The Col: "I wouldn't want sewage and feeding duties on that cruise , not to mention the illnesses and atrophy from standing/sitting in a very small place for weeks and weeks.I don't see it being do-able now, let alone then."

Not do-able now for sure. The unions wouldn't stand for it, and experts would show up to explain how it couldn't possibly float because the proportons are all wrong. Obama would not sign off on it even if he thought it could work, because it would show a lack of confidence in his administration. How dare anyone for thinking he couldn't keep them all safe and snuggly warm in their own beds. And Michelle would point out that the on board meals are unacceptable, and that only the flys and dung beatles were being properly fed.

So the overwhelming consensus today would be that conditions outside the boat are far better and more suitable to sustaining life. Now that I think about it, that was the consensus back then, but Noah just blew them off and did it anyway.