New hope for Titanic II as billionaire revives plans for £500 million replica of doomed ship… and sets date for maiden voyage

A BILLIONAIRE has revived Titanic II hopes with plans for a £500 million replica of the sunken ship.

The new version will have the same interior and cabin layout as the original ship and come complete with a ballroom, swimming pool and Turkish to bathe.

Plans have been revived to design a £500m replica of the TitanicCredit: Facebook/BlueStarLine

The Titanic II will have the same interior and cabin layout as the original shipCredit: Facebook/BlueStarLine

There will even be a communal dining room with long tables to recreate the 1912 experienceCredit: Facebook/BlueStarLine

The project will be led by Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer, who promised the ship will be “far, far superior to the original”.

But like the original, the maiden voyage will take place from Southampton to New York – and will take place in June 2027.

The plans were first launched by the billionaire through his shipping company Blue Star Line in 2012, before a second attempt in 2018 was thwarted by Covid.

But he now plans to recreate the famous ship and make it as luxurious as the original.

Palmer’s idea of taking a step back in time encourages ship guests to dress for the 1900s.

As on the original ship, there are ticket options for first class, second class and third class passengers.

Of the 835 cabins, almost half will be reserved for first-class passengers.

While formal dining will be available, third class passengers will be treated to stews and mashed potatoes at long tables in a communal dining room, just as they would have been on the original boat.

Palmer spoke about his decision to revive plans for the major project 9News: “It’s much more fun to do the Titanic than to count my money at home.”

Additional safety measures and better preparation can be expected to ensure that the original disaster is not repeated.

The wreck of the ‘Titanic of the Alps’ is lifted from the watery grave 90 years later

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and sank during its voyage from Southampton Unpleasant New Yorkkilling an estimated 1,500 passengers and crew.

The tragedy inspired James Cameron’s Oscar-winning blockbuster from 1997 Titanicstarring Leonardo DiCaprio And Kate Winslet.

Palmer used Jack and Rose’s love story as inspiration to bring the Titanic back to life because it “touched the hearts of everyone”.

“Titanic II is something that can bring peace,” he added. “It can be a ship of peace between all the countries of the world.”