When Did the Titanic Sink? Exact Date, Time & Facts

Few disasters in history capture our collective imagination like the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Most people know the broad strokes: the ship hit an iceberg and went down. But the specifics — when exactly did it happen, how many survived, and what about that infamous last meal? — are often less clear. Below, we lay out the verified facts, drawing on official records and scholarly sources.

Date of sinking: April 15, 1912 ·
Time of sinking: 2:20 a.m. ·
Location: North Atlantic Ocean (400 mi south of Newfoundland) ·
Death toll: ~1,503 ·
Survivors: ~706 ·
Iceberg collision: 11:40 p.m. on April 14

Eight key facts about the sinking, sourced from official inquiries and maritime records, paint a clear picture of the disaster.

When Did the Titanic Exactly Sink?

What ocean did the Titanic sink in?

The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ship’s final resting place was approximately 400 miles south of Newfoundland, at coordinates 41°43′32″N 49°56′49″W (Wikipedia (geodetic record)). The distress signals transmitted by the crew gave slightly different coordinates: 41°46′ N 50°14′ W (Britannica (timeline source)).

How many years ago did the Titanic sink?

As of 2025, the Titanic sank 113 years ago. The ship struck the iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, and fully submerged at 2:20 a.m. on April 15 (Wikipedia (date reference)).

When did the Titanic set sail?

The Titanic departed from Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912 at 12:15 p.m. (Royal Museums Greenwich (port record)). She made stops in Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown, Ireland, before heading across the Atlantic. The collision happened four days into the maiden voyage (History.com (editorial chronicle)).

The record stands firm: the sinking occurred exactly as documented, anchoring every subsequent investigation.

Are Any Titanic Survivors Still Alive?

How many people died on the Titanic?

Official figures place the death toll between 1,503 and 1,517. The variation stems from differences in counting crew members versus passengers and ticketed versus non-ticketed individuals (Wikipedia (casualty data)). Over 2,200 people were on board when the ship struck the iceberg (Royal Museums Greenwich (passenger count)).

How many people survived the Titanic?

706 people survived the sinking, rescued primarily by the RMS Carpathia, which arrived on the scene around 4:10 a.m. on April 15 (Wikipedia (survivor count)). The last living survivor, Millvina Dean, was only two months old at the time; she died in 2009 at age 97 (BBC History (obituary archive)). There are no survivors alive today.

The implication for genealogists: with no survivors alive, the official records are the definitive archive for tracing ancestors.

How Much Did a Titanic Ticket Cost in Today’s Money?

How much did a Titanic ticket cost originally?

A first-class ticket on the Titanics cost $4,350 in 1912, the equivalent of roughly $100,000 today when adjusted for inflation. Second-class tickets were about $1,750 (~$40,000 today) and third-class tickets ranged from $30 to $40 (~$800–$1,000 today) (Encyclopedia Titanica (ticket price database)). The most expensive suite, the parlor suite on B-Deck, also sold for $4,350.

The implication: third-class passengers paid a month’s wage for a one-way steerage berth, while first-class fares bought a level of luxury comparable to the finest hotels of the era.

What Was the Last Meal Eaten on the Titanic?

What was served for dinner on the Titanic?

First-class passengers dined on an 11-course meal that included oysters, filet mignon, lamb, foie gras, and a selection of cheeses and desserts (Smithsonian Magazine (menu reconstruction)). Second-class passengers enjoyed a 10-course dinner. Third-class passengers ate a simpler meal of stew and boiled potatoes; no official third-class menu from the final night has survived, but survivor accounts confirm the fare (Encyclopedia Titanica (passenger testimonies)).

The pattern: our knowledge of Titanic’s last meal is skewed by class, with the richest leaving the best documentation.

Is the Iceberg from the Titanic Still There?

What happened to the iceberg after the collision?

The iceberg that struck the Titanic has completely melted. In the warmer waters of the North Atlantic, icebergs typically break up and dissolve within weeks of drifting south of the Labrador Current. By late April or early May 1912, no physical trace of that particular iceberg remained (National Geographic (glaciology explanation)). Multiple icebergs were reported in the area that night; the exact one has never been identified (Britannica (historical analysis)).

What Famous Person Survived the Titanic?

Who were some notable survivors?

Margaret “Molly” Brown famously helped rescue passengers and later organized relief efforts. After the disaster, she said, “I will do my best to help” (History.com (survivor profile)). Joseph Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line, survived in a highly controversial lifeboat decision. Charles Lightoller, the second officer, was the most senior officer to survive and gave critical testimony at the inquiries (Encyclopedia Titanica (officer record)). Other notable survivors include teacher Lawrence Beesley, who wrote a firsthand account published in 1912, and actress Dorothy Gibson, who later starred in a silent film about the tragedy (PBS (survivor documentary archive)).

The Titanic sinking remains one of history’s most studied maritime disasters. For anyone teaching, writing, or simply curious about the facts, the record is clear: the ship sank on April 15, 1912 at 2:20 a.m., with a death toll of over 1,500. For genealogists and families searching for ancestors who were aboard, the survivor lists and inquiry transcripts are the final word — and no living voice remains to add new testimony.