standing on the prime meridian at Greenwich, this difference can cause the true sun to be overhead several minutes before or several minutes after the clock strikes 12:00 PM GMT, depending on the time of the year. This difference is what is called the Equation of Time and must be added or subtracted from the mean time when calculating local apparent noon for any point on the surface of the earth.

18 Rhumb line distances shown here are based on a mid-latitude calculation method for a spherical earth. One minute of arc in latitude is equal to one nautical mile.

19 Rounded off to the nearest degree.

20 Samuel Halpern, “A Minute of Time,” THS Commutator , Vol. 29, No. 171 and 172, 2005.

21 Although the clocks were adjusted the night before to read 12:00 for local apparent noon the next day, a minor adjustment up to a minute if needed was made in the forenoon when they obtained a more accurate longitude for their noontime position (American Inquiry, p. 294.) If the Titanic’s clocks were adjusted back by 25 minutes the night before her arrival at Queenstown to Dublin Mean Time (which was kept throughout Ireland in 1912) as some people have suggested, then the total clock setback (including adjustment in the forenoon) for the first day out from Queenstown would have been 59 minutes. There is some indirect evidence that suggests that the clocks might have been set back about 58 minutes at midnight during the first night’s run since departing Queenstown as this number appeared in a memorandum prepared and submitted by 3 rd Officer Pitman to the American Inquiry (pp. 420-421). That memorandum had in it the distances run for each day and the departure time at Daunt’s Rock. As pointed out before, departure times in English and Irish waters were always recorded in GMT by White Star Line rules. A 2:20 PM GMT departure can also be check against the speed she was making carrying 70 revolutions per minute. Other setback times in that memo, however, can be shown to be completely unreliable, and cannot be verified by any other available evidence.

22 American Inquiry, page 451.

23 American Inquiry, page 294.

24 The time interval from LAN one day to LAN the next day is just 24 hours plus the amount of time the clocks were set back. This hold for all days except the first day out. Because they took departure in the afternoon at 2:20 PM GMT off the Daunt’s Rock light vessel, the time of the first day’s run is 24 hours minus the difference between their departure time in GMT on April 11 and the time of LAN in GMT on April 12. That difference was 2:20 – 1:24 = 0:56. Therefore 56 minutes from 24 hours leaves 23 hours and 4 minutes, the time interval from departure at the Daunt’s Rock light vessel on April 11 to local apparent noon on April 12.

25 Speed over ground is not the same as speed through the water. Ground speed is the vector addition of speed through the water plus the net affect of current and wind.

26 American Inquiry, page 3.

27 British Inquiry, 965.

28 Samuel Halpern, “A Minute of Time,” THS Commutator , Vol. 29, No. 171 and 172, 2005.

29 British Inquiry, 17608.

This article first appeared in the White Star Journal of the Irish Titanic Historical Society. Copyright 2006

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Encyclopedia Titanica (2007) Keeping Track of a Maiden Voyage ( Titanica! , ref: #5479, published  20 February 2007, generated 26th April 2024 04:17:00 PM); URL : https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/keeping-track.html

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Definition of maiden voyage noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

maiden voyage

• The ‘Titanic’ sank in 1912 on its maiden voyage.

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If you're a returning player, then you can still play the Maiden Voyage quest to either to refresh your Sea of Thieves skills or to earn the special items available from earning all the Maiden Voyage commendations.

Maiden Voyage can be played at any time by selecting from the bottom right-hand corner of the Sea of Thieves Experience menu, which is the first menu you access upon starting the game.

Maiden Voyage begins with you awakening on an island and the ghostly Pirate Lord appearing in front of you. You need to eat, however, to properly talk to the Pirate Lord.

To do this open your Equipment Radial and then select the food you stored there. Once it's in hand, you can eat it and then talk to the Pirate Lord.

He'll instruct you to retrieve the cutlass that is sticking out of the remains of a skeleton tied to a nearby tree. When you do retrieve this cutlass, the skeleton won't be too happy, so quickly destroy it with a few swipes of your blade.

