For cruising and/or history enthusiasts, this is an opportunity to be a part of something special. UK travel agency Mile Morgan Travel has chartered a cruise ship and will retrace the original path of the infamous RMS Titanic.

Retracing the route
Those who are a bit superstitious may think twice about joining this journey, though, as the Titanic Memorial Cruise will depart Southampton in England on Sunday, April 8, 2012, commemorating 100 years since the ill-fated journey.

The itinerary passes over the resting site of the Titanic on April 15, 2012, and at 2.20am on that day, passengers will take part in a memorial service to pay tribute to the 1578 (of 2223) men, women and children who lost their lives that night, a century earlier, when the ship hit an iceberg.

The only difference between this cruise and the original Titanic journey is that, hopefully, it will reach its destination, New York, on April 20, 2012. Throughout the cruise there will be lectures about life on board the Titanic, including some by family members of people who survived the sinking.

A search of the many cruise ships taking to the seas around the world now left Mile Morgan Travel with no doubt as to which one it would charter for the event. The Balmoral, a part of Fred Olsen Cruises, prides itself on remaining true to traditional cruising.

Followers of the cruise market in Australia may remember Balmoral being in port in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth this year. It didn't get a massive amount of publicity, though, because Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria were around at the same time.

But Balmoral is an impressive ship - 218m long, 28m wide and weighing 43,537 tonnes. It can house 1350 passengers and 510 crew. For the record, the RMS Titanic was 269m long, 28m wide and weighed 46,328 tonnes.

Those who missed the Balmoral will get another glimpse of it early next year. The ship will arrive in Sydney from New Zealand on February 23, before heading to Brisbane, Hamilton Island and Cairns. It won't visit Perth this time around. It was on the way to Mauritius this year, but will head north to Kota Kinabalu before exploring South-East Asia in 2011.

The ship's history
The Balmoral is 22 years old, but went through a massive refurbishment when Fred Olsen bought it in 2008. It had formerly been operated by Royal Cruise Lines (original owner), Norwegian Cruise Lines and Orient Lines and had sailed under the names Crown Odyssey and Norwegian Crown.

And it used to be a whole lot shorter.

Fred Olsen Cruises saw the need to add a larger ship to its fleet, so added 30m to its midsection, adding 500 to its passenger capacity. But it was important to the new owners that the tradition of cruising was maintained.

When you sail on Balmoral you will have the option of playing shuffleboard and quoits on deck, rather than sitting in a virtual Formula One car or hitting golf balls down the fairway of an animated St Andrews, as some other ships now offer.

You will be asked to book your set dinner sitting times and be asked to pack a tuxedo for formal and gala events (there is a rental shop on board). You will have the opportunity to sit for high tea each afternoon, before heading to the card room to play bridge.

There are cabaret shows to keep you entertained and lectures to keep you informed. And by the time Balmoral returns to Australian waters, it will have a traditional British pub as well. Art enthusiasts will enjoy the Olsen Family collection that adorns the walls in the ship's corridors and is rotated among the company's fleet.

Bit of old and new
The Balmoral is marketed to an older clientele, especially on its world voyages, so think twice before booking the kids to go with you. However, there is a hint of modern day life onboard. The food is world class and you can still dine casually, without having to wait for your sitting in the main dining room.

There are a couple of bars and nightclubs (with prices cheaper than in Australia because of the generous exchange rate we now enjoy) and the gym has all the modern facilities, with a smashing view off the back of the boat. You get these same views from The Atlantis Spa, which offers all sorts of treatments and ways to pamper yourself.

You can go tenpin bowling, courtesy of Wii technology, and there are Pilates classes. The swimming pools and jacuzzis are also very popular with modern and traditional cruising fans.

Research has shown there is a large number of singles on board Balmoral and it boasts a little more than 60 per cent repeat clientele - a massive figure in any market.

Prices for the remaining cabin types aboard the Titanic Memorial Cruise start at 3350 pounds ($A5500). Bookings in Australia are being taken by Harvey World Travel, but you can learn more from visiting www.titanicmemorialcruise.co.uk

 More: Take a virtual tour of the ship

 Holiday Idea: Cruise around the world