Smooth logistics with excellent accommodations and amenities on the ship provided a comfortable backdrop for touring the region. Bicycles were always available as an alternative to organized tours. The food and service on the ship were outstanding. The room (royal suite) was spacious and comfortable. We saw several other ships from other companies on the river, which did not look as nice as the Imagery II. The atmosphere of the river itself (Rhine) was a bit more industrial than we expected; channelized with a lot of noisy barge traffic. Only half of one day (gorge with castles) provided good views from the river. With no cruising experience, I had expected the trip to be more ship/views-based and less on shore/touring-based. If you approach the trip with the understanding that the ship is a very nice mode of transport, and not the center of the vacation, an Avalon river cruise is an excellent vacation option.