Blade in hand, meet the Pirate Lord on the shore and he'll give you a shovel, which you should immediately put away. The Pirate Lord will then ask you to retrieve some treasure for him.

To do this open up your maps and select the only one you currently have available. You can now look at this map whenever you like and continue to move about the island as you do so. Keep in mind though, you won't be able to tell where you personally are by looking at the map.

To find the treasure head west along the beach, until you reach the area where it curves out into the sea.

Next, follow the curved beach out towards the ruined ship at its end and stop when you reach the plant with red leaves - it's here that you'll find the buried treasure.

With your shovel, dig up the Old Sailor's Chest and then bring it back to the Pirate Lord.

He'll allow you to open the chest and take the equipment inside, which includes a flintlock pistol, compass, telescope, bucket and lantern.

You can now spend some time experimenting with your new weapons and equipment if you like.

This is also the time to explore Old Sailor's Isle, the island where Maiden Voyage is set, and uncover its various secrets, including a collection of hidden journals.

Once you've found every secret or simply want to continue playing the game, talk once more to the Pirate Lord and he'll open the path to the Sea of Thieves. First, however, you have to get your ship ready for the open seas.

Swim out to your ship and board via the ladder on the side.

Your first task is to raise the mast, which can be done by interacting with the sail length rope that is to the right-hand side of the ladder you used to board the ship with.

Now head to the bottom deck via your cabin and collect some planks from the wood barrel you find down there.

You can use these planks to repair the cracks around the base of the mast. You'll need to do this three times for this task to be complete.

Next, select your bucket and head back back to the bottom deck. Here you need to scoop up some of the water into your bucket and then throw it overboard, until your ship is water free.

With that task completed, head to the topmost deck and use the capstan to raise the anchor, before returning to the sail length rope to lower the sails.

Now you can finally head out into the open seas, using the wheel to steer the ship, so that you can follow the trail of green torches to the Sea of Thieves.

Don't let your guard down as your journey though. There will be a shark that you must avoid and, at some point, you'll encounter a skeleton ship.

To deal with this ship, you must load one of your cannons using the cannonball barrel on the deck and fire it towards your enemy. Don't worry if you miss - a kraken will take care of the ship for you.

Eventually you'll receive the Unto the Horizons commendation, bringing Maiden Voyage and the tutorial to an end.

If you want to access the hull of the destroyed ship in the middle of Old Sailor's Isle in the Maiden Voyage quest, you're going to need to find the key.

To do this head to the pool of water that lies in-between both ships and, once you're there, look to your left to see a pathway. This path will lead you around the left-hand side of the broken ship and up onto the hilltop where one of the broken masts rests.

You will also find a small spring at the top of this hilltop that descends to the ground below as a waterfall.

To find the key you need to dive underwater in this pool and swim to the rocks that form the top of the waterfall.Just in front of these rocks, you'll find the key sticking out of the dirt.

This key may take some time to find due to it being a similar colour to the dirt that lies the base of the pool, but if you take your time, ensuring you swim slowly, you'll be able to find it.

Key in hand, return to the area that sits in-between the two broken halves of the ship. You'll want to head towards the steps that led up to the first level of the right-hand side of the ship, but don't climb these steps. Instead, look at the ground to the right hand side of this ship to see a hatch in the dirt.

Use the key on this hatch to open the hull for the broken ship, so that you climb inside and help yourself to a selection of lost treasure like a true pirate.

Inside the hull, you'll find 25,000 Gold, 200 Doubloons and the 'My Secret Plan' journal, which you need to read as part of the A Storied Crossing commendation.

Entering the hull will also complete the Hidden Secrets commendation.

As you explore Old Sailor's Isle during the Maiden Voyage quest in Sea of Thieves you might come across a journal or two. There are ten journals for you to find in total during the quest and, if you find them, you'll earn the A Storied Crossing commendation.

Remember - you need to read each journal once you've found them to complete this commendation.

Below you'll find out how to find all ten journals in Maiden Voyage:

The Sea of the Damned

Just beyond the campfire where you begin Maiden Voyage, you'll find a small pool with a waterfall.

If you swim towards this waterfall, you'll discover that there's a cave hidden behind it.

