Living full-time on a cruise ship sounds like a fantasy most of us file under someday, but Mario Salcedo has made it his everyday reality. Nicknamed “Super Mario,” he recently hit a milestone many travelers can’t even imagine, his 1,000th sailing with Royal Caribbean after spending more than two decades mostly at sea. For him, the ship isn’t a getaway or a once-a-year splurge. It’s home, routine, and community all rolled into one.
Salcedo’s pivot started back in 1994, when he was 45 and ready for a completely different kind of chapter. He wanted to travel the world, but he hadn’t figured out the practical side of it yet, whether that meant flying, taking trains, or heading offshore. After trying a few cruise lines, he booked a trip on Voyager of the Seas and felt like he’d found the perfect fit. He described it as groundbreaking for its time, packed with features that made cruising feel bigger, bolder, and more like a floating city.
Since then, he has kept his time on land to a minimum, spending around 50 weeks a year onboard and only about 15 days ashore. He’s also managed to blend work and leisure in a way most people only talk about, continuing his career in investment management while living out of a suitcase that never really gets unpacked. When he’s off the clock, he leans into the social side of ship life, dancing in the lounges, enjoying a cigar and cognac after dinner, and watching basketball or football on TV. For him, almost everything onboard becomes a reason to chat with someone new.
But even a life built around comfort, entertainment, and constant movement has its trade-offs. Salcedo says the most surprising downside is what happens when he’s not on the ship. After so much time adjusting to the gentle sway of the ocean, he claims he’s lost his “land legs,” to the point that being on solid ground can feel oddly unsteady and he struggles to walk in a straight line when the sensation hits.
Then there’s the price tag, because living at sea isn’t a budget trick unless it truly replaces a home and a long list of expenses on land. In a past breakdown of his spending, Salcedo said he pays about $185 a day for an interior cabin, which comes out to roughly $72,093 a year before extras like alcohol or excursions. He also noted that he doesn’t eat like a typical vacationing cruiser, skipping one meal a day and trying to be smart about what he orders.
What makes his argument compelling is the comparison he draws to other options, especially assisted living in the United States. Salcedo points to an average annual cost of about $100,380 and says that, by contrast, an interior cabin can look like the more affordable choice. It’s a practical framing for a lifestyle that otherwise feels wildly unconventional.
Would you ever trade a traditional home for life at sea, or does the thought of losing your land legs make it an instant no? Share your take in the comments.
