Orphaned at eight years old, The Officer was taken under the wing of a wealthy uncle and spent the next 10 years in an English boarding school. There he spent his time dreaming of the freedom that a life at sea would bring. Years of hard work and self-belief have brought him to his prestigious post as an Officer of the Titanic – all he has to do is help guide the mighty ship to New York and he’ll be spoken of everywhere.
Adam Mormont is the only son of an oil tycoon from Montana; he is highly educated and impeccably dressed. Mormont has just finished a tour of Europe, and a considerable trust fund means he's never had to work a day in his life. Social standing is everything to Mormont; he's contemptuous of those poorer than him.
It wasn't easy for Peter Karlsson to raise money for a ticket on Titanic. Two years ago, Peter's brother left for America to 'leave this life breaking our backs on some godforsaken mountain'. Peter would have left too, if Julie, the love of his life, hadn't planted his head and heart firmly on Swedish soil. Since her death, Peter can't stand to live with her memory all around him. He will sail on Titanic, live in America and try to leave his grief behind.
Young Belfast man Joe Quilty ran all the way home to tell his Ma the day he got the job as apprentice plumber on the Titanic. When Thomas Andrews – his new boss and designer of the ship – gave him the news that he was one of the lucky ones chosen to sail on the maiden voyage, he ran the whole way home to tell his Ma again. This is the start of Joe's adult life, and he couldn't be more excited.
The youngest of six children, Conor Lucey is a labourer on his father's 30-acre dairy farm in Ballingeary, West Cork. He's leaving Ireland to seek a better life in New York City, where his older brother Dan has lived for some time. It's his first time away from his family and Ireland.
Still a young man, Philip Macken has many years of seafaring experience behind him and dreams of rising up the ranks. He's a Manchester man but plans on settling down in America eventually. Philip knows too well that working on the Titanic is a huge privilege for White Star Line staff.
Ellen Daniels started out as a handmaid to a wealthy American woman called Mrs Wiseman, but has reluctantly taken on the role of nanny to the Wiseman's new baby, while the couple saunter about having the time of their lives. Daniels is a young London girl looking for some adventure (and eventually a husband); babysitting was never part of the plan.
Louis Bernard travelled from Canada to visit his elderly parents in France. His wife Helene and baby daughter Emilie accompanied him on the journey. France no longer agrees with Louis and he prefers the Canadian way of life, where he has his own successful tailor shop.
She's no wilting violet that's for sure. To Ruby Denon, the monotonous courtesies of 'proper' European ladies mystify and annoy her; she's got no time for doilies and afternoon tea. She's an American lady that speaks her mind and has a warm heart underneath the brash exterior.
James Clarke used to play on the RMS Lusitania, but came to the Titanic for the pay raise and prestige. He's a bright, handsome young fellow from Lancaster, England, and while he enjoys life at sea he greatly misses his fiancée, Lilly. This is his last Atlantic run before their wedding.
Belfast couldn't be prouder of the RMS Titanic. Fitted with the finest of everything, she will sail all the way to New York and install Belfast on the map as the world's first, foremost and finest shipbuilding city. Aboard Titanic are the millionaires, workers and dreamers – all with their own reasons for sailing on 'The Ship of Dreams'. Titanic is the White Star Line's darling, its pride and joy – and nothing will get in the way of her route to glory.
A vessel hewn by the White Star Line's rivals, Cunard, the RMS Carpathia has left New York and is destined for the port of Fiume in Austro-Hungary with her haul of passengers. Her captain is the experienced Englishman, Arthur Henry Rostron, who has served on board the Lusitania among other ships. Carpathia's crossing is simple and straightforward. No fanfare is heralding her crossing – no events will mark her journey. Or so it is believed.