Venture to the back of this cave and you'll find 'The Sea of the Damned.'

Regarding Merfolk

Beyond where you dig up the Old Sailor's Chest, you'll see a sunken ship; the hull is at the very tip of the sand dune, while the cabin is on the right-hand side.

To find this book you need to dive into the cabin, entering through the doorway underwater and pay close attention to the sea-bed.

In one of the topmost corners you'll find 'Regarding Merfolk.'

They Gave It A Name

In the middle of Old Sailor's Isle you'll find the remains of a great ship broken in half. Before you reach this ship, however, there is a path leading to the right, following this will bring you to a ladder and, once you've climbed it, you'll find yourself in the remains of a bedroom.

Next, head up the stairs within this room to reach the top deck of the ruined ship and, by the ship's wheel, you'll find 'They Gave It A Name.'

Lost Secret's

After reading 'They Gave It A Name,' walk around the mast until you find the ladder attached to its side.

Climbing this ladder will take you to the crows-nest where you'll find 'Lost Secret's.'

So Near and Yet...

To find this journal, climb the set of steps at the base of the right-hand side of the broken ship and then cross the bridge that connects the two halves together.

Once you reach the other side of the boat, look to your left and you'll see a pair of barrels surrounded by leaves. At the foot of the upright barrel you'll find 'So Near and Yet...'

My Secret Plan

'My Secret Plan' is located in the hull of the broken ship, which is unlocked with the key you'll find as part of earning the Hidden Secrets commendation.

Lord of the Sea

Head down the path that goes through the tunnel in-between the two halves of the broken ship and continue following it until you reach a bridge.

Rather than crossing this bridge, go to the cliffedge to your right where you'll find a ladder.

Head down this ladder and search through the leaves to your left; amongst the ivy, you'll find the 'Lord of the Sea' journal.

Painting from the Past

Following the path that begins in-between the two halves of the broken ship to its end will bring you to the top of the second island and there you'll find a campsite.

Amongst the items that make up this little camp, you'll find the 'Painting from the Past' journal.

Making Camp

You'll walk past a wooden door on your journey to the top of the second island. Situated to the left of this door is a lever, which, when you pull it, will open the door.

Beyond the doorway, you'll find another small camp and, on the floor to the left of the campfire, you'll find the 'Making Camp' journal.

A Ship That Fits

After reading 'Making Camp' follow the pathway into the depths of the mountain, until you reach a raised bridge.

Opposite this raised bridge, you'll find a capstan, which you can use to lower the bridge and continue down the path.

Eventually, you'll reach another closed door. This time you can raise the door using the pulley next to it.

This will bring you into a cavern containing the rowing boat used for the Yer Boat commendation. Rather than climbing into the boat, head to your left where you'll see a ladder leading to a small ledge.

Once you've climbed the ladder, look on at the right-hand side of the ledge and, on the ground, you'll find the last journal - 'A Ship That Fits.'

The first season has arrived! Learn about all Season 1 Battle Pass rewards and everything else added in the Sea of Thieves patch notes . New to the game? Learn what to do in Sea of Thieves and take take part in the Maiden Voyage tutorial , which teaches you the essentials of sailing and ship battles . It's also useful for beginners to know how to survive fights with skeletons and the kraken . Elsewhere we have advice on how to get easy gold and doubloons , complete skeleton forts and The Shroudbreaker , take part in fishing in Sea of Thieves and Sea of Thieves island maps .

There are four other commendations for you to complete in Maiden Voyage, the tutorial for Sea of Thieves, and completing these commendations, along with the ones outlined above, will unlock the Magpie's Fortune Sails for your ship.

You can check to see how many commendations you've completed for the Maiden Voyage quest by going to the Reputation tab in the in-game menu.

From there select Tall Tales and then cycling to the next screen, where you'll find the option for Maiden Voyage. Here you'll find a full list of commendations available for this quest and the rewards you'll receive for completing them.

A Fine Catch

To earn this commendation, you have to do a spot of fishing . First, grab your fishing rod from the Equipment Reel, which is located in the second section of the reel.

