NATCHEZ — Riverbarge Excursion Lines has announced that because of low bookings and rising costs, they will have to curtail all operations for 2009 — including stops at Natchez Under-the-Hill.

“The economics were such that we had to make a very, very hard decision because people were holding back on spending,” Riverbarge Excursions Chief Executive Officer Larry Conrad said.

“We are like everybody else in the travel and leisure industry. People are afraid to make commitments because of the economy.”

Funds that were generated by bookings for 2009 have been held in escrow, and refunds will be made.

Many customers have expressed sadness over the cancellation of the tours, Conrad said.

“We had so many loyal guests who treat this barge like it’s a religious experience,” he said. “It’s like telling them we are going to shut down the church.”

This isn’t the first luxury river cruise line to stop operations for the coming year.

In November, the Delta Queen river boat was decommissioned because its exemption to the Safety at Life at Sea Act of 1966 expired.

The American Queen — the other ship owned by the Delta Queen’s company, Majestic America Line — did not have any bookings beyond this year.

“It’s a shame that there will be nobody running on the Mississippi River and its tributaries this year,” Conrad said.