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Halifax's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has a significant Titanic exhibit.
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Most cruises revolve around the port days. Indeed, the first question most people ask when they hear that you have been on a cruise is where did you go?
Not so the Titanic Anniversary Cruise. Although it was an eight day cruise, there was only one port of call - - Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Click here for our photo guide to Halifax) "Halifax is a city that has been on disaster's doorstep for all of its life" pointed out historian John Langley who is a native of the city. "It has a deep history and has seen all sorts of nasty situations. The Atlantic, which was the worst maritime disaster until Titanic, was almost in Halifax harbor with 500-plus bodies floating ashore. More recently, the Swiss Air disaster was on our shores at Peggy's Cove." "Halifax has a tremendous connection [to Titanic]. It was brought into the tragedy unwillingly and unwittingly. But for its geographic proximity to the site, it would have had no connection with Titanic at all. Halagonians knew of the ship but they were not directly involved in the race for supremacy on the Atlantic. But when [the disaster happened], it happened with immediacy and put the city right to the forefront. I really think it brought the best out in its citizens." Immediately after Titanic struck the iceberg, world attention turned to Halifax because it was the closest major port to the disaster site. Before those ashore knew the full extent of the disaster, it was believed that the stricken ship had diverted to Halifax for repairs. However, as the real situation became clear, Halifax's role shifted to being the base for the recovery efforts rather than for rescue. Ships used in laying and maintaining the transatlantic communications cables were dispatched from Halifax to the disaster site where they recovered hundreds of bodies. Some were buried at sea while others were brought back to Halifax. Meanwhile, relatives and friends of the victims were arriving in Halifax for news or to collect the remains. Halifax provided comfort and compassion. The vast majority of the guests on Azamara Journey spent the day ashore in Halifax. Many went to see the graves of the Titanic victims that are buried in three of the city's cemeteries.  |
Above: Historian John Langley.
"We have not had to build a great big structure to commemorate our ties to Titanic. There is nothing wrong with what has happened elsewhere but I don't think we will ever see it in Halifax. We have had our monuments to Titanic for 100 years. The 150 ground stones marking the graves have been there since 1912 and we just quietly maintain them and go about our business. When someone goes and spends a half hour in the grave sites, they will get as much out of our significant role in that story as they would going into a big building."
Another place visited by many of the passengers on Azamara Journey was Halifax's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Located by the harbor, it has long had a sizeable Titanic exhibit; the nucleus of which is items collected during the recovery efforts. It was a somber day. The weather still had the breath of winter in it. A cold wind blew down the harbor and grey clouds gave credence to the prediction of snow showers. Walking along the waterside boardwalk that connects the cruise ship terminal to the center of the city, I was struck by how different the scene was compared to the summer when cruise ships call regularly in Halifax. Most of the shops were closed and such attractions as the restored World War II corvette HMCS Sackville and the children's favorite, Theodore the Tugboat, were absent as were the sailing ships that take tourists on tours of the harbor. The usually vibrant and populated waterfront was a virtual ghost town. It all seemed to fit with the nature of the cruise. 
The Halifax waterfront was a virtual ghost town during Azamara Journey's call.
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Cruise ship article - - Titanic - - Titanic 100th Anniversary Cruise - Part V - The Port Day