Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    I believe AFC is affiliated with Costa Cruise Lines.  I will try to
    find the article I have at home about them and enter some of it next
    week.

    I believe the previous reply is correct, new area for Costa. It is
    mentioned in Cruise News. My
    impression is Costa is not top of line but pretty good. If similar
    to Disney except longer cruises then you have to ask yourself what do
    you want.  If main emphases is bring kids and keep them well
    entertained then this line may work out well. Just remember it will
    be a compromise, I've been on Disney, which has an excellent kids
    program. But when you have that many kids on board it is not always
    that great for adults. Don't plan on going into pools or hot tubs
    unless you like lots of kids climbing all over you. We went on 
    a Disney cruise during Mar, it was not a vacation week at all, yet
    tons of kids, it really affects adult activities. Many of the kids
    will not even go to the planned activities, especially older kids.
    If you want a family vacation then it may work out very well. I would
    not recommend this type of cruise for a couple by themselves or with
    other adults.
    
    It will be interesting to see how it stacks up against Disney. 
    If you are going on a vacation during a school vacation week or summer
    then most cruises have plenty of kids and usually have pretty good
    kids programs. I myself would try another proven cruise first or
    wait to get feedback from other people before trying something like
    that. Just because they say it is going to be this great family
    cruise does not mean they will actually pull it off correctly.
    
    				Harold C.
    
    				Harold C.
    
    

If you are in the Manchester NH area this weekend, American
Family Cruises will have a booth set up.  The booth will be set 
up at the Mall of New Hampshire during mall hours from Thursday 
to Sunday.  

I recently attended a seminar given by American Family Cruises and would like
to share some of the information to those who are interested in family cruises.
Feel free to contact me (no DTN phone calls, please), if you have any questions.

American Family Cruises is part of Costa Cruise Lines.  The American 
Adventurer is due to start sailing on December 18, 1993.  The American
Pioneer will follow next fall.  The Adventurer will sail the Eastern route 
and the Pioneer is scheduled to sail the Western route in the winter and
Alaska in the summer.

American Family Cruises offers:

Single Parent Programs

Family Reunion Programs

Family Activities
	- Family Olympics
	- Family Scavenger Hunts
	- Family Kareokee
	- Family Entertainment
	- Camping out on deck in family sized sleeping bags

Dining Room
	- 18 hour a day buffet.  Perfect for families that want to go ashore
	  and no longer have to plan meals around the dining room schedule
	- Dining option for parents and children.  Parents can eat in an adult
	  only dining room while their children eat with their 'coaches' or
	  can dine together.
	- Dining room themes different than other cruise lines
	  - Giggles and gags night
	  - Heros and legends night
	  - Western night
	  - Prom night (formal night)

Ice cream parlor - no charge
Soft drinks - no charge
Juice bar - no charge
Pizzeria - no charge

Unique programs on every sailing sponsored by:
	- Seaworld
	- Apple Computer
	- Spaulding Sports Equipment
	- Busch Gardens
	- Baseball Hall of Fame - Former players on every sailing
	- Nicolodean

There are only 4 categories of cabins on the American Adventurer, regardless
of deck

	- Standard inside
	- Standard outside

	- Large inside
	- Large outside

The Pioneer will also have suites and mini-suites

Clubhouse for children by age
	 2 - 4   Fuzzy Wuzzy's Den
	 5 - 7   Rock O Saurus
	 8 - 12  Sea Haunt (TV station/Video Arcade)
	13 - 17  Club Yes (dances/socials)

Clubs are staffed with early education majors and go through an extensive 
training program before sailing.  Staff must have prior experience in working
directly with children prior to joining American Family Cruises.

Clubs operate 14 hours a day.

Babysitting available in the evening $3.00/1st child, $5.00 for 2 or more 
children from the same family.  Babysitting is in the club houses.  Private
sitting is available in the cabins at an additional rate by staff on a 
volunteer basis.

Unique shore excursions and programs on shore for families
Cook outs, softball and other sports.

Adult entertainment after 10:00 pm, casino and nightclub.
    

    re. 4
    
    
    Hmm...  can't help but congratulate them on their inventiveness, but have
            to wonder where they came up with the idea of camping out on deck in
            'family sized' sleeping bags...?
    
            Would garner a guess that it might be a bit nippy on deck for
            the Alaskan voyage!
    
            

Alot of their ideas came from kids.  They figured if they are going
to create a cruise catering to families, why not go right to the
source.  They hired a panal of kids and asked them what they wanted
to do on a cruise.   So along with child psychologist and PHDs' - the
ideas started flowing.  Some ideas were thrown out, but others were
kept and worked into the scheme of things.

The camping idea was accepted, however, they put in the stipulation
that at least one parent per family had to be with the child(ren).  I
guess they didn't want all night deck parties going on and wanted the
parents to take on the responsibility of supervising this 'feature'.

I agree that Alaska will be a bit cold and wonder who wins the coin
toss, Mom or Dad...

    Is this a new ship or a refurbished ship?  Also, do you have any more
    information on the after 10:00 adult activities?
    
    

    I am fairly certain that both ships are older existing Costa ships,
    not new at all. Not sure if any refurbishing to be done, may not be needed.
    Probably at least cosmetic for new themes etc.
    
    One interesting thing I believe not mentioned before. The new cruise
    line is a joint venture of Costa and it's CEO. It's CEO was previously
    head of Premier Cruise lines (the big red boat, Disney). He
    obviously has the experience in the right areas needed to try 
    something like this.
    
    I have no other information.
    
    				Harold C.
    
    

    The CostaRiveria will become the American Adventure and The Eugenio
    (does Meditterean cruises) will become the American Pioneer.  They
    are spending something like $22 million in refurbishments.
    
    You're right about the CEO previously heading Premier.

    Does anyone have any more recent information on this (i.e. have you
    taken the kids or know of someone who did)?

    Last I'd heard they went out of business... is this just rumor?
    
    - John

    They are going out of business at the end of December.  I know people
    who took this cruise with their kids and they said that it was really
    great.  
    
    The staff shared with them that the financial problems stemmed
    in part from the fact that families don't gamble as much or drink as
    much as more traditional cruisers.
    
    The ship will revert to its previous incarnation as the Costa Riviera. 
    Personally, I am disappointed that Costa didn't give AFC a longer run
    and a chance to work thru the problems with pricing and costs.
    
    -jer