Once you've got your fishing rod in hand, head to the nearest patch of water and cast out into the sea.

You'll have to wait a short while for a fish to appear, but, when you see a fish swimming and jumping around the end of your line, you'll know it's nearly time to start reeling in a fish.

When a fish does take the bait, you need to angle your rod in the opposite direction to the one it's swimming in. This would be right if the fish is swimming left, upwards if it's fishing directly away from you or left if it's heading to the right.

When the fish gets tired, you'll have the chance to reel it in.

You will have to repeat this process a number of times to catch a fish, but once you do so you'll receive the 'A Fine Catch' commendation.

Just make sure you don't reel the fish in when it's moving or point the rod in the wrong direction - if you do you'll break the line and lose the fish.

A Hearty Meal

This commendation begins with you killing one of the chickens that can be found near the campfire that you awaken by at the beginning of Maiden Voyage. You can do this by using either your cutlass or flintlock pistol.

Once you've committed chickenide, pick up the chicken meat left behind and take it to the nearby campfire.

Now all you have to do is cook it and you'll receive the commendation.

Saluting the Pirate Lord

For this commendation, you need to climb up the left of the broken ship, until you reach the level with the destroyed brig where you'll find a barrel of cannonballs.

Take these cannonballs and then head up the stairs to the top floor of this part of the ship. Here you'll find a cannon and all you have to do now is load, then fire, the cannon.

The best time to complete this commendation is just after you've read the final book, 'A Ship That Fits.'

In the same cavern where you find this book, you'll find a rowing boat. Once you've read the book, climb into the rowing boat, pick up the oars and take it for a spin.

After a couple of minutes of rowing, you'll receive this commendation.

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Meaning of maiden voyage in English

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• break-journey
• circumnavigation

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maiden voyage

• the first voyage of a ship after its acceptance by the owners from the builders.
• nautical the first voyage of a vessel

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Word history and origins.

Origin of maiden voyage 1

Idioms and Phrases

Example sentences.

The RMS Queen Mary made her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City.

In fact, its maiden voyage on familiar trails netted a series of both uphill and downhill PRs.

People might be surprised that during that period “Maiden Voyage,” one of your most well-loved standards, began as a TV jingle.

To some passengers a maiden voyage was a pleasure cruise; to others it meant a hope for new life.

His maiden voyage as skipper of his own ship made that reputation for the man.

He had had his fair fraction in the form of a crowd of enthusiastic friends who came to see him off on his maiden voyage.

THE ship's company was of a character befitting the greatest of all vessels and worthy of the occasion of her maiden voyage.

He has made it a custom to be a passenger on the maiden voyage of every new ship built by the White Star Line.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Discovery’s maiden voyage.

Space Shuttle Discovery soars away from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, beginning its maiden voyage and a storied spaceflight career that spanned more than 26 years. The on-time liftoff occurred at 8:42 a.m. EDT. Image credit: NASA Aug. 30, 1984

Titanic II: The Modern Rebirth of a Legendary Ocean Liner

T he Titanic 2 ship is not merely a vessel; it's a floating homage to one of the most storied maritime legends in history. This ambitious project aims to resurrect the grandeur of the original RMS Titanic while ensuring adherence to 21st-century safety standards. The concept of Titanic 2 is to recreate the experience of the original ocean liner, which famously sank in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, but with a modern twist that promises to captivate both history enthusiasts and sea travel aficionados.

The vision behind the Titanic 2 ship

The vision behind the Titanic 2 ship is a blend of reverence and ambition, a tribute to the unparalleled opulence of the original RMS Titanic while promising a safe and modern sea voyage. This ambitious project is not merely about replicating the physical dimensions of the iconic ocean liner; it's about capturing the spirit and grandeur that the Titanic represented in the early 20th century. The developers of the Titanic 2 ship are driven by a desire to offer passengers the opportunity to step back in time and experience the elegance and luxury of the golden age of ocean travel, complete with the grand staircase, lavish dining rooms, and period-appropriate attire.

