Cruises are attracting more and more travellers, especially those with fat bank accounts. Mario Salcedo is not content with a few weeks’ holiday aboard these big, ultra-polluting ships. For more than 25 years, the businessman has spent his time on the decks of Royal Caribbean’s most sumptuous ships, going from one voyage to the next, without a break, without a return to a ‘normal’ life on land. Salcedo recounts how, when he was younger, he lived solely for his work. His daily life consisted of endless days in finance. With no desire for family or ties, one day he made a radical decision: to leave everything behind and live on a cruise. Since then, his days have been filled with swimming pools, sun-drenched decks and dance halls. Life on board offers him everything he needs… or almost everything.
A well-oiled life on board Living on a cruise doesn’t mean doing nothing. Mario Salcedo continues to work, but from his floating office. On one of the ship’s decks, a table awaits him every day with a handwritten sign: “Super Mario’s office”. No, it’s not the famous Nintendo plumber, but his nickname given to him by the crew. His job as an investor allows him to finance this unique life. In 25 years, he has already been on more than 1,154 cruises. Each year, he spends between $70,000 and $100,000 to continue his adventure on the high seas. His secret? He always chooses a simple interior cabin, believing that he only spends time there to sleep and prepare.
The problem with a life on the move
While money is not a constraint for him, the biggest drawback of his cruising life is… dry land. After more than two decades of being rocked by the motion of the waves, Mario Salcedo has developed a rare disorder called landing sickness. This disorder affects the inner ear and causes a permanent sensation of pitching, even when standing still on the ground. As a result, he is unable to walk in a straight line.
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Usually, this phenomenon only lasts a few days after a cruise. But when you only live on dry land for a few days a year, your body becomes accustomed to a different balance, that of movement. For him, walking in the city has become a challenge. He even confides that he feels more comfortable on a boat than on land.
Super Mario rarely sets foot on land. When he does, it’s to catch a flight to his next ship, check on his flat in Miami or deal with administrative formalities. Most of the time, he avoids these long pauses, which remind him that his balance is no longer the same. Fortunately, apart from this constant sensation of pitching, Mario Salcedo is in excellent health. This clarification is not made for nothing: cruise lines refuse to take on board anyone requiring permanent medical assistance. So, as long as he’s fit enough, ‘Super Mario’ will continue his endless journey, sailing from port to port, never really returning to dry land.
