Departure

• Titanic set sail from Southampton on April 10, 1912, stopping at Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, before heading across the Atlantic to New York. The ship carried 2,224 people, including about 900 crew and 1,300 passengers.

Iceberg Warnings and Speed

• Despite multiple warnings about icebergs in the area, the ship continued to sail at nearly 22.5 knots (over 25 mph). Captain Edward Smith wanted to make a memorable maiden voyage, but the warnings were largely disregarded, and lookout crews had limited visibility.

Notable Passengers

• Included some of the world's wealthiest and most prominent individuals, such as John Jacob Astor IV, Isidor and Ida Straus, and Benjamin Guggenheim. Several high-profile individuals like J.P. Morgan and Milton Hershey had booked tickets but canceled at the last moment, sparking “what if” speculations.