Yet, the Titanic 2 ship is more than a floating museum; it's a statement of technological progress and a nod to the advancements in maritime safety. While the romance of the past is a significant draw, the team behind the Titanic 2 ship is equally focused on ensuring that the vessel honors the legacy of those who sailed on the original Titanic . The vision is to merge the historical allure with contemporary comforts, creating a unique travel experience that pays homage to the past while embracing the future.

Design and features of the Titanic 2 ship

The Titanic 2 ship is a remarkable feat of modern engineering that honors its namesake's luxurious design while incorporating the latest technological advancements. The vessel's aesthetics are a near-replica of the original Titanic , featuring the same grand staircase and opulent first-class cabins that exude the elegance of the early 20th century. Yet, beneath its vintage veneer, the Titanic 2 ship is thoroughly outfitted with contemporary amenities. Passengers can expect state-of-the-art navigation systems and the comfort of modern air-conditioning, alongside digital entertainment options that seamlessly blend into the classic decor.

Beyond its visual similarities, the Titanic 2 ship is engineered to offer more than just a nostalgic replica of the original Titanic . It's a fully functional, ocean-going cruise liner equipped with cutting-edge safety features, which will be discussed in detail later in the article. The ship also prioritizes environmental considerations, employing the latest in fuel-efficient engines and waste management systems.

Planned routes and maiden voyage details

The anticipation surrounding the Titanic 2 ship's maiden voyage is palpable among maritime enthusiasts and history buffs alike. This modern replica aims to pay homage to its namesake's fabled journey, with plans to sail the same transatlantic route that the original RMS Titanic attempted over a century ago. Departing from Southampton, UK, and bound for New York City, the Titanic 2 ship is designed to offer passengers the chance to step back in time while enjoying the safety and comfort of modern technology.

Details about the Titanic 2 ship's maiden voyage have been a topic of great curiosity. While the exact date has been subject to change, the journey is intended to closely mirror the original 1912 schedule , providing a sense of authenticity to the experience. Passengers will be able to traverse the North Atlantic, following in the wake of the original Titanic , but with the assurance that the Titanic 2 ship is equipped with the latest navigation and safety systems.

Safety measures and modern advancements on the Titanic 2 ship

The Titanic 2 ship is not just a replica of its ill-fated predecessor; it's a modern marvel equipped with the latest safety measures and technological advancements to ensure the well-being of all on board. In the wake of the original Titanic 's tragic sinking, the new vessel has been designed with a double hull and modern navigation and radar equipment that far surpasses the early 20th-century technology. These updates are crucial , as they provide enhanced protection against icebergs and other potential hazards at sea. Moreover, the lifeboat capacity on Titanic 2 exceeds the number of passengers, ensuring that in the unlikely event of an emergency, everyone can be accommodated safely and quickly.

Beyond the structural and navigational improvements, the Titanic 2 ship boasts cutting-edge safety protocols, including rigorous training for the crew in emergency procedures. Fire safety systems have been significantly upgraded, featuring the latest in smoke detection and water sprinklers. Additionally, the communication systems on board are state-of-the-art, ensuring that the Titanic 2 can maintain contact with the outside world, regardless of its location.

Read more:  Survivors of the Titanic: Learning More About Their Lives After the Tragedy

The journey of the Titanic 2 project is as intriguing as the historical tale it seeks to revive. As we navigate through the uncertainties and challenges that accompany this ambitious endeavor, one cannot help but feel a sense of anticipation for the potential resurrection of a bygone era. Whether the Titanic 2 ultimately graces the seas as a triumph of engineering or becomes a cautionary tale, its story serves as a captivating reflection on our collective fascination with the past.

Queen Anne Sets Sail for Southampton Ahead of Maiden Voyage

• April 24, 2024

Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Anne, set sail for her homeport of Southampton ahead of its maiden voyage departing May 3. 

The ship was delivered during a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice on Friday, April 19 and is expected to arrive in Southampton on April 30. 

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said: “We are immensely proud of Queen Anne. Not only does she reflect the Cunard distinctive style on the outside, the inside perfectly echoes the brand heritage with reimagined, elegant spaces and designs. We can’t wait to welcome guests on board for her maiden voyage on May 3 .”

