Thread: Fantasy Diverted AGAIN

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Coast Guard's captain of the Port of New
Orleans says the owners of the Carnival Fantasy have decided to
divert the cruise ship to Mobile for a second landing.

The Fantasy had to dock at Mobile on Saturday. The Mississippi
River was still closed after a collision between a tanker and a
barge had spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into the
water.

Captain Lincoln Stroh says he considers the cleanup far enough
along for the Fantasy to return to its home port Thursday. But he
says Carnival Corporation decided to use the Port of Mobile again


FROM: Carnival’s Fantasy Coming Back To Mobile - Alabama Mobile New Orleans Coast Guard

Wed, July 30, 2008 - 12:45 pm NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Coast Guard has closed two miles of the
Mississippi River at New Orleans after more oil spilled from a
disabled barge.
Chief Petty Officer Mike O'Berry says investigators don't know
how much oil leaked when the barge shifted or when the major
waterway will reopen.
Crews are cleaning up the oil.
The barge contained about 419,000 of heavy oil. It split when it
collided with a tanker last week.
Ships were not allowed on the river for two days after the
crash.
Several cargo ships and Carnvial's "Fantasy" Cruise Ship were also diverted to Mobile as a result of the first oil spill

The Times Picayune
Friday August 01, 2008, 2:32 PM

. . . The . . . ship was expected in New Orleans on Monday after a five-day Caribbean cruise but the "ongoing issue on the Mississippi River" means guests will instead disembark in Mobile, Ala. and be bused to the Port of New Orleans.

The Fantasy's next cruise, scheduled to depart on Monday, also will leave from Mobile. Passengers are to arrive at the New Orleans port to be transported to Alabama. The Fantasy is expected to return to New Orleans at the culmination of that trip.

Thanks Sheila, I was just about to post the update on the Carnival Fantasy.

Sorry, Ken... didn't mean to step on your toes there.

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Sorry, Ken... didn't mean to step on your toes there.

No need to be sorry, Sheila. You're just helping and I appreciate it. You just beat me to it.

Here's the official notice from Carnival's website.

Carnival Fantasy July and August 4 Departures Web Update – Friday, August 1, 2008 – 11:00 AM
Carnival Fantasy July 31 and August 4 Departures
Unfortunately, the operational situation in the Mississippi River remains very volatile at this time and there is the possibility of additional river closures at any time. As a result, we will divert the Carnival Fantasy to Mobile, Alabama on August 4, 2008.
Guests debarking the ship on August 4 will be provided motorcoach transportation from Mobile to the New Orleans cruise terminal or the New Orleans airport.

Guests scheduled to embark on August 4 should proceed to the cruise terminal in New Orleans as planned. Motorcoach transportation will be provided from the New Orleans cruise terminal to the cruise terminal Mobile.

Unless being dropped off, it is very important that guests not drive to Mobile to join the cruise. At the end of the cruise, the ship is expected to return to New Orleans.
We sincerely apologize to all of our guests that are impacted by this situation. The entire Carnival team will do everything possible to minimize this inconvenience.

Courtesy of Edouardo, Mobile appears to be a little bit better place to sail out of today, anyway, oil spill or no oil spill:

Carnival announced yesterday that the Fantasy will continue sailing from Mobile until she goes to drydock on Sept 1

She'll be back in New Orleans in Octoberl

Passengers were informed about the change Wednesday evening, and Carnival is giving them 24 hours to cancel without penalty. Passengers who keep their scheduled trips, with the exception of those sailing Aug. 9 and those who are flying into New Orleans, must meet the ship in Mobile. Passengers embarking Aug. 9 should proceed to the cruise terminal in New Orleans as planned, according to the Carnival Web site; a motorcoach will transport them to the Mobile cruise terminal. Carnival is offering complimentary Louis Armstrong International Airport shuttles to and from Mobile to those flying into and out of New Orleans whose cruises are scheduled for Aug. 14, Aug. 18, Aug. 23 and Sept. 1.