NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Carnival Corp.'s Fantasy cruise ship, which normally is based in New Orleans, will operate out of Mobile through Sept. 1 because of an oil spill on the Mississippi River.
The Fantasy will conduct six cruises out of Alabama before the ship is dry-docked for 28 days, the company said. The 2,056-passenger Fantasy will return to New Orleans in October, said Jennifer de la Cruz, a spokeswoman for the Miami-based company.
The ship has not departed from or arrived in New Orleans since a tanker and barge collision caused an oil spill in the river on July 23.
In total, nine cruises will be diverted from New Orleans, a move that will cost the Port of New Orleans about $315,000 in dockage, wharf and parking fees, said Gary LaGrange, the port's CEO.
The city also will lose spending by passengers who spend time in New Orleans before and after their cruises.
Carnival had been deciding on a weekly basis whether to return the ship to New Orleans. But de la Cruz said Carnival made the latest move because of more speed limitations along the river and the possibility of future river closures as the oil cleanup continues.
The Fantasy conducts four- and five-day cruises to the west Caribbean.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
