Would You Sail On A Replica Titanic, Set To Launch In 2027?

Readers will remember the original RMS Titanic, the British passenger ship that collided with an iceberg in 1912, taking less than three hours to sink beneath the waves. Meanwhile, those passengers who couldn’t reach a lifeboat did not survive the experience. Despite this, Clive Palmer, an Australian mining billionaire plans to build an exact replica of the fateful ship. Moreover, Palmer announced his AUS $1 billion (around US $657 million) plan at an event held at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.

Mining billionaire to build a replica Titanic

According to CNN, Clive Palmer, an Australian mining billionaire announced his dream project, to build a replica of the most infamous cruise ship in history. Meanwhile, Palmer had previously announced his plans in 2012 and 2018, but now it is the time to build his dream ship.

Palmer said his company, Blue Star Line intends to build the replica cruise ship and launch it in June 2027, saying in a press release:

We are very pleased to announce that after unforeseen global delays, we have re-engaged with partners to bring the dream of Titanic ll to life. Let the journey begin.

Palmer said that government lockdowns [COVID-19 pandemic] sent the cruise industry into a long-term shutdown. He said, “We are getting the best ship-builders, designers and engineers in the world back on deck to build Titanic II,” adding that the ship would be “far, far superior to the original.”

Moreover, the mining billionaire told local media, “It’s a lot more fun to do the Titanic than it is to sit at home and count my money.” Reportedly, Palmer has a net worth of some $4.2 billion.

When will the building of Titanic II start?

According to Palmer, tenders are being sought to build the cruise ship and he hopes to find a shipbuilder by the end of this year to start work in 2025. Reportedly, the new Titanic will have space for 2,345 passengers on board in its 835 cabins across nine decks. He added that around 50 percent of the rooms will be reserved for first-class passengers.

Reportedly, the Titanic II will have the same interiors and cabin layout as the original, including a ballroom, Turkish baths and a swimming pool.

Speaking to the Guardian, Palmer said that in 1912, the Titanic was the “ship of dreams.” However, in the more than a century since its sinking, the ship’s legend “has been powered by mystery, intrigue and respect for all she stood for.” Palmer said he estimates that the 56,000-ton ship will cost between $500 million and $1 billion adding:

Titanic II is something that needed to be built. We all know how to make war. We get armies and we fund wars. People know about that. But it is a lot harder to make peace. To make peace you have got to stick with it every day. You progress inch by inch.

Meanwhile, Titanic II’s maiden voyage plans to trace the original route of the infamous 1912 voyage from Southampton to New York and is scheduled for 2027.

About the original cruise ship

The original RMS Titanic was one of the largest and most luxurious cruise ships ever built. When on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, with 2,240 passengers and crew on board, the ship collided with a massive iceberg, sinking in less than three hours.

More than 1,500 people died in the sinking, with only 705 surviving. This inspired James Cameron to release his Oscar-winning 1997 blockbuster, Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Readers, would you consider booking a cabin on Titanic II when it launches in 2027? Let us know by dropping a comment below. Just for fun, here is the trailer for the movie.