A small Canadian cruise ship carrying passengers who shelled out thousands of dollars to retrace the route of a 20th century explorer struck an iceberg and sank hours later in icy waters off Antarctica. All those aboard, Americans among them, escaped safely.

A Canadian cruise ship struck submerged ice off Antarctica and began sinking, but all 154 passengers and crew, Americans and Britons among them, took to lifeboats and were plucked to safety by a passing cruise ship.

By BILL CORMIER BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - The first group of the 296 survivors of a fire aboard an Argentine navy icebreaker returned Thursday to an emotional homecoming, with relatives cheering and hugging them after their ordeal.