Billionaire unveils Titanic II Cruise liner [PHOTOS]

[Jason]

Billionaire and professor Clive Palmer and his Blue Star Line shipping company held a press conference in New York City on Tuesday morning to unveil the new blueprints of the Titanic II, which was first announced in 2012.

It will make its maiden voyage on 2016 from Southampton, England to New York, carrying 2,600 passengers in 850 cabins. It will employ about 900 crew and include 18 lifeboats — enough for everyone on board.

A picture of the Titanic II Grand Staircase is handed out to the media before Australian billionaire and chairman of the shipping company Blue Star Line, Clive Palmer, discusses plans for the company's planned Titanic II cruise ship at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City on February 26 2013. The ship was designed by marine engineering company Deltamarin Ltd. of Raisio, Finland, and is scheduled to be completed by 2016 by the CSC Jinling Shipyard Co. in China. (File/UPI/Titanic II Handout)

The Titanic II has kept various features based on the class system of the early 1900s. Like the first ship, it will have a gym, Turkish baths, a squash court, a grand staircase and swimming pools. It will also retain the dining rooms for second and third class, as well as Captain Smith's sitting room, bedroom and quarters.

A picture of the Titanic II Gymnasium is handed out to the media before Australian billionaire and chairman of the shipping company Blue Star Line, Clive Palmer, discusses plans for the company's planned Titanic II cruise ship at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City on February 26 2013. The ship was designed by marine engineering company Deltamarin Ltd. of Raisio, Finland, and is scheduled to be completed by 2016 by the CSC Jinling Shipyard Co. in China. (File/UPI/Titanic II Handout)

Passengers will also be given 1920s-area costumes, which will be included in state rooms upon arrival and will be a part of the ticket fee, to help recreate the experience. First class passengers will not be able to mingle with those in second or third class, but will be able to spend a few days in different quarters, which will require people to change clothing. "It will really help you pretend you are in the movie," Palmer said.

A picture of the Titanic II third class dining is handed out to the media before Australian billionaire and chairman of the shipping company Blue Star Line, Clive Palmer, discusses plans for the company's planned Titanic II cruise ship at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City on February 26 2013. The ship was designed by marine engineering company Deltamarin Ltd. of Raisio, Finland, and is scheduled to be completed by 2016 by the CSC Jinling Shipyard Co. in China. (File/UPI/Titanic II Handout)

Although the ticket price hasn't been yet announced, he's already received offers as high as $1 million to be on board the first voyage. As for how much the project costs, Palmer was shy to say. "We aren't going to divulge the cost because I have enough money to pay for it," Palmer said. "Cost isn't what it is about. It's about creating a memory of the Titanic."

A picture of the Titanic II swimming pool is handed out to the media before Australian billionaire and chairman of the shipping company Blue Star Line, Clive Palmer, discusses plans for the company's planned Titanic II cruise ship at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City on February 26 2013. The ship was designed by marine engineering company Deltamarin Ltd. of Raisio, Finland, and is scheduled to be completed by 2016 by the CSC Jinling Shipyard Co. in China. (File/UPI/Titanic II Handout)

From a safety standpoint, a Blue Line representative said, "It will be the most safe cruise ship in the world when it launches." But then, so was the Titanic. "Anything will sink if you put a hole in it," said Palmer, noting the company is looking into preventing worst-case scenarios. "I'm not super-superstitious. We are staying true to the original Titanic and a lot of those designs and full experience that never saw the light of day, but there will be some updates too."

Australian billionaire and chairman of the shipping company Blue Star Line, Clive Palmer, discusses plans for the company's planned Titanic II cruise ship at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City on February 26 2013. The ship was designed by marine engineering company Deltamarin Ltd. of Raisio, Finland, and is scheduled to be completed by 2016 by the CSC Jinling Shipyard Co. in China. (File/UPI/John Angelillo)

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By Kristen Butler, UPI.com

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[7SeaCruiseTravel]

I would LOVE to sail on Titanic II, but I think it'll be priced way out of my range.

[Jan115]

I am not sure if I want to be reminded of the past class system. I have no doubt that the ship will attract Titanic fanatics from all over the world in its infancy, but what happens when the novelty where's off. Having said that, I was so fascinated by the Titanic Exhibit that came to Hartford a few years ago, and I think it would be pretty cool to take a ride!

[WeCruiseToo]

This definitely sounds like a novelty – to experience cruising sort of like it was over a hundred years ago – and it is interesting. But the gym, dining room and pool in those pictures don’t look very inviting by today’s standards. Even if she sails different itineraries all the time (rather than just trans-Atlantic crossings) I think it’ll be hard to fill 2600 berths every week or two. In a way it’s kind of like those paddlewheel riverboats cruising the Mississippi, but they hold a lot fewer passengers. Looking forward to watching Titanic II develop though!