<P> Titanic was under the command of Capt . Edward Smith , who also went down with the ship . The ocean liner carried some of the wealthiest people in the world , as well as hundreds of emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland , Scandinavia and elsewhere throughout Europe who were seeking a new life in the United States . The first - class accommodation was designed to be the pinnacle of comfort and luxury , with an on - board gymnasium , swimming pool , libraries , high - class restaurants and opulent cabins . A high - powered radiotelegraph transmitter was available for sending passenger `` marconigrams '' and for the ship 's operational use . Although Titanic had advanced safety features such as watertight compartments and remotely activated watertight doors , Titanic only carried enough lifeboats for 1,178 people -- about half the number on board , and one third of her total capacity -- due to outdated maritime safety regulations . The ship carried 16 lifeboat davits which could lower three lifeboats each , for a total of 48 boats . However , Titanic carried only a total of 20 lifeboats , four of which were collapsible and proved hard to launch during the sinking . </P>
who was supposed to be on the titanic
some of the wealthiest people in the world hundreds of emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland , Scandinavia and elsewhere throughout Europe who were seeking a new life in the United States