I Attended ASTA River Cruise Expo 2026 and Why You Should Care

The average age of river cruisers has dropped from the mid-60’s to mid-50’s over the last few years and I think millennial women will bring it down even lower. When I’m looking to travel, I look to build a trip that will let me see the world in a new way without sacrificing the conveniences (and safety) I crave, especially when I’m solo. It’s why I’m recommending river cruises to more and more women.

In order to ensure I’m pairing my clients with the right river cruise line, I attended ASTA River Cruise Expo 2026 to expand my knowledge. There is so much more to pairing someone to the right itinerary and cruise line than budget. Here I learned what the personality of each cruise line is, beyond their tagline.

Seeing 16 ships in person and one on virtual reality really helped me notice the subtle differences between cruise lines. I paid close attention to how I moved through each space, especially in the smaller cabins. As someone who’s tall (5’10”) and falls between mid-size and plus-size (depending on your definition), I was particularly aware of how comfortable I felt in the showers and how easy it was to move around the beds. Yes the photos are just as entertaining as it sounds.

There were 1600 advisors there, so why does it matter that I was one of them?

I don’t think just about who is currently the primary clients of river cruises, I also think about who should consider river cruises.

I think it’s going to be filled with more women. I find millennial women, including myself, seek authentic experiences but also convenience and safety. I want to climb the windmill and enjoy the wine tasting but I also want someone else to worry about how I’m getting between cities and I want to know I can order the adventurous thing on the menu while knowing my friend who’s a bit pickier will always have options to choose from. It feels like a more intimate version of ocean cruising.

So during this expo I really thought about women, and how we like to travel, either solo or as a group. Which ones make solo travelers feel like a priority, which ones feel the best fit for millennials, for families. There is a cruise line for everyone, and I’m here to help you choose.