But a century later, a travel agency organizing a cruise that follows in the wake of the voyage of the Titanic, isn't having difficulty manning the boat.
Miles Morgan Travel, the British company organizing a Titanic Memorial Cruise - which will depart from Southhampton, England, on April 8, 2012, 100 years to the day the original boat set off - reports all cabins have been reserved.
The 1,230-berth ship, Fred.Olsen Cruise Line's MS Balmoral, will be packed with ticket holders from 26 countries. Among them will be the kin of 30 victims who died during the 1912 sinking.
After leaving Southhampton, the vessel will make its way to the Irish port of Cobh - the last time Titanic reached land.
On April 14, organizers will take up a position where the Titanic sank with a loss of more than 1,500 lives.
Not your regular cruise, a special memorial will take place in the early hours of April 15 - the day it went down.
It may not be alone at the spot. Another anniversary cruise is reportedly being planned out of Boston.
Once finished at the sinking site, the UK ship will move onto Halifax, N.S., where passengers will be able to walk among the graves of Titanic victims.
Fred.Olsen Cruise Line's MS Balmoral. (Courtesy Fred.Olsen Cruise Line)
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