Adolfo Perez, senior vice president of global sales and trade marketing at Carnival Cruise Line, has announced his retirement after 43 years with the company.

Perez began his career in 1982 as a ticket agent at the Miami pier while in high school. He later held leadership roles, including vice president of Carnival’s contact center and vice president of Carnival UK and Ireland, where he established the company’s London office. Since 2018, he has led Carnival’s sales and trade marketing efforts, strengthening relationships with travel advisors and major travel retailers.

“Adolfo has been a valuable leader at Carnival for over four decades, and it’s hard to imagine Carnival without Adolfo,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.  “We know this was a difficult decision for him to make but we are supportive of his personal plans and wish him only the best as he moves to a very well-deserved retirement.”

Under Perez’s leadership, Carnival has been recognized as the best domestic U.S. cruise line in the Travel Weekly awards for nine consecutive years and has received multiple honors for family travel and advisor programs. He also led initiatives such as the Agentpalooza summer bus tours, business education programs for advisors and the enhancement of the GoCCL advisor website. In 2022, his contributions to the cruise industry were recognized with the Cruise Lines International Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I’ve had the privilege of holding many different roles during my career with Carnival, but these last few years working with both the sales team and the travel advisor community has been a highlight. The passion of selling travel and giving guests and clients amazing vacations and experiences is really an invigorating way to spend your work day, and I’m thankful for all the terrific people that have made this job such a great way to finish my career with Carnival,” said Perez.

“Adolfo’s dedication to Carnival and to our travel advisor partners will forever be remembered by his ‘Travel Agents Rock’ tattoo and his contributions to our company and the industry are many. He retires from Carnival with many friends and admirers who wish him well, including myself,” said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation.

Duffy stated that plans for the leadership of Carnival’s sales and trade marketing team will be announced at a later date.