A man who has spent 23 years living on Royal Caribbean cruise ships has recently disclosed some peculiar side effects he has encountered.
Mario Salcedo embarked on his unconventional journey aboard Royal Caribbean International cruise ships in 2000, leaving behind his corporate role as an international finance director at a multinational corporation on solid ground in the United States.
Except for a few brief 15-day respites each year and a 15-month hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has resided at sea for an astonishing two decades.
However, Mario's affection for the cruise life – a man affectionately known as 'Super Mario' by fellow voyagers – has taken a toll on his well-being, resulting in some truly unusual physical consequences.
His 'cruising career' was initiated back in 1996 when he tested out ten different cruise lines and embarked on a remarkable 150 cruises aboard 'approximately 70 ships' before finally selecting the one where he'd settle down – Royal Caribbean.
What truly won him over was the introduction of the 'game changer,' Voyager of the Seas, in late 1999. "This ship was made for me," he remarked.
While the ship may have been perfectly suited to Mario, it appears that the human body isn't ideally adapted to spending over two decades at sea.
As of 2022, having spent more than 9,000 nights on cruise ships, Mario disclosed to Condé Nast Traveller in 2016 that his legs no longer acclimate well when he occasionally sets foot on land.
He confessed, "I’ve lost my land legs, so when I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line."
In an interview with All Things Cruise, Mario added, "I’m so used to be on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land."
Over his lifetime, Mario has boarded an astonishing 1,100 cruises, a number he predicts to have reached. According to the Royal Caribbean blog, he achieved 10,000 points in the Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society.
The cost of this unconventional lifestyle has escalated, with Mario revealing to YouTuber Alannna Zingano that he pays $82,000 annually to reside in an interior cabin on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. He expressed to the Royal Caribbean blog, "With so many friends and memories made out at sea over the years, I plan to continue cruising indefinitely so long as I’m in good health and having fun."
Watching the video below:
