Julia Sturges, whose marriage has long failed, wants to leave her husband Richard. So she takes her daughter Annette and son Norman to the Titanic, whose maiden voyage to New York is imminent. Richard is able to follow her and buy a last-minute ticket to the Titanic from a poor immigrant family. While Julia and Richard try to play down their marital problems to their children during the trip, the situation escalates more and more. Annette falls in love with Gifford Rogers, who comes from a poor family and looks after her. Richard must learn that Norman, who is his pride and joy, is not his biological son but comes from one of Julias extramarital affairs. He feels that his honor has been offended and lets the boy feel it too. The family is tested when the Titanic hits an iceberg and is doomed. Julia, Annette and Norman manage to get a seat on one of the rare lifeboats. Like all men, Richard must stay on board and wait for the end on deck. But out of love for his supposed father, Norman discreetly leaves the lifeboat at the last second to go down with him and the ship "as one man".