Ep 19 - Charting the Future with AmaWaterways: Alex Pinelo on the Evolution of Luxury River Cruising

The Luxury Travelers Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the Luxury Travelers podcast, hosted by Rodney George, where we explore the finest in luxury travel experiences. Today, we’re joined by Alex Pinelo of AmaWaterways, a true visionary in the world of river cruising. Alex shares exciting developments, including expanding their fleet and introducing new itineraries on the Magdalena River in Columbia. From grand voyages across Europe to African safari cruises, AmaWaterways continues to set the standard for luxury and innovation on the water. And as Rodney always says, enjoy yourself; it’s later than you think.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [1:46] Alex discusses the number of ships he will have on the water by 2027, and he describes a typical day
• [4:32] Alex explains how AmaWaterways has evolved into the luxury line that they are, and he reveals they will be adding the Magdalena River in Columbia next January
• [6:20] Discussion regarding the five grand voyages, which are 14 nights in duration, and Alex mentioned out of their 32 ships, 25 will have European itineraries, and he expanded on their destinations
• [10:44] AmaWaterways offers a wide range of excursions, which are included, and the size of the group is 10 to 15 per excursion and. Alex discusses the most popular destinations
• [14:29] Alex shares they have an African safari cruise; he discusses the culinary experience and other authentic, cultural treats that await guests, and he describes the size of Amma Magna on the Danube
• [22:35] Discussion of the cruise manager's interaction with guests pre-extension boarding, and he talks about the new trends he sees, including a focus on sustainability and wellness
• [26:22] Alex talks about specialized theme cruises

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• River cruising has evolved rapidly over the past three years, and AmaWaterways only puts 156 guests on a ship while others may put 190 on the same size ship.
• AmaWaterways now has five grand voyages that take you to Columbia, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Budapest.
• After the Olympics, there has been greater interest in the tours to France.

RESOURCES:

Luxury Travelers - Podcast

Luxe Travel - Website

Luxe Travel - Facebook

Luxe Travel - Instagram

Alex Pinelo - LinkedIn

Amawaterways - Website

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Alex started his career back in 1984 when he joined NCL and spent nearly 30 years holding several senior roles, with his last one being Vice President of Key Accounts. He was also on the opening team for Disney Cruise Line, where he spent four years helping them successfully launch the new brand in South Florida and Puerto Rico. In December 2016, Alex joined AmaWaterways as Director of Latin America Sales. His passion for the cruise industry and strong connections with travel advisors made this his dream job. They led to several promotions, including his recent in April 2022 to Senior Vice President of Sales. Whether in the office or on the road at industry events, he leads with his heart daily with AmaWaterways.