I selected this cruise because of my interest in the history and scenic grandeur of the region. This was my first river cruise. Previously I had taken several ocean cruises. This turned out to be my best cruise ever. The staff, especially the program director, Radim, gave each passenger a degree of personal attention I had never experienced before. He kept us all informed in detail in writing and in person of all options available and personally accompanied us on all excursions. Along the way he shared with us his vast knowledge of the history of the regions through which we sailed and the ports that we visited. Before and after the cruise he recommended restaurants with the most authentic food and escorted us to taxis and onto other forms of transportation. On the cruise he pointed out sites of particular interest, gave daily seminars, and arranged for concerts, lectures by distinguished speakers, a dramatization, and games. In our case, at the end of the cruise, he saw us off on our bus to the airport at 4 a.m. Like Radim, the entire staff could not have been more friendly or more helpful. They were like one big happy family. Each day when we returned from an excursion, they all greeted us with some treat--a chocolate, a cream puff--and when it was raining they lined our path on each side holding red umbrellas so that we would keep dry while boarding the ship. They made us feel like royalty. The captain invited us to visit his wheelhouse and even helped with our luggage. The restaurant food and service were impeccable. German night was especially memorable and included the best Black Forest torte I have ever had (my favorite). So you can see why this was by far the most enjoyable and informative cruise I have ever taken.