The Titanic is one of the most legendary cruise ships in history, not just because of the tragedy, but also because of how lavish and ambitious it was for that time.
But have you ever stopped to wonder: how much did people actually pay to sail on it? And how do those ticket prices compare against today’s modern cruises?
Let’s break it down — from first-class luxury suites to third-class budget cabins — and see how Titanic fares compared to today’s cruise adventures.
Titanic Ticket Prices: Then vs Now
In 1912, Titanic’s ticket prices ranged from £7 for third class to a whopping £870 for the most luxurious first-class suite. When adjusted for inflation, that translates to roughly £850 to over £105,000 today ($1,070 to $133,000 USD).
But here’s the twist: back in 1912, the British pound went a lot further. The exchange rate was close to $5 for every £1, which means a third-class ticket was just $35, and that top-tier suite? Around $4,350.
Let’s break it down:
| Class | 1912 Price (£) | 1912 Price ($) | Price Today (£) | Price Today ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Class Suite | £870 | $4,350 | £105,883 | $120,266 |
| First Class Berth | £30 | $150 | £3,651 | $4,146 |
| Second Class | £12 | $60 | £1,460 | $1,658 |
| Third Class | £7 | $35 | £852 | $967 |
Interestingly, the Titanic wasn’t even full when she set sail. There were 324 first-class passengers, 284 in second class, and 709 in third class.
So, if everyone had paid just the minimum for their class, the total revenue from tickets would have been around £18,000 in 1912 — about £2.2 million ($2.75M) in today’s money.
That’s a surprisingly reasonable figure when you compare it to what major cruise lines can rake in now!
The Most Expensive Ticket Ever Sold
You’d think someone paid the full £870 for the ultimate suite, but it turns out that particular cabin wasn’t actually booked.
The most expensive ticket purchased came in at around £512 ($2,560) — equivalent to about £60,000 ($75,000) today.
That ticket belonged to Charlotte Drake Cardeza, a wealthy American traveler who boarded the Titanic with her son, maid, and valet.
She stayed in a first-class suite with its own private promenade deck, nearly 50 feet long — basically more space than most of us get in an entire cruise cabin today.
And in case you’re wondering: yes, they survived. But their 14 trunks of luggage? Not so lucky.
First-Class on Titanic: Luxury Fit for Royalty
First-class accommodations weren’t just rooms — they were full-on luxury experiences, equivalent to staying in a five-star hotel at sea.
Depending on your choice, you could get a standard berth for £30 or splurge on a suite worth over £100,000 in today’s terms.
These guests had access to amenities like:
- A gymnasium with rowing machines and stationary bikes.
- A Turkish bath for 4 shillings or $1 (about £60 today).
- A swimming pool, priced at 1 shilling or 25 cents (£15 today).
- A squash court, shuffleboard, and deck games.
- Elegant dining rooms and an upscale à la carte restaurant.
Meals were served in style, featuring French cuisine and luxury ingredients like oysters, lamb, duckling, fine cheeses, and pastries. You could dine at shared tables in the main dining room or upgrade for a more exclusive meal.
Let’s just say, first-class passengers weren’t roughing it.
What Did Second-Class Passengers Get?
A second-class ticket cost £12 ($60), which would be about £1,460 ($1,834) today. That’s more in line with what many of us might spend on a mid-range cruise now.
Second-class travelers had private cabins, though bathrooms were shared. They had access to a library, a promenade space, and a smoking room for men.
Their meals were served in one large dining room, and while not as extravagant as first class, the food was still impressive.
The final dinner for the second class reportedly included spring lamb, roast turkey, and chicken curry, followed by plum pudding, ice cream, and cheese. Not bad at all!
Life in Third Class: Budget-Friendly but Surprisingly Decent
Third-class tickets went for just £7 ($35) — about £850 ($1,071) in today’s currency. That included your bed and meals, which was a big deal, as many immigrant travelers on other ships were expected to bring their own food.
While accommodations were more basic, Titanic’s third class was actually considered better than second class on many other ships at the time.
Passengers had:
- Communal dining rooms (no formal dinner — just tea and supper).
- Shared deck space for fresh air.
- Simple, hearty meals like baked bread, vegetables, meat, and fruit.
For many of these travelers — often working-class families and individuals chasing the American dream — the food alone was better than what they typically ate at home.
Riches on Board: The Case of John Jacob Astor IV
One of the most notable passengers was John Jacob Astor IV, who was among the wealthiest men in the world at the time, worth around $87 million — which would be nearly $2.5 billion today.
He boarded Titanic with his pregnant second wife Madeleine, a valet, a maid, a nurse, and even their dog. While the women in his group made it to a lifeboat, Astor tragically did not. Nor did his dog, Kitty.
His death was so high-profile that when The New York American reported the Titanic disaster, it mostly focused on Astor’s passing, mentioning the other victims only briefly at the end.
There were even sensational stories about him opening the kennels to free the animals or helping children into lifeboats. True or not, Astor remains one of the most talked-about figures from that tragic voyage.
So, How Do Titanic Prices Compare to Modern Cruises?
Surprisingly, not all that different. If you booked a 7-night cruise today, an interior room might cost around $1,000, an oceanview or balcony room might hit $1,800–$4,500, and high-end luxury suites can easily top $75,000+ on longer or ultra-luxury voyages.
Of course, today’s cruises include WiFi, Broadway shows, waterslides, and gourmet buffets — but Titanic had elegance, exclusivity, and a historic charm that modern ships can’t quite replicate.
Except for that £100,000+ suite… that’s still wild. You’d need a six-month world cruise on something like Regent Seven Seas or Silversea to hit that price tag today.
What Titanic Prices Teach Us About Cruising Today
From £7 budget cabins to six-figure luxury suites, the Titanic had a little something for everyone, just like today’s cruise ships. The prices may have changed, but the spirit of exploration, luxury, and adventure at sea lives on.
Now that you’ve seen how Titanic ticket prices stack up, why not take a look at how it compares to the largest cruise ship in the world today?
