Cruise passengers criticised for plans to 'dress up like Jack and Rose' on Titanic memorial cruise

Cruise passengers who plan to dress up as fictional characters from James Cameron's hit film Titanic during a cruise to commemorate 100 years since the ship sank, have been slammed by a relative of a passenger who died in the tragedy.
The Titanic Memorial Cruise, operated by the Fred.Olsen MS Balmoral ship, will trace the journey of the historic vessel 100 years later.
Passengers booked to travel on the 12-night trip have discussed their plans for the anniversary, which include fancy dress, plans for dinner and dancing and laying wreaths, on online forums, prompting accusations of bad taste from fellow users.

Re-enactment: Passengers are planning to dress up as Titanic film characters, originally played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, on the cruise

One member on the cruisecritic.co.uk forum, with the username dd714, hit out at the self-confessed Titanic 'fans': 'I like the idea of a costume party, yeah yeah. Now tell me - who will be dressing up as my wife’s great grandfather?
'More specifically, who will be taking a memorial plunge in the 30 degree [fahrenheit] Atlantic ocean at the place where he met his death 98 years ago to experience what was described by survivors as “a thousand knives going into the body"?'
The member went on to criticise the use of the word 'fan' in relation to the Titanic, claiming it was inappropriate to 'have five days of party' in memory of a disaster.
Comparing the tragedy to the likes of the World Trade Centre attack, he goes on to say that 'a costume party at ground zero, complete with partiers dressed as firemen' would never happen.

 

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The memorial cruise has been billed as a chance to mark a historic occasion and for people to remember relatives who died in the disaster.
Leading experts on the Titanic will be on board as guest speakers and wreaths will be laid on 15 April 2012, 100 years after the ship sank.
Britons, Australians and Americans registered for the trip have used the forums to discuss fancy dress costumes, deciding which characters they would like to play.

Tragedy: The cruise will pass over the site where the Titanic sank, photographed here by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Several users have responded to the comments left by dd714, reassuring him that they are booked on the cruise to pay their respects.
Sean Szmalc, exhibition manger for the mobile Titanic Honour and Glory exhibition which is currently in Southampton, told TravelMail he understood the excitement for the memorial cruise.
He said the feeling of anticipation among cruisers mirrored the joy many felt about being part of the Titanic's maiden voyage.
However, he acknowledge that the actual memorial day should be a more sober affair.
'When people are laying the wreaths, it should be more sombre, that is very important.
'It will be an opportunity for those who had relatives in the ship to bid a final goodbye.'
The cruise has been criticised by many, who claim it amounts to nothing more than 'disaster voyeurism'.