Alex Pinelo Joins Azamara Cruises as Chief Sales Officer, North America

Alex Pinelo is joining Azamara Cruises as chief sales officer for North America, effective Sept. 1, 2026. In his new role, he will lead the cruise line’s sales organization across North America overseeing sales strategy, trade partnerships, and commercial growth throughout the region.

Pinelo, who is among the overall cruise industry’s staunchest travel advisor supporters, brings more than 40 years of experience to the role. Most recently he served as chief sales officer at AmaWaterways. During his nine-year tenure at the river cruise line he 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.

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.

His appointment reflects Azamara’s continued investment in the travel advisor community and its commitment to strengthening its presence across the region.

“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,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises – herself a fierce advocate of the travel advisor channel.

“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,” she added.

“I’m honored to join Azamara Cruises at such an exciting time in the company’s journey,” Pinelo said. “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 value 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 be based in Miami.