''Titanic Mysteries: 15 Surprising Facts''

Here are some fascinating facts about the Titanic that you might not know:

1. The Titanic was not “full”

Despite having capacity for around 2,435 passengers and 900 crew, the Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage with 2,224 people on board. This means that there was room for more passengers, but many opted for other ships or missed the trip.

2. The cost of first class travel was exorbitant

A first-class ticket on the Titanic cost around $4,350 at the time, which would be equivalent to more than $100,000 today. This included luxurious accommodation and haute cuisine meals.

3. The Titanic was not the largest ship to sink

Although it was huge for its time (269 meters long), today there are many larger ships. The Seawise Giant, for example, is considered the largest ship ever built, at 458 meters.

4. There were only 20 lifeboats

Although the Titanic had the capacity to carry 64 lifeboats, it left with only 20 on board, which was not enough for all the passengers. The justification? They believed the ship was “unsinkable” and wanted more space on deck.

5. The flares were misinterpreted

The white flares launched by the Titanic (indicating a call for help) were mistaken by other ships as celebratory fireworks, delaying the rescue effort.

6. Animals were on board

The Titanic was carrying around 12 first-class passengers' dogs. Curiously, three dogs survived the sinking as they were taken to the lifeboats.

7. The music never stopped playing

The Titanic's band continued to play to calm the passengers, even as the ship sank. The last song played is widely considered to be “Nearer, My God, to Thee”, although this is still debated.

8. The Titanic had its own gym

The ship included a state-of-the-art fitness room for the time, with equipment such as exercise bikes and rowing machines.

9. Only one newspaper was published on board

The Titanic had its own daily newspaper called “The Atlantic Daily Bulletin”, which included news, announcements and even the bets placed by passengers on the on-board races.

10. A survivor survived two shipwrecks

Violet Jessop, a flight attendant, not only survived the sinking of the Titanic, but also that of the Britannic, another ship belonging to the same company, which sank during the First World War.

11. The ship had an independent à la carte restaurant

First class passengers could enjoy an exclusive restaurant that charged separately for their meals - an innovative concept for the time.

12. The water temperature was deadly

The water in the North Atlantic was around -2°C on the night of the shipwreck. Most of the deaths occurred from hypothermia, as people didn't survive more than 15 minutes in the icy water.

13. The ship was found 73 years later

The wreck of the Titanic was only discovered in 1985, at a depth of more than 3,800 meters, by a team led by Robert Ballard.

14. The food was unparalleled luxury

The menu on the last night included dishes such as oysters, poached salmon, grilled lamb and Waldorf pudding. It was a veritable feast by the standards of the time.

15. There was a “premonitory book” about the disaster

In 1898, 14 years before the sinking, a book called “Futility” (later renamed “The Wreck of the Titan”) was published. It told the story of a ship called Titan that was considered unsinkable, but sank after colliding with an iceberg.

Which of these surprised you the most? If you like, I can bring you more facts!