News, Tips & Bargains : American Family Cruises Folds

American Family Cruises, the first cruise line to cater exclusively to families with children, will cease operations on Sept. 9, not quite nine months after launching service.

The American Adventure, AFC’s only ship, will sail as scheduled through Sept. 3 when it will embark on its final seven-day voyage from Miami.

After the Sept. 3 cruise, the American Adventure will return to its owner, Genoa-based Costa Cruises. The EugenioCosta, originally slated to become AFC’s second ship, the American Pioneer, will remain in the Costa fleet.

Travelers holding reservations on either ship for the Sept. 10 sailings and beyond are being offered several options, including a full refund, a spokeswoman said. They may also take an American Adventure cruise on Aug. 13, 20, 27 or Sept. 3 or they may transfer their AFC booking to either a Costa Romantica seven-day Caribbean cruise or a Holland American Caribbean cruise.

The American Adventure began sailing on seven-day cruises to the eastern Caribbean on Dec. 18, 1993 and offered an extensive program for children. Although the family-cruise idea was greeted with much interest, “the business has not been sufficiently strong or consistent to provide the financial results necessary to justify a year-round operation,” the company said.