Queen Anne’s inaugural seven-night voyage sails roundtrip from Southampton, visiting La Coruna, Lisbon. 

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Advantages of a Maiden Voyage?

By KKB , March 21, 2022 in Celebrity Cruises

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Looking at the Ascent Dec. 2023--it's less expensive than the Beyond this year (similar itinerary).

Curious what additions we might see to a Maiden Voyage.

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Arizona Wildcat

30 minutes ago, KKB said: Looking at the Ascent Dec. 2023--it's less expensive than the Beyond this year (similar itinerary). Curious what additions we might see to a Maiden Voyage.

Additions?  Likely none except extra supervisory staff trying to get things organized or working correctly.

2023 cruises likely to be a bit cheaper because the pent up demand from the last 2 years will be greatly reduced. 

Bragging rights, sorry.   🤪

I was watching a couple bloggers that were on the RCL Wonder of the Seas for its maiden voyage and they had wished that they had waited for a few cruises to get under their belt. Issues from the staff still finding their way, to shows not having all their props to the sprinkler system going on in the promenade. 

These days a maiden voyage gets you a ship with a bunch of YouTubers and social media influencers 

1 hour ago, t18c97 said: I was watching a couple bloggers that were on the RCL Wonder of the Seas for its maiden voyage and they had wished that they had waited for a few cruises to get under their belt. Issues from the staff still finding their way, to shows not having all their props to the sprinkler system going on in the promenade. 

My friends go on Wonder this week, I told them that they are lucky that it wasn't the first one!

TequilaJane

Nothing plus a good chance of it being cancelled.

A restaurant critic that I followed here in L.A. always said to never go to a new restaurant until they've been open at least six months, or maybe it was a year. It takes that long to get all of the kinks out. I would apply that to a new cruise ship too. I would pass on a maiden voyage.

There are nearly always unfinished things and a few teething problems but it is very exciting seeing a brand new ship and most likely being one of the first to sleep in a cabin.  you sometimes get given extra small gifts/mementos etc but really it is all about the atmosphere for me. 

Fly and Sail

Nothing. Except the likelihood that the sailing is being cancelled if the ship fitting runs behind schedule and possible service deficiencies as the crew will be new, even if they come from other X ships.

I'm following the BEYOND updates closely on Cpt. Kate's social media and considering how the ship looks I find it amazing to unbelievable that the maiden voyage is just around the corner.

13 hours ago, KKB said: Looking at the Ascent Dec. 2023--it's less expensive than the Beyond this year (similar itinerary). Curious what additions we might see to a Maiden Voyage.

I think you’re likely to see  less than exemplary service because the crew is a new team working together. It’s like going to a restaurant on opening day or spring training in sports. There’s also a chance the cruise will be cancelled because the ship had unforeseen delays being built. 

They give you a piece of paper that says you made the inaugural trip and smells like new

1 hour ago, mfs2k said: I think you’re likely to see  less than exemplary service because the crew is a new team working together.

Guess it depends upon management.  We sailed a restart cruise whose staffing would have been equally new as a team, and the service was absolutely outstanding in all respects.

We were told, for example, that there had been a great deal of time spent feeding dining staff in other restaurants to 'tune up' the process.  It was fun for the crew, too, as they had an opportunity to experience and critique dining venues that they would otherwise never have had an opportunity to enjoy.

JeanieC,Aston

They usually take the best staff from other ships for a maiden,,,,they like to make a good impression on the first sailing,or preview sailing when it’s full of press and travel agents.

We recently returned from cruising on the Apex.  One of the BTs told me that he had the opportunity to transfer to the Beyond.   He said he turned it down because he opened up a few ships and said it was too much turmoil and hassle.  He said he was getting too old and smart to keep doing that.  He said it takes at least a month to get everything running smoothly and  things are constantly getting changed

i can relate because I worked in construction and the automotive industry. The first month after starting up is a nightmare.    Nothing is ever 100% and there are many changes required and everything is an emergency that needed to be corrected yesterday.  It is frustrating and hard to do if you don’t have the equipment or supplies.   

