First European river cruise and I'd do Avalon again. Loved the Rhine and the castles we saw along the way. Food and service were top notch. I felt bad for the people who just got off a flight and had to nap in the lounge since the cabins weren't available till 4PM. They ran a full size bus for just 6 passengers to get us from FRA to the boat. That was unexpected but appreciated. Hendrik, cruise director, was knowledgeable , funny and very well spoken. Two of the port calls he hadn't done before and there were minor glitches but most of the passengers just went with the flow. Several couples celebrating 50the wedding anniversaries and more than a few cochlear implants, hearing aids, walking sticks and canes. There were also a few couples in their 30s and 40s. The staff works hard, cleaning the rooms, removing trash, bringing on new supplies. They were all polite, friendly and accommodating. Moselle river was recommended as a great itinerary so I'll think about that next. Danube has challenges when the rain isn't sufficient to keep the water levels up.