Man who’s lived on cruise ship for 23 years shares one main tip for people going on one for first time

The idea of shooting off on a life-long cruise sounds like an absolute dream as the cost-of-living continues to swallow up our wallets.

But what if I told you that trading land for water could be your reality?

A guy from San Diego, US, has decided to purchase an apartment on a cruise ship because it works out cheaper for him to do so.

From good food and even better views, to working remotely and having more free time, Austin Wells appears to have it all figured out.

(YouTube/Cruise the World A to Z)

However, seasoned traveller, Mario Salcedo, has already been living the dream for 23 years.

He decided, at the age of 47, to live the rest of his life on the Royal Caribbean.

Nicknamed by crew as 'Super Mario', he has become the cruise liner's 'most loyal customer'.

His 'cruising career' began back in 1996, as Mario went on to try out 150 cruises on 'approximately 70 ships' before landing on the Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas in late 1999.

He told YouTuber Alannna Zingano in 2019: "This ship was made for me."

(YouTube/Cruise the World A to Z)

But the reason why you're here is to figure out if that lifestyle is for you.

Mario has made it clear that for first-timers, you should take things slow.

"First time cruisers you should go on a short cruise," he explained. "Do it like a three day or a four day or five day.

"That way you experience the cruise and if you don't like it or something, you know, that you didn't anticipate, it's only three days, you didn't waste a lot of money, you didn't waste a lot of time.

"Get a sample of it and if you really, really like it then you can you know research the other ships and go on a seven-day or eight-day and then go on a bigger class of ship.

"For example don't go on the Oasis for seven days as your first cruise."

He suggests to try a smaller ship 'then you can graduate up.'"

In another admission, Mario also revealed that his legs 'don't work' so well on the rare occasion he steps on land.

He told All Things Cruise in 2021: "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line.

"I’m so used to be on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."

• Man who has lived on cruise ship permanently for 23 years shares how much it really costs
• Woman who lived on a cruise full time broke down the true cost each month
• Woman exposes ‘shocking truth’ about how much it costs to live full time on cruise ship
• Elderly woman dies after being left on a deserted island by cruise ship