Man reveals what it's like to spend 25 years at sea
Mario Salcedo has mastered life at sea, living on cruise ships for 25 years and completing his 1,000th voyage with Royal Caribbean.
Salcedo, also known as "Super Mario" in cruise circles revealed that he spends around $101,000 on on cruises per year for a cabin with a balcony.
The senior funds his ocean-bound lifestyle through investment management work.
His loyalty to Royal Caribbean has earned him some recognition among the crew, with some ships creating makeshift offices for him on deck, complete with cordoned-off tables, chairs and signs reading "Super Mario's Office".
Salcedo spoke about his love for cruising in an interview with allthingscruise.com.
"Cruising never gets old," he began.
"I'm so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."
The full-time cruiser began his life at sea after "tiring of the suit-and-tie business world and the long flights to international clients."
The Cuban-born businessman went on his first cruise in 1997 and became hooked since then.
In 2000 he began living on Royal Caribbean ships, spending only a few days per year on land, and taking a short 15 month break during the Covid pandemic.
Salcedo said he spends about five hours a day working and "has fun" for the rest of it.
"It's zero stress," he said. "The best lifestyle I can find."
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