We received the distress signal around 1:45 in the early morning after Thanksgiving Day. A cruise ship was in trouble in the waters just north of the Antarctic Peninsula. We were on one of two other cruise ships in the vicinity, and sped about 60 miles to the scene. Five hours later, both ships arrived to pick up 154 passengers and crew who had been bobbing on the sea in lifeboats for more than four hours. Other than being uncomfortably cold, no one was injured.

The Explorer had apparently hit an iceberg and was listing badly when ... (more)