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Few ships in history have been as famous as the 'Titanic' has been. Of course, the Titanic's story was always a topic of interest; the Titanic culminated to "icon status" after James Cameron's 1997 Blockbuster film hit. But myths, and tales have little to do with what actually took place that fateful evening on April 14, 1912. For those cynics amongst us, no one ever said (or would have every said): "I only have $10.00 in my pocket, yet know more about the world than most," I'm paraphrasing now, since I don't exactly remember what Leonard de Caprio said in the film, but regardless: the Titanic's fame is something difficult to reckon with....

The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and took 1,517 passengers with her. The ship was considered to have been one of the most extravagant/luxurious ships ever built to date then. Of course I'm sure it pales by comparison to the "Andre Adoria" which you hardly hear anything about today, but after the movie; just about everyone knows about the Titanic, but sadly enough-much of what they know is fiction fusion by Cameron's romantic mind. In that era, she was the largest passenger ship to have ever been built...loaded with amenities which much like today appealed to the affluent. A gymnasium, pool, and even a library; in addition to the "Cafe Parisien." Although well to do people today are as infatuated about Japanese, Italian, Chinese, and Mexican food as they are with just about any other type of cuisine; in the days of the Titanic; affluent people usually only associated themselves with the French culture; hence the Titanic having a caf/restaurant for it's upper class passengers. Cameron was right about one thing in the film, poor people like today always got the short end of the stick, so many of the amenities the Titanic offered were reserved for the well to do only, or "First class passengers."

The Olympic (the name of the ship which Titanic replaced) was the model used to built the Titanic, except the Titanic was eons away in terms of amenities/luxuries from its sister ship; all resulting in the Titanic being the most extravagant ship to date then.

The Titanic sailed from Southampton, England destined for New York (another world class city of that day, since if you mentioned Los Angeles then, you would have been laughed out of existence; although today: Los Angeles is on the same level/class as New York is), since luxury liners were then famous for making their voyages from Europe into New York; which as I stated was then considered to be one of the great world cities. There were 2,240 people on board, and as we all know: most of them perished. The Titanic made a stop in France (again the whole French thing was very important socially in that day). It is said: some of the most prominent well to do people of that day were traveling first class on board of the Titanic including millionaire: John Jacob Astor (to be a millionaire in those days its like being a billionaire in today's status quo). At 11:40 PM the ship hit an iceberg which resulted in its doom. Since the ship was considered so large and powerful; it didn't carry enough lifeboats; hence only being able to save only some of its passengers (high class/money passengers).

Learn more about this author, John Sarkis.
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