Sarah Yates, Azamara Cruises (Photo Credit: Sarah Yates)
Bio
Sarah Yates is the Business Development Manager for Azamara Cruises, bringing more than 14 years of experience in the cruise and travel industry. She began her career onboard cruise ships, where six years at sea fueled her passion for travel. She later served as Fleet Manager at Park West Gallery, overseeing the Royal Caribbean and Holland America fleets, and held corporate roles with SeaDream and American Queen Voyages, building expertise in sales, business development, and strategic partnerships.
At Azamara, Sarah partners with travel advisors to grow their business through destination-immersive cruising. She enjoys building lasting industry relationships and traveling with her two daughters.
Sarah Yates is 34 years old.
"Being named as one of TravelPulse’s 40 Under 40 is a moment of pure gratitude for me,” said Yates. “My journey in this incredible industry began when I stepped onboard the Carnival Magic at just 19 years old as their Lead Production Singer. Little did I know that setting sail at that young age would end up shaping my entire career. After 15 years in travel—from those 6 foundational years working on ships to moving shoreside into managerial roles at various cruise lines—I’ve had the privilege of seeing this business from every angle. Having both shipboard and shoreside experience is so invaluable to me because it goes far beyond just understanding the operations; it allows me to connect on a much deeper level with our shipboard crew, my shoreside colleagues, and our valued travel partners.
“Within the last five years, I lost both of my parents. They were my biggest cheerleaders, always pushing me to step out of my comfort zone, and I know they are watching from above, celebrating right now. I can just hear them now, ‘Good job daughter, we are so proud of you.’ Growing up, they taught me to set high standards and earn every opportunity through genuine effort. Carrying those lessons into my career, I’ve always strived to stay grounded, lead with authenticity, and make a real impact.
“To be included in this year's 40 Under 40 tells me I’m doing something right—that my voice matters and that I can make a difference. The biggest flex is knowing that the younger me is proud of who I’ve become today. But above all, the ultimate reward is sharing this milestone with my two little girls, showing them that passion, grit, and staying true to yourself can lead to moments like this."
Industry References
“I've had the privilege of working alongside Sarah since August 2024 as part of Azamara's North America Sales team,” said Andrea Brenes, Senior AE, Charters & Incentives for Azamara. “While Sarah serves as our Strategic Business Development Manager for Florida & the Caribbean and I focus on corporate sales, our roles frequently intersect. She is constantly identifying opportunities in her region that translate into group business, and many of those leads have directly contributed to my own success. More importantly, she's the kind of colleague who genuinely believes that when one of us wins, we all win.
When I think about the future of our industry, I think about leaders like Sarah. I have no doubt she'll one day lead an entire sales organization, not because she'll have the title, but because she's already doing what great leaders do,” continued Brenes. “She mentors without being asked. She encourages without expecting recognition. She makes everyone around her better simply by being herself.
“Her impact goes far beyond sales numbers. She builds genuine relationships, earns trust effortlessly, inspires those around her, and represents our industry with authenticity, passion, and heart. I'm grateful to call her a colleague, even more grateful to call her a friend, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of this recognition,” said Brenes.
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