TORONTO — Azamara Cruises has appointed longtime cruise industry executive Alex Pinelo as Chief Sales Officer, North America.
Effective Sept. 1, Pinelo will oversee Azamara’s North American sales organization, leading sales strategy, trade partnerships and commercial growth. He will be based in Miami.
The appointment comes as Azamara continues to invest in the travel advisor community, which the company says remains central to its growth strategy.
According to Azamara, Pinelo is widely recognized for his longstanding relationships within the travel advisor community, collaborative leadership style and ability to drive commercial growth through strong trade partnerships.
“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,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Azamara Cruises.
“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.”
Pinelo brings more than 40 years of cruise industry experience to the role, most recently serving as Chief Sales Officer at AmaWaterways, where he was responsible for the company’s global sales strategy, travel advisor engagement and commercial performance. During his time with the river cruise line, he also 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 promoted to Chief Sales Officer in 2025.
Before joining AmaWaterways in 2017, Pinelo spent nearly 30 years with Norwegian Cruise Line, advancing through a variety of operational and sales leadership roles before serving as Vice President of Key Accounts. He also helped launch Disney Cruise Line as part of the brand’s opening team in South Florida and Puerto Rico.
“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,” said Pinelo. “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.”
For more information, go to https://www.azamara.com/home.
Lead image caption: Alex Pinelo
