Immersive Titanic Adventure in Hamburg
Experience a Virtual Journey on the RMS Titanic
Join the captivating journey through the Titanic exhibit in Hamburg's EXPO-Halle, running until September. Titanic: An Immersive Journey presents a thrilling voyage into the history of the infamous shipwreck.
As you wear your VR headset, stairways rock beneath your feet, chandeliers sway above your head, and ghostly figures pass by— gripping the railings of the crumbling ship. Suddenly, you're shrunken and dwarfed by the immense surroundings. A spectral figure wearing VR goggles floats next to you in the vast, watery expanse—another passenger aboard the ill-fated ship.
The immersive VR experience is just a taste of what the Titanic exhibition in Hamburg offers. Admission to the exhibition costs 26 euros, with an additional 6 euros for the VR experience. Construction of the exhibition took approximately four months, and it will remain open for visitor until September 14th. Forty years ago in September marked the discovery of the Titanic's wreckage, 113 years after its tragic sinking.
Titanic Exhibition with Original Artifacts
Exhibition curator Nicolai Toop explains that "everything in the exhibition is based on the latest scientific knowledge." As an example, the first-class gangway mimics the genuine ship's design, shown through recent underwater explorations. Previous films depicted the gangway with red carpets, but they have discovered through diving expeditions that it was, in fact, a black-and-white linoleum floor. Visitors to the exhibition can now walk through this authentic gangway.
Toop also notes that some original artifacts from the Titanic are on display, such as one of the dozen surviving sun chairs from the ship's deck. In total, around 300 artifacts are showcased in the exhibition. A significant emphasis is placed on the artifacts from the Titanic's sister ship, the Olympic. Malte Fiebing-Petersen, President of the Hamburg Titanic Association, explains,"the exhibition displays a large amount of dishes, cutlery, glasses, and similar items, which were identical to the Titanic."
The Titanic: A Ship of Legend
Fiebing-Petersen attributes the enduring fascination with the Titanic to the fact that it was an unprecedented disaster. "At the time, it was hardly imaginable that a new luxury ship, considered unsinkable, would sink due to an iceberg," he says. "The sinking caused a deep shock that still lingers in our collective consciousness," the Titanic expert adds. "News of the disaster spread rapidly around the world—from Brazil to Europe to China," Fiebing-Petersen explains.
"I believe one should leave the exhibition with a sense of contemplation and perhaps a touch of melancholy." – Malte Fiebing-Petersen
As a scientific advisor for the exhibition, preserving the historical significance of the Titanic and the remembrance of its victims was Fiebing-Petersen's top priority. In the final room dedicated to the sinking of the ship, the focus is on the victims and their stories. "The immersive elements are crucial in allowing people to identify with the victims and the passengers on board," says Fiebing-Petersen.
Personalized Boarding Passes Create a Deeper Connection
As you enter the exhibition, each visitor receives a boarding pass with information about the real passengers—age, origin, class. Helen Churchill Candee, for instance, was a first-class passenger, known journalist, and author, who was returning from a research trip in Europe at the time of the disaster. These personalized passes contribute to a more tangible experience.
Upon completion of the tour, visitors find themselves in the Memorial Room—a quiet, dimly lit space dedicated to the victims of the shipwreck. Crystal pillars stand tall in the center, illuminated by soft, blue lights, casting the names of the deceased and survivors in sharp relief. Visitors circumvent the pillars, their eyes scanning the names of the passengers on their boarding passes. They can learn whether the person they are representing survived or perished at interactive information stations scattered around the room.
Striking, Yet Not for the Faint-Hearted
The immersive tour concludes as a sign directs you to exit. A moment of reflection sinks in, and you let out a deep breath—returning to reality. The VR experience lasts for 15 minutes, but the memories and feelings it evokes will persist.
The immersive exhibition seamlessly blends historical knowledge with emotional impact. The VR experience, though intense, is not suited for sensitive or susceptible individuals—especially children and the elderly. Visits during peak times may result in crowded conditions, and quieter times are recommended for a more enjoyable experience. Despite the high admission price, the exhibition offers a worthwhile experience for Titanic enthusiasts seeking a memorable and thought-provoking adventure.
Lastly, it's essential to remember that this is not just a famous ship—it's a real tragedy and real stories. Keep that in mind as you explore the exhibition, and you'll be left with an unforgettable experience.
Contributors
Katharina Schöndorfer
Katharina Schöndorfer, born in 2000, donned her dirndl to serve beer and pretzels after finishing high school—in a Bavarian inn not far from Melbourne. As a child, she dreamt of becoming an astronaut and traveling to the moon, but she soon realized that physics wasn't her calling. Today, she aspires to become a journalist. She studied journalism, strategic communication, and political science in Passau. While in college, she pitched and sold a story about nudism to PULS. The BR broadcast team bought the idea for their PULS Reportage "7 Days Naked." After overseas studies in Estonia and internships at BR and Radio Gong 96.3, she's now ready for her next adventure in Hamburg.
Paula Maria Coscia
Paula Maria Coscia, also born in 2000, makes the best Bolognese, according to her friends. Italian herbs, red wine, and her roots are the secrets to her success. With a passion for cuisine, she reported for Sat 1 on the cake-making process of a family-run bakery. In 2019, she was forced to flee violent protests in Hong Kong and hid at McDonald's. But the experience didn't deter her from continuing to explore the world and share her discoveries. She's about to move to Hamburg—not far from her hometown of Kiel, where she studied German and philosophy.
Discussing the home-and-garden aspect, one can reflect on the exhibition design in Titanic: An Immersive Journey. The first-class gangway, for instance, is based on the actual ship's design, discovered through underwater explorations, offering a taste of the original home-and-garden ambiance of the Titanic.
In relation to lifestyle, the Hamburg Titanic Association President, Malte Fiebing-Petersen, mentions that visiting the Titanic exhibition should leave one with a sense of contemplation and possibly melancholy, emphasizing the emotional connection people establish while revisiting this legendary ship's history.
