Adolfo Perez started his Carnival Cruise Line career as a ticket agent at the Miami pier in 1982 while still in high school.
Forty-three years and one travel advisor-themed tattoo later, Perez, now its senior vice president of global sales and trade marketing, will retire.
The announcement was made on March 28.
Perez is a long-time member of the Carnival family. He has since served as vice president of Carnival's contract center, opened Carnival's London office as vice president of Carnival UK and Ireland and served as vice president of sales and trade marketing.
Perez was a key player at the line's annual Agentpalooza summer bus tours and in other efforts to energize advisors. At one such six-city bus tour in 2017, Perez showed his commitment to the trade by having the words "Travel Agents Rock" tattooed on his arm.
Adolfo Perez on Carnival Cruise Line's Tropicale in 1984. Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line
He entered his current role as senior vice president in 2018, focused on the cruise line's sales and trade team and on Carnival's relationships with travel advisors and major travel retailers. Under his tenure, Carnival has hosted Agentpalooza tours and events and advisor-focused business educational development opportunities and revamped the GoCCL advisor website.
CLIA recognized Perez with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
"It's hard to imagine Carnival without Adolfo," Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said.
Duffy said the line will announce plans for new leadership of the brand's sales and marketing team at a later date.