Mississippi River Still Closed Following Oil Spill

July 28, 2008 By: David Eisen

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The oil spill, which shut down a 100-mile stretch of the Mississippi River after a tanker collided with a barge last week, is still being contained and causing mass disruption of vessel movement from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico. However, the Coast Guard is stating that the Mississippi should be fully operational by Tuesday.  

The accident caused the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy to end a five-day voyage in Mobile, AL, on Saturday, as opposed to its homeport of New Orleans. It's ensuing voyage also embarked from Mobile.

Travel Agent contacted Majestic America Line, which operates river cruises, including those on the Mississippi River, on Monday. The line said that none of its cruises were affected, as American Queen and Delta Queen both were transiting upper portions of the Ohio River and Mississippi River at the time of the incident.