The recent news that J. Bruce Palmer still intends to bring Titanic II to life has managed to excite a few Titanic enthusiasts, numerous Chinese shipbuilders, some online news site eager for clicks, and not many others. Now it’s time to toss some icy cold water on this crackpot theatre of the absurd.
As I pointed out in my recent article about United States, a 20th century ocean liner (in Titanic’s case a very early 20th century ocean liner) can never operate profitably as a 21st century cruise ship. People, at a minimum, want spacious staterooms, verandahs, spas, specialty restaurants, Las Vegas-style theaters and other amenities that were either rare or missing on 20th century liners. Titanic II promises virtually none of these attributes. Neither, incidentally, did the original Titanic.
Most people book a cruise to relax, pamper themselves, and forget about life’s travails. They certainly don’t want to go on a cruise to experience life in steerage, play make-believe toff, or relive an epic maritime disaster. Titanic II’s unique experience might appeal to some maritime history buffs and disaster movie fans, but it would also be a detriment to attracting repeat customers, a category that successful cruise lines depend upon.
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