Carnival Cruise Line senior vice-president of global sales and trade marketing Adolfo Perez is to retire after 43 years with the company.
Perez started his career as a ticket agent while at high school and has since held a range of positions including vice-president of Carnival UK & Ireland, where he opened the line’s London office.
He was given Clia’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
He said: “I have 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 am thankful for all the terrific people that have made this job such a great way to finish my career with Carnival.”
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said: “Adolfo has been a valuable leader at Carnival for over four decades, and it’s hard to imagine Carnival without Adolfo.
“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.”
Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation, added: “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.”
Duffy said plans for the leadership of Carnival’s sales and trade marketing team will be announced at a later date.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line now has the largest fleet in its 53-year history, totalling 29 ships, following the addition of two former P&O Cruises Australia vessels.
The renamed and revamped Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter were previously known as Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter.
They will sail from Sydney and Brisbane as part of plans by the company to carry more than 500,000 passengers from Australia this year.
The two ships will join Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor operating from the two ports.
Duffy said: ”Our expansion in Australia demonstrates incredible enthusiasm for our brand and we’re grateful to our loyal guests who continue to drive our ongoing growth, solidifying Carnival as the world’s most popular cruise line.
“Doubling the fun in our Australia homeports enables us to deliver more sailing options, offer more variety and deepen our partnerships in the Sydney and Brisbane communities.”