A man who spent almost a quarter of a century on cruise ships is now facing the consequences of his decisions.
Many may dream of living a life of luxury on an all-inclusive cruise, but for Mario Salcedo, this has become a reality.
The Cuban national decided to quit his demanding job as an international finance director at a mega-successful business in the US, trading it for a life at sea.
He has been to several countries across the world, relaxing on beaches from one corner of the Earth to the other, immersing himself in different cultures.
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But the cruise ship fanatic is now dealing with a number of side effects as a result of his lifestyle choices.
Rewinding the clock to the late 1990s, Mario decided that living on water was what he wanted to do, having grown sick of plane travel because of how often he had to do it for his 9-5 job.
Due to how much he had to jet around, he stayed in hotel rooms more often than he stayed in his Miami home, so at the age of 47, he decided to call it quits.
Setting off on an unforgettable journey, he has now been on over 100 back-to-back cruises before falling in love with one ship in particular, Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.
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He said that the vessel is 'revolutionary', having committed his loyalty to the cruise company by exclusively sailing on board their ships, completing his 1,000th cruise with the company back in 2024.
Mario is the ultimate VIP on board, even calling some staff members his mates as he earned the nickname 'Super Mario'.
A lot of controversy has surrounded the topic of wi-fi and the cost of it on board these ships, but Mario has free access thanks to rising to the top of Royal Caribbean's loyalty tier.
It means that he can run his investment management business remotely while satisfying his craving for the seas.
He still has an apartment in Miami, but he calls it his own personal 'hotel' now, as he's barely ever there.
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When it is time to disembark, though, his experience isn't the most pleasant after all those miles accumulated on the water - so while he can brave it through seasickness, he actually suffers from sea legs when back on stable land.
Mario more or less becomes a fish out of water, telling ondé Nast Traveller: "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line."
Back in 2021, he told All Things Cruise: "I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."
The permanent sea legs don't put him off, though, and neither does the financial aspect of it all.
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Mario estimates that he spends £66,980 ($82,000) a year keeping his unorthodox lifestyle going, claiming it's worth every penny as he can work every day with a premium ocean view.
He also enjoys scuba diving, ballroom dancing, and unwinding with a cigar in his spare time.
Doesn't sound too shabby, does it?
Topics: Cruise Ship, Travel, Lifestyle, Royal Caribbean
Joshua Nair