Five Things to Know About Avalon Waterways' Imagery II Cruise Ship

One of the things that sets Avalon apart from other river cruise lines is its suites, which are larger than the norm and ingeniously laid out. Two decks on Imagery II are dedicated to the line’s signature stateroom, the 200-square-foot Panoramic Suite, so named for its huge floor-to-ceiling sliding window, which takes up an entire wall. (Opening it makes the sitting area feel like a de facto balcony.) Even better, the bed faces the window, allowing passengers to wake up to the sight of vineyards or castles instead of a wall or a cabinet. The larger 300-square-feet Royal Suites also have a panoramic window and window-facing bed, while the 172 deluxe staterooms do not.

• Related: Five Things to Know About Avalon Waterways' Passion Cruise Ship
• Five Things to Know About Avalon Waterways' Tapestry II Cruise Ship
• Five Things to Know About Avalon Waterways' Tranquility II Cruise Ship

Good news for anyone stressing about gaining weight on their next cruise: in 2017, Avalon is rolling out its new Avalon Fresh program fleetwide. The line partnered with Viennese chefs Karl and Leo Wrenkh to create healthy, regional dishes made with ingredients from small, local farms for its menus—and some are even gluten-free.

In the main dining room, regional flavors rule. For dinner, choose from dishes like potato pancakes with smoked salmon, and braised German-style beef with potato dumplings and red cabbage. Those in the mood for classic cruise fare can opt for grilled salmon, chicken, or rump of steak. There’s also complimentary beer, white, rosé, or red on the menu each night.

Avalon recently introduced new active-themed cruises for passengers who want to bike, hike, and waltz their way through Europe. There are none scheduled for Imagery II yet, but the ship does have a fleet of bicycles onboard, which passengers can take out for free in port, or use during an organized tour led by local bike companies.

Imagery II has an open-air bistro on the top deck, a rarity for river cruises. There’s no pool onboard, but there is a whirlpool—a favorite post-excursion spot—and plenty of loungers both in the sun and in the shade.