Titanic cruise retraces ill-fated journey

Descendants of those who died in the Titanic disaster 100 years ago were some of those who set sail yesterday on a memorial cruise to the site of the wreck.

The MS Balmoral left Southampton on the 12-night cruise to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the liner that hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage.

The same number of 1,309 passengers – not including crew – are aboard the MS Balmoral as on the ill-fated ship with around 50 having a direct family connection to the sinking. A service will take place at the time it sank.

The ship also had the same port of departure in an effort to recreate the voyage of arguably the most famous ship of all time.

But the Balmoral had to leave two days earlier than the Titanic did as it cannot steam as fast.

In keeping with the theme, food on board is from the menus of the White Star Line ship that sank on April 15, 1912, with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

The organisers have even hired a band – the five-piece Grupetto from Belgium – to play music in honour of the Titanic’s musicians who are said to have played until the ship sank.

People from 28 different countries have booked to travel and retrace the liner’s original route.

Many turned up in Southampton yesterday in period costume. All must be hoping this particular ship makes it to New York – unlike its predecessor.