Families primarily received the tragic news of their loved ones' demise via telegram. However, some individuals had an unsettling intuition about their losses before any communications were received. Spouses had intended to send messages to inform each other of their safe arrivals, yet these letters and cables never reached home. Many passengers who had planned to stay with friends in England or Ireland were mysteriously absent, heightening the anxiety and despair of their families.

The most heartbreaking scenarios arose when a passenger, expected to board a different vessel, unexpectedly found themselves on the Lusitania instead. This twist of fate added layers of anguish to the already devastating news, as families grappled with the uncertainty and grief caused by the sudden and unforeseen tragedy.