The CLIA RiverView Conference 2026, CLIA’s flagship event dedicated to river cruising, will return Sunday 8 – Tuesday 10 March 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, bringing together travel agents, river cruise operators, industry stakeholders, and media for a three-day deep dive into the global river cruise sector.
Supported by headline sponsors Travel Weekly and Mail Metro Media, the conference will spotlight the commercial opportunities, innovation, and growth potential of river cruising, while offering delegates hands-on ship experiences and direct access to leading cruise brands.
Key Highlights
- Takes place 8–10 March 2026 in Amsterdam
- Open exclusively to CLIA Travel Agent members
- Nine river cruise ships docked in Amsterdam for visits and onboard stays
- Delegates stay two nights onboard river ships
- Hosted by CLIA’s Andy Harmer and Travel Weekly’s Lucy Huxley
- Includes business sessions, ship tours, networking, and masterclasses
- Optional New-to-Selling River Cruise Masterclass available
- Opportunity to apply for FAM sailings (subject to availability)
Conference Venues and Format
Conference Business Sessions will be held at the Muziekgebouw, while the Networking Trade Fair and Breakout Masterclasses will take place at the Mövenpick Hotel, both located close to the river ships moored in Amsterdam.
A total of nine river cruise operators will have ships available for agent visits across two days. Delegates will enjoy overnight stays onboard selected ships, complete with hosted dinners and evening entertainment.
Overnight host brands include:
- AmaWaterways
- VIVA Cruises
- Emerald Cruises
- Riviera Travel
- TUI River Cruises
- Avalon Waterways
- Amadeus River Cruises
Riverside Luxury Cruises will also participate in the ship tour programme, with all other CLIA river cruise operators and selected industry partners attending the Networking Trade Fair.
Business Sessions, Masterclasses and Networking
Conference Business Sessions, hosted by Andy Harmer and Lucy Huxley, will focus on:
- River cruise trends and market outlook
- Marketing opportunities and innovation
- New itineraries and product development
- Strategies for attracting first-time river cruise customers
An optional New-to-Selling River Cruise Masterclass, hosted by Debbee Dale, will take place on the morning of Sunday 8 March for agents new to the sector.
Following strong demand in 2025, Breakout Sessions will return during the Sunday afternoon Networking Trade Fair, with details released in early 2026.
FAM Trips Opportunity
A number of supporting ships will host delegates on short FAM sailings. Details and registration of interest will be shared with registered delegates. As places are limited and not guaranteed, agents requesting a FAM trip are advised to delay booking travel until confirmation is received.
Preliminary Schedule
Sunday 8 March 2026
- Morning: Optional New-to-Selling River Cruise Masterclass
- 12:00: Registration opens
- 13:00: Welcome buffet lunch
- Afternoon: Networking Trade Fair & Breakout Sessions
- Evening: Hosted overnight stays onboard river ships, including dinner
Monday 9 March 2026
- Morning: Guided ship visits
- Lunch: Hosted onboard selected ships
- Afternoon: Conference Business Sessions (Muziekgebouw)
- Evening: Hosted overnight stays onboard river ships, including dinner
Tuesday 10 March 2026
- Morning: Guided ship visits
- 14:00 (approx.): Event close
What’s Included in Registration
- Two nights’ accommodation onboard river ships, including breakfast
- Two hosted dinners onboard river ships
- Buffet lunch on Sunday and lunch on Monday
- Half-day of Conference Business Sessions
- Access to Networking Trade Fair and Breakout Sessions
- Ship Visit Programme across leading river cruise brands
- Opportunity to apply for a FAM sailing
- Optional New-to-Selling River Cruise Masterclass
The CLIA RiverView Conference 2026 is open exclusively to CLIA Travel Agent members.
For more information about CLIA and membership details, visit:
https://cruising.org/
The event is positioned as one of the most immersive and commercially focused river cruise gatherings in the global travel industry calendar for 2026.
