Australian billionaire Clive Palmer unveiled plans for Titanic II in April 2012, 100 years after the original vessel sank. Titanic II was set to be an exact replica of the RMS Titanic, which sank on April 15, four days after leaving Southampton for New York when it hit an iceberg, resulting in over 1,500 deaths. The new ship was originally set for launch in 2018, was due to carry 2,435 passengers and 900 crew, have 840 cabins, and enough lifeboats for every person on board.
Titanic II was set for its maiden voyage in 2027, mimicking the route of the original Titanic from Southampton to Cherbourg, France, then across the Atlantic to New York. Titanic II, operated by Blue Star Line, was set to boast more modern technology while retaining retro features like the Edwardian gym and Turkish baths, and offer first, second, and third class tickets, a smoking room, and a grand staircase featured in the 1997 film Titanic. Titanic II is set to be 13ft wider than the original vessel, which Blue Star Line claims would make it safer by enhancing structural integrity and ensuring a smoother sailing experience.
Titanic II would boast an additional safety deck with emergency equipment and lifeboats, and address a previous design flaw by improving the captain's visibility over the bow to enhance navigation and reduce collision risk. On the Karl Stefanovic Show in March, Clive Palmer revealed it would be five years until he expects to get the ship underway, citing a five-year wait due to cruise ships going berserk since Covid and the need to find shipyards in Europe. Previously, Clive Palmer hoped to have the ship designed in three to four years, only to discover the necessary safety challenges.