The word Titanic brings to mind something epic and massive in scale. The first thing that comes to mind when we hear this word is the infamous and tragic ship, the RMS Titanic. But just how big was the Titanic compared to a cruise ship built these days?
So, just how big was the Titanic compared to a cruise ship built these days? The Titanic was relatively small in comparison to a modern-day cruise liner. Modern cruise ships, such as those in the Oasis-class line, are nearly a third longer and twice as wide as the Titanic.
The RMS Titanic had a length of 882 feet (269 meters) and a width of 92 feet (28 meters). The Oasis-class cruise ships, for example, are more than 1,180 ft (360 meters) long and more than 200 ft (61 meters) wide.
The following are the dimensions of two other popular modern-day cruise ships:
The Allure of the Seas is 1,187 feet long (362 meters) and 215 feet wide (66 meters). And the Symphony of the Seas is 1,184 feet long (361 meters) and 215 feet wide (66 meters).
The difference between the Titanic and two modern cruise ships, the Allure of the Seas and the Costa Concordia, is illustrated in the graphic below:
The Titanic had a capacity of 3,327 passengers. The modern-day Symphony of the Seas, by comparison, can carry up to 6,780 guests, about twice as many as the Titanic.
Read on to know more about how big was the Titanic compared to a cruise ship built these days, including the differences between old and modern ships.
Just How Big Was the Titanic Compared to a Cruise Ship Today?
The RMS Titanic was a giant seagoing vessel ever built at the time of its debut. Its enormity has been the stuff of legends until now. The Titanic, however, has been dwarfed in size as considerably larger modern ships have been built.
Again, how big was the Titanic compared to a cruise ship in modern times? Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class ships have three of the largest modern cruise ships in the twenty-first century: the Oasis of the Seas, the Symphony of the Seas, and the Allure of the Seas.
Titanic vs Modern Cruise Ship – Size Comparison
So, just how big was the titanic compared to a cruise ship built in today’s time? The Oasis-class cruise ships are almost 1,180 feet long, making them about 304 feet longer than the Titanic. The Oasis of the Seas, which went into service in 2009, has a length of 1,186.5 feet (361.6 meters). The Allure of the Seas, which initially sailed in 2010, is only 2 inches (50 millimeters) longer than the Oasis at 1,187 feet (362 meters).
With a length of 1,184.42 feet (361.011 m), the Symphony of the Seas is the shortest of the three ships. With a length of 1,184.42 feet (361.011 m), the Symphony of the Seas is the shortest of the three ships.
The Titanic’s beam or width was 92 feet and 6 in (28.2 meters), which remained standard among cruise liners until the Queen Mary 2 was launched in 2004. It was 55 feet wider than the Titanic, with a width of 148 feet.
The Oasis and the Allure, by comparison, have a beam of 198 feet (47 meters), which is more than double the Titanic’s width. With a width of 215.5 ft (66 m), the Symphony of the Seas boasts the largest beam of them all.
The Titanic, which had nine decks, soared to a height of 175 feet (53.3 m), nearly the same as an 11-story structure. Both the Oasis and the Allure have 18 decks (16 for passengers) and stand 236 feet (72 m) above the waterline. With 18 decks, measuring 238 ft (72.5 m) high, the Symphony of the Seas rises above the others. It’s about the same height as a 22-story structure.
Speed
When determining the Titanic’s size in comparison to a cruise liner, we must also consider its speed. Let’s have a look if its size influenced its speed in any way.
The Titanic, as previously stated, was not designed with speed in mind. Ocean liners and cruise ships, on the other hand, don’t need much speed because they move from port to port over days rather than hours. As a result, the Titanic’s cruise speed was just 21 knots (39 km per hour, 24 mph), with a top speed of 24 knots (44 km per hour, 28 miles per hour).
Despite the fact that modern cruise ships are far larger than the Titanic, their size has little influence on their speed. The cruising speed of the Oasis of the Seas is only slightly faster than the Titanic’s highest speed of 24.5 knots (45.4 km per hour, 28.2 miles per hour). The Allure of the Seas cruises at 22.6 knots (41.9 km per hour, 26 mph), while the Symphony of the Seas cruises at 22 knots (41 km per hour, 25 miles per hour).
