Alex Pinelo (Source: Azamara Cruises)
WHY IT RATES: Azamara Cruises’ appointment of Alex Pinelo as chief sales officer will invariably raise the profile of the line among travel advisors. Pinelo, who has more than 40 years of experience in the travel industry, is highly regarded by the advisor community, having served at companies including AmaWaterways, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Line. — Claudette Covey, Executive Retail Editor
Azamara Cruises, The Global Leader in Destination Immersion, has announced the appointment of Alex Pinelo as Chief Sales Officer. In this role, Pinelo will lead Azamara’s sales organization across North America, overseeing sales strategy, trade partnerships and commercial growth throughout the region. His appointment reflects Azamara’s continued investment in the travel advisor community and its commitment to strengthening its presence across the North American market.
Pinelo brings more than 40 years of experience in the cruise industry, with an accomplished career focused on building high-performing sales teams and cultivating strong trade relationships. Most recently, he served as Chief Sales Officer at AmaWaterways, where he led the company’s global sales strategy, strengthened travel partner engagement and drove commercial performance across key markets. During his tenure, Pinelo held several senior leadership positions, including Director of Latin America Sales, Director of National Accounts, Vice President of National Accounts, Vice President of Sales and Senior Vice President of Sales, before being appointed Chief Sales Officer in 2025.
Prior to joining AmaWaterways in 2017, Pinelo spent nearly three decades with Norwegian Cruise Line, advancing through a variety of operational and sales leadership roles before serving as Vice President of Key Accounts. He also played an integral role on the opening team for Disney Cruise Line, helping launch the brand in South Florida and Puerto Rico.
Respected throughout the industry for his collaborative leadership style and longstanding relationships across the travel trade, Pinelo has built a reputation for driving sustained business growth while cultivating trusted partnerships. His extensive commercial expertise and deep understanding of the travel advisor community position him to lead Azamara’s North American sales organization through its next phase of growth.
Dondra Ritzenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Azamara Cruises, comments: “Alex is an exceptional addition to our executive leadership team and exactly the kind of leader we need as we continue to grow our presence in North America. Travel advisors are at the heart of Azamara’s business, and we remain deeply committed to investing in the relationships, tools and support that help them succeed. With his passion for the cruise industry, deep understanding of the travel advisor community and proven ability to build lasting partnerships, Alex is the ideal person to lead that commitment forward. I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue expanding our reach, strengthening our advisor relationships and introducing more travelers to the immersive experiences that define Azamara.”
“I’m honored to join Azamara Cruises at such an exciting time in the company’s journey,” added Alex Pinelo. “Throughout my career, I’ve believed that travel advisors are at the heart of our industry’s success, and I look forward to building on Azamara’s strong relationships with its valued partners across North America. Together with our talented sales team, we’ll continue creating new opportunities for growth while inspiring more travelers to discover the destination-focused experiences that make Azamara so distinctive.”
Pinelo will officially assume his role on September 1 and will be based in Miami, Florida.
SOURCE: Azamara Cruises press release
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