The 17 Most Surprising Titanic Facts in 2024

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Jane Ng 22 April, 2024 4 min read

The Titanic was built to be the largest, most modern, and most luxurious ship in the nineteenth century. But on its first voyage, Titanic met tragedy and sank to the bottom of the ocean, creating the deadliest maritime accident in history. 

We've all heard of the Titanic disaster, but there are many other Titanic facts you may not be aware of; let's find out!

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Titanic Facts
Titanic Facts

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The 12 Most Surprising Titanic Facts

1/ The wreck of the broken ship was found on September 1, 1985, at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

2/ Although the third-class cabins on the Titanic, the most luxurious ship in the world at the time, were far superior to accommodations on a regular ship in every way, they were still rather rudimentary. The total number of third-class passengers ranged between 700 and 1000, and they had to share two bathtubs for the trip.

3/ There are 20,000 bottles of beer, 1,500 bottles of wine, and 8,000 cigars on board – all for first-class passengers.

4/ The Titanic took about 2 hours and 40 minutes to completely sink into the sea after the collision with the iceberg, which coincides with the broadcast time of the movie "Titanic 1997" if present-day scenes and the credits are cut. 

5/ It took only 37 seconds from the moment the iceberg was visible to the time of impact.

6/ The Titanic may have been saved. However, the ship's communication line was delayed by 30 seconds, making it impossible for the captain to change course.

7/ Charles Joughin, the baker on board, fell into the water for 2 hours but survived. Due to consuming a lot of alcohol, he claimed he did not feel cold.

8/ Millvina Dean was just two months old when the ship drowned in 1912. She was rescued after being wrapped in a sack and hoisted into a lifeboat. Millvina was the last Titanic survivor, dying in 2009 at 97.

9/ Total items lost in the disaster, including jewellery and cash, were worth about $6 million

The first-class dining saloon. Image: Everett Collection/Alamy

10/ The production cost of the movie "Titanic" is $ 200 million, while the actual construction cost of the Titanic is $ 7.5 million.

11/ A replica of the Titanic, called Titanic II, is under construction and will start operating in 2022.

12/ There was another movie about the Titanic disaster before the hit film "Titanic" in 1997. "Saved from the Titanic" was released 29 days after the ship sank. An actress who lived through the above catastrophe was the main role.

13/ According to the book Titanic Love Storiesat least 13 couples have honeymooned on the ship.

14/ The ship's crew members relied solely on their eyesight because the binoculars were locked inside a cabinet where no one could find the keys. The ship's observers - Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee were not allowed to use binoculars to detect the iceberg during the voyage.

5 Common Questions About Titanic Facts

Titanic facts. Image: Shawshots/Alamy

1/ Why did Titanic sink if it was unsinkable?

By design, the Titanic was unsinkable if 4 of its 16 watertight compartments were flooded. However, the collision with the iceberg caused seawater to flow into the 6 forward compartments of the ship.

2/ How many dogs survived the Titanic?

Of the 12 dogs on board the Titanic, at least three are known to have survived the sinking. 

3/ Is the iceberg from the Titanic still there?

No, the exact iceberg that the Titanic struck on the night of April 14, 1912, is not still in existence. Icebergs are constantly moving and changing, and the iceberg that the Titanic hit would have melted or broken up shortly after the collision.

4/ How many people died in the sinking of the Titanic?

There were approximately 2,224 people on board the Titanic when it sank, including passengers and crew members. Of these, around 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster, while the remaining 724 were rescued by nearby ships.

5/ Who was the wealthiest man on Titanic?

The wealthiest man on the Titanic was John Jacob Astor IV, an American businessman and investor. Astor was born into a wealthy family and had a net worth of around $87 million at his death, equivalent to over $2 billion in today's currency.

John Jacob Astor IV. Image: Insider - Titanic Facts

Final Thoughts

Above are 17 Titanic Facts that will probably surprise you. As we continue to learn about the Titanic, also remember to pay tribute to those who lost their lives along with continuing efforts to improve safety and prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future.

Also, don't forget to explore the AhaSlides public template library to learn exciting facts and test your knowledge with our quizzes!

Ref: Britannica