Since 1912, cruise ships have been allowed to cruise at a maximum speed of 22 knots, which has been used for safety and to reduce fuel usage.
Capacity
What about its carrying capacity? Gross tonnage (GT) refers to the total molded volume of a ship’s enclosed areas, as measured from the stern to the bow, the keel to the funnel, and the outside of the hull frame. Gross register tonnage or GRT, the unit of measurement used at the time of the Titanic, has been replaced. The Titanic had a 46,328 GRT at that time.
The common gross tonnage of the Oasis and the Allure is 225,282 GT. And their net tonnage (NT), which is the total molded volume of a ship’s cargo spaces, is 257,429 and 242,999 tons, respectively.
The Oasis has a DWT of 15,000 tons, and the Allure has a DWT of 19,750 tons. The GT of the Symphony of the Seas is 5x that of the Titanic, at 228,081, with an NT of 258,794 and a DWT of 18,095.
The Titanic had a passenger capacity of 2,435 and a crew of 892 persons, for a total of 3,327 individuals. The Oasis and the Allure have a maximum capacity of 6,780 passengers, with a capacity of 5,484 people in double occupancy. They are also supervised by a 2,200-person crew. The Symphony of the Seas has the largest capacity. It has a crew of 2,200 members and can carry 5,518 passengers at double occupancy and 6,680 at full capacity.
Other Amenities & Features
The Titanic may not appear to be particularly remarkable by today’s standards, but it was the most opulent and elegant passenger ship of its time. It was built to be a high-end seaside hotel with decor inspired by the Neoclassical Empire architectural style.
The Titanic had a number of amenities, which are as follows:
- Gymnasium
- 7-foot deep swimming pool
- Squash court
- steam room
- Electric bath
- Hot room
- Cool room
- Massage room
- Reading and writing room
- Smoking room
- à la carte restaurant
- 600-seat dining saloon
- The Verandah café with actual palm trees
- French café
- 4 elevators
Because today’s cruise ships are so much larger, you may expect them to have even more amenities than the Titanic. While the Titanic was designed as a floating hotel, the 3 Oasis-class cruise ships are more akin to floating cities. Each of these ships features seven distinct districts that cater to the wants and needs of their passengers.
The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk, situated on deck 6 of each ship, is a family-friendly amusement area that recreates the atmosphere of classic seaside piers like Atlantic City and Coney Island. A full-sized musical carousel greets passengers, contributing to the neighborhood’s wholesome carnival ambiance.
Two 43ft rock climbing walls and an 82ft high zip line, as well as different cafés, pubs, and specialty shops, are among the other attractions. The AquaTheater, an amphitheater with a 17ft deep pool where audiences get to witness aquatic acrobatic performances and synchronized swimming, as well as dancing fountains and light shows, is another special attraction.
The Royal Promenade
When passengers board an Oasis-class ship, the Royal Promenade is the first of the communities they will see. The 3-deck high Royal Promenade is the ship’s shopping section, located on deck 5, right below Central Park. There are also eight retail stores, three restaurants, and six pubs in this neighborhood.
The Rising Tide, an elevator bar with a 32-person capacity, is its most unique bar. And this unique bar slowly goes up and down between two neighborhoods, which are the Royal Promenade and Central Park.
Central Park
The ships’ onboard open-air park, called Central Park, is located on deck 8. With over 12,000 real trees and plants, this area has the look and feel of a city park. Additionally, it has an art gallery and a portrait studio, as well as four restaurants, two pubs, and three retail shops. It is, without a doubt, a perfect and exquisite location for relaxation and unwinding.
The Entertainment Place
The Entertainment Place is situated on deck 4 and can be accessed conveniently from the Royal Promenade. This busy area is the ship’s entertainment core, with a big casino, various pubs, and nightclubs. It also includes an ice rink and a theater where live events, concerts, plays, and even 3D movies may be seen.
The Youth Zone
The Youth Zone is an area of the ship where children can relax and play. This area spans approximately 28,000 square feet and is separated into two sections for different age groups.
Children ages 6 months up to 12 years old can visit the Adventure Ocean area on deck 14, while teenagers 13 to 17 can visit the Youth Zone Teen section on deck 15. A play area, a workshop for family activities, a science lab, the Imagination Studio, and the Adventure Ocean Theater are also featured in the Youth Zone.
