Now that Adolfo Perez, Carnival Cruise Line’s former senior vice president of global sales and trade marketing, has retired, Janet Wygert has taken the reins as the brand’s new senior vice president of sales and trade marketing.
We spoke with company veteran Wygert to understand her vision for the future of Carnival.
How has your background in the travel industry and your experience with Carnival prepared you for your new role?
I have spent 38 years with Carnival Cruise Line, growing alongside the company and the travel advisor community. I have always been deeply committed to the trade, and throughout my career, I have focused on building meaningful and long-standing relationships with advisors, helping them to grow their business and shaping programs that drive our mutual success.
My journey has been rooted in building strong relationships and championing our travel advisor community. I have always believed that our success is directly tied to theirs, and that belief has guided my approach every step of the way. Travel advisors truly are at the heart of great vacations, and through my various roles within Carnival, I understand the value they bring to the guest experience and our brand.
Travel advisors truly are at the heart of great vacations, and through my various roles within Carnival, I understand the value they bring to the guest experience and our brand.
I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to represent Carnival for almost four decades, and I am incredibly proud of the cruise experience we provide for our guests by creating truly memorable vacations at great value.
How do you plan to build upon Carnival’s sales success?
Working closely alongside Perez for the last decade, I had a front-row seat to how he led with his heart and showed our commitment to the travel advisor community. [We] have always shared those values, along with the belief that travel advisors are incredibly important for our company, so I plan to carry that forward.
My focus is on maintaining consistent support, collaborating on even more opportunities and ensuring our partners are fully equipped to succeed. As part of that commitment, I have grown our business development teams, as well as our strategic partnership directors and charters, meeting and incentives directors.
I want our partners to feel not just supported, but truly empowered. That means investing in resources that strengthen relations, simplify the advisor experience, expand our educational support and create new ways to recognize and reward top performers.
Can you share any upcoming brand developments?
There’s so much to be excited about. Celebration Key and the enhancements we’re making to other exclusive destinations within our Paradise Collection are changing the game for us. Celebration Key, RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay and Isla Tropicale deliver memorable experiences that advisors can proudly promote.
The line opened its new destination, Celebration Key, in Grand Bahama this year.
Credit: 2025 Carnival Cruise LineThe debut of Celebration Key and the enhancements to our existing destinations are not just about growth — they’re about giving advisors more stories to tell and more ways to wow their clients. [This is] a company that’s not just growing, it’s redefining what fun at sea looks like.
Additionally, we have five new upcoming ships, including two Excel-class vessels and an entirely new ship class.
How can advisors best leverage the Carnival experience to sell to their clients right now?
Advisors can lean into storytelling — sharing real guest experiences, highlighting the variety of onboard and shore offerings and showcasing the value of a Carnival vacation. Whether it is a family looking for an adventure or a couple seeking relaxation, Carnival has something for everyone. Our advisors are the key to helping clients discover that.
Are there any new programs travel agents should be aware of?
Earlier this year, we rolled out the Funnel Faves campaign, built around the core belief that travel advisors are at the heart of great vacations. My vision is that it’s about supporting and celebrating our travel advisors, and the campaign is ever evolving to continue to build on our commitment to the trade community.
Under the Funnel Faves umbrella, the team launched a series of Seminars at Sea and ship tours for the fall season. The ship tours are designed to show public lounges and staterooms, with a complimentary lunch that’s part of the tour, while the Seminars at Sea are an immersive way for travel advisors to sail while attending training sessions to enhance their knowledge.
These are just a few examples of how we’re making sure our partners have everything they need to thrive and feel celebrated. This is not just a growth period for Carnival, it is a growth period for our industry as well, and our travel advisor community is a vital part of that.
We’re here to empower them every step of the way. We’re rolling out new tools, expanding our support systems and creating more opportunities for advisors to be immersed in the Carnival experience.
