by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Fri September 4, 2026
Captain Nico Corbijn is retiring from Azamara Cruises after a 43-year career. (Photo Credit: Azamara Cruises)
WHY IT RATES: Azamara Cruises honors Captain Nico Corbijn's storied 43-year career in the cruise industry. — Lacey Pfalz, Senior Editor, News & Features, TravelPulse
Azamara Cruises, the Global Leader in Destination Immersion®, today announced the retirement of Captain Nico Corbijn, Chief Administrative Officer, following a 43-year career in the cruise industry.
Corbijn built his career from marine operations through senior human resources and fleet leadership roles at Holland America, Windstar Cruises, Majestic America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises, before joining Azamara. That breadth of experience, spanning shipboard operations, crew management, and executive leadership, gave him a distinctive ability to bridge shipboard and shoreside perspectives throughout his career
As Chief Administrative Officer, Corbijn oversaw a broad portfolio including Human Resources, Legal, Land Product Development, and Onboard Commercial Strategy. Prior to the role, he was instrumental in establishing Azamara’s Marine Operations team and returning the fleet out of COVID lay-up. He also led the company’s land business to exceed its revenue targets.
"Nico's path through this industry is the kind you don't often see anymore," said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara. "Those who worked with him consistently describe him as balanced, fair, and a genuinely collaborative leader, someone who brought calm and steadiness to our organization during periods of significant change. We're deeply grateful for his decades of service and wish him a retirement filled with the same adventure and discovery that defined his career at sea."
Commenting on his retirement, Nico said, “After 43 years in this incredible industry, I feel very fortunate to have had a career filled with so many memorable people, places and experiences. I’m especially proud of the role I’ve played in building and supporting Azamara Cruises and its incredible team, and grateful for the many colleagues and friends I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. As I begin this next chapter, I look back with tremendous appreciation and am proud of the journey that brought me here. I’ll always be grateful for my time at sea and for the people who made it such a rewarding career.”
SOURCE: Azamara Cruises press release.
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