It's been estimated that, had the lookout on the Titanic seen the iceberg five or six seconds sooner, it might have been avoided. The Captain swung the Titanic around, but given the ship's its turning radius, this merely allowed the iceberg to strike a glancing blow along the side of the ship, tearing a long gash across the hull, below the waterline. 

The Titanic was designed to remain afloat if as many as 5 compartments were flooded, but the impact breached 6. We know the rest of the story - 1,517 dead by drowning and exposure in the icy North Atlantic. However, the catastrophe could also have been lessened greatly if the captain did nothing at all.

The Titanic could have it the ice head-on. Its bow was designed and reinforced for such a occurrence. Surely the impact would have damaged the bow substantially and perhaps a few dozen people might have been killed and several hundred injured. The forward hull, below the waterline, was made up primarily of cargo holds and few people were stationed there. Perhaps two compartments would have been flooded - three at most.

The Titanic would have stayed afloat, returned to New York, been refitted and repaired, and stayed in service. When we see an unmovable obstacle, the decision is ours: attempt to avoid it and deal with unforeseen consequences, or ram it head-on and reduce the severity of damage. 

See an iceberg ahead? Ram that bastard.