Happy cruising 🌊 🚢 🇺🇸 🌅

I have to agree that about the only advantage might be bragging rights.    Having said that I've seen in the past they sell a "Maiden Voyage" but they had 2 or 3 cruises prior for VIP, Press and Travel Professionals.    My question would then be --- What does a Maiden Voyage really mean. 

As others have said I've seen them cancelled due to technical issues.    Many also say there are lots of growing pains as the staff is trying to figure out how everything works and lots of shake down issues.

I was on an inaugural flight once and the crew were laughing at themselves trying to figure out how to do everything form the coffee pots to the PA System.     I do have to say it was a fun experience  and everything was BRAND NEW and not a blemish anywhere.

3 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said: They usually take the best staff from other ships for a maiden,,,,they like to make a good impression on the first sailing,or preview sailing when it’s full of press and travel agents.    

You are correct about the crew, they are the key. We have sailed on more than half a dozen Celebrity ship Inaugurals. There weren’t any problems and we enjoyed every one. 

I have never done a maiden voyage.  Probably never will either.  Of course I do not buy a new car in its very first model year either.  Let others work out the issues if there are any and put fixes in place for overlooked things.  Also I wait for actual reviews to be posted by paying customers before I buy anything.  For new ships that might be 6 months of sailings or more to get a balance of reviews.  In general the reviews from maiden voyages tend to be a bit sugar-coated here.

1 minute ago, TeeRick said: Of course I do not buy a new car in its very first model year either.  Let others work out the issues if there are any and put fixes in place for overlooked things.  Also I wait for actual reviews to be posted by paying customers before I buy anything. 

Pro-tip: Try to avoid getting admitted to a teach hospital in July, unless you want to be taken care of by a brand new intern, just out of medical school. 

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said: What does a Maiden Voyage really mean.

I recall seeing it put as the "Inaugural Voyage" in places (a term you used later in your post about that flight).  Strictly speaking, a ship's "maiden voyage" is her first voyage after construction is complete and she's handed over to her new owners.

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Florence in California: Carnival launches new Italian-style cruise ship

Carnival Cruise Line is bringing a touch of Italy to Southern California.

The line launched Carnival Firenze, inspired by its namesake city, this week. The vessel sailed its maiden voyage from its Long Beach homeport on Thursday.

“We carry more guests than any other cruise line from California, and now this ship is giving us the opportunity to offer more fun to more people sailing from Long Beach,” Christine Duffy, the line’s president, said in a news release . “The recipe combining this ship’s beautiful Italian theming with the familiarity of our friendly team’s hospitality is, in a word, perfecto!”

The ship is the second in the Carnival Fun Italian Style concept after sister ship Carnival Venezia joined the fleet last summer. Both were originally part of Costa Cruises – also owned by parent company Carnival Corp. – before being rehomed.

Where will Carnival Firenze sail?

The roughly 5,000-guest ship will offer Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera cruises ranging from three to seven days. Stops include destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Catalina Island.

What can guests expect on board?

Built in 2020, Firenze was refurbished earlier this year to add Carnival-specific touches. Those include staple venues like the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and JavaBlue Cafe.

But the line leans into the ship’s Italian motif. The ship’s atrium was designed with Florence’s Piazza del Duomo in mind and the Lido deck takes influence from the Italian Riviera. There’s even a replica of Michelangelo’s David on board that was previously on Carnival Pride (the real sculpture is located in Florence’s Accademia Gallery).

The theme extends to the food and drink options, with eateries like Italian specialty restaurant Il Viaggio, Mexican-Italian fusion venue Tomodoro and La Strada Grill, serving Italian street food. Frizzante specializes in bubbly drinks, and passengers can sip craft cocktails and Italian coffee at Amari.

Other features include the WaterWorks water park and Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.

How long should I take a cruise?: Here's how short and long cruises compare

How much does Carnival Firenze cost?

Prices vary based on sailing date and other factors, but a five-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing on May 30 currently starts at $409 per person based on double occupancy, according to Carnival’s website . The fare includes much of the food on the ship, drinks like regular coffee and iced tea and more.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].