The Vitality Spa & Fitness Center
On deck 6, the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center is a huge onboard facility for physical, spiritual, and mental wellness. There are 29 treatment rooms and three massage rooms, including a thermal suite with heated benches and steam rooms, a beauty salon, an acupuncture medi-spa, and a wellness lecture lounge.
A fitness center with 158 exercise equipment and kickboxing, yoga, and Pilates courses is also available. The Vitality Café, which serves nutritious snacks, sandwiches, fruits, and smoothies, is also accessible in the retail shop.
Sports Zone and the Pool
The Pool and Sports Zone, which takes up decks 15 and 16, is a large space dedicated to outdoor sports, including jogging and swimming.
The main pool, beach pool, the H2O Zone (a family water park), and the Sports Pool (reserved for lap swimmers in the morning and water sports in the afternoon) are all available.
In addition, this zone has ten whirlpools, two surf simulators, a miniature golf course, and a Sports Court with volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Aside from these offers, the Pool and Sports Zone also features four restaurants, six bars, and the Solarium, a calm adults-only pool area.
The Titanic – A Brief History
J. Bruce Ismay, head of the British maritime business called White Star Line, conceptualized the RMS Titanic in the late 1900s. The Titanic was meant to compete with the Mauretania and Lusitania. These two ocean liners were the fastest and largest passenger ships in the world at that time. Ismay, on the other hand, preferred to compete with these ships on the basis of size rather than speed and focused more on luxury and comfort.
When the Titanic was finished in 1912, it had a length of 882 ft (269.1 m), which was nearly 100 ft longer than the Lusitania’s length of 787 ft (239.9 m). The Titanic was the second of the White Star Line’s three Olympic-class ocean ships. The RMS Olympic was the first, and it was finished in 1911.
Prior to being dethroned by its sister ship, the Olympic held the title for being the world’s largest ocean liner. Actually, the Olympic and Titanic were of the same size. However, the latter’s internal arrangements were changed, giving it a higher gross tonnage.
The Disaster
The Titanic’s stint as the largest ship afloat and its duration in service was brief at that time. On April 10, 1912, it set sail for the first time, and only lasted five days before its fatal collision, causing it to sink in the North Atlantic Ocean early on April 15, 1912.
An iceberg, apparently measuring 200 to 400 ft long and 50 to 100 ft high, sank the 882-ft ship. For around 2 hrs and 40 mins, the Titanic sank. The ship had 20 lifeboats with a capacity of 65 people, carrying a total of 1,178 people. Only 713 of the 2,229 people on board survived.
The HMHS Britannic
The HMHS Britannic, the Titanic’s sister ship, was completed three years after the Titanic’s tragedy, in 1915. It was the White Star Line’s third Olympic-class ocean ship. The HMHS Britannic was slightly larger than the Titanic and the Olympic, with a length of 890 ft and 3 in (271.35 m).
After serving as a hospital ship during World War I, the Britannic also didn’t last long. On November 21, 1916, less than 12 months after its maiden voyage, it was sunk by a naval mine. It was recognized as the world’s largest ocean liner wreck, with its sister, the Titanic, ranking second.
Regardless, the Titanic’s place in history as the world’s largest ocean liner would be indelible. However, as time passed, many more passenger ships were built than the Titanic. The RMS Queen Mary, which entered service in 1936, was one of them. It had a length of 1,019.4 ft (310.7 m), which was 136 ft longer than the Titanic.
Conclusion – How Big Was the Titanic Compared to a Cruise Ship Today?
So to recap, how big was the Titanic compared to a cruise ship built these days? The answer is “not very big.”
The Titanic was a modest ship in comparison to today’s cruise ships. Modern cruise ships, like the Oasis-class cruise ships, are about 1/3 longer and twice as wide as the Titanic.
The Oasis-class cruise ships are more than 1,180 ft (360 m) long, making them around 304 ft (93 m) longer than the RMS Titanic, which is 882 ft (269 m).
The Oasis-class ships we’ve looked at are large enough to hold the Titanic. Despite this, the Titanic will always be remembered as the largest ship ever built due to its historical significance – at least in our collective memory, albeit not in reality.
