The news this morning brings word of a cruise ship sinking in Antarctic waters, and since Irene and I know what it feels like to be aboard a cruise ship in Antarctic waters, the thought of passengers hearing midnight cries of “Abandon ship!” for real instead of as a drill strikes a little too close.

According to the story in the New York Times:

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — More than 150 passengers and crew took to lifeboats in Antarctic waters on Friday after their cruise ship hit an object and began taking on water through a hole in the hull, Britain’s coast guard said. No injuries were reported.

I’m glad to see that Lindblad’s M.S. Endeavor, which was our home away from home back in January 2005, was involved in the rescue mission rather than being the ship that required evacuation.

Although the New York Times doesn’t speculate on the ship’s fate, CBS News reports:

Neil Oliver of the Coast Guard station at Falmouth, England said earlier that the ship was expected to sink.

“We know she has hit something,” Oliver said early in the rescue operation. “They do expect her to go down shortly.”

That I’m warm and toasty here instead of wet and chilly in a Zodiac lifeboat there is just a little something extra to be thankful for the day after Thanksgiving.