泰坦尼克號之旅:倫敦公司組團參觀世界最著名沉船

Resting at a depth of 13,000ft (4,000m), the RMS Titanic continues to captivate the public more than a century after it sunk to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. It has now been announced that those still intrigued by the vessel will be able to see it for themselves, by joining diving drips to the shipwreck in 2018.

皇家郵輪泰坦尼克號一個多世紀前在北大西洋沉底後，沉睡在了海底1.3萬英尺（4000米）深處，但是它對公衆的吸引力依然不減。日前一家英國公司宣佈，泰坦尼克號的粉絲們將能親眼看到這艘沉船，2018年該公司會組織一次泰坦尼克潛水之旅。

Commencing in May next year, London-based tour operator Blue Marble Private will run eight-day journeys that will culminate with an up-close encounter with what is the most fabled vessel of modern times. Open to just nine clients at a time, groups will begin their experience by flying by helicopter or seaplane from St John’s, Newfoundland to the expedition support yacht set somewhere above the wreck.

倫敦旅行社Blue Marble Private將從明年5月起提供泰坦尼克八日遊，讓遊客們得以和現代最傳奇的大船“親密接觸”。泰坦尼克號一次只對9名遊客開放，旅遊團將從加拿大紐芬蘭的聖約翰市乘坐直升機或水上飛機到達沉船上方海面附近的探險遊艇。

There will be time to adjust to this new environment, with this small group of privileged visitors being taught about the ship’s workings on their second day on board by its crew and guest explorers, scientists and expedition crew.

這個精品小團裏的每名尊貴遊客將有時間適應這一新環境，他們將在登上游艇的第二天聽船員、探險嘉賓、科學家和探險隊員分別講授輪船的工作原理。

Those who wish to engage more directly with the workings of the ship will have the opportunity to take part in orientation sessions and can “assist” the crew in planning a dive, operating the sonar and using the undersea navigation system.

那些希望能更直接地參與輪船工作的遊客將有機會參加新人培訓課，並能“輔助”船員策劃一次潛水，進行聲波定位，以及使用水下導航系統。

It’s on days three to six that the expedition is at its most exciting, however. Should weather conditions allow, that is when up to three passengers at a time will clamber aboard a specially designed titanium and carbon fibre submsersible to see the decaying remains of the Titanic itself.

然而，旅程的第三天到第六天才是最激動人心的。如果天氣條件允許的話，每次最多三名遊客將能進入特別設計的鈦和碳纖維潛水器去參觀泰坦尼克號的殘骸。

Accompanied by a pilot and deep ocean expert, they will sail over the ship’s deck and should even be able to glimpse its still recognisable grand staircase from amongst the detritus.

在一名駕駛員兼深海專家的陪同下，遊客們將掠過泰坦尼克號的甲板，甚至能夠在殘骸堆中瞥見依稀可辨的宏偉樓梯。

Dives will take place throughout the day on night, dependent on when weather conditions are most favourable, and Blue Marble Private’s clients will be expected to contribute to the mission (if even in just a cursory way) by assisting with sub-sea communications and undertaking basic tasks.

潛水將不分日夜地進行，取決於什麼時候天氣條件最良好。Blue Marble Private旅行社的客戶們多多少少都要爲這次潛水任務貢獻一份力量，協助進行海底通信和完成一些基本工作。

The doomed vessel, which measured more than 880ft long and 100ft tall, went down with the loss of more than 1500 lives on April 15, 1912 during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.

泰坦尼克號長880英尺高100英尺，1912年4月15日在從南安普敦去往紐約的處女航途中沉沒，超1500人在這次事故中喪生。

Next summer’s trip marks the first time since 2005 that it has been possible for the public to dive to the site of the Titanic, and far fewer people have seen the wreckage than have travelled to space or summited Qomolangma.

明年夏天的這次旅行是2005年以來公衆首次有機會潛水到泰坦尼克號遺址，看過泰坦尼克遺骸的人比去過太空或登頂過珠穆朗瑪峯的人要少得多。

The complexity of the trip and the scarcity of places also go some way to explaining its prohibitive price: it costs $105,129 (￡86,500) per person.

這次旅遊行程的複雜和景點的珍稀可以從某種程度上解釋它那逆天的價格：每人105129美元（合726767元人民幣）。

There is a greater significance to that cost than might be immediately apparent, however. Adjusted for inflation, the price is equivalent to the $4,350 a first-class passenger would have paid to sail on the Titanic’s maiden voyage in 1912.

不過，這一價格的意義不只是表面看起來那麼簡單。在根據通脹率調整後，這一價格相當於1912年的4350美元，也就是泰坦尼克號處女航一等艙的船票價格。

Obviously, however, all will hope and expect for these forthcoming expeditions to prove far more successful.

顯然，大家都希望並期待即將到來的泰坦尼克探險之旅會